Let me know in the comments below your own weird, unusual or scary experiences. Also would be grateful if you can remember to subscribe if you haven't for my future upcoming videos.
My own weird ánd scary experience when I was hiking on my own: during a three day hike I got in the middle of storm Ciara somewhere in Belgium, I struggled in the dark pinning my tent just behind a empty building, but after a few hours rest a dog was waking me up barking outside while his boss shines his or her flashlight for minutes at my tent...I hold my breath ánd my knife 😬...luckely after a while dog and boss went on leaving me and my tent untouched...
I've seen a similar orb while fishing in a chain of man-made ponds at night. It landed in the pond furthest away from me and as if that wasn't frightening enough, fizzed its way through the small canals joining the ponds together. It came through several ponds before bursting into pieces of plasma looking flame. Enough to make me call it a night. Some kind of ball lightning is my best guess. Your tale of the earthquake related orb reminds me of a documentary I saw about the Hessdalen lights which describes a similar phenomenon.
Just last week I was backpacking in the Hoosier National Forest (Indiana, USA). No tent, just a tarp open on three sides. A bit after going to bed I awaken to a REALLY bright light, it looks like a camper's lantern not more than 100 yards distant! What the... When I check my watch, I'm like WHEW... that's no lantern, that's the moon rising over the eastern horizon, waning gibbous so VERY bright. I went back to sleep. This is why campers need to know the times of sun and moon rise and set.
I have never camped solo overnight but the closest thing I have to relate to it is fishing solo in the dark. For many years I used to fish alone down the river often till 2am, the only issues I ever had were from people drinking and walking along the riverbank behind me. This has happened quite a few times in the pitch black but in many ways the pitch black is your friend because no-one knows you are there until you make a sound. I've seen myself just freezing on the spot and people walking past behind me oblivious that I am actually there. I have always done this because one does not know how a group of people on alcohol or other drugs might respond to meeting a solo fisherman at 2am on the river bank.
The overwhelming source of the terrors is our own minds. Strange noises, unfamiliar sights in the half-light, to which our minds add large dollops of imagination... There's another manifestation too, and it's happened to me twice in 20 years. A sudden onset of a totally encompassing sense of depression, despair, fear, hopelessness, from which it's impossible to escape. It feels like something physically gripping you. On the first occasion I didn't understand what was happening and I thought I was going mad, but after half an hour the feeling simply evaporated. Years later it happened again but I was able to recognise it, sit down, and wait for it to go. The probable explanation is that being alone in the wilds can act as a trigger for the release of pent-up rubbish in our minds, some of which can be negative. I've heard others report this phenomenon too, and my message is that if it strikes, try not to worry. It will soon pass. I suspect that in some weird way we don't understand, it's good for us.
Great video, glad to have watched this. I camped with my buddy in South-Central Ontario and was woken up to the sound of a woman screaming in agony beside the tent. My buddy was completely asleep throughout the entirety of it, (we drank a bit), however I'm a light sleeper, and woke up to it immediately. I briefly explain it in a video, but it really showed me how vast Ontario is, and that at any moment, a large predator animal might cross paths with you (the animal turned out to be a 'Canada Lynx', there's many videos on their spine chilling screams on TH-cam). This is a reality you must embrace if you live in Ontario. I think it was a very rare, and beautiful occurrence that has made me fall deep in love with the randomness of the wilderness. It was honestly the single most terrifying thing that has EVER happened in my life, not going to lie.
Since we Culled any Wildlife that could possibly harm us apart from The Adder, Large Deer, Bulls, Dogs (packs) Humans are our biggest threat. I personally feel safer the further away from People i am, would rather be in a Huge Dense Forest at midnight than Anywhere in a Big City at Anytime
Here in North America there are ample reasons to be nervous: more dangerous animals than the UK, true wilderness miles from help, more cryptids and paranormal phenomena...we know about the Cairngorms and the tales that come out of the Highlands, so there's scary places everywhere for campers. You speak sensibly and practically as a solo adventurer and I raise my glass to you, sir!!
When I lived in U.K, few times in teens camped with friends and was always spooked by dark. Now I’m in Canada and camp a fair bit. As you say, way more to fear here with bears, cougars etc. Think if I was back in U.K I would sleep outside like a baby now 😆
I was once hiking alone in the Highlands when I heard the weirdest sound, rather like a hyena laughing. I'm a keen naturalist so know almost all the animals and birds you might come across in the UK and the sounds they make and it was none of these, so I became a bit spooked. Not long after, I descended a ravine and saw another hiker ascending. As we passed, I said to the guy "did you hear that strange unworldly sound?". He paused for a moment and then said "oh, I'm sorry, I think that was me". He was listening to a comedy programme on BBC radio through headphones as he was stomping about in the middle of nowhere, cackling in mirth like some demented wild beast!
I once woke to the feeling that there was some presence there. On opening my eyes a long grey face peered down at me in the silence. As you say, imagination going wild. It was in fact one of my two collies looking forward to its early morning walk !! Good to hear from you again. IFD
I had that feeling once and looked up to a grizzly bear in my face. I yelled and it took off. The local bear dogs then chased it into the forest. I went back to sleep and 10 minutes later a large animal jumped on my tent. It was the bear dogs returning.
I camped in January up on the Lakeland fells. The wind was coming down from the surrounding hills in long bursts. As I fell asleep I could hear a woman singing gently in the breeze. I found it quite relaxing.
I'm an ex infantryman of 10 years . Spent most of my life outdoors but this was always with my mates inside and outside of the military. I only recently started to solo wildcamp and I have to say I was put on edge and felt a bit of fear. I wasn't used to it and I don't think I am yet. I do know I get more pleasure from doing this than I do of being scared. So I pursue it and love it.
Great stuff and glad you are enjoying it. It is a weird thing to get used to and you wouldn't initially think it would bother you. You get used to it :) Atb
@@RS.Outdoors I honestly think you should have a series on the BBC. It would be a great show. Please keep them coming and I hope you don’t feel any pressure to provide content all the time. The quality you have right now is lasting me ages. Thank you for doing this.
I sleep through thunderstorms and was raised in the countryside for many years and as a youth went off camping regularly - most weekends in the summer holidays. I'm more troubled by slugs, snails and other wee beasties. As a Pagan the great outdoors is my church and refreshes me and teaches me things I need to know. I don't fear the dark. I now live in North East Lancashire, Pendle and love the open moors. I'm not keen on towns or large gatherings of humans, I prefer nature.Once as a youth I woke up with a fox sleeping on the side of my tent and I tried not to disturb him as much as I could, once he left i did, but i treasure that privileged occurrence.
I live on the edge of the country with fields on one side of my house so I am used to night-time sound. Cows lowing when they are disturbed, sheep, the tawny owl in the sycamore trees at the end of the garden, foxes screaming at eachother in the spring. On the other hand I find the constant night-time buzz of a city disturbing. Thank you for the sound clips. Some animals make no sound at all. Wild camping in Glen Affric, I left my rubbish bag just outside the tent. Next morning it had disappeared without trace. A human snooping around in the middle of the night would have woken me up, but not a badger or a fox.
Cool video Ray. I run the Kilpatrick Hills FB page and they are very similar to the Ochils. Having the occasional Snipe take off walking in the darkness can certainly startle you!
Murray's description of the orb sighting brought me up in Goose pimples. I have seem the same 'bimbling' ball of light but at quite close quarters on a pitch dark night at the bottom of steep valley in the pennines in Yorkshire in the 1980's. I watched it for about 10 minutes 'bimbling' down the valley towards me, the top of the valley silhouetted behind. The ball of light stopped almost on top of a 33kv wooden electricity transmission pylon. It seemed to drop to the ground before lifting up and bimbling off behind a woodland. My hair (I had some then) felt like it was standing on end! I was a young man and was very illogically scared and agitated for a number of days. The phenomena was well documented in that part of the world, with multiple sightings and sometimes broad daylight by multiple witnesses. It was called the mystery '(heli) copter'. As you mentioned, people explained a link between pressure on crystalline gritstone rocks and piezo electricity, creating a type of 'ball lightening'.
You're making me seriously miss Scotland. The magical feel of the land has never left me, and as beautiful as it looks where I now live (Canada) the feeling just isn't here for me. Scotland might just be my future home. Thank you for your beautiful videos:)
Great video as usual, I aways enjoy your content! Since you asked here’s my scary camping experience... During a solo long distance backpacking trip I was camping in the Czech Highlands in some forest. I was laying on my side in my tent about to drift off to sleep when a large animal ran smack into the side of my tent and skelped me full pelt on the back. The tent collapsed on top of me with the weight of the animal above and then it got back to its feet, ran off and my tent bounced back into shape. Don’t know if it was deer or boar (or something else?) but it made the weirdest unfamiliar noise as it ran into the night...other than some minor discomfort to my back and a patch repair job on my flysheet, my gear and I were largely unscathed, but needless to say I was a bit freaked out for the rest of the night and slept with one eye open 😜
Never mentioned anything about needing change of underwear. If it happened to me I would have ;) Have to say that is a reason why I dont fancy a bivvy camp, it's the thought of a deer walking or running over me during the night I think about. Atb
Camping in woodland or a forest can really play on the mind after dark. Hearing the creeking of trees and wind howling, like a distant train approaching, can be unsettling at times. It still amazes me how quickly the light and safety of a campfire disappears in dense forest only a few yards away! Great video and a new sub. Many thanks 👍
Worthy of a subscription for sure, well done Renegade! I have solo camped off a motorcycle many many times. I fear no animal or cryptids but do respect them. People on the other hand are the problem 99.9% of the time. Being rather large and exceptionally ugly usually keeps the people at bay.
I did my first wild camp for years by Burnmoor Lodge in the Lake District last weekend. Having been reading up on the old Corpse Road from Wasdale Head to Boot and the associated ghost stories beforehand, which went right by where I was camping, I didn't have the easiest nights sleep. As you say, sheep and bits of grass rubbing against the flysheet in the dark definitely make it sound like there's someone - or something - outside. All good fun in hindsight!
I was camping in the Purbeck’s in Dorset summer of 2019, Using a Dutch army bivvy bag, camping on the cliffs near a place called dancing ledge, I had experience very similar than one you had with lights in the sky jumping around not like any satellite or plane or stars... then Suddenly the lights stopped and then just shot up into the sky and disappeared ...very strange . Brilliant TH-cam channel keep up the good work 👍🏻
Fabulous to see you enjoying my local hills Ray...the Ochils may lack the grandness of the hills to the North but they have given me countless many adventures over the last ten years in all seasons.. so thanks for that...atb
I was once wilderness camping with a church group for a week in the high Sierra Nevada mountains in California. About 7 of us decided to hike the trail to the peak in the middle of the night. Amazing place, old growth forest with enormous Ponderosa pines and a galactic view of the stars at that elevation. Anyways, we were many miles up the trail, far from our camp and we heard women's laughter coming from the ravine on the right side of the trail. It wasn't an auditory illusion from the river noise, it was quite distinct and we all heard it. The laughter seemed to float around and echo. It was from an area that was inaccessible. There were no trails on the other side of the river which was rocky and rough and at the bottom of a narrow ravine. This was around 2 or 3 AM in the morning in total high elevation mountain wilderness far from civilization. We called out hello and then it was silent and then more laughter. It was eerie but not creepy laughter so we weren't terrified. Later when we reached the peak we saw two orange orbs float up and down around that same ravine. We just chalked it up to nature spirits or faeries or something like that. Very strange and witnessed by all 7 of us.
Another smashing video Ray. As always you make nature the star of the show. In mid September I walked the Dava Way from Grantown to Forres. The weather held so I continued along the Moray Coast Trail to Cullen. I camped for three nights along the way, my final night being in Lossiemouth woods, adjacent to the old WW2 gun emplacements, just behind the ruined barrack block building. I think a barn owl was nesting in there - it's high pitched shriek sounded like someone being brutally murdered in a 70's Hammer House of Horror. It took a while getting off to sleep that night!
years ago I took my son on his first camping trip. Nice and simple, we camped next to the dam at the Loch Lednock reservoir. At some point during the wee hours my son woke me up saying he could hear noises outside. I reassured him he was imagining it/ being outside was magnifying the sound of insects, etc. He took ages to settle, and it was only the next morning that the massive trail of deer scat suggested that he had, in fact heard noises outside the tent. Never misses a chance to remind me of that.
Thanks for this. Perfect landscape for a wild camp. The way you discuss the strange noises problem of solo camping, is very reassuring. I love the idea of solo camping but I seldom do it and I think it is because ofthe perculiar existential angst that rises up as the dark closes in and the nocturnal creatures begin their wanderings. If there's a companion in the vicinity, even if they're some distance away, I take all the scrapings and patterings in my stride. But alone it's a different matter. Mind you, here in Southern Finland, where there are occasional sitings of bears and a small pack of wolves passing through from time to time, I suppose one is forgiven the odd frisson of unease! Though it's the ticks that are the real danger in the warmer weather🙂. Enjoying your videos. Subscribed.
Great video, thank you. I’d love to go wild camping on my own but I do have these fears, that’s why I think I’m better off living it vicariously through people like you.
Great stuff, it took me a few years to build up the courage but last year I went up the mountains alone and late enough that I could easily get back down, man I wanted to pack up and leave about ten times but I just promised myself I wouldn’t, I seen the last of the hikers leave down the mountain and new I was alone, I got a beautiful sunset then the most amazing stars, it was indeed scary, just the deafening silence, the odd random rattle of the side of the tent for no reason then would stop again for hours. But I never regretted it and looking forward to getting out again this year. I’ll be scared again but ya work through it, I have ear plugs or headphones and a podcast on etc. Making sure to do a good hike in or have a busy day so you are tired enough to sleep. When you wake up in the mounting you won’t regret it, you’ll have immense pride in yourself for staying the night. Just to note I have bailed on a camp before, got a lough in the mourne mountains and I couldn’t see 10ft in front of me for the fog, and the silence was scary, almost like the world had frozen, I took half an hour and weighed up the pros and cons and decided to go before light left me, I knew I’d be very nervous that particular night so decided to leave, yeah it eats away at me but I’ll get out again that’s 100%. So give it a go, you won’t regret it. I’ve also had some strange experiences in my life, seen orbs of light floating passed me, slowly, seen a metallic ball floating over the top of the mountain both during daylight, but never anything like that while camping, although it does enter my head, beat to stay in the tent and relax. You’ll love it so go for it.
I am a solo hiker but I do have fear of being at night alone in mountain. Your video helped me to realize I need to do it so overcome my fears!! Thank you 🙏
Another spellbinding video Ray , your topic paradoxically got me thinking you would be a brilliant companion to anyone too nervous to venture out solo backpacking . Warm natured , interesting and knowlegable . Reminicent of my late cycling companion who i dearly miss but have learnt so much from. Best wishes .
Excellent again Ray, Love solo camping I wouldnt have it any other way, Thankfully after years of working during the night, I use the darkness to my advantage and thrive in it now, so much happens under the cover of darkness that you wouldnt see in daylight. I bought a night owl sight to use in darkness & love lying on my side on top of my sleeping bag with the tent flap open observing nature go about its business under the cover of darkness. Brilliant.
Thanks mate. That sounds like great fun and did think about a trail cam at one point to setup outside the tent whilst I slept to capture what nature was up to. Atb
Going solo is one of my favorites. Just for 1 or 2 nights. It's all about the spot you choose to pitch. Just subscribed. Great channel. Although I'm hugely jealous, not many choices in the south east for a proper wild night out.
Ray I loved this video, such an unusual topic but for many so very relevant, helpful and important. Will be showing this to my mountain camping partner who has worried in the past (my 5 year old son). Nice video brother. 🙏👍
Wonderful uplifting video, slow paced, relaxed and true. Great to have audio examples of some of the beasts found on Scotland’s hills. Thanks so much for doing this one.
In Queenstown, NZ, in the mountains I saw, on multiple occasions; blue lights. Big ones, small ones, some with big bright flare effects, some with small dots. Sometimes very very intermittent and sometimes very fast with quick successions. Watched it with a girl once too by the lake. Absolutely indescribable and weird. There's so much out there. Nice video bro.
Hi mate great video, when the first few times I went on a solo camp I could not sleep, it was the strange sounds and noises what got me on edge, but now I sleep like a log, you did a great job you now got a new subscribe, we’ll done. Ady
Couple of the bothies I’ve been in I swear are haunted . The grey man is true I had the worst night camping there ruined tent and 70 mile an hour winds felt like a giant ! Great vid .
Great video, Ray. Your local area is fantastic, well, magnificent, and will be a great explore. I think everyone needs to do local at this time. I mean it's not the wild camping that's the problem, but travel involves petrol stops, pub stops, food stops, etc. Local is good. Btw, Scotland is in my book of 'Advanced Nations' for having wild camping. As you know, it's illegal here in England except on Dartmoor. Shame.
Great video and beautiful locale, have always wanted to see wild Scotland. Scariest night camping - just below the Continental Divide in Montana had a big horn sheep jam its head into the open door on the tent looking for a handout well after dark; scared the living daylights out of me....cheers from America, keep the camping video coming.
Lovely skies there, so many people never look up. You are right, i used to camp in the Longdendale valley, near the no camping signs! There were wheel tracks in the grass, i was worried about the tent getting run over in the dark but as you say, the grass rustling against the groundsheet, i was looking outside each time! Needless to say, by the second night i was so tired, i slept like a log! Thank you for your wise and kind advice. Best Wishes.
Great Video Ray. I'll always remember my first solo many years ago. The mind plays tricks. I was in Sutherland and in dead of night I was hearing a jingle from my local radio station 'Radio Forth' (no way ForthFM had reception at Loch Assynt). Had many other weird goings on too but you are right....get your head down and sleep through it. Well Done mate 👏
First rate video very inspiring, I used to do a lot of night fishing across the Country and i can relate to some of the noises that are referred to, imagination can run riot at times.
Learning the sounds is so good to take away the fear of the unknown. Thanks for sharing the examples. My strangest experience was being surrounded by wild dear as I unknowingly camped next to a waterhole 👍🇬🇧😄
Good discussion Ray about real fears. I'm OK camping solo yet even the other night in the Lower Wye I had to take two with one or two sounds. I remember when training in depot Para we'd go on stag in the blackness of the heaths or moors and you knew the chance of being attacked on exercise at night. Then you look into the distance for any movement and that can really play tricks on you. Any way, great video Orbs and all. mark
Such a relaxing, nice video! Thanks! As a woman my concerns about solo wild camping are related more to other people than anything else! Still I'm going as soon as its possible with how things are in England.
Some good content in this video. I just spent the whole week wild camping in Glencoe... on the first night up in the woods, a red deer stag actually roared so loud that it woke me up... sounded like a proper wild beast... was a first for me. The by far weirdest outdoor experience for me personally was last year, when some mates and I were out on a road trip along the east coast. One night we did a wild camp in a forest near Stonehaven. We arrived there at sunset and manged to get our tent pitched just before it got dark, near to another solo camper who already had his camp fire going. The guy greeted us and seemed very friendly at first. It was a horrible night in general - heavy rain showers the whole night, and we had camped underneath some tall trees right in the middle of the forest... so we had branches and sticks falling down on us the whole time. At maybe 3am/4am, I swore that I heard foot steps around our tent. My mates knocked it off at first and said it was just the sound of the sticks and the rain... but I kept listening, and it turned out that I was right - the guy was actually circulating our tent!! One of my friends even felt a hand touch his elbow as the guy was sliding along the tent... I assume he was looking to see if we had any belongings stored at the sides, where he could cut through the tent with a knife or razor blade and commit theft. At some stage he stopped and shined his flashlight straight into our tent - for one moment I could see his shadow when he was putting on his torch... horror film type of stuff. We asked him what he was doing, he then mentioned the bad weather and asked us if we were coming out. We told him to go away... imagine being out in the woods on your own, and something like this happens to you in the middle of the night... what a nightmare!! At least it was the three of us and he was on his own... I assume that the guy must have been on some type of drugs to be honest. Since then I always have a flashlight right next to me when I go to sleep, which is set it to SOS mode in case I need it... it should fend off most neds and other scum who are trying to mess around with your camp. You won't have these type of problems up the hills or mountains however.
Hell of an experience that to go through. However have met a few weird foiks like that whilst at a few bothies. As you say I do try and get away from normal locations and top of mountain is ideal ;) Glad it didn't put you off for the future. Atb
Love your videos, also love solo hiking in the Highlands myself, unfortunately haven't been able to get up the year due to obvious reasons though, however your videos have kept me going so thank you. My most unnerving experience was last year, I hiked from Forsinard station for a few days (more lowland than Highland I know) through Strathy forest before looping back around to catch the train home early morning. A tropical storm (what business does a tropical storm have in Scotland anyway) was about to blow in so I pitched my tent as stealthily as I could (red tent) in the most sheltered place I could find (behind the now closed Forsinard hotel). Anyhoo a huge storm blew in, the wind jus whipped around the hotel as if it wasn't there, only my body weight kept the tent from taking off. The wind was deafening for the next five or six hours, then I awoke to deafening silence, pitch black, very eerie... Then I heard it, just meters from my tent a deep cough, it definitely wasn't human, sounded like it came from something with a large lung capacity. This continued every minute or so for about ten minutes, combined with heavy stamping that were definitely getting closer and were definitely due to my presence. Anyway, suddenly the thing turned and then heavy hoof steps ran off. Of course I know now it was likely a deer, indeed I found some stag sounds on TH-cam that sounded just like it, but when you're in that situation, a million miles away from home, on your own and vulnerable, everything goes through your mind. Anyway, big fan of your work, please keep the videos coming.
Great story mate and hope you still had a great time. Shame about things at the moment and hope it all goes back to normal sooner rather than later. Thanks for watching and Atb.
Really enjoyed this video, I’ve always wanted to solo wild camp but lacked the courage to do it. Will definitely give it a go at some point. Thanks for sharing your experience 👍🏻
Just got back from a 3 night wild camp in Norfolk on a 60 mile hike. I always find it hard to sleep the first night, the the slightest noise you get a massive adrenaline rush which takes hours to leave your bloodstream. My first night I had every critter pass by my tent from fox to Badger, rabbit and rat. The last straw were the rutting deer, coming within 20ft bellowing at the top of thier voices in the pitch black night. In the morning on the trail I bumped into a dog walker who said a lady had been attacked by a stag the day before. The next night I found somewhere enclosed by a fence.. Slept like a baby.
A real scary sound is the noise a grizzly bear makes when he rips your tent apart in the middle of the night or when you have no floor in your tent and a rattle snake crawls in to keep warm.
Interesting thoughts thanks. My guess on the orb is one of the hundreds of outdoor TH-camrs who've been given an Olight nuclear powered mini spotlight to 'review' - one of those that can throw a spot onto passing aircraft. You're so lucky in Scotland to have the luxury of just worrying about the relatively irrational things - ghosts, murderers, that sort of thing. In England there is a real and constant edge of being found out, and moved on. That makes any voices carrying on the wind quite buttock clenchingly tense... Cheers for posting, and a new sub from me. 👍
Thanks for sharing. Can imagine the issues camping down South can be a real pain. Did spend 6 months working down there and lucky I had Dartmoor near by for some form of outdoors. Atb
Camped in the lake district a few years back, a storm blew up one night and the wind came funnelling down the mountains like a bloody steam train, very scary. Enjoy your vlogs, thanks.
Excellent, don't let it put you off but just be careful of the flying orbs and self-throwing stones - other than that nothing to worry about. I live in Indonesia and they had a television program which involved putting someone in a pitch black room in an abandoned house - surprisingly most of the contestants did not find that an enjoyable experience! Love your videos and you are lucky to live where you do.
Thank you for this video! Really great to hear your advice on it as I’m very anxious about my first few solo camps. Although, the grey man and pebble story is terrifying! Subscribed!
The Staffordshire moorlands gave me a strange fright one summer in the early hours of morning. Awoken by the sound of children playing in a playground it really did frighten me to death.Looking outwards over the moors & seeing nothing in the dark no lights just the moon with many bright stars around.The sounds fading away in minutes is one that i will never forget or will I ever have an explanation.Still to this day the sound haunts me wondering what it could have been,I've never returned to camp in that spot again nor do I think I ever-will.
Really enjoyed that video buddy! I did my first wild camp about a month ago on Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. I'd done some backwoods camping with Scouts and Cadets years ago but it was sanctioned and with groups so not what I'd call wild. But my Cadair camp was a full mountain hike and a camp at Llyn Cau. All solo. But I had the absolute best time! I did hear some sheep somewhere on the mountain but being in a glacial basin the sound echoed in the night and made it sound like these sheep were massive. Other than the sheep there were Meadow Pipits and a small waterfall. Apart from that, it was a very peaceful, quiet camp. I am planning (hoping.. praying?) to be up in the Glencoe Glen Etive area towards the end of this month for a long weekend. Hoping to do some hiking, camping and Red Deer photography/videography. A lot of my adventures are for wildlife photography. I've got a few bits and pieces on my channel if that's something you're interested in. But Scotland is the place to be to photograph the Red Deer roaring and rutting. Thanks for another great video mate :)
I think the fear is hardwired in into us to keep us in a state of semi alertness because we are separated from our social group and no longer have safety in numbers, so when we find ourselves out in unfamiliar territory in the dark we get through the night teetering on the edge of the fight or flight response. Our minds are our worst enemy turning field mice into monsters. Nice camp and chat Ray I'm considering getting a Zpacks tent just mulling it over trying to justify adding another expensive tent to the armada. take care, atb Colin
I remember going to the Tormaukin Inn before it started calling itself pedantically a 'hotel' in the late 80's I think, it had a great wee tiny bar with a fireplace for a drink before you went into the restaurant for a meal ... then they renovated and expanded, enough said.... that's the things in life that scare me, they call them 'improvements' lol
Last time I was out, in september, in the Lakes, it was so misty I could only see a few feet in front, a few times I thought I could see someone coming towards me but it always turned out to be something else, was a bit spooky was a fun camp though. I'm in Liverpool, we've just been locked down for at least a month so might be a while before I get back out which is a shame I prefer camping in cold weather. Love watching your videos.
This is strange, but me and the Mrs did a summit camp on Meall Buidhe (Glen Lyon) facing Westwards in September and looking towards round about where you and Murray were camping (Beinn a'Chrulaiste?) we also noticed the strange orb/light that you've described, it was miles away from the road, it moved quickly then slowly and even appeared to change colour, very strange. Couldn't get any sleep in Corrie Fee last week because of the very noise stags 😂 was incredible seeing them in the daylight
Nice wee video Ray, was that Saturday night? We had an absolutely belting sunset from Limekilns. I do a lot of routes in the Ochils over the winter to keep the hill legs going, great set of hills 👍.
Ever since I first heard about the grey man of ben macdhui a number of years ago, I have been fascinated by it and bought everything I could get my hands on about it, Seen some truly weird things in the sky too over the years, You're lucky having those hills in your your backyard
Really enjoyed this. A good subject to discuss. I am certainly going to do discuss this on my next camp out - crediting your good self and this video of course! Even the most hardened wildcampers amongst us must have woke with a start at some point to a strange noise just outside the tent! But invariably, as you say, it's our imagination running wild in most cases! Just subbed - all the best - Adam
I really loved this film,soooo relaxing, made me wish I was out in the middle of nowhere in my tent, I have no weird experiences to tell, thankfully.Have to say that I am very impressed by your black grouse, ptarmigan and red dear impressions,lol.Looking forward to more of your excellent films and the Ochill hills look great, never been myself but look well worth an explore.
I had been camping once and the weather was really rough when I went to bed, wind howling and rain coming down but during the night the wind eased off and the rain stopped. I was awoken at about 4:30am by a really sudden loud and strange noise that I had to investigate. I soon found out that I was not as alone as I thought I was. A couple had pitched their tent in a little ravine near by out of line of sight and also assumed that they were completely alone because they were having sex and making the craziest loud noises that they could. In the morning they soon found out that they were not as alone as they thought they were when they walked past my tent on their way back to their car as I was sitting enjoying my breakfast 😂
Subscribed 👍 love these type of wild camp vids, You've done a good one here! To many People wait to long in life to do this, There is always some reason or excuse. I always head for cover, usually a wood where I can stealth camp with minimal stuff, usually a basher, hammock, and or a Bivvey bag and a trekker kelly kettle. The sounds the woods can scare you though!!!
Nice one Ray, must admit I get a bit feart on solo efforts during the night. Weird having someone pitched nearby eases that. I was woken up on the Ben Alder plateau with two gun shots in the middle of the night. Found out later that a Frenchman commited suicide on the summit. 🤯 I'll never camp up there again.
@stephenblair67 sorry, I should have worded that better. The suicide happened prior to my trip. Ironically his family believe he was murdered as he met an Algerian on the train and they got off together at Corrour. The Algerian chap was never seen again. All very weird.
Let me know in the comments below your own weird, unusual or scary experiences. Also would be grateful if you can remember to subscribe if you haven't for my future upcoming videos.
This topic is the most common reason people won't go camping. We'll done
My own weird ánd scary experience when I was hiking on my own: during a three day hike I got in the middle of storm Ciara somewhere in Belgium, I struggled in the dark pinning my tent just behind a empty building, but after a few hours rest a dog was waking me up barking outside while his boss shines his or her flashlight for minutes at my tent...I hold my breath ánd my knife 😬...luckely after a while dog and boss went on leaving me and my tent untouched...
I've seen a similar orb while fishing in a chain of man-made ponds at night. It landed in the pond furthest away from me and as if that wasn't frightening enough, fizzed its way through the small canals joining the ponds together. It came through several ponds before bursting into pieces of plasma looking flame. Enough to make me call it a night.
Some kind of ball lightning is my best guess.
Your tale of the earthquake related orb reminds me of a documentary I saw about the Hessdalen lights which describes a similar phenomenon.
I guess it would be scaring to hear the music of your video in the night while camping alone at this location... 😂😂😂
Just last week I was backpacking in the Hoosier National Forest (Indiana, USA). No tent, just a tarp open on three sides. A bit after going to bed I awaken to a REALLY bright light, it looks like a camper's lantern not more than 100 yards distant! What the... When I check my watch, I'm like WHEW... that's no lantern, that's the moon rising over the eastern horizon, waning gibbous so VERY bright. I went back to sleep. This is why campers need to know the times of sun and moon rise and set.
I have never camped solo overnight but the closest thing I have to relate to it is fishing solo in the dark.
For many years I used to fish alone down the river often till 2am, the only issues I ever had were from people drinking and walking along the riverbank behind me. This has happened quite a few times in the pitch black but in many ways the pitch black is your friend because no-one knows you are there until you make a sound. I've seen myself just freezing on the spot and people walking past behind me oblivious that I am actually there.
I have always done this because one does not know how a group of people on alcohol or other drugs might respond to meeting a solo fisherman at 2am on the river bank.
Great training for solo night camping.
The overwhelming source of the terrors is our own minds. Strange noises, unfamiliar sights in the half-light, to which our minds add large dollops of imagination...
There's another manifestation too, and it's happened to me twice in 20 years. A sudden onset of a totally encompassing sense of depression, despair, fear, hopelessness, from which it's impossible to escape. It feels like something physically gripping you. On the first occasion I didn't understand what was happening and I thought I was going mad, but after half an hour the feeling simply evaporated. Years later it happened again but I was able to recognise it, sit down, and wait for it to go. The probable explanation is that being alone in the wilds can act as a trigger for the release of pent-up rubbish in our minds, some of which can be negative.
I've heard others report this phenomenon too, and my message is that if it strikes, try not to worry. It will soon pass. I suspect that in some weird way we don't understand, it's good for us.
Thanks for sharing Dave. Atb
@kai kito I'm sorry but you have the better of me there. What are Krankies?
Or some kind of dark spiritual entity which roam around in the wilderness from time to time. They come and go and look for people to prey on.
Wow
@@tenminutetokyo2643 Ha, that's not helping ;o)
Great video, glad to have watched this. I camped with my buddy in South-Central Ontario and was woken up to the sound of a woman screaming in agony beside the tent. My buddy was completely asleep throughout the entirety of it, (we drank a bit), however I'm a light sleeper, and woke up to it immediately. I briefly explain it in a video, but it really showed me how vast Ontario is, and that at any moment, a large predator animal might cross paths with you (the animal turned out to be a 'Canada Lynx', there's many videos on their spine chilling screams on TH-cam). This is a reality you must embrace if you live in Ontario. I think it was a very rare, and beautiful occurrence that has made me fall deep in love with the randomness of the wilderness. It was honestly the single most terrifying thing that has EVER happened in my life, not going to lie.
Great stuff. Just checked out some Canada Lynx videos and that would put the fear of god into you if you did'nt know. Atb
Since we Culled any Wildlife that could possibly harm us apart from The Adder, Large Deer, Bulls, Dogs (packs) Humans are our biggest threat. I personally feel safer the further away from People i am, would rather be in a Huge Dense Forest at midnight than Anywhere in a Big City at Anytime
Here in North America there are ample reasons to be nervous: more dangerous animals than the UK, true wilderness miles from help, more cryptids and paranormal phenomena...we know about the Cairngorms and the tales that come out of the Highlands, so there's scary places everywhere for campers. You speak sensibly and practically as a solo adventurer and I raise my glass to you, sir!!
When I lived in U.K, few times in teens camped with friends and was always spooked by dark. Now I’m in Canada and camp a fair bit. As you say, way more to fear here with bears, cougars etc. Think if I was back in U.K I would sleep outside like a baby now 😆
I was once hiking alone in the Highlands when I heard the weirdest sound, rather like a hyena laughing. I'm a keen naturalist so know almost all the animals and birds you might come across in the UK and the sounds they make and it was none of these, so I became a bit spooked. Not long after, I descended a ravine and saw another hiker ascending. As we passed, I said to the guy "did you hear that strange unworldly sound?". He paused for a moment and then said "oh, I'm sorry, I think that was me". He was listening to a comedy programme on BBC radio through headphones as he was stomping about in the middle of nowhere, cackling in mirth like some demented wild beast!
I once woke to the feeling that there was some presence there. On opening my eyes a long grey face peered down at me in the silence. As you say, imagination going wild. It was in fact one of my two collies looking forward to its early morning walk !!
Good to hear from you again.
IFD
Oh wow! Great stuff and Atb.
I had that feeling once and looked up to a grizzly bear in my face. I yelled and it took off. The local bear dogs then chased it into the forest. I went back to sleep and 10 minutes later a large animal jumped on my tent. It was the bear dogs returning.
I camped in January up on the Lakeland fells. The wind was coming down from the surrounding hills in long bursts. As I fell asleep I could hear a woman singing gently in the breeze. I found it quite relaxing.
I'm an ex infantryman of 10 years . Spent most of my life outdoors but this was always with my mates inside and outside of the military. I only recently started to solo wildcamp and I have to say I was put on edge and felt a bit of fear. I wasn't used to it and I don't think I am yet. I do know I get more pleasure from doing this than I do of being scared. So I pursue it and love it.
Great stuff and glad you are enjoying it. It is a weird thing to get used to and you wouldn't initially think it would bother you. You get used to it :) Atb
@@RS.Outdoors I honestly think you should have a series on the BBC. It would be a great show. Please keep them coming and I hope you don’t feel any pressure to provide content all the time. The quality you have right now is lasting me ages. Thank you for doing this.
Lovely stuff, thanks for this. As someone who is still building up the equipment and courage to wild camp, this certainly helped!
Sure you will have the courage to give it a go. After a few trips you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Atb
The wailing cries of the undead whilst forest camping always freaks me out.... 😉😁😁
Thats deer & foxes, but yes they can sound like the undead or babies being murdered
@@AndysEastCoastAdventures 😱😱😱😱😱😁👍
@@AndysEastCoastAdventures it’s true!!!
I know it's a bugger
Not the wild life I’m worried about- it’s people. Thanks for sharing; great content as always 👍
Thanks for watching. Atb
Fantastic video Ray, a perfect "beginners" guide to psychologically surviving those first few outings, great sound recordings too. Nice one.
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
Thanks for inviting us along, Ray. I enjoyed that.
I sleep through thunderstorms and was raised in the countryside for many years and as a youth went off camping regularly - most weekends in the summer holidays. I'm more troubled by slugs, snails and other wee beasties. As a Pagan the great outdoors is my church and refreshes me and teaches me things I need to know. I don't fear the dark. I now live in North East Lancashire, Pendle and love the open moors. I'm not keen on towns or large gatherings of humans, I prefer nature.Once as a youth I woke up with a fox sleeping on the side of my tent and I tried not to disturb him as much as I could, once he left i did, but i treasure that privileged occurrence.
Get what you say mate. Pendle is meant to be an interesting place with all it's old ghosts and witches?. Atb
I live on the edge of the country with fields on one side of my house so I am used to night-time sound. Cows lowing when they are disturbed, sheep, the tawny owl in the sycamore trees at the end of the garden, foxes screaming at eachother in the spring. On the other hand I find the constant night-time buzz of a city disturbing.
Thank you for the sound clips. Some animals make no sound at all. Wild camping in Glen Affric, I left my rubbish bag just outside the tent. Next morning it had disappeared without trace. A human snooping around in the middle of the night would have woken me up, but not a badger or a fox.
Great stuff thanks for sharing. Atb
Cool video Ray. I run the Kilpatrick Hills FB page and they are very similar to the Ochils. Having the occasional Snipe take off walking in the darkness can certainly startle you!
Yep they sure can. Same walking about in the Gorms and a bunch of Ptarmigan make themselves know :) Atb.
Murray's description of the orb sighting brought me up in Goose pimples. I have seem the same 'bimbling' ball of light but at quite close quarters on a pitch dark night at the bottom of steep valley in the pennines in Yorkshire in the 1980's. I watched it for about 10 minutes 'bimbling' down the valley towards me, the top of the valley silhouetted behind. The ball of light stopped almost on top of a 33kv wooden electricity transmission pylon. It seemed to drop to the ground before lifting up and bimbling off behind a woodland. My hair (I had some then) felt like it was standing on end! I was a young man and was very illogically scared and agitated for a number of days. The phenomena was well documented in that part of the world, with multiple sightings and sometimes broad daylight by multiple witnesses. It was called the mystery '(heli) copter'. As you mentioned, people explained a link between pressure on crystalline gritstone rocks and piezo electricity, creating a type of 'ball lightening'.
Thanks for sharing and it is defo weird to see. Atb
You're making me seriously miss Scotland. The magical feel of the land has never left me, and as beautiful as it looks where I now live (Canada) the feeling just isn't here for me.
Scotland might just be my future home. Thank you for your beautiful videos:)
It is an amazing place. Thanks for watching. Atb
Great video as usual, I aways enjoy your content!
Since you asked here’s my scary camping experience...
During a solo long distance backpacking trip I was camping in the Czech Highlands in some forest. I was laying on my side in my tent about to drift off to sleep when a large animal ran smack into the side of my tent and skelped me full pelt on the back. The tent collapsed on top of me with the weight of the animal above and then it got back to its feet, ran off and my tent bounced back into shape. Don’t know if it was deer or boar (or something else?) but it made the weirdest unfamiliar noise as it ran into the night...other than some minor discomfort to my back and a patch repair job on my flysheet, my gear and I were largely unscathed, but needless to say I was a bit freaked out for the rest of the night and slept with one eye open 😜
Never mentioned anything about needing change of underwear. If it happened to me I would have ;) Have to say that is a reason why I dont fancy a bivvy camp, it's the thought of a deer walking or running over me during the night I think about. Atb
@@RS.Outdoors 🤣
Camping in woodland or a forest can really play on the mind after dark. Hearing the creeking of trees and wind howling, like a distant train approaching, can be unsettling at times. It still amazes me how quickly the light and safety of a campfire disappears in dense forest only a few yards away! Great video and a new sub. Many thanks 👍
Many thanks for watching and the sub. Atb
You have a great style of presenting Ray and your editing is first class, no jarring music, very peaceful and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
Worthy of a subscription for sure, well done Renegade! I have solo camped off a motorcycle many many times. I fear no animal or cryptids but do respect them. People on the other hand are the problem 99.9% of the time. Being rather large and exceptionally ugly usually keeps the people at bay.
I did my first wild camp for years by Burnmoor Lodge in the Lake District last weekend. Having been reading up on the old Corpse Road from Wasdale Head to Boot and the associated ghost stories beforehand, which went right by where I was camping, I didn't have the easiest nights sleep. As you say, sheep and bits of grass rubbing against the flysheet in the dark definitely make it sound like there's someone - or something - outside.
All good fun in hindsight!
Great stuff and hope you get out lots more. As I said the more often you go out the easier it gets. Atb
Cool video mate, thanks for sharing. I always enjoy camping alone, despite some weird noises it's part of nature
Glad you enjoyed. Atb
Aye Ray, you and Murray come on..... that'll be the wild haggis 😄
Stay safe
👍🏔
Could be ;) Atb
I was camping in the Purbeck’s in Dorset summer of 2019, Using a Dutch army bivvy bag, camping on the cliffs near a place called dancing ledge, I had experience very similar than one you had with lights in the sky jumping around not like any satellite or plane or stars... then Suddenly the lights stopped and then just shot up into the sky and disappeared ...very strange .
Brilliant TH-cam channel keep up the good work 👍🏻
Great story Philip and thanks for watching. Atb
Fabulous to see you enjoying my local hills Ray...the Ochils may lack the grandness of the hills to the North but they have given me countless many adventures over the last ten years in all seasons.. so thanks for that...atb
Absolutely. Atb
I was once wilderness camping with a church group for a week in the high Sierra Nevada mountains in California. About 7 of us decided to hike the trail to the peak in the middle of the night. Amazing place, old growth forest with enormous Ponderosa pines and a galactic view of the stars at that elevation. Anyways, we were many miles up the trail, far from our camp and we heard women's laughter coming from the ravine on the right side of the trail. It wasn't an auditory illusion from the river noise, it was quite distinct and we all heard it. The laughter seemed to float around and echo. It was from an area that was inaccessible. There were no trails on the other side of the river which was rocky and rough and at the bottom of a narrow ravine. This was around 2 or 3 AM in the morning in total high elevation mountain wilderness far from civilization. We called out hello and then it was silent and then more laughter. It was eerie but not creepy laughter so we weren't terrified. Later when we reached the peak we saw two orange orbs float up and down around that same ravine. We just chalked it up to nature spirits or faeries or something like that. Very strange and witnessed by all 7 of us.
Amazing, thanks for sharing. Atb
When you start chalking things up to faeries then you need to have a word with yourself.
Another smashing video Ray. As always you make nature the star of the show. In mid September I walked the Dava Way from Grantown to Forres. The weather held so I continued along the Moray Coast Trail to Cullen. I camped for three nights along the way, my final night being in Lossiemouth woods, adjacent to the old WW2 gun emplacements, just behind the ruined barrack block building. I think a barn owl was nesting in there - it's high pitched shriek sounded like someone being brutally murdered in a 70's Hammer House of Horror. It took a while getting off to sleep that night!
Sounds like a great walk apart from the barn owl, lol. Atb
years ago I took my son on his first camping trip. Nice and simple, we camped next to the dam at the Loch Lednock reservoir. At some point during the wee hours my son woke me up saying he could hear noises outside. I reassured him he was imagining it/ being outside was magnifying the sound of insects, etc. He took ages to settle, and it was only the next morning that the massive trail of deer scat suggested that he had, in fact heard noises outside the tent. Never misses a chance to remind me of that.
Great stuff mate. Atb
Thanks for this. Perfect landscape for a wild camp. The way you discuss the strange noises problem of solo camping, is very reassuring. I love the idea of solo camping but I seldom do it and I think it is because ofthe perculiar existential angst that rises up as the dark closes in and the nocturnal creatures begin their wanderings. If there's a companion in the vicinity, even if they're some distance away, I take all the scrapings and patterings in my stride. But alone it's a different matter. Mind you, here in Southern Finland, where there are occasional sitings of bears and a small pack of wolves passing through from time to time, I suppose one is forgiven the odd frisson of unease! Though it's the ticks that are the real danger in the warmer weather🙂. Enjoying your videos. Subscribed.
Glad you enjoyed it and you have an amazing place yourself to explore. Atb
Excellent video as usual. 👍 Getting into the best time of the year for camping right now. Cool and listening to the stags at night.. 🦌
Sure are. Atb
Great video, thank you. I’d love to go wild camping on my own but I do have these fears, that’s why I think I’m better off living it vicariously through people like you.
Nah, just get out and give it a go. Not as bad as you think. Atb
Great stuff, it took me a few years to build up the courage but last year I went up the mountains alone and late enough that I could easily get back down, man I wanted to pack up and leave about ten times but I just promised myself I wouldn’t, I seen the last of the hikers leave down the mountain and new I was alone, I got a beautiful sunset then the most amazing stars, it was indeed scary, just the deafening silence, the odd random rattle of the side of the tent for no reason then would stop again for hours. But I never regretted it and looking forward to getting out again this year. I’ll be scared again but ya work through it, I have ear plugs or headphones and a podcast on etc. Making sure to do a good hike in or have a busy day so you are tired enough to sleep. When you wake up in the mounting you won’t regret it, you’ll have immense pride in yourself for staying the night. Just to note I have bailed on a camp before, got a lough in the mourne mountains and I couldn’t see 10ft in front of me for the fog, and the silence was scary, almost like the world had frozen, I took half an hour and weighed up the pros and cons and decided to go before light left me, I knew I’d be very nervous that particular night so decided to leave, yeah it eats away at me but I’ll get out again that’s 100%. So give it a go, you won’t regret it. I’ve also had some strange experiences in my life, seen orbs of light floating passed me, slowly, seen a metallic ball floating over the top of the mountain both during daylight, but never anything like that while camping, although it does enter my head, beat to stay in the tent and relax. You’ll love it so go for it.
Nice on mate and thanks for sharing. Atb
I am a solo hiker but I do have fear of being at night alone in mountain. Your video helped me to realize I need to do it so overcome my fears!! Thank you 🙏
Hi Tara. The more you go out the easier it gets. For me now I cant wait to get out for a little bit of solitude. Atb
@@RS.Outdoors the area I live has bear and lion mountain . That makes it scary 😀😀
Another spellbinding video Ray , your topic paradoxically got me thinking you would be a brilliant companion to anyone too nervous to venture out solo backpacking . Warm natured , interesting and knowlegable . Reminicent of my late cycling companion who i dearly miss but have learnt so much from. Best wishes .
Thank you kindly. Atb
Excellent again Ray, Love solo camping I wouldnt have it any other way, Thankfully after years of working during the night, I use the darkness to my advantage and thrive in it now, so much happens under the cover of darkness that you wouldnt see in daylight. I bought a night owl sight to use in darkness & love lying on my side on top of my sleeping bag with the tent flap open observing nature go about its business under the cover of darkness. Brilliant.
Thanks mate. That sounds like great fun and did think about a trail cam at one point to setup outside the tent whilst I slept to capture what nature was up to. Atb
Going solo is one of my favorites. Just for 1 or 2 nights. It's all about the spot you choose to pitch. Just subscribed. Great channel. Although I'm hugely jealous, not many choices in the south east for a proper wild night out.
Thanks for the sub! Was working and living down south for a good while there in Plymouth. Really lucky up here with where we can go. Atb
Great video. Thanks so much for your honesty. Keep on sharing please and stay safe!
Thank you! Will do!
You are very lucky to be so close to this beautiful nature. And your video’s are a big inspiration. Much respect from the Netherlands!
Thank you so much 😀
Ray I loved this video, such an unusual topic but for many so very relevant, helpful and important. Will be showing this to my mountain camping partner who has worried in the past (my 5 year old son). Nice video brother. 🙏👍
Glad it was helpful!
Wonderful uplifting video, slow paced, relaxed and true. Great to have audio examples of some of the beasts found on Scotland’s hills. Thanks so much for doing this one.
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
Great channel, I had my supper on a mountain in Wales with a wee mouse on the summit of mountain on my wild camp.
Very cool! Atb
In Queenstown, NZ, in the mountains I saw, on multiple occasions; blue lights. Big ones, small ones, some with big bright flare effects, some with small dots. Sometimes very very intermittent and sometimes very fast with quick successions. Watched it with a girl once too by the lake. Absolutely indescribable and weird. There's so much out there. Nice video bro.
Great story and many thanks for watching. Atb
Beautifully made video! Good audios, very nice views, and even the night images are perfect. Solo wild camping is great, I love it too.
Glad you enjoyed it! Atb
Hi mate great video, when the first few times I went on a solo camp I could not sleep, it was the strange sounds and noises what got me on edge, but now I sleep like a log, you did a great job you now got a new subscribe, we’ll done. Ady
Thanks Adrian, Atb.
Renegade Scot hi most welcome mate I got a few videos to watch now on your channel. 👍 ady
Definitely had a few experiences at night in the middle of nowhere, good way of getting a quick cardio workout in lol
Couple of the bothies I’ve been in I swear are haunted . The grey man is true I had the worst night camping there ruined tent and 70 mile an hour winds felt like a giant ! Great vid .
Oh wow! Atb
Great video, Ray. Your local area is fantastic, well, magnificent, and will be a great explore. I think everyone needs to do local at this time. I mean it's not the wild camping that's the problem, but travel involves petrol stops, pub stops, food stops, etc. Local is good.
Btw, Scotland is in my book of 'Advanced Nations' for having wild camping. As you know, it's illegal here in England except on Dartmoor. Shame.
Thanks mate. feel for you down south and amazing how lucky we are up here. Atb
Great video and beautiful locale, have always wanted to see wild Scotland. Scariest night camping - just below the Continental Divide in Montana had a big horn sheep jam its head into the open door on the tent looking for a handout well after dark; scared the living daylights out of me....cheers from America, keep the camping video coming.
Glad you enjoyed it. Great story and would scare the daylights out of me as well. thanks for watching from over the pond, Atb
The spookier the better. Love wild camping. I've had the deer right outside my tent all night roaring. Loved it. Barrie
Very cool. Atb
Lovely skies there, so many people never look up.
You are right, i used to camp in the Longdendale valley, near the no camping signs! There were wheel tracks in the grass, i was worried about the tent getting run over in the dark but as you say, the grass rustling against the groundsheet, i was looking outside each time! Needless to say, by the second night i was so tired, i slept like a log! Thank you for your wise and kind advice. Best Wishes.
Thanks for watching. Atb
Great Video Ray.
I'll always remember my first solo many years ago. The mind plays tricks. I was in Sutherland and in dead of night I was hearing a jingle from my local radio station 'Radio Forth' (no way ForthFM had reception at Loch Assynt). Had many other weird goings on too but you are right....get your head down and sleep through it.
Well Done mate 👏
Thanks for watching mate and glad you enjoyed it. Atb
First rate video very inspiring, I used to do a lot of night fishing across the Country and i can relate to some of the noises that are referred to, imagination can run riot at times.
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
Learning the sounds is so good to take away the fear of the unknown. Thanks for sharing the examples. My strangest experience was being surrounded by wild dear as I unknowingly camped next to a waterhole 👍🇬🇧😄
Thanks for watching Tripper, Atb.
Away from all the madness that's going on, thanks mate
Hey - so very well done. Professional, honest and inspirational. Many thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
Good discussion Ray about real fears. I'm OK camping solo yet even the other night in the Lower Wye I had to take two with one or two sounds. I remember when training in depot Para we'd go on stag in the blackness of the heaths or moors and you knew the chance of being attacked on exercise at night. Then you look into the distance for any movement and that can really play tricks on you. Any way, great video Orbs and all. mark
That's the thing you do need to keep in check. Amazing how normal objects start to look menacing and like figures watching you once it gets dark. Atb.
@@RS.Outdoors Yeah Ray our minds are great at manifesting things.
Such a relaxing, nice video! Thanks!
As a woman my concerns about solo wild camping are related more to other people than anything else! Still I'm going as soon as its possible with how things are in England.
Glad it was helpful!
Some good content in this video. I just spent the whole week wild camping in Glencoe... on the first night up in the woods, a red deer stag actually roared so loud that it woke me up... sounded like a proper wild beast... was a first for me.
The by far weirdest outdoor experience for me personally was last year, when some mates and I were out on a road trip along the east coast. One night we did a wild camp in a forest near Stonehaven. We arrived there at sunset and manged to get our tent pitched just before it got dark, near to another solo camper who already had his camp fire going. The guy greeted us and seemed very friendly at first. It was a horrible night in general - heavy rain showers the whole night, and we had camped underneath some tall trees right in the middle of the forest... so we had branches and sticks falling down on us the whole time. At maybe 3am/4am, I swore that I heard foot steps around our tent. My mates knocked it off at first and said it was just the sound of the sticks and the rain... but I kept listening, and it turned out that I was right - the guy was actually circulating our tent!! One of my friends even felt a hand touch his elbow as the guy was sliding along the tent... I assume he was looking to see if we had any belongings stored at the sides, where he could cut through the tent with a knife or razor blade and commit theft.
At some stage he stopped and shined his flashlight straight into our tent - for one moment I could see his shadow when he was putting on his torch... horror film type of stuff. We asked him what he was doing, he then mentioned the bad weather and asked us if we were coming out. We told him to go away... imagine being out in the woods on your own, and something like this happens to you in the middle of the night... what a nightmare!! At least it was the three of us and he was on his own... I assume that the guy must have been on some type of drugs to be honest.
Since then I always have a flashlight right next to me when I go to sleep, which is set it to SOS mode in case I need it... it should fend off most neds and other scum who are trying to mess around with your camp. You won't have these type of problems up the hills or mountains however.
Hell of an experience that to go through. However have met a few weird foiks like that whilst at a few bothies. As you say I do try and get away from normal locations and top of mountain is ideal ;) Glad it didn't put you off for the future. Atb
Love your videos, also love solo hiking in the Highlands myself, unfortunately haven't been able to get up the year due to obvious reasons though, however your videos have kept me going so thank you. My most unnerving experience was last year, I hiked from Forsinard station for a few days (more lowland than Highland I know) through Strathy forest before looping back around to catch the train home early morning. A tropical storm (what business does a tropical storm have in Scotland anyway) was about to blow in so I pitched my tent as stealthily as I could (red tent) in the most sheltered place I could find (behind the now closed Forsinard hotel). Anyhoo a huge storm blew in, the wind jus whipped around the hotel as if it wasn't there, only my body weight kept the tent from taking off. The wind was deafening for the next five or six hours, then I awoke to deafening silence, pitch black, very eerie... Then I heard it, just meters from my tent a deep cough, it definitely wasn't human, sounded like it came from something with a large lung capacity. This continued every minute or so for about ten minutes, combined with heavy stamping that were definitely getting closer and were definitely due to my presence. Anyway, suddenly the thing turned and then heavy hoof steps ran off. Of course I know now it was likely a deer, indeed I found some stag sounds on TH-cam that sounded just like it, but when you're in that situation, a million miles away from home, on your own and vulnerable, everything goes through your mind. Anyway, big fan of your work, please keep the videos coming.
Great story mate and hope you still had a great time. Shame about things at the moment and hope it all goes back to normal sooner rather than later. Thanks for watching and Atb.
Really enjoyed this video, I’ve always wanted to solo wild camp but lacked the courage to do it. Will definitely give it a go at some point. Thanks for sharing your experience 👍🏻
You should! Atb
Just got back from a 3 night wild camp in Norfolk on a 60 mile hike. I always find it hard to sleep the first night, the the slightest noise you get a massive adrenaline rush which takes hours to leave your bloodstream. My first night I had every critter pass by my tent from fox to Badger, rabbit and rat. The last straw were the rutting deer, coming within 20ft bellowing at the top of thier voices in the pitch black night. In the morning on the trail I bumped into a dog walker who said a lady had been attacked by a stag the day before. The next night I found somewhere enclosed by a fence.. Slept like a baby.
A real scary sound is the noise a grizzly bear makes when he rips your tent apart in the middle of the night or when you have no floor in your tent and a rattle snake crawls in to keep warm.
Hammock a foot above the ground and you hear the snuffling and shuffling of Mr. Porcupine.
Not many bears, rattle snakes or porcupines in Scotland.... but the high frequency buzz of a midge will frightening the fkin life out of u
Such a reassuring video, nice, thank you
Glad it was helpful! Atb
Interesting thoughts thanks. My guess on the orb is one of the hundreds of outdoor TH-camrs who've been given an Olight nuclear powered mini spotlight to 'review' - one of those that can throw a spot onto passing aircraft. You're so lucky in Scotland to have the luxury of just worrying about the relatively irrational things - ghosts, murderers, that sort of thing. In England there is a real and constant edge of being found out, and moved on. That makes any voices carrying on the wind quite buttock clenchingly tense... Cheers for posting, and a new sub from me. 👍
Thanks for sharing. Can imagine the issues camping down South can be a real pain. Did spend 6 months working down there and lucky I had Dartmoor near by for some form of outdoors. Atb
Camped in the lake district a few years back, a storm blew up one night and the wind came funnelling down the mountains like a bloody steam train, very scary. Enjoy your vlogs, thanks.
Thanks for watching, Atb.
Another brilliant wild camping share thank you 🙏🔥🏴💜
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
New sub! I have camped many places in Canada, for decades, but still not tent camped alone!! 😉🇨🇦
Welcome aboard! Atb
Excellent, don't let it put you off but just be careful of the flying orbs and self-throwing stones - other than that nothing to worry about. I live in Indonesia and they had a television program which involved putting someone in a pitch black room in an abandoned house - surprisingly most of the contestants did not find that an enjoyable experience! Love your videos and you are lucky to live where you do.
Thanks for watching. Atb
Thank you for this video! Really great to hear your advice on it as I’m very anxious about my first few solo camps. Although, the grey man and pebble story is terrifying! Subscribed!
You can do it! Don't get put off and it will be fine. Atb
The Staffordshire moorlands gave me a strange fright one summer in the early hours of morning. Awoken by the sound of children playing in a playground it really did frighten me to death.Looking outwards over the moors & seeing nothing in the dark no lights just the moon with many bright stars around.The sounds fading away in minutes is one that i will never forget or will I ever have an explanation.Still to this day the sound haunts me wondering what it could have been,I've never returned to camp in that spot again nor do I think I ever-will.
Amazing story. I would be so tempted to go back for a camp :) Atb
Go for it
Definitely shrooms 🌝
Really enjoyed that video buddy!
I did my first wild camp about a month ago on Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. I'd done some backwoods camping with Scouts and Cadets years ago but it was sanctioned and with groups so not what I'd call wild. But my Cadair camp was a full mountain hike and a camp at Llyn Cau. All solo. But I had the absolute best time! I did hear some sheep somewhere on the mountain but being in a glacial basin the sound echoed in the night and made it sound like these sheep were massive. Other than the sheep there were Meadow Pipits and a small waterfall. Apart from that, it was a very peaceful, quiet camp.
I am planning (hoping.. praying?) to be up in the Glencoe Glen Etive area towards the end of this month for a long weekend. Hoping to do some hiking, camping and Red Deer photography/videography. A lot of my adventures are for wildlife photography. I've got a few bits and pieces on my channel if that's something you're interested in. But Scotland is the place to be to photograph the Red Deer roaring and rutting.
Thanks for another great video mate :)
Great stuff and hope you have many more enjoyable trips. Atb
Mate, that was a fantastic view!
I think the fear is hardwired in into us to keep us in a state of semi alertness because we are separated from our social group and no longer have safety in numbers, so when we find ourselves out in unfamiliar territory in the dark we get through the night teetering on the edge of the fight or flight response. Our minds are our worst enemy turning field mice into monsters. Nice camp and chat Ray I'm considering getting a Zpacks tent just mulling it over trying to justify adding another expensive tent to the armada. take care, atb Colin
Spot on mate. The Zpacks are meant to be good. Happy camping. Atb
I remember going to the Tormaukin Inn before it started calling itself pedantically a 'hotel' in the late 80's I think, it had a great wee tiny bar with a fireplace for a drink before you went into the restaurant for a meal ... then they renovated and expanded, enough said.... that's the things in life that scare me, they call them 'improvements' lol
Sir just found your channel no nonsense just clean talking, look forward to seeing your next post many thanks
Thanks and welcome. Atb
Very interesting vlog oh and Domain is a class book my fav book by him that and Portent oh and the Fog wish they made a films about these books.
Maybe one day!
Nice one Ray. I too remember reading the James Herbert books.
Good author Atb
Last time I was out, in september, in the Lakes, it was so misty I could only see a few feet in front, a few times I thought I could see someone coming towards me but it always turned out to be something else, was a bit spooky was a fun camp though. I'm in Liverpool, we've just been locked down for at least a month so might be a while before I get back out which is a shame I prefer camping in cold weather. Love watching your videos.
Shame you cant get out and feel for you mate. Cold weather camps are my favourite and most folks thing I am mad. Atb
I loved this video. I lived near there as a kid. Lovely scenery
Enjoyed your vid Ray, as ever. I must say your bird and animal impressions were brilliant! (only joking) Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do! Atb
This is strange, but me and the Mrs did a summit camp on Meall Buidhe (Glen Lyon) facing Westwards in September and looking towards round about where you and Murray were camping (Beinn a'Chrulaiste?) we also noticed the strange orb/light that you've described, it was miles away from the road, it moved quickly then slowly and even appeared to change colour, very strange.
Couldn't get any sleep in Corrie Fee last week because of the very noise stags 😂 was incredible seeing them in the daylight
Nice wee video Ray, was that Saturday night? We had an absolutely belting sunset from Limekilns. I do a lot of routes in the Ochils over the winter to keep the hill legs going, great set of hills 👍.
Yes it was. Atb
Ever since I first heard about the grey man of ben macdhui a number of years ago, I have been fascinated by it and bought everything I could get my hands on about it,
Seen some truly weird things in the sky too over the years,
You're lucky having those hills in your your backyard
Lots of old stories but to be honest I think it is more likely a Broken Spectre which is fairly common up on the plataeu. Thanks for watching and Atb.
Awesome video ! I remember my first night in the woods, getting nervous at each sound... 😂
You and me both! Atb
Great video buddy, really enjoyed it. Many thanks..... Jack.
Thanks 👍
Really enjoyed this. A good subject to discuss. I am certainly going to do discuss this on my next camp out - crediting your good self and this video of course! Even the most hardened wildcampers amongst us must have woke with a start at some point to a strange noise just outside the tent! But invariably, as you say, it's our imagination running wild in most cases! Just subbed - all the best - Adam
Awesome, thank you! Atb
Foxes mating sounds are seriously unnerving if you've never heard them before
Yeh, vixen calls are a peach in the middle of a wood in the dark. Atb
Indeed. Qhen you know what they are though it's reassuring.
Absolutely terrifying!!!
Thought a woman was being raped first time I heard it 😓
So is the sound of my bloody neighbours mating !
Subscribed awesome video
I really loved this film,soooo relaxing, made me wish I was out in the middle of nowhere in my tent, I have no weird experiences to tell, thankfully.Have to say that I am very impressed by your black grouse, ptarmigan and red dear impressions,lol.Looking forward to more of your excellent films and the Ochill hills look great, never been myself but look well worth an explore.
Thanks Colin, just forgot to add my Fox Vixen scream. Atb
Very nice and relaxing , thank you. Not sure the orb story will help my solo adventures on Dartmoor though. Ha.
Enjoy! Atb
I had been camping once and the weather was really rough when I went to bed, wind howling and rain coming down but during the night the wind eased off and the rain stopped. I was awoken at about 4:30am by a really sudden loud and strange noise that I had to investigate. I soon found out that I was not as alone as I thought I was. A couple had pitched their tent in a little ravine near by out of line of sight and also assumed that they were completely alone because they were having sex and making the craziest loud noises that they could. In the morning they soon found out that they were not as alone as they thought they were when they walked past my tent on their way back to their car as I was sitting enjoying my breakfast 😂
Would love to have seen there faces when they realised, lol. Atb
🤣
Subscribed 👍 love these type of wild camp vids, You've done a good one here! To many People wait to long in life to do this, There is always some reason or excuse. I always head for cover, usually a wood where I can stealth camp with minimal stuff, usually a basher, hammock, and or a Bivvey bag and a trekker kelly kettle. The sounds the woods can scare you though!!!
Awesome, thank you! Atb
Nice video and what a beautiful location 👻
Glad you enjoyed it. Atb
Great vid mate thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, Atb.
Good stuff ray birds sounds great man 👍⛺️
Thanks 👍
Nice one Ray, must admit I get a bit feart on solo efforts during the night. Weird having someone pitched nearby eases that.
I was woken up on the Ben Alder plateau with two gun shots in the middle of the night. Found out later that a Frenchman commited suicide on the summit. 🤯 I'll never camp up there again.
Hells bells that's a story mate. Atb
Typical French!
@@ScotsWildcamper lol
@@RS.Outdoors I'll ping you a link to the story on FB.
@stephenblair67 sorry, I should have worded that better. The suicide happened prior to my trip. Ironically his family believe he was murdered as he met an Algerian on the train and they got off together at Corrour. The Algerian chap was never seen again. All very weird.
I’m heading to the Ochil Hills tomorrow with my new tent, the Vango Halo 200 Pro.
You sound like you’re close to me in Tullibody!