Charlie Loram discussing tents
The rule of three is a good way of remembering that you can survive for three minutes without oxygen, three hours without shelter, three days without water, and three weeks without food. It would seem that you can also, just about, survive for 55/59 years without knowing how to wild camp. However, this weekend we spent three days learning all about how to sleep out in comfort with the minimum of kit.
The weekend was led by Charlie Loram and Emily Fawcett, and they provided a great introduction to basic bush skills and wild camping. We learned a huge amount. This included the advantages of different types of shelter; how to cook using a tiny Meths stove, or a small camp fire; techniques for washing up in a stream; and how to adjust a back pack so that it fits comfortably.
Emily Fawcett discussing good food for wild camping
One of the most memorable parts of the weekend was being lent a tarp so that we could sleep outside without a tent, but with good shelter from the rain. Emily was expert at teaching us the three or four main knots that were needed to put up our tarp, and Charlie has a great technique for packing a tarp away so that it is quick to erect next time you go camping.
Dartmoor is the only National Park in England that allows wild camping, and there is a helpful map provided by the Park Authority that shows where camping is permitted. From 2003 (as a result of the Land reform Act) wild camping has been permitted in Scotland, as long as campers follow the Outdoor Access Code. However, unfortunately, there are very few places to wild camp legally elsewhere in Great Britain. For those who want to camp in remote/wild locations without facilities the Nearly Wild Camping website provides listings of landowners who allow wild camping for a small fee. For those who want to learn much more about foraging and survival techniques, Charlie and Emily help lead ‘The Old Way’ – an immersive course that provides insight into the skills and practices of our hunter gatherer ancestors.
Inspired by Emily and Charlie, we had our first night wild camping on Dartmoor last night. We swam in the River Plym beneath Ditsworthy Warren House and then watched the sun go down over Gutter Tor.
