WALKING SPECIAL: CAMPING
Joys of camping
If you love walking, then camping is the ultimate way to stay connected with the great outdoors, reset your natural rhythms and relax, writes Fi Darby
I shifted inside my bivvy bag and opened my eyes for the fifth time that night. I could see only stars. Like the pendulum on a skyward grandfather clock, the Plough had shifted further around the Pole Star. I smiled. Time was passing as it should. All was right with the world. I could sleep again.
Outdoors at night is a wonderful place to be. As the daytime world settles, a new one bestirs; a world of strange wonders too few of us have the joy of experiencing. Camping – whether you’re in a tent, bivvy bag or hammock – is one of the best ways I know to reset my natural rhythms and feel like I’m at one with nature.
Settle down to slumber away from the noise and light of town, and you will find yourself gently descending into the environment. When you awake, you’ll feel more connected with the outdoors than you ever have before. You will also be looking forward to that camp breakfast.
CAMPING FREE
In January this year, the High Court ruled that there is no legal right to wild camp (also known as backpack camping) on Dartmoor Commons. Dartmoor National Park Authority have been granted permission to appeal this decision but, for now, a permissive backpack camping system is in place.
“We all have our personal reasons for wanting to engage closely and overnight with nature”
The heartfelt public reaction to this High Court ruling has highlighted just how important escaping to wild open spaces is to so many of us. Long-distance walkers, climbers, bird watchers, star gazers, educators, farmers, conservationists – we all have our personal reasons for wanting to engage closely and overnight with nature. But, fundamentally, they come down to one vital thing; our connection with a landscape that we feel in some part belongs to us.
PROTECTING PEACE
As walkers, we strive to be respectful of the green and blue spaces we visit and, whether we choose to camp wild or on campsites, the same is true of almost all campers. It’s tricky, however, to create a positive public perception, when your main aim is to leave no trace of your visit. We are all familiar with images of litter-strewn fly camping and fire damage but to see these as the complete picture is as misguided as gazing at a blade of grass and imagining you can see a whole mountain.
When it comes to getting outside, walking and camping are perfect partners. How often have you regretted having to go home after a long walk? Or wished you could stay beyond sunset to watch the moon rise? Or wondered what it would be like to wake with snowflakes on your face? Whether you see camping as its own adventure or as a useful logistical tool, with a portable home you gain the opportunity to experience the unexpected and discover a night-time realm that you didn’t previously know existed.
Packing your camping gear into a rucksack and carrying it as you go can make different types of walking possible and give you access to locations you might not be able to reach in a day. Suddenly, a long-distance or overnight walk is possible or, if your camping kit is up to it, a winter route you would only usually have time to do on longer summer days.
But it isn’t only backpack camping that fits in well with walking. If you can’t carry a heavy pack or prefer a few home comforts, there are plenty of campsites out there that offer fabulous walks right from the gate. Drive or take public transport to the right campsite and you will be able to enjoy a bigger tent, but still with all the benefits of being outdoors at night.
I have been camping and helping other people camp since I was young so I’m bound to be evangelistic, but I really would encourage anyone who loves walking to give camping a go. Start with somewhere familiar and just a couple of nights (even I never sleep well on a first night) and see how you get on. I’m still learning, so I can guarantee that you won’t get everything right the first time, but that’s part of the fun. Here are my five reasons why you really should try camping as part of your walking lifestyle.
• Connect with the landscape in new and exciting ways
• Get even more opportunity to enjoy the fresh air
• Recognise the benefits of a simpler way of living
• Save money on accommodation
• Feel like you have had an adventure
Buying new outdoor gear is fun and it can make outdoor life more enjoyable, but you don’t necessarily have to splash out in order to enjoy your first camp. Why not see what you have stashed in the loft, check out sharing schemes like Tentshare or borrow some kit from friends or family to get you started. Whatever you do, don’t put off booking that campsite or making those plans – it’s time to make a few outdoor memories.
REVIEWED BY: Fi Derby is an outdoor instructor and writer who teaches navigation and expedition skills. One half of outdoor blogging duo Two Blondes Walking, Fi has also been an Ordnance Survey Get Outside Champion since 2016.
Keep reading for Britain’s best campsites for walkers, chosen by Dixe Wills
