@@TheCooperman666 Exactly :You are not in a position to claim that you have been wronged when you are caught committing an unlawful 'act'. If you were on my property (without my permission) I would have the lawful right to remove you and I would lawfully use reasonable force is necessary. This applies if you are on my garden or in my house!
It's sad that the descendants of people who were really good at stealing land hundreds of years ago are able to keep English people from accessing their own land. Heartbreaking.
This is a recent change by the conservative government, they managed to fool folks into believing Brexit was all about regaining control from Europe (what utter tosh), now the same government is regaining land control from the peasants....oh the irony
Whether it’s thick, selfish heads, or merely sublime ignorance, it amounts to the same thing. But hasn’t it always been the way, that a handful of people screw things up for the majority of people who have no ill intent? When I was younger are used to make me mad as hell. Now I am in the autumn of my years it just makes me sad. I don’t know who I feel sadder for, those of us that have to witness the message left by others, all the sadness I feel for those ignorant people, you clearly don’t have a drop of compassion in them. It is so very hard to understand why people go to the wild places, and leave an almighty mess. There is a well-known bothy in the area I live, a good 11 miles from the nearest road. Unfortunately, people will mountain bike in to this bothy, despite requests from the landowner not to leave the vehicle tracks. So, first, people ignore the polite notices and mountain bike on the stalkers path that the estate has created over the years. Then I proceed to trash to both feet. There was a well-known incident a couple of years ago here, where people even defecated inside the bothy. Unfortunately, it has an earth and stone floor, and I wonder if these idiots would have done the same if it had had a wooden floor. However, the damage was done. What’s more, the mountain bikes were rented. What responsibility did the rental people bear for what happened? Shouldn’t they have been clear with the renters? Given that there were ? 11 of them I believe, you would have thought the renter would have sensed something laddish going on...
@@bobphillips2188 people just trash things they have because they're brought up to be silly twats because of a broken education system that couldn't care less about civil duty or social consideration, or anything much practical, or anything other than filtering out a few who take to "academics" better into slightly more stable jobs.
Same thing as murderers and rapists, I have asked them nicely but people insist on breaking the law. IN OTHER words, if you can not get people to stop murdering people, HOW the hell can we stop people littering, some people are lawless
@@Andy-lm2zp You're not wrong about that - but you would imagine that the kind of people attracted to, er, attractive places might not be quite within the murderer or rapist category of sociopath! But hell, some people's disrespect for just about any and every aspect of what makes life do-able and enjoyable for others seems unbounded at times. The secret to living your own life without being constantly pissed off about the loonies and psychos out there is to remember they are in a small minority; although it is precisely because their actions are so very 'noticeable' that we do indeed react to the evidence of their presence. One red fish in a pond full of blue fish stands out when another blue fish blends in. Maybe it is a wish to stand out, with an 'I don't care' chippy attitude that is their fuel? Who knows? I have a neighbour who says he cares about his neighbours and our little corner of a heavenly place to live, all living things, and the quiet life, then blasts loud music out into his garden, making a quiet time in a fairly off-beat place barely possible. He is of the 'I do what I like/nobody tells me what to do' type, who has dogs he has no control over, then blames the other dog owners when one of his attacks theirs... What else is there to say about 'people', hey?! It's back to your point, and a true one at that.
On Saturday i camped in the Peak District but not saying where, i where approached by a ranger in a land rover, he asked me if I'm camping and i replied yes if it's ok, he could tell i wasn't a hooligan or anything like that and after a good chat me explaining leave no trace and so on, he said don't have any BBQ'S of fires which i explained i don't then he sent me on my way and said have a good camp.
This happened to me and 2 mates a week Saturday ago. In the cheviots. The so called quiet part. We were fine with him and he recognised us from TH-cam. Knew we weren’t dickheads and let us stay no problem. He told us he “had words” with a group of young kids the night before and got a load of cheek. And when he went to where they’d been lo and behold a fire pit scar and beer cans and bottles. He said he was sick to death of it. So sometimes being a responsible camper on TH-cam helps. The ones who leave the mess probably haven’t even watched any camping videos on here. They’re just stupid “spoilt generation can’t touch us”kids
Does that mean we must cater to the lowest common denominator? If there's a disruptive child in a classroom do we deal with the one child or punish the entire class for one person's actions?
@@nickhayley I’m confused by your comment... 🤔 I haven’t said that wild camping should be banned because of a few bad apples... all I’ve said is that not everyone has the same respect as paul hence the drama with wild camping and land owners...
@@nickhayley You seem to have missed the point. We aren't being punished here. Some disrespectful, ignorant people are damaging and littering property that doesn't belong to them. This is property that responsible and respectful wild campers have been sleeping on for years without issue. We didn't have a RIGHT to camp there, before or after this wave of littering morons arrived, but because of those morons, landowners are exercising their right to prevent people from doing what they are not permitted to do. The landowners are not the problem here. Don't blame them.
@@AbdulAbulbulAmir I wouldn't be sitting peacefully in my house if strangers kept turning up and throwing rubbish around on my lawn. I'm not surprised people are defending their land from vandals. I don't see the landowners as the cause of this conflict.
The problem is social media when you find a nice remote place best to keep your mouths shut and tell no one, if campers seek out nice places by thier own means they will be more respectful of the area, tell no one leave them find it thierselves.☹️
Same, my dad and I used to have a fishing spot at a local lake; if you hiked up a ways following the little rivers that fed the lake, there were a number of really good spots. One day we came back and there was a camper parked in the spot (illegally mind you. They aren't supposed to take vehicles off the road specifically because it destroys the ecosystem) - they had a dog, country music blasting, beer cans all over, had a fire going, and were generally just being loud and obnoxious. We came back another time - trash all in the bushes, some submerged beer cans sunk in the mud, an overhanging tree had been knocked down to make a bridge (the fish used the root system underneath for shelter, now that was gone), and it was just utterly destroyed. A couple months later Fish and Game had come through and fenced off the areas that fed into the river as protected land. no trespassing - so no more river fishing for anyone.
I suggest we all take an extra plastx bag with us to pick up any litter we see on our walks/camps and if we see anyone having a bbq we go over to them and explain the situation thats now happening and to ask them to please make sure they leave no trace so that we can continue to enjoy our countryside
Hiker extraordinaire Cam "Swami" Honan calls this a "Karma Bag" which I think is brilliant. We should all do it - it's good for the soul. But be careful - I recently picked up a chocolate wrapper only to discover that the other side had been used as toilet paper ... not pleasant. Take rubber gloves, doggy bags or tongs to pick up anything that looks dubious :-)
I think most responsible backpackers will pick up other’s rubbish, but probably only on the homeward leg! Although it hardly weighs anything, I feel rather resentful of having to pick up other people’s mess, and carry it with me for a week, for example... But I still do it, because I would rather see nothing in the wild places than the wild places themselves. The classic piece of white tissue does annoying me though - invariably this will fall out of pocket as the user withdraws their hand from said pocket aren’t they just put the tissue in. Later they will wonder where the tissue is. I have even heard companions of mine on such trips use the words, Oh, I’ve lost my tissue, it must’ve fallen out, when you know it didn’t fall, rather, it was inadvertently dragged out. People need to pay more attention to their actions, from the biggest to the apparently most insignificant. Isn’t that part of the experience for everybody (Who values the experience, at least)?
most wildcampers do stick to the code but since the lock downs started there been a big influx of knob heads that aint got a clue on how to conduct themselves properly when they are camping
There's a section of society who think it's acceptable to throw their Burger King rubbish out the window of their car for someone else to deal with, or toss black plastic bags full of dog turds into the bushes the second they think nobody is looking. The sad fact is there's no shortage of these degenerates, and they will not care about countryside codes. Worse still, you can pick up a cheap tent in the supermarket for around £20 or less, which can be abandoned at the campsite (festival goers are notorious for doing just that). As much as I'm annoyed about this, I can sympathise with the land owners.
@@Ivor_Nastyboil I don’t as youtubers been doing videos for years and it’s not been an issue abit from maybe the odd one that’s left a bit of litter ,but what most of us wild campers have witnessed over the last 12 months since covid lock downs and all the pubs shutting is the weekend dickhead with the cheap festival tent and a carrier bag full of Snacks and beer and disposable bbq ,who because they know they can arrange with there mates on what’s app to all meet during lockdown at places like kinder or stanage etc ,who then after they’ve done leave all the shit laying around as they can’t be fucked to take their rubbish home with them
I've been solo bivvying and wild camping on and off for 40+ years. I've found by using discretion, respecting the land and the landowners, never lighting fires, staying off the beaten track, setting up late, leaving early and Leaving No Trace have been and will continue to be key attributes to a successful trip. Sadly, I've spent hours of late picking up discarded rubbish in places I've never seen it left before. Seen far too many places where people have lit fires, collected disposable BBQ's and seen the subsequent squares of damage to the land, they leave behind. Collected sackfuls of beer cans and bottles, and buried human turds too! Frankly, I'm not at all surprised the landowners are cracking down.
Dont camp were quads can get too, I go way more remote than the spots mentioned. I've only once been approached by a gamekeeper, he realised I was hiking for a couple days, had minimal kit (no campfire or barbecue) and wasn't about to damage the land or leave a mess. So we spoke for awhile, he actually gave me a top tip for the route I was walking. Its all about respecting where you are and preserving the area. You can't legally be forced off if its a danger to you, as that's a failure to safeguard. So if its at night, agree to head off in the morning when its safe and preserve the area.
The one time I ever got caught was high in the Italian Alps - I was well off the trail but was spotted by a Ranger who was tracking a poacher. He complimented me on my stealth precautions and said it was a freak that he'd found me! I speak some Italian and explained that I was obsessional about Leave No Trace. When he saw the precautions I'd taken to protect the site he relented and let me stay for the night. We had a great discussion about the amazing wildlife on the reserve (I'd seen a super-rare endangered eagle, wild boar, rutting stags, white mountain hares and other exotica ) and he parted on good terms. If I'd been running a fire, I'd have been in serious trouble...
Hopefully when holidays abroad can start again this won’t be a problem as I think it is mainly the people who go abroad and are used to being cleaned up after that are causing this mess
I wouldn't be so quick to say that. I typically holiday abroad and now I'm camping in Ireland. My impression is that the local Irish litter much more than us immigrants
The masses won't be holidaying like the pre Covid days anytime soon . There's a green agenda here , and pricing the masses out of flying is part of it in order to reach emmision targets , set now for 2035 .
@@neilt7191 there might be something to that but I do think that the levels we are seeing now will drop when more places abroad start opening the doors again
I live in the Highlands, tourists always get blamed for litter. The one time I saw a McDonald's bag thrown from a window was from a local skip-hire vehicle.
It's bullshit that people can even own these massive plots of land as it is without chucking people off. Something very wrong with ownership law in England
@@rh6112 The places he mentions are largely not owned by individuals, but by organisations like the Park Authority, Seven Trent, Wildlife and National Trust etc
luckily we have a law in Norway which gives everybody the right to wild camp anywhere. You can stay for max 3 days then you have to move on to the next spot. There are some spesial rules for certain national parks.
And still it was an issue last summer because of too many people and too few toilets for example, especially in the known and popular areas. (But in a normal year it works pretty well... And Norway has plenty of room for those willing to walk even only 20 minutes 🙂).
It's pretty much the same in Scotland - you can walk, camp or swim freely in wild areas apart from a couple of hotspots near Glasgow. It seems to be part of the culture in North Europe. But it's very rare everywhere else, including England and Wales.
It's not just about "gamekeepers" and "landowners". What is starting to happen is totally predictable. I've been hill walking for over 35 years but the whole so called "wild camping" scene is starting to get a really bad name. We know of course that for a few of the real hill walkers who leave no trace this isn't an issue. But many are following the trend and for those that do a sizeable proportion will behave badly. I'm sorry but the whole social media promotion is a big part of the issue. It seems nowadays everyone has to make a TH-cam video if they go to the toilet or open a crisp packet and then they become an expert.
I have to agree, I've been wild camping since the early 80s, a lot of the time on long distance trails like the Pennine Way etc where I like camping on the high ground to be woken by the sunrise and not be faced with a climb first thing. I only venture into a camp site to do washing, get a shower and resupply provisions. If there's a pub with a beer garden, I have a word with the publican and it's usually free as I'll be supping and eating there. I've stealth camped in small areas of bush/woodland next to main roads with busy footpaths and in public parks and never been spotted. In farmer's fields near hedges and never been spotted as well. My shelter is one or two military ponchos (depending on weather and space)
Exactly, this is going to end badly because the idiot style campers are going to spoil it for us and the influencers are on an ego trip. Its not just tents it's people in campervans etc dossing by the side of the road stretching local communities tolerance. This also when a few did it discreetly, was tolerated, now people set up encampments of several vans on the side of the road. As we know its not wild camping really but it's getting that tag and dragging us down. Sadly this isn't Sweden, the UK is a relatively small island with a big population so we have a scale problem. As I say this is going to end badly unless our own hiking community chokes it off and deals with it before councils and Govt intervene.
Have also to agree with you Matt, I have been walking the Scottish hill since 1970s , I have seen more and more mess left be hind fire Pitt’s bbq ect ,and for anyone reading this noise travels a long way ,I hear them long before ,and smell there fires ,help me to avoid them, as you pointed out social media has a lot to do with the upturn in wild camping ,not that I have anything against people enjoying the hills (I wish they would leave it as they find it for other’s to enjoy )
@@mattwright2964 “our hiking community chokes it off and deals with it” - that is not possible. The hiking community has neither the resources nor the legal standing to do so.
It's a shame that some people are spoiling this for everyone else. Camping at the side of a road or low level lake is going to end in detection. I think this summer will be mental, let's see how it goes 🙄
Well thats always been the case.. luckily as I no longer integrate into society anymore it doesn't really bother me as i have access to a decent sized garden byeeeeeeee 🏃
I agree but if they stop someone lighting a barbecue it might end up preventing a serious fire. I’m afraid I do see the point of the landowners even though it is the tiny minority causing problems.
@@sshaw37 That is the dilemma, at the moment everything is a free for all, hopefully when normal life resumes, normal stealth camping will resume without harrasment as well.
Nature should only be for the rich and wealthy that can afford to own the land, why can't these peasants just stay cramped up in the cities where they belong?!?
As much as I loved living in England, great memories, I feel blessed for now living in Virginia and all the national forests and all of the "wild camping" (we call it back country) around my home.
actually I've found the "right to roam" in the UK and the Nordics to be pretty unique worldwide - after all, in most places - USA, Russia, Africa, if you trespass on private land you can expect to get shot or worse...
@@lechprotean right to roam exists simply because the UK is small and pretty much all land is owned by someone. You'd almost have no where to hike if there was no access to private land in the UK. It's not like other countries with lower population densities where large swathes of land are public.
English woodsman was taking the piss showing up with 5 people, pitching in broad daylight next to a popular lake, supposed to arrive late and leave early thats how its always been
@@deliboy1864 However people should be held up to their own behaviour and failings. Subs are not a defence. The only issue here is wild camping has always been a grey area but even so people should know when they are pushing it beyond any reason.
So glad i live in norway! I can camp anywhere i want on anyones property as long as its 250 meter from closest house (or worked fields) and for not more than 2 days on the same spot. Unless you are very remote, then theres no limit on how long you can have your tent set up.
Agree entirely Paul. If you wild camp and car-camp in remote locations in a quiet way, avoid using fires or blazing lights all 🌃 night, and pick areas away from well known 'hotspots' or over popular and famous places, you'll avoid most problems. Just remain quiet, avoid leaving litter, and respect the environment.
Hi. Hey, don't AVOID leaving litter, just DON'T leave litter. I mean, how hard can it be?!!! (sorry, not criticising your comments, far from, just agreeing, and underlining the litter thing)
@@Globetrotter-1 I couldn’t agree more! Always avoid jumping out of an aeroplane without a parachute! Apologies, it was more a bit of pedantry than criticism of the words you used.
I once slept near Stonehenge and had the National Trust 4X4 go past as I was cooking my breakfast, the guy got out and was talking to me for ages, they're fine with it so long as you clear up after yourselves.
The problem has always been the few that do not respect the countryside and leave a mess (at best) behind. I was wild camping in Scotland a long while back and one of the guys with us was a stonewaller. One of the walls had been damaged. The farmer found us and the wall was partly rebuilt. We were ready to move out and he looked around and said it was cleaner than when we arrived and offered £20 for sorting the stone wall out! If you can, aim to leave the place in a better state than when you find it.
With rules to potentially prevent what is usually tens of millions of foreign holidays this year I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve seen nothing yet. This summer will be mental at UK tourist spots.
It actually didn’t work for Dutch. You find out the end of the story of Predator in the comic of the sequel, Concrete Jungle. Schaefer, Dutch’s twin, spends his time as the protagonist trying to find his brother. He finds out that, having just been picked up by the helicopter and flying into the morning sun- Dutch’s skin, thanks to being smothered in jungle mud and charged with alien tech radiation from the predator’s suicide bomb, starts to bubble and writhe and then worms start breaking out all over his body. They throw him out of the helicopter and the last thing we see of him was him on his knees, arms stretched towards the skies and the only ride home. RIP Dutch.
Biggest problem is a lot of folk cant be bothered to venture afar out the way & all head for popular places..... the easy option! In over 40 years of wild camping Ive never been asked to move on once & half the time I see nobody & most importantly I tell nobody! still share photographs by all means we all love the photographs, but just keep your mouth shut, too many folk want locations handed on a plate to them nowadays without doing the legwork or research for themselves.
Great advice Paul, its very unfortunate that the few are messing things up for those of us who follow the rules and treat the countryside with respect.
Thats the problem Paul , to many people who do not follow the camping rules , such as leave no trace ,just littering everywhere like they own the place.
Paul, I’ve watched your videos for the last year getting me more and more into camping or making me prepared. For me you really are a voice for a community, you always nail the videos and give people what they need. I only hope your Channel blows up even more than it has already because you are a great example for people to follow. I think you would be a great figure head for an organisation that can bridge a gap between the regular camper, a landowner and the government. Keep living your life the way you do and we will continue to be entertained
@@markmacthree3168 Chatted to the National Trust Wardens last weekend as I wanted to leave my car in a NT car park overnight and they had no issue. Actually wild camping is fine, “fly camping”, not so much.
It is one of the great paradoxes that when you discover something good and naturally want to share it with others the very thing you promote is then altered so dramatically that the original is lost to everyone. That said, people like Paul help to raise awareness of what we should all be doing when out in the countryside - taking care of it - and that IS important too. I do think the prominence of social media has been responsible for a huge amount of damage - both physical and mental - to people and to the environment since its rise to power.
This is what happens when you pick a easy place to camp yes it might be a nice place but just too busy get out in to the wilds that's why it's called wildcamping 🤣🤣 atvb Jimmy 😎😎
I was hiking passed linhope spout and the remains of two camp fires have scared the beauty spot. Now that was a short walk for a wildcamp, hope they got caught!
Good work for highlighting this issue Paul. Personally I’m not too concerned as it’s all about picking the right spot and earning the night through effort. Be covert and LNT. No parties, no fires. Simples.
Excellent advice. Even up in Scotland there has been people camping respecting the code that have been moved on. It's the folly of the few that ruins the fun of the many. Leave no trace needs to be taught in schools. 👍
It is good Paul. Our society needs to remember that they are nature. It's a reaction, as you say, to its growth and that was always going to come. But let's remember Kinder Scout. Perhaps this is the birth of a nationwide push for legal camping. As for small groups I agree. I've always practiced that after my father and Lofty in the regiment. It's the way they were and it's the way we were taught. Well, thanks for the debate. Mark
This creeping loss of inalienable Rights is extremely worrying. I have “Wild Camped” for years on The Fell here in England and all around the world. I have used camper vans for years, never using campsites. I also own a Narrowboat. What I see everywhere is the gradual, almost total removal of these practices. Look at Portugal. No wild camping allowed at all now! I have seen many more “No overnight Camping” signs, aimed at Camper-vans all over England. The future is grim. The idea of living an alternative lifestyle is being eradicated and the weekend warriors are also suffering a similar fate. Enjoy your freedoms as long as you can. This is The Great Reset!!
In Scotland, the calmac ferry company is now asking campervans wishing to book a ferry, to confirm that they have reservations at official campsites on the islands. We live on an overcrowded island and its time we acknowledged that endless growth of tourism is unsustainable.
Truth is, if I could find out who the landowner was, I'd quite happily contact them in advance, and even pay for a password I can give to whoever tried to move me on.
@Charles Wetherspoon just because you don't like that technically it's illegal doesn't mean it's okay to do it. If people keep ruining the countryside drones etc is what we're going to end up with anyway, except they'll be enforcing a ban rather than scanning a barcode and charging you a quid.
You are the voice of reason, Paul. I've just spent a week wild-camping in The Netherlands and am now in Germany. Never more than now has it been important to be discreet and leave no trace.
Thanks for setting a great example Paul. Like you said, let’s hope Benidorm reopens soon. It’s very sad we have come to this. I say avoid hot spots altogether. It just isn’t worth it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ATB - Ben
Definitely got to avoid the more popular spots for a while like you say , don't fancy packing up in the dark walking down from bamford edge , might be time for some stealth bivvy bag camps 🏕️👍
As usual Paul it's the odd bad apple that spoils it for the rest. Went wild camping over the weekend on the northern part of Kinder, absolutely no problems. How hard can it be to remember to LEAVE NO TRACE....Thanks as always for all you are doing to promote this fantastic pastime.
Since the recent lockdowns pressure on wild spots has increased. A small group of people with business interests seem to get off on restricting others. DOE has been encouraging youth to do this kind of activity for years. Landowners should think carefully though, technology might have brought them the means to spot wild campers but also a wild camper can freely find out who a land owner is and destroy their business reputation on line !
Hi Paul, well this video certainly sparked a fire among the camping community, as most of us know that practically all of the land in England is owned by someone, the only time the land becomes ours is when your fighting for YOUR country in times of war, after the war is over it then the land no longer belongs to you. It is a crying shame that those irresponsible people who don’t care about the countryside spoil it for those who do care. Anyhow well done with the video. Maybe the TV will remind us of the “Country Code” as they used to in the sixties.
I know someone who went “wild camping” recently, which was basically her & her mates & family having a massive piss up in the woods... she was genuinely indignant & angry they were told to leave by the land owner... it blew my mind she thought what they were doing was ok
Hi Paul.. Yes I got moved on at Bamford Edge on Saturday after the sun had set and it was beginning to get dark, so had to pack up in the dark too. (Wasn't planning on camping on Bamford Edge but the insanity of trying to park for nearly 1 & half hours made my time cus short. Thinking I should have just gone home, even though I did see an amazing sunset) It was by the Moscar Gamekeepers from the Moscar Estate on quad bikes. I actually had a good 10 / 15 min chat with them and they said they could see I was 'ok', I showed them my rubbish and we discussed LNT. They said they have never been 'too bothered' with people wild camping previously as nothing has got ruined etc. What they did say and why they said they are patrolling Bamford / Stanage / Derwent Edges and surrounding areas even more now in force is because since 12th April they have had idiots group camping with 3 or 4 tents in one area, lighting fires actually on the grass (they said they even moved one group who had taken a big bag or charcoal up for a fire!!!) and leaving rubbish around and wedged in the heather. They said to me they would have let me stay and pack up before sunrise but if they let me do that then they would have to do it for someone else so they just want one simple rule, NOBODY is staying. They said one of the main reasons they are moving even 'us serious wild campers' is because other people might spot us and think its ok to do. Annoying that people have ruined this for us but we will just have to hope things may settle at some point in the future. The Moscar Gamekeepers weren't bothered about other areas of the Peaks only their land. But ive heard of people being moved by wardens etc since on other areas too 😢😢
Makes sense re. the other areas, once one area gets closed out the other areas will get all the traffic and all the problems. I think those gamekeepers are going to have a busy summer.
Covid has a lot to do with it, it has changed everything, especially the numbers of people denied foreign holidays and legitimate campsites who basically have no idea how to behave in the country as to them it is a big park for someone else to clean up afterwards. It is a perfect storm, because it impacts on genuine nature loving wild campers, and is an excellent excuse to allow the land owners to try and take back what they lost in the access battles of the 1930s.
I remember seeing an old Tommy Cooper sketch where he was a scout leader. He pitches his tent in the dark. Gets a good night's sleep and next morning, comes out of his tent and he's in the middle of Trafalgar Square. An example to us all..... ha ha
As a youngster I once crawled through a fence while hitching on a dark and rainy night in Ireland only to wake up the next morning to realise I was camping on a golf course with "Royal" in its name. I got out of there fast...
I choose to ramble the little brown dashes on my Ordnance Survey maps. I have found the most beautiful places doing this that won't be found In any tourist guide or even marked as an area of outstanding beauty. I set up a tarp in some small grassed woodland once that seemed very unremarkable on the map. The next morning I woke to find myself surrounded by about 30 deer just casualy passing through. What an amazing and awe inspiring moment. It doesnt have to be those high and mighty locations that make the time and investment worth it 🙂
We have a similar issue in the states with careless campers and hikers littering and causing fires. It has caused a lot of people to close up private trails during Covid. Educating people and being willing to go up there with a trash bags to clean makes a big difference. Your channel is great, hopefully you still have some good spots to go camping.
Due to the lock down restrictions, our younger generation have had nothing to do for the last 12 month's, not be able to go out with you're friend's, you're mates but I think now restrictions are lifting, pubs are going to fully open, night clubs will open, concerts will go ahead, and that's a good thing, holidays will get back to normal, And we can all enjoy enjoy wild way's again
Yes - the hunt followers on Dartmoor use quads, even over soft bog. You should see the bloody mess they leave behind. But it's posh people, so that's all right then...
@@tullochgorum6323 I met the hunt followers couple years ago they were all on horses . Dartmoor is mostly privately owned and working farmland , but yeh quad biking would be destructive
@@Foxtrottangoabc I saw this a couple of times on the high moor when I was walking and they came past me in rain and mist. They were accompanied by two or three guys on quads, and they were tearing up the bog big time - right up to the axles. They may well have been staff rather than followers - no way I could tell. I was simply taken aback at the trail of destruction they were causing to such a vulnerable environment and wondering why the National Park allows it. Plus, having a big pack of baying foxhounds tearing directly towards you with no riders in sight to control them isn't the most pleasant experience. On one occasion they literally ran past on either side of me, within touching distance. None of the riders apologised or even deigned to acknowledge my existence. But as I said, this a posh people's sport so any damage or inconvenience they cause is accepted. Ordinary people trying to enjoy the countryside are demonised and targeted...
@@johnsmith-cn5yv It's a National Park, and one of the most important uplands in the nation. I don't think that private ownership of a national treasure should give landowners carte-blanche to cause ecological damage or put other land users in fear and danger. The land I was on is owned by the Dutchy of Cornwall. So much for Charlie being a conservationist...
I understand rangers and their concerns, but game keepers and landowners can sod off. I don't care if your great great etc grandfather said it was his, the countryside belongs to the people.
No. It belongs to somebody. You don't own it, you don't look after it and you didn't create the landscape you enjoy. Imagine if every day strangers traipsed through your garden and into your house and stayed the night without permission.
Thank you for this video. I have bought this to the attention of Guy Shrubsole who wrote Who Owns England, and campaigns on land access rights. He has now retweeted it on Twitter.
I enjoy the English Woodsman's channel, and don't want to sound like I'm putting.him down, but a group of five camping by the water's edge is just asking to be caught. There are signs all over that place saying ',,no camping'. It's okay to say some people are spoiling camping but then not recognising that your own actions are part of the problem...
My wife had an idea of a wild camping permit that you buy on a yearly basis a bit like a fishing licence. That way you sign up and agree to abide by rules like leave no trace etc. And it gives you the right to wild camp. No licence and they can move you on. I thought it was a good idea
In the USA yet we have so much more uninhabited land that only the most abused areas have beeen closed or gone toa permit system. The real issue is that we will always have the 1% who do not care and ruin it for everyone else. Human nature is such that it demands eventual regulation.
its a good idea but knowing our legal system and government they will be greedy with what they expect you to pay and it will just end up pricing the average man or woman out of being able to wild camp ,we really need to pursue a proper rightnto roam law like up in Scotland or like the Scandinavian countries do have allmanretten
Really well balanced perspective Paul. The landowners will be worried about the influx of people coming out of lockdown and not respecting the landscape and for me I’m going to bide my time and wait for things to calm down before I head out. I’m in Scotland and there isn’t the infrastructure to accommodate all the cars that are flooding out now and the roadside campers have really ruined things for everyone by leaving waste and damaging trees. I totally understand people’s excitement to get out again. Low impact camping, that you are a great champion of, is acceptable in my eyes, big groups round enormous fires, leaving litter are not. I do like a wee campfire but only in the right circumstances. Spending time in the great outdoors is a privilege and people need to honour it with respect.
I'm off to the Lakes tomorrow for a couple of nights wild camping. Taking a bit of a flyer because I'm not sure how busy I'd expect it to be up there. Hopefully going high and remote won't be an issue.
@@tuttobicci We did Coniston area. The Old Man Coniston was very busy, but we camped near one of the lakes and it was so peaceful (my latest video shows the wild camp and location - plus how busy it was). You should be fine mid-week though. Good luck. I hope you get on well.x
That is what I'm hoping for in the U.S., when Covid wanes they all return to work and the TV. At this time wilderness areas are like shopping centers full of people and trash.
The other difficulty, and it is an uncomfortable one to bring up on such a great youtube channel, is that I think youtubers do bear a touch of responsibility here. Wild camping has proliferated along with youtube channels covering it, the number of tents you see on Bamford Edge in an evening is much higher than it used to be. I do fear that social media coverage increasing numbers has also increased the tensions between campers and landowners.
100%. The youtubers do have to bear some of the responsibility. I have been camping in the mountains for more than 40 years and whilst I enjoy the videos I have always felt they are going to lead to where we are now.
Agreed, the vid Pual referenced from the English woodsman, came up in my feed. A big group trying to camp in a well-traveled area. Not exactly helping the situation IMHO.
@@Johnny641 Yeah I saw that and he got turned around for camping by the water's edge right? Kinda taking the piss to be honest considering the first rule is that you do it out of the way.
@@NoxiousNoodles Yea that was the one, I have no doubt they would leave no trace but the prob is people have to shit and piss and if it goes unchecked everywhere turns into a latrine. I am frustrated by the regs in UK but I do see the flip side as well, only the other day I had to clear up an abandoned tent.
Not so many years ago people was told they couldn't roam on the Peaks , the mass trespass soon sorted that out , the land owners might want to think twice before starting another war because they lost the 1st one 👍
You seem to be confusing the right to roam with the right to make a mess. As with everything in life, rights come with responsibilities that recent events have shown too many people are incapable of following.
@@darren-lewis not confusing nothing pal , I'm on about proper wild campers not some clown with a tesco tent and 10 carling , huge difference and you can't compare the 2 👍
@@richardharrison5622 Just to be clear, given that we're both commenting on one of Paul's vids I suspect we're on the same side here. But as you've stated, the problem lies with the "clown with a tesco tent" and not the land owner, so why make a comment that the land owners need to think twice before "starting another war"? Any land owner reading your comment would surely just double down on their efforts to get people off their land. Maybe we could speak with land owners about how to differentiate LNT from TESCO 10 TINS? Got to be worth a try before we start marching on their hill.
2 friends and I camped in 3 tents at bamford edge about 3 weeks ago on a wed, no issues, we'd been before so knew some good spots slightly away from the main path. We only saw 2 other tents on the whole hill. Our previous trip mountain rescue paid us a visit as they saw our head torches. just checked we were ok, then disappeared into the darkness 😅
All part of the "Great Reset" wild camping will have a negative effect on your social credit score, as with airline travel and owning cars, enjoying the countryside will be exclusively for the rich and well connected, "You Will Own Nothing And You Will Be Happy" whether you like it or not.
Ah someone in the comments section who knows his arse from his elbow at last! The littering is from a small minority, but like the racism/sexism etc issues they intentionally MAGNIFY it.
I am a landscape photographer. I keep well away from tourists and the usual honey pots, and total stealth is the name of my game. Since the start of the pandemic there has been a total change in the kind of people who come to the countryside. What is the point of wild camping armed with a chainsaw to cut down woodland trees to make a fire? Leaving behind smouldering campsites covered in rubbish, rotting food, unburied excrement, discarded pound shop tents, clothes and sleeping bags? This causes an inordinate amount of distress and fear amongst locals who have no other option but to step in and clear up these sorry messes made by increasing numbers of the self entitled in search of ‘the wilderness experience’ mainly under the influence of drink and class A drugs. This is the reality of country life in 2021.
Although this is good information, I can see these being used by the people that are ruining it for us and these will soon be just another item that is littered all over the place.
It's such a shame. I'm itching to get out and camp more this year but such things like this is holding me back. Back to the drawing board I go. Keep up the fantastic work mate. ATB.
@@grizzlydoutdoors5115 tbh WCUK on Facebook has fucked it. Too many wanting to camp just for Facebook likes, imo of course. I suppose the rain and clag will be the real wild campers friend for the foreseeable to keep the fair weathers indoors haha.
I was tolled off for wild camping on Saturday morning at Edale, I was nice to her and she was nice to me but said no camping is aloud anywhere in the Peak District. Trespassing is not a police matter, your actions can become a police matter. We need to fight for our rights at some point if it continues to get worse
I'll just add - it might be a police matter but it is NOT a criminal matter. The police cannot lock you up for wild camping (assuming you follow the usual rules of wild camping) - don't be intimidated by a uniform 💁
Just got back from a Stanage edge wild camp last night. No issues at all and first i'm hearing of it from this video watched afterwards. I pitched up after sunset however, but there were also 2 other tents along the edge
I camp in all sorts of places but i am a dusk till dawn camper... leaving tents up during day always draws attention do not be surprised if you get asked to move on.
Time to get a "Hilleberg Akto mil" version, with reduced IR-profile... Or take you car and come here to Sweden where our "all mans right"-rule give us permission to wildcamp almost everywhere for 24h. Great channel yoy have!
@@AggyGoesOutdoors If there are two people on an island....and one has to ask permission from the other to do anything......that's not equality. Either you are a a slave to that person....or you have a contract with them.....and they can order you around. Nobody really "owns" land.........it's an illusion....albeit a persistent one. That person dies....and leaves with nothing.
Thanks for this well presented and informative video Mr Messy! I hope the landowners realise its not 'real' hikers and campers that leave a mess or go out for a bevy session with their mates. I'm glad that the Leave No Trace message is pushed so regularly on YT and social media. Other points would be to not to camp in a field with cattle as they could walk right over your tent and although sheep are less dangerous the livestock could be spooked by campers especially at this time of year during lambing season. A farmer who I met last week, who didn't move me on but just had a chat, was also cheesed off with the number of walkers not re-chaining a gates (known as kissing gates). One last point would be to walk round the edge of a field not through it and only use gates or stiles to cross fences or walls even if it means you have to walk further. By listening to what causes issues for landowners and farmers we can ensure we are allowed to continue wild camping and don't loose the very special privilege that we have.
Great vid. I feel for you guys back in my home country. A few bad apples ruin it for everyone. Hopefully you get this nonsense sorted so you all can go back to free wild camping again. Afterall, it's your land.
I live in Buxton, Derbyshire, and my favorite place is Kinder Scout. I pitch my green tarp well off the track, usually behind rocks and higher than the paths. I see countless so called wild campers in their groups and red Hillebergs right next to the paths.... Please look at me, I'm a wild camper with all the best gear....... Screwing it up for all of us. Also anything less than an hours walk don't count, you may as well pitch in a laybye.
@@Lonewolf.wildcamping Kinder is a largish plateau, a big lump of rock and bog that I would be hard pressed to " Keep to myself " .Lots of people, daft as it sounds, know about it, and actually go up it. I can't keep Kinder to myself, although I would love to, but I can keep where I camp to myself. Perhaps you would like to stop people showing videos of their camps as they are the dead give aways, in which case you have your work cut out.
Is £12-£20 really too much? It’s only the price of a decent pub meal and a pint yet you’d happily spend that. Turn it around the other way - if someone said for the same price as pie and chips and a pint I’ll give you a safe place to pitch for the night with toilet, shower and fresh water facilities I’m sure most people would think that’s reasonable.
You go wild camping to get away from the muggles not to save money. Who wants to spend a night on a campsite with dogs and kids everywhere, even if it was free?
@@20yearsagotoday1 Some of us don’t have £10-£20 just to put a tent up especially in these hard times! Go out and eat and have a pint?....what’s that? Rich farmers cashing in on it too,using a fallow field with a portaloo and charging the Earth,no wonder people are flocking to the hills and beauty spots and then ruining it for everyone else by leaving a mess on the landscape🤨 End of.
Brilliant post as always, Paul. Can I add, subject to weather permitting, to avoid pitching shelters (especially brightly coloured ones) until dusk? I agree sand / brown is my preferred colour as well. Discretion is better then any form of confrontation.
Typical, my husband and I buy all our kit to go wild camping for the first time and now people want to ban it in Scotland 😡 got tons of useful advice from all your videos in lockdown 😊
I visit Scotland every year and have seen changing attitudes to wild camping. Although wild camping is legal in Scotland, it is not permitted in lots of areas. Since the right to roam was introduced, there has been an ever increasing amount of antisocial behaviour around many of the lochs. Mainly from townies camping out around the lochs, going fishing and drinking around a campfire, and leaving all their crap behind. There are now bylaws in place around many areas, particularly the most popular lochs which ban wild camping and serve fines to those that do. If you're going up Scotland for a wild camp, your going to have to go quite remote. Hope this helps.
There will be trouble if they try and repel the land reform act in Scotland. Hard won rights mustn't be given up just because the magaluf and benidorm mob cant get away this year.
Gamekeepers have done more damage to the Peak District than wild campers ever could. If the moors weren't kept dry to promote grouse we wouldn't have any wild fires.
Its so pathetic, makes me really angry. We need the law changing to match Scotland. People should have an absolute right to enjoy the few wild places remaining to us.
As an adventure biker I like to wild camp, so I find your channel very good and interesting. In particular this very topic. I truly hope its not the begging of the end and only wish all that do camp sort themselves out re fires and bbqs - just madness.
Finished a few days in the Peak District with a cheeky one on Bamford Edge tucked away as stealthy as i could a few weeks ago, Quads where about, had a great night and left no trace.
It’s a combination of things to me. I won’t lie, channels like this ignited something in me that I really want to do. However, I believe the past year has been the main cause of this. If you tell people you’re not allowed to do anything much for the best part of a year, they’re going to try and find something they can eventually do that’s accessible until everything else is available again. Unfortunately, with that, you get a segment of morons who are too selfish and stupid to think of anyone but themselves. Who probably only watched a couple of vids, then decided to get some kit without researching any further into the whole thing, how to be respectful and what it’s truly about. They’ll just see it as way to have a party. When I do eventually get out for my first wild camp, I’ll do it knowing I have a respect for nature and having self responsibility for what I do. I’ll also do it knowing I’ve accumulated enough information about it from these channels to make the best informed decisions for me. And obviously will leave no trace! Sadly you will get the selfish no brainers who, as per usual, have to eff it up for the ones who want to enjoy it for what it truly is. Both those starting out and who have been doing it long term. I mean recently our local park saw some idiots having a disposable barbecue on a piece of carpet, thinking it would protect the grass! That alone tells you what kind of morons we’re dealing with!
@@chrisdraper845 Chris i agree I wild camp myself I've also slept in my car in the Western isle of Scotland I've been to most of the Hebridean islands this year im going bikepacking up the west coast of Scotland when I leave a pitch you wouldn't know I'd been there but sadly a lot of people just don't care .they will never ban wildcamping in tents in Scotland but they will ban caravans and motorhomes up there .
@@davidtalbot491 you are right David. In Scotland the campervan scene has already been ruined by the idiots now doing it and it's still being heavily promoted. I rarely use my van now. Big fear for where wild camping is going next.
No, it would only be the "Beginning of the end" for wild-camping in England mate, not the UK ............. Scotland has no trespass laws, apart from Royal Deeside (the Queen's Balmoral Castle estates, and all that bullshit)😎
I was moved on from Grike, ennerdale lakes District, about 2 miles from where I live, camped there for over 30 years, even told them I was local but weren't interested. First trip in 18 months due to lock down and constant night shifts. At work, I'm. Gutted.
Is wild camping illegal th-cam.com/video/_mxSEOAFE_Y/w-d-xo.html
Not in England. Fact is that they are being moved on because they are in breach of the law.
@@paulmercury6571 Trespassing is not a law its an 'act'...wild camping is only legal in Scotland where you have the 'right to roam'
All game keepers now have drones,
@@TheCooperman666
Exactly :You are not in a position to claim that you have been wronged when you are caught committing an unlawful 'act'.
If you were on my property (without my permission) I would have the lawful right to remove you and I would lawfully use reasonable force is necessary.
This applies if you are on my garden or in my house!
It's sad that the descendants of people who were really good at stealing land hundreds of years ago are able to keep English people from accessing their own land.
Heartbreaking.
Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to live in Sweden where activities as hiking, camping, foraging etc are protected under constitutional law
You also have the advantage of 1/10th of our population density.
This is a recent change by the conservative government, they managed to fool folks into believing Brexit was all about regaining control from Europe (what utter tosh), now the same government is regaining land control from the peasants....oh the irony
@@Gethsemanes Yes, mate, Brexit was really about putting a stop to wild camping. Heard it all now.
Maybe but we live on fxcking damp tiny island with over 70million people !!
@@nforne only if you could read throughly without a filter, how brighter your world would be.
"Leave no trace "..now that seems obvious but so many people cant get that into their thick selfish heads and will ruin it for all of us!
Whether it’s thick, selfish heads, or merely sublime ignorance, it amounts to the same thing. But hasn’t it always been the way, that a handful of people screw things up for the majority of people who have no ill intent? When I was younger are used to make me mad as hell. Now I am in the autumn of my years it just makes me sad. I don’t know who I feel sadder for, those of us that have to witness the message left by others, all the sadness I feel for those ignorant people, you clearly don’t have a drop of compassion in them. It is so very hard to understand why people go to the wild places, and leave an almighty mess. There is a well-known bothy in the area I live, a good 11 miles from the nearest road. Unfortunately, people will mountain bike in to this bothy, despite requests from the landowner not to leave the vehicle tracks. So, first, people ignore the polite notices and mountain bike on the stalkers path that the estate has created over the years. Then I proceed to trash to both feet. There was a well-known incident a couple of years ago here, where people even defecated inside the bothy. Unfortunately, it has an earth and stone floor, and I wonder if these idiots would have done the same if it had had a wooden floor. However, the damage was done. What’s more, the mountain bikes were rented. What responsibility did the rental people bear for what happened? Shouldn’t they have been clear with the renters? Given that there were ? 11 of them I believe, you would have thought the renter would have sensed something laddish going on...
@@bobphillips2188 people just trash things they have because they're brought up to be silly twats because of a broken education system that couldn't care less about civil duty or social consideration, or anything much practical, or anything other than filtering out a few who take to "academics" better into slightly more stable jobs.
Same thing as murderers and rapists, I have asked them nicely but people insist on breaking the law. IN OTHER words, if you can not get people to stop murdering people, HOW the hell can we stop people littering, some people are lawless
@@Andy-lm2zp You're not wrong about that - but you would imagine that the kind of people attracted to, er, attractive places might not be quite within the murderer or rapist category of sociopath! But hell, some people's disrespect for just about any and every aspect of what makes life do-able and enjoyable for others seems unbounded at times. The secret to living your own life without being constantly pissed off about the loonies and psychos out there is to remember they are in a small minority; although it is precisely because their actions are so very 'noticeable' that we do indeed react to the evidence of their presence. One red fish in a pond full of blue fish stands out when another blue fish blends in. Maybe it is a wish to stand out, with an 'I don't care' chippy attitude that is their fuel? Who knows? I have a neighbour who says he cares about his neighbours and our little corner of a heavenly place to live, all living things, and the quiet life, then blasts loud music out into his garden, making a quiet time in a fairly off-beat place barely possible. He is of the 'I do what I like/nobody tells me what to do' type, who has dogs he has no control over, then blames the other dog owners when one of his attacks theirs... What else is there to say about 'people', hey?! It's back to your point, and a true one at that.
Isn't it always the case. A selfish self centred, sociopathic few, ruin it for everyone.
On Saturday i camped in the Peak District but not saying where, i where approached by a ranger in a land rover, he asked me if I'm camping and i replied yes if it's ok, he could tell i wasn't a hooligan or anything like that and after a good chat me explaining leave no trace and so on, he said don't have any BBQ'S of fires which i explained i don't then he sent me on my way and said have a good camp.
This is the way!
This happened to me and 2 mates a week Saturday ago. In the cheviots. The so called quiet part. We were fine with him and he recognised us from TH-cam. Knew we weren’t dickheads and let us stay no problem. He told us he “had words” with a group of young kids the night before and got a load of cheek. And when he went to where they’d been lo and behold a fire pit scar and beer cans and bottles. He said he was sick to death of it. So sometimes being a responsible camper on TH-cam helps. The ones who leave the mess probably haven’t even watched any camping videos on here. They’re just stupid “spoilt generation can’t touch us”kids
I also believe that these "laws" are very much situational. If you are a top bloke and people sense that, then you'll have no problem.
Unfortunately not everyone “leaves no trace” like paul... if everyone had respect then there would be no issues
Does that mean we must cater to the lowest common denominator? If there's a disruptive child in a classroom do we deal with the one child or punish the entire class for one person's actions?
@@nickhayley I’m confused by your comment... 🤔 I haven’t said that wild camping should be banned because of a few bad apples... all I’ve said is that not everyone has the same respect as paul hence the drama with wild camping and land owners...
@@nickhayley You seem to have missed the point. We aren't being punished here. Some disrespectful, ignorant people are damaging and littering property that doesn't belong to them. This is property that responsible and respectful wild campers have been sleeping on for years without issue. We didn't have a RIGHT to camp there, before or after this wave of littering morons arrived, but because of those morons, landowners are exercising their right to prevent people from doing what they are not permitted to do. The landowners are not the problem here. Don't blame them.
@@AbdulAbulbulAmir I wouldn't be sitting peacefully in my house if strangers kept turning up and throwing rubbish around on my lawn. I'm not surprised people are defending their land from vandals. I don't see the landowners as the cause of this conflict.
It’s starting in the USA as well; caused by irresponsible hikers/backpackers. 😡😢
The problem is social media when you find a nice remote place best to keep your mouths shut and tell no one, if campers seek out nice places by thier own means they will be more respectful of the area, tell no one leave them find it thierselves.☹️
Totally agree.
I do this with fishing
Same, my dad and I used to have a fishing spot at a local lake; if you hiked up a ways following the little rivers that fed the lake, there were a number of really good spots.
One day we came back and there was a camper parked in the spot (illegally mind you. They aren't supposed to take vehicles off the road specifically because it destroys the ecosystem) - they had a dog, country music blasting, beer cans all over, had a fire going, and were generally just being loud and obnoxious. We came back another time - trash all in the bushes, some submerged beer cans sunk in the mud, an overhanging tree had been knocked down to make a bridge (the fish used the root system underneath for shelter, now that was gone), and it was just utterly destroyed.
A couple months later Fish and Game had come through and fenced off the areas that fed into the river as protected land. no trespassing - so no more river fishing for anyone.
@@DjJDtech probably best deleting this mate
@@johnregan3591 the guidance is on the national trusts own website, but deleted anyway
I suggest we all take an extra plastx bag with us to pick up any litter we see on our walks/camps and if we see anyone having a bbq we go over to them and explain the situation thats now happening and to ask them to please make sure they leave no trace so that we can continue to enjoy our countryside
I always do
And if you see a keeper show him the bag of rubbish, offer to give it to him or take it away.
I usually do take a bag with me and try and clean up other people’s bloody mess..
Hiker extraordinaire Cam "Swami" Honan calls this a "Karma Bag" which I think is brilliant. We should all do it - it's good for the soul. But be careful - I recently picked up a chocolate wrapper only to discover that the other side had been used as toilet paper ... not pleasant. Take rubber gloves, doggy bags or tongs to pick up anything that looks dubious :-)
I think most responsible backpackers will pick up other’s rubbish, but probably only on the homeward leg! Although it hardly weighs anything, I feel rather resentful of having to pick up other people’s mess, and carry it with me for a week, for example... But I still do it, because I would rather see nothing in the wild places than the wild places themselves. The classic piece of white tissue does annoying me though - invariably this will fall out of pocket as the user withdraws their hand from said pocket aren’t they just put the tissue in. Later they will wonder where the tissue is. I have even heard companions of mine on such trips use the words, Oh, I’ve lost my tissue, it must’ve fallen out, when you know it didn’t fall, rather, it was inadvertently dragged out. People need to pay more attention to their actions, from the biggest to the apparently most insignificant. Isn’t that part of the experience for everybody (Who values the experience, at least)?
Camping videos in 2022 will be all about testing military grade thermal blocking fabrics and night vision goggles for stealth camping :p
In the meantime people should wear goat horns and hoofs.
This is the birth of the resistance.
I think people need to start looking at the countryside code , then the landowners won't get so so cheesed off if you leave no trace etc.
most wildcampers do stick to the code but since the lock downs started there been a big influx of knob heads that aint got a clue on how to conduct themselves properly when they are camping
@@Wildernessoutside Sadly, I think some of the blame for this lies with TH-camrs advertising wildcamping and these sites.
There's a section of society who think it's acceptable to throw their Burger King rubbish out the window of their car for someone else to deal with, or toss black plastic bags full of dog turds into the bushes the second they think nobody is looking. The sad fact is there's no shortage of these degenerates, and they will not care about countryside codes. Worse still, you can pick up a cheap tent in the supermarket for around £20 or less, which can be abandoned at the campsite (festival goers are notorious for doing just that).
As much as I'm annoyed about this, I can sympathise with the land owners.
@@Ivor_Nastyboil I don’t as youtubers been doing videos for years and it’s not been an issue abit from maybe the odd one that’s left a bit of litter ,but what most of us wild campers have witnessed over the last 12 months since covid lock downs and all the pubs shutting is the weekend dickhead with the cheap festival tent and a carrier bag full of Snacks and beer and disposable bbq ,who because they know they can arrange with there mates on what’s app to all meet during lockdown at places like kinder or stanage etc ,who then after they’ve done leave all the shit laying around as they can’t be fucked to take their rubbish home with them
Sadly it only takes a handful of people who couldn't give a shit to cause major issues which affect everyone
I've been solo bivvying and wild camping on and off for 40+ years. I've found by using discretion, respecting the land and the landowners, never lighting fires, staying off the beaten track, setting up late, leaving early and Leaving No Trace have been and will continue to be key attributes to a successful trip. Sadly, I've spent hours of late picking up discarded rubbish in places I've never seen it left before. Seen far too many places where people have lit fires, collected disposable BBQ's and seen the subsequent squares of damage to the land, they leave behind. Collected sackfuls of beer cans and bottles, and buried human turds too! Frankly, I'm not at all surprised the landowners are cracking down.
Dont camp were quads can get too, I go way more remote than the spots mentioned. I've only once been approached by a gamekeeper, he realised I was hiking for a couple days, had minimal kit (no campfire or barbecue) and wasn't about to damage the land or leave a mess. So we spoke for awhile, he actually gave me a top tip for the route I was walking. Its all about respecting where you are and preserving the area. You can't legally be forced off if its a danger to you, as that's a failure to safeguard. So if its at night, agree to head off in the morning when its safe and preserve the area.
Be interested to get some pointers to info on failure to safeguard in these circumstances. My understanding was that it only applies to minors.
The one time I ever got caught was high in the Italian Alps - I was well off the trail but was spotted by a Ranger who was tracking a poacher. He complimented me on my stealth precautions and said it was a freak that he'd found me! I speak some Italian and explained that I was obsessional about Leave No Trace. When he saw the precautions I'd taken to protect the site he relented and let me stay for the night. We had a great discussion about the amazing wildlife on the reserve (I'd seen a super-rare endangered eagle, wild boar, rutting stags, white mountain hares and other exotica ) and he parted on good terms. If I'd been running a fire, I'd have been in serious trouble...
@@darren-lewis nope safeguarding applies to both adults and minors.
Hopefully when holidays abroad can start again this won’t be a problem as I think it is mainly the people who go abroad and are used to being cleaned up after that are causing this mess
I wouldn't be so quick to say that. I typically holiday abroad and now I'm camping in Ireland. My impression is that the local Irish litter much more than us immigrants
That’s what I think fella
The masses won't be holidaying like the pre Covid days anytime soon .
There's a green agenda here , and pricing the masses out of flying is part of it in order to reach emmision targets , set now for 2035 .
@@neilt7191 there might be something to that but I do think that the levels we are seeing now will drop when more places abroad start opening the doors again
I live in the Highlands, tourists always get blamed for litter. The one time I saw a McDonald's bag thrown from a window was from a local skip-hire vehicle.
Not everyone is as responsible as you. I'd be pissed finding spent fires 🔥and trash in area's of outstanding natural beauty 🤨
Absolutely
It's bullshit that people can even own these massive plots of land as it is without chucking people off. Something very wrong with ownership law in England
You aren't going to stop idiots with fires and BBQ's by telling them they can't do it... It'll just be the responsible campers that suffer!!
your not on your own pall
peace
@@rh6112
The places he mentions are largely not owned by individuals, but by organisations like the Park Authority, Seven Trent, Wildlife and National Trust etc
luckily we have a law in Norway which gives everybody the right to wild camp anywhere. You can stay for max 3 days then you have to move on to the next spot. There are some spesial rules for certain national parks.
I'm on my way 👍🏻
And still it was an issue last summer because of too many people and too few toilets for example, especially in the known and popular areas. (But in a normal year it works pretty well... And Norway has plenty of room for those willing to walk even only 20 minutes 🙂).
@@martinbrooke6016 didnt know there where toilets in the wild???
@@sveinarnefosse489 no but that same law is regularly abused or misinterpreted by those with no inclination to use their legs. 🙂
It's pretty much the same in Scotland - you can walk, camp or swim freely in wild areas apart from a couple of hotspots near Glasgow. It seems to be part of the culture in North Europe. But it's very rare everywhere else, including England and Wales.
It's not just about "gamekeepers" and "landowners". What is starting to happen is totally predictable. I've been hill walking for over 35 years but the whole so called "wild camping" scene is starting to get a really bad name. We know of course that for a few of the real hill walkers who leave no trace this isn't an issue. But many are following the trend and for those that do a sizeable proportion will behave badly. I'm sorry but the whole social media promotion is a big part of the issue. It seems nowadays everyone has to make a TH-cam video if they go to the toilet or open a crisp packet and then they become an expert.
I have to agree, I've been wild camping since the early 80s, a lot of the time on long distance trails like the Pennine Way etc where I like camping on the high ground to be woken by the sunrise and not be faced with a climb first thing. I only venture into a camp site to do washing, get a shower and resupply provisions. If there's a pub with a beer garden, I have a word with the publican and it's usually free as I'll be supping and eating there.
I've stealth camped in small areas of bush/woodland next to main roads with busy footpaths and in public parks and never been spotted. In farmer's fields near hedges and never been spotted as well.
My shelter is one or two military ponchos (depending on weather and space)
Exactly, this is going to end badly because the idiot style campers are going to spoil it for us and the influencers are on an ego trip. Its not just tents it's people in campervans etc dossing by the side of the road stretching local communities tolerance. This also when a few did it discreetly, was tolerated, now people set up encampments of several vans on the side of the road. As we know its not wild camping really but it's getting that tag and dragging us down. Sadly this isn't Sweden, the UK is a relatively small island with a big population so we have a scale problem. As I say this is going to end badly unless our own hiking community chokes it off and deals with it before councils and Govt intervene.
Have also to agree with you Matt, I have been walking the Scottish hill since 1970s , I have seen more and more mess left be hind fire Pitt’s bbq ect ,and for anyone reading this noise travels a long way ,I hear them long before ,and smell there fires ,help me to avoid them, as you pointed out social media has a lot to do with the upturn in wild camping ,not that I have anything against people enjoying the hills (I wish they would leave it as they find it for other’s to enjoy )
@Red Cyclops you're obviously a resident of LaLa Land :-)
@@mattwright2964 “our hiking community chokes it off and deals with it” - that is not possible. The hiking community has neither the resources nor the legal standing to do so.
It's a shame that some people are spoiling this for everyone else. Camping at the side of a road or low level lake is going to end in detection. I think this summer will be mental, let's see how it goes 🙄
Well thats always been the case.. luckily as I no longer integrate into society anymore it doesn't really bother me as i have access to a decent sized garden byeeeeeeee 🏃
Not just the campers, we will see ravers and others trashing land, even more so when more lockdowns come into being.
Riding around on quad bikes! That will really help the countryside recover.
I agree but if they stop someone lighting a barbecue it might end up preventing a serious fire. I’m afraid I do see the point of the landowners even though it is the tiny minority causing problems.
@@sshaw37 That is the dilemma, at the moment everything is a free for all, hopefully when normal life resumes, normal stealth camping will resume without harrasment as well.
Michael Wrest- it's their land. Not yours. They can do what they want. DON'T TRESSPASS. Simple.
Nature should only be for the rich and wealthy that can afford to own the land, why can't these peasants just stay cramped up in the cities where they belong?!?
@@johnsmith-cn5yv how is it their land?
As much as I loved living in England, great memories, I feel blessed for now living in Virginia and all the national forests and all of the "wild camping" (we call it back country) around my home.
actually I've found the "right to roam" in the UK and the Nordics to be pretty unique worldwide - after all, in most places - USA, Russia, Africa, if you trespass on private land you can expect to get shot or worse...
@@lechprotean right to roam exists simply because the UK is small and pretty much all land is owned by someone. You'd almost have no where to hike if there was no access to private land in the UK. It's not like other countries with lower population densities where large swathes of land are public.
English woodsman was taking the piss showing up with 5 people, pitching in broad daylight next to a popular lake, supposed to arrive late and leave early thats how its always been
English woodsman isn’t the sharpest tool in the box lol. Let’s be honest
Maybe he's not your cup of tea, but is that good reason to slate him. How many subs. And no I'm not one.
@@deliboy1864 However people should be held up to their own behaviour and failings. Subs are not a defence. The only issue here is wild camping has always been a grey area but even so people should know when they are pushing it beyond any reason.
@@tombeareatscake yep totally agree with that, maybe not the smartest outing.
no he was upholding his right and within boundaries of the law
So glad i live in norway! I can camp anywhere i want on anyones property as long as its 250 meter from closest house (or worked fields) and for not more than 2 days on the same spot. Unless you are very remote, then theres no limit on how long you can have your tent set up.
Agree entirely Paul. If you wild camp and car-camp in remote locations in a quiet way, avoid using fires or blazing lights all 🌃 night, and pick areas away from well known 'hotspots' or over popular and famous places, you'll avoid most problems. Just remain quiet, avoid leaving litter, and respect the environment.
Hi. Hey, don't AVOID leaving litter, just DON'T leave litter. I mean, how hard can it be?!!! (sorry, not criticising your comments, far from, just agreeing, and underlining the litter thing)
@@bobphillips2188 "avoid" essentially means "don't". As in avoid trying to jump out of a plane without a parachute.
@@Globetrotter-1 I couldn’t agree more! Always avoid jumping out of an aeroplane without a parachute! Apologies, it was more a bit of pedantry than criticism of the words you used.
I once slept near Stonehenge and had the National Trust 4X4 go past as I was cooking my breakfast, the guy got out and was talking to me for ages, they're fine with it so long as you clear up after yourselves.
The problem has always been the few that do not respect the countryside and leave a mess (at best) behind. I was wild camping in Scotland a long while back and one of the guys with us was a stonewaller. One of the walls had been damaged. The farmer found us and the wall was partly rebuilt. We were ready to move out and he looked around and said it was cleaner than when we arrived and offered £20 for sorting the stone wall out! If you can, aim to leave the place in a better state than when you find it.
With rules to potentially prevent what is usually tens of millions of foreign holidays this year I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve seen nothing yet. This summer will be mental at UK tourist spots.
You could always hide down the Rezza Chris ..no one going round there after dark 🤣
@@TKro21 hahahahaha. Been there, done that 😁
Dartmoor is the ONLY place in England where it is Legal...& has been for YEARS...
Yes and plenty uk holiday destinations have raised their prices as much as 100% to capitalize on this!
glad all my spots are well hidden away. Never see a soul when I'm camping
Look carefully there will always be one nosy dogwalker close by
@@GokTurkBey haha not where I go. I always make sure the access is particularly torturous
From now on I'll be covering myself in mud, it worked for Arnie in Predator.
"If it bleeds - we can kill it..."
It actually didn’t work for Dutch. You find out the end of the story of Predator in the comic of the sequel, Concrete Jungle. Schaefer, Dutch’s twin, spends his time as the protagonist trying to find his brother. He finds out that, having just been picked up by the helicopter and flying into the morning sun- Dutch’s skin, thanks to being smothered in jungle mud and charged with alien tech radiation from the predator’s suicide bomb, starts to bubble and writhe and then worms start breaking out all over his body. They throw him out of the helicopter and the last thing we see of him was him on his knees, arms stretched towards the skies and the only ride home. RIP Dutch.
@@dr.2335 I prefer the direction they took it in with Danny Glover to be honest.
1. Go somewhere remote
2 Hammock camp - it means you can camp in places most people wouldn't think of looking - slopes, wet places, rocky places etc.
Biggest problem is a lot of folk cant be bothered to venture afar out the way & all head for popular places..... the easy option! In over 40 years of wild camping Ive never been asked to move on once & half the time I see nobody & most importantly I tell nobody! still share photographs by all means we all love the photographs, but just keep your mouth shut, too many folk want locations handed on a plate to them nowadays without doing the legwork or research for themselves.
Absolutely! I always recce on a Fri before hammocking on the Sat. It’s hard work but I’ve found some amazing secret places just for me!
You are 100% correct. Lots of folk simply don't know any countryside away from the tourist honeypots. If they did, problem solved.
Spot on.
Great advice Paul, its very unfortunate that the few are messing things up for those of us who follow the rules and treat the countryside with respect.
Thats the problem Paul , to many people who do not follow the camping rules , such as leave no trace ,just littering everywhere like they own the place.
Paul, I’ve watched your videos for the last year getting me more and more into camping or making me prepared. For me you really are a voice for a community, you always nail the videos and give people what they need. I only hope your Channel blows up even more than it has already because you are a great example for people to follow. I think you would be a great figure head for an organisation that can bridge a gap between the regular camper, a landowner and the government. Keep living your life the way you do and we will continue to be entertained
The lakes encourage it on their website as long as you’re above the highest wall, pitch near dark and LNT etc...
Not for long as I was told by someone in the national trust
@@markmacthree3168 Chatted to the National Trust Wardens last weekend as I wanted to leave my car in a NT car park overnight and they had no issue. Actually wild camping is fine, “fly camping”, not so much.
It is one of the great paradoxes that when you discover something good and naturally want to share it with others the very thing you promote is then altered so dramatically that the original is lost to everyone. That said, people like Paul help to raise awareness of what we should all be doing when out in the countryside - taking care of it - and that IS important too. I do think the prominence of social media has been responsible for a huge amount of damage - both physical and mental - to people and to the environment since its rise to power.
This is what happens when you pick a easy place to camp yes it might be a nice place but just too busy get out in to the wilds that's why it's called wildcamping 🤣🤣 atvb Jimmy 😎😎
I was hiking passed linhope spout and the remains of two camp fires have scared the beauty spot.
Now that was a short walk for a wildcamp, hope they got caught!
@@MALLY_DAGS_TV so do I mate some bloody tossers out there mate
Well said Jimmy.
Thanks Paul and a great video. I'll continue to camp locally and discreetly in farmers fields and public access land for the time being.👍
Good work for highlighting this issue Paul. Personally I’m not too concerned as it’s all about picking the right spot and earning the night through effort. Be covert and LNT. No parties, no fires. Simples.
Excellent advice. Even up in Scotland there has been people camping respecting the code that have been moved on. It's the folly of the few that ruins the fun of the many. Leave no trace needs to be taught in schools. 👍
It is good Paul. Our society needs to remember that they are nature. It's a reaction, as you say, to its growth and that was always going to come. But let's remember Kinder Scout. Perhaps this is the birth of a nationwide push for legal camping. As for small groups I agree. I've always practiced that after my father and Lofty in the regiment. It's the way they were and it's the way we were taught. Well, thanks for the debate. Mark
This creeping loss of inalienable Rights is extremely worrying. I have “Wild Camped” for years on The Fell here in England and all around the world. I have used camper vans for years, never using campsites. I also own a Narrowboat. What I see everywhere is the gradual, almost total removal of these practices. Look at Portugal. No wild camping allowed at all now! I have seen many more “No overnight Camping” signs, aimed at Camper-vans all over England. The future is grim. The idea of living an alternative lifestyle is being eradicated and the weekend warriors are also suffering a similar fate. Enjoy your freedoms as long as you can. This is The Great Reset!!
This is so true and also money 💰 being done away with very soon
In Scotland, the calmac ferry company is now asking campervans wishing to book a ferry, to confirm that they have reservations at official campsites on the islands. We live on an overcrowded island and its time we acknowledged that endless growth of tourism is unsustainable.
The Great Reset! 😂😂😂 Dear me
@@antduke2361 it really isn't!
@@RollrightKnights I hope your right and I really don't want to say I told you so.
Truth is, if I could find out who the landowner was, I'd quite happily contact them in advance, and even pay for a password I can give to whoever tried to move me on.
Yo...who's this guy with big brain ideas?....i like the way his brain works!
It wouldn't be wild camping then.. Only boot licking a landlord
@Charles Wetherspoon just because you don't like that technically it's illegal doesn't mean it's okay to do it. If people keep ruining the countryside drones etc is what we're going to end up with anyway, except they'll be enforcing a ban rather than scanning a barcode and charging you a quid.
I am agree, while still not a perfect solution in my opinion this would be a significant step forward.
You are the voice of reason, Paul. I've just spent a week wild-camping in The Netherlands and am now in Germany. Never more than now has it been important to be discreet and leave no trace.
Thanks for setting a great example Paul. Like you said, let’s hope Benidorm reopens soon. It’s very sad we have come to this. I say avoid hot spots altogether. It just isn’t worth it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ATB - Ben
Definitely got to avoid the more popular spots for a while like you say , don't fancy packing up in the dark walking down from bamford edge , might be time for some stealth bivvy bag camps 🏕️👍
As usual Paul it's the odd bad apple that spoils it for the rest. Went wild camping over the weekend on the northern part of Kinder, absolutely no problems. How hard can it be to remember to LEAVE NO TRACE....Thanks as always for all you are doing to promote this fantastic pastime.
Since the recent lockdowns pressure on wild spots has increased. A small group of people with business interests seem to get off on restricting others. DOE has been encouraging youth to do this kind of activity for years. Landowners should think carefully though, technology might have brought them the means to spot wild campers but also a wild camper can freely find out who a land owner is and destroy their business reputation on line !
Hi Paul, well this video certainly sparked a fire among the camping community, as most of us know that practically all of the land in England is owned by someone, the only time the land becomes ours is when your fighting for YOUR country in times of war, after the war is over it then the land no longer belongs to you. It is a crying shame that those irresponsible people who don’t care about the countryside spoil it for those who do care. Anyhow well done with the video. Maybe the TV will remind us of the “Country Code” as they used to in the sixties.
"Let's hope when Benidorm opens, all this blows over......." Never a truer word said.
I know someone who went “wild camping” recently, which was basically her & her mates & family having a massive piss up in the woods... she was genuinely indignant & angry they were told to leave by the land owner... it blew my mind she thought what they were doing was ok
Hi Paul.. Yes I got moved on at Bamford Edge on Saturday after the sun had set and it was beginning to get dark, so had to pack up in the dark too.
(Wasn't planning on camping on Bamford Edge but the insanity of trying to park for nearly 1 & half hours made my time cus short. Thinking I should have just gone home, even though I did see an amazing sunset)
It was by the Moscar Gamekeepers from the Moscar Estate on quad bikes. I actually had a good 10 / 15 min chat with them and they said they could see I was 'ok', I showed them my rubbish and we discussed LNT. They said they have never been 'too bothered' with people wild camping previously as nothing has got ruined etc.
What they did say and why they said they are patrolling Bamford / Stanage / Derwent Edges and surrounding areas even more now in force is because since 12th April they have had idiots group camping with 3 or 4 tents in one area, lighting fires actually on the grass (they said they even moved one group who had taken a big bag or charcoal up for a fire!!!) and leaving rubbish around and wedged in the heather.
They said to me they would have let me stay and pack up before sunrise but if they let me do that then they would have to do it for someone else so they just want one simple rule, NOBODY is staying.
They said one of the main reasons they are moving even 'us serious wild campers' is because other people might spot us and think its ok to do.
Annoying that people have ruined this for us but we will just have to hope things may settle at some point in the future.
The Moscar Gamekeepers weren't bothered about other areas of the Peaks only their land. But ive heard of people being moved by wardens etc since on other areas too 😢😢
Makes sense re. the other areas, once one area gets closed out the other areas will get all the traffic and all the problems. I think those gamekeepers are going to have a busy summer.
Covid has a lot to do with it, it has changed everything, especially the numbers of people denied foreign holidays and legitimate campsites who basically have no idea how to behave in the country as to them it is a big park for someone else to clean up afterwards. It is a perfect storm, because it impacts on genuine nature loving wild campers, and is an excellent excuse to allow the land owners to try and take back what they lost in the access battles of the 1930s.
I remember seeing an old Tommy Cooper sketch where he was a scout leader. He pitches his tent in the dark. Gets a good night's sleep and next morning, comes out of his tent and he's in the middle of Trafalgar Square. An example to us all..... ha ha
As a youngster I once crawled through a fence while hitching on a dark and rainy night in Ireland only to wake up the next morning to realise I was camping on a golf course with "Royal" in its name. I got out of there fast...
A bloke walked into a bar - ouch ! it was a metal bar.....
I choose to ramble the little brown dashes on my Ordnance Survey maps. I have found the most beautiful places doing this that won't be found In any tourist guide or even marked as an area of outstanding beauty. I set up a tarp in some small grassed woodland once that seemed very unremarkable on the map. The next morning I woke to find myself surrounded by about 30 deer just casualy passing through. What an amazing and awe inspiring moment.
It doesnt have to be those high and mighty locations that make the time and investment worth it 🙂
We have a similar issue in the states with careless campers and hikers littering and causing fires. It has caused a lot of people to close up private trails during Covid. Educating people and being willing to go up there with a trash bags to clean makes a big difference. Your channel is great, hopefully you still have some good spots to go camping.
Due to the lock down restrictions, our younger generation have had nothing to do for the last 12 month's, not be able to go out with you're friend's, you're mates but I think now restrictions are lifting, pubs are going to fully open, night clubs will open, concerts will go ahead, and that's a good thing, holidays will get back to normal, And we can all enjoy enjoy wild way's again
Sad state of affairs Paul and some interesting times ahead in regards to all this. Atb
pretty sure those quads do more harm than a single guy with a tent
Yes - the hunt followers on Dartmoor use quads, even over soft bog. You should see the bloody mess they leave behind. But it's posh people, so that's all right then...
@@tullochgorum6323 I met the hunt followers couple years ago they were all on horses . Dartmoor is mostly privately owned and working farmland , but yeh quad biking would be destructive
@@tullochgorum6323 it's their land. That's why it's alright!
@@Foxtrottangoabc I saw this a couple of times on the high moor when I was walking and they came past me in rain and mist. They were accompanied by two or three guys on quads, and they were tearing up the bog big time - right up to the axles. They may well have been staff rather than followers - no way I could tell. I was simply taken aback at the trail of destruction they were causing to such a vulnerable environment and wondering why the National Park allows it.
Plus, having a big pack of baying foxhounds tearing directly towards you with no riders in sight to control them isn't the most pleasant experience. On one occasion they literally ran past on either side of me, within touching distance. None of the riders apologised or even deigned to acknowledge my existence.
But as I said, this a posh people's sport so any damage or inconvenience they cause is accepted. Ordinary people trying to enjoy the countryside are demonised and targeted...
@@johnsmith-cn5yv It's a National Park, and one of the most important uplands in the nation. I don't think that private ownership of a national treasure should give landowners carte-blanche to cause ecological damage or put other land users in fear and danger.
The land I was on is owned by the Dutchy of Cornwall. So much for Charlie being a conservationist...
I understand rangers and their concerns, but game keepers and landowners can sod off. I don't care if your great great etc grandfather said it was his, the countryside belongs to the people.
ARRGHHH Good call fella, good call 👍
No. It belongs to somebody. You don't own it, you don't look after it and you didn't create the landscape you enjoy. Imagine if every day strangers traipsed through your garden and into your house and stayed the night without permission.
Thank you for this video. I have bought this to the attention of Guy Shrubsole who wrote Who Owns England, and campaigns on land access rights. He has now retweeted it on Twitter.
As I've said before, for safety, tell a trusted friend where you're going.
Then keep your mouth shut.
And carry a sturdy stick.
It's working for me so far.
I enjoy the English Woodsman's channel, and don't want to sound like I'm putting.him down, but a group of five camping by the water's edge is just asking to be caught. There are signs all over that place saying ',,no camping'.
It's okay to say some people are spoiling camping but then not recognising that your own actions are part of the problem...
My wife had an idea of a wild camping permit that you buy on a yearly basis a bit like a fishing licence. That way you sign up and agree to abide by rules like leave no trace etc. And it gives you the right to wild camp. No licence and they can move you on. I thought it was a good idea
Yes! Some countries do this. It’s a great idea
In the USA yet we have so much more uninhabited land that only the most abused areas have beeen closed or gone toa permit system. The real issue is that we will always have the 1% who do not care and ruin it for everyone else. Human nature is such that it demands eventual regulation.
terrible idea , slippery slope that!!!
its a good idea but knowing our legal system and government they will be greedy with what they expect you to pay and it will just end up pricing the average man or woman out of being able to wild camp ,we really need to pursue a proper rightnto roam law like up in Scotland or like the Scandinavian countries do have allmanretten
Too many licenses already
Should be able to camp anywhere so long as you are respectful and responsible and clean up behind you leave as you find
Really well balanced perspective Paul. The landowners will be worried about the influx of people coming out of lockdown and not respecting the landscape and for me I’m going to bide my time and wait for things to calm down before I head out. I’m in Scotland and there isn’t the infrastructure to accommodate all the cars that are flooding out now and the roadside campers have really ruined things for everyone by leaving waste and damaging trees. I totally understand people’s excitement to get out again. Low impact camping, that you are a great champion of, is acceptable in my eyes, big groups round enormous fires, leaving litter are not. I do like a wee campfire but only in the right circumstances. Spending time in the great outdoors is a privilege and people need to honour it with respect.
Time to line my Terra Nova with gold foil 🤣
Ha ha was thinking that!
Mylar/space blanket tent liner lol.
Fab video Paul. I’ve just got back from a wild camp in the Lakes and it’s great to be out in the middle of nowhere. Let’s hope Benidorm opens up soon!
Benidorm ? Youll enjoy wild camping there !
I'm off to the Lakes tomorrow for a couple of nights wild camping. Taking a bit of a flyer because I'm not sure how busy I'd expect it to be up there. Hopefully going high and remote won't be an issue.
@@tuttobicci We did Coniston area. The Old Man Coniston was very busy, but we camped near one of the lakes and it was so peaceful (my latest video shows the wild camp and location - plus how busy it was). You should be fine mid-week though. Good luck. I hope you get on well.x
Honestly, it'll all calm down once the masses can get back to their easy majorca getaways
Part of the great reset is destroying the tourism industry. Nothing more damaging to the environment than tourists.
That is what I'm hoping for in the U.S., when Covid wanes they all return to work and the TV. At this time wilderness areas are like shopping centers full of people and trash.
That's so sad that some people have ruined it for everyone else. I was really looking forward to camping all over the UK and Ireland 😞
black belt barristar referanced you mr in his youtube video....hats off to ya and lets get the riff raff back to spain hahahah
Use camouflage space blankets to mask your heat signature.
Interesting thoughts, I've never been moved on myself and always try to leave the place in a better condition than I found it
How can you leave it better than you found it...? You plant trees on the way home..? 😂
@@lockodonis I collect other peoples rubbish I see in the area
@@lockodonis no but you can take home the litter the other knobheads have left behind
The other difficulty, and it is an uncomfortable one to bring up on such a great youtube channel, is that I think youtubers do bear a touch of responsibility here. Wild camping has proliferated along with youtube channels covering it, the number of tents you see on Bamford Edge in an evening is much higher than it used to be. I do fear that social media coverage increasing numbers has also increased the tensions between campers and landowners.
100%. The youtubers do have to bear some of the responsibility. I have been camping in the mountains for more than 40 years and whilst I enjoy the videos I have always felt they are going to lead to where we are now.
1000% correct common sense answer at last
Agreed, the vid Pual referenced from the English woodsman, came up in my feed. A big group trying to camp in a well-traveled area. Not exactly helping the situation IMHO.
@@Johnny641 Yeah I saw that and he got turned around for camping by the water's edge right? Kinda taking the piss to be honest considering the first rule is that you do it out of the way.
@@NoxiousNoodles Yea that was the one, I have no doubt they would leave no trace but the prob is people have to shit and piss and if it goes unchecked everywhere turns into a latrine.
I am frustrated by the regs in UK but I do see the flip side as well, only the other day I had to clear up an abandoned tent.
Not so many years ago people was told they couldn't roam on the Peaks , the mass trespass soon sorted that out , the land owners might want to think twice before starting another war because they lost the 1st one 👍
You seem to be confusing the right to roam with the right to make a mess. As with everything in life, rights come with responsibilities that recent events have shown too many people are incapable of following.
@@darren-lewis not confusing nothing pal , I'm on about proper wild campers not some clown with a tesco tent and 10 carling , huge difference and you can't compare the 2 👍
@@richardharrison5622 Just to be clear, given that we're both commenting on one of Paul's vids I suspect we're on the same side here. But as you've stated, the problem lies with the "clown with a tesco tent" and not the land owner, so why make a comment that the land owners need to think twice before "starting another war"? Any land owner reading your comment would surely just double down on their efforts to get people off their land. Maybe we could speak with land owners about how to differentiate LNT from TESCO 10 TINS? Got to be worth a try before we start marching on their hill.
@@darren-lewis probably just stating a dramatic response to the idea of land owners getting too aggressive with their enforcements.
2 friends and I camped in 3 tents at bamford edge about 3 weeks ago on a wed, no issues, we'd been before so knew some good spots slightly away from the main path. We only saw 2 other tents on the whole hill. Our previous trip mountain rescue paid us a visit as they saw our head torches. just checked we were ok, then disappeared into the darkness 😅
Time for some Steve Wallis Stealth camping I'de say ;) Love ur content btw big fan ! Waiting for your Van-adventures.
They'll be flying drones over your garden next, saying you can't camp there.
Good
That sort of mindset will lose us everything. Rather than simply quip on TH-cam why not determine what it would take to preserve camping in the area?
Truth in jest most of the time
I hope so if it gets rid of the filthy drunken louts that have no regard for the countryside leaving a bloody mess behind them and lighting fires.
the last drone that flew over my garden hovering and taking pics got hit with a 12 gauge shotgun lol
All part of the "Great Reset" wild camping will have a negative effect on your social credit score, as with airline travel and owning cars, enjoying the countryside will be exclusively for the rich and well connected, "You Will Own Nothing And You Will Be Happy" whether you like it or not.
Ah someone in the comments section who knows his arse from his elbow at last! The littering is from a small minority, but like the racism/sexism etc issues they intentionally MAGNIFY it.
Moving into 'smart cities' will be for the good of mother Gaia remember....
@@VooDooMaGicMan81 You are on the ball there Sir. I am looking forward to the "Great Pushback"
I am a landscape photographer. I keep well away from tourists and the usual honey pots, and total stealth is the name of my game. Since the start of the pandemic there has been a total change in the kind of people who come to the countryside. What is the point of wild camping armed with a chainsaw to cut down woodland trees to make a fire? Leaving behind smouldering campsites covered in rubbish, rotting food, unburied excrement, discarded pound shop tents, clothes and sleeping bags? This causes an inordinate amount of distress and fear amongst locals who have no other option but to step in and clear up these sorry messes made by increasing numbers of the self entitled in search of ‘the wilderness experience’ mainly under the influence of drink and class A drugs. This is the reality of country life in 2021.
Take a thermal emergency blanket with you. These really do work and stop your heat signature from being detected.
Although this is good information, I can see these being used by the people that are ruining it for us and these will soon be just another item that is littered all over the place.
Pitch your tent after the rangers have clocked off and use rock outcrops as thermal barriers to IR cameras
It's such a shame. I'm itching to get out and camp more this year but such things like this is holding me back. Back to the drawing board I go. Keep up the fantastic work mate. ATB.
Just get out, what they going to do? Just be well hidden and don't be scared to walk further a field.
@@scottcarr862 that's what mean by back to the drawing board lol. Map out and a good recce is in order.
@@grizzlydoutdoors5115 tbh WCUK on Facebook has fucked it. Too many wanting to camp just for Facebook likes, imo of course. I suppose the rain and clag will be the real wild campers friend for the foreseeable to keep the fair weathers indoors haha.
I was tolled off for wild camping on Saturday morning at Edale, I was nice to her and she was nice to me but said no camping is aloud anywhere in the Peak District. Trespassing is not a police matter, your actions can become a police matter. We need to fight for our rights at some point if it continues to get worse
So that’s TOLD off and ALLOWED, Jesus learn to spell before posting your drivel
@@fiffyboo4919 It takes a brave man to start a sentence with so, while moaning about the language of others. Do you realise you speak like a yank?
@@fiffyboo4919 It takes a brave man to start a sentence with so, while moaning about the language of others. Do you realise you speak like a yank?
I'll just add - it might be a police matter but it is NOT a criminal matter. The police cannot lock you up for wild camping (assuming you follow the usual rules of wild camping) - don't be intimidated by a uniform 💁
@@ethyhayes but I’m an American that can spell?!
More in-depth educational content needed from the folks promoting wild camping.
Just got back from a Stanage edge wild camp last night. No issues at all and first i'm hearing of it from this video watched afterwards.
I pitched up after sunset however, but there were also 2 other tents along the edge
Pitch late leave early. On a number of walks I've see tents pitch at midday, bright red in sunny conditions literally standout like a sore thumb..
Saw that on Bamford Edge end of last year. Loads of tents in the middle of the day. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Looked like a proper campsite.
I camp in all sorts of places but i am a dusk till dawn camper... leaving tents up during day always draws attention do not be surprised if you get asked to move on.
“In the UK”? Just pass laws like we have in Scotland.
Scotland is 10 steps ahead of the U.K. for you’re camping laws, jealous man
Isn't it always unsurprising that people talking about England often use Britain or UK?!
Time to get a "Hilleberg Akto mil" version, with reduced IR-profile...
Or take you car and come here to Sweden where our "all mans right"-rule give us permission to wildcamp almost everywhere for 24h.
Great channel yoy have!
I'm on my way 👍🏼
Imagine.......so called "free people" need permission to do things.
That's somebody who knows deep down.....slavery still exists.
@@Z4kYb0I i think you need to read up your history on what slavery is, asking permission and being a slave are two very different things.
@@AggyGoesOutdoors
If there are two people on an island....and one has to ask permission from the other to do anything......that's not equality.
Either you are a a slave to that person....or you have a contract with them.....and they can order you around.
Nobody really "owns" land.........it's an illusion....albeit a persistent one.
That person dies....and leaves with nothing.
So does that mean that Swedish people are now polluting their beautiful wild places with motor-cars !!
Thanks for this well presented and informative video Mr Messy!
I hope the landowners realise its not 'real' hikers and campers that leave a mess or go out for a bevy session with their mates. I'm glad that the Leave No Trace message is pushed so regularly on YT and social media. Other points would be to not to camp in a field with cattle as they could walk right over your tent and although sheep are less dangerous the livestock could be spooked by campers especially at this time of year during lambing season. A farmer who I met last week, who didn't move me on but just had a chat, was also cheesed off with the number of walkers not re-chaining a gates (known as kissing gates). One last point would be to walk round the edge of a field not through it and only use gates or stiles to cross fences or walls even if it means you have to walk further. By listening to what causes issues for landowners and farmers we can ensure we are allowed to continue wild camping and don't loose the very special privilege that we have.
Great vid. I feel for you guys back in my home country. A few bad apples ruin it for everyone. Hopefully you get this nonsense sorted so you all can go back to free wild camping again. Afterall, it's your land.
I live in Buxton, Derbyshire, and my favorite place is Kinder Scout. I pitch my green tarp well off the track, usually behind rocks and higher than the paths. I see countless so called wild campers in their groups and red Hillebergs right next to the paths.... Please look at me, I'm a wild camper with all the best gear....... Screwing it up for all of us. Also anything less than an hours walk don't count, you may as well pitch in a laybye.
PLEASE just keep it to yourself where you camp. 200 people could have read your comment and thought ok yeah I’ll go there.
@@Lonewolf.wildcamping Kinder is a largish plateau, a big lump of rock and bog that I would be hard pressed to " Keep to myself " .Lots of people, daft as it sounds, know about it, and actually go up it. I can't keep Kinder to myself, although I would love to, but I can keep where I camp to myself. Perhaps you would like to stop people showing videos of their camps as they are the dead give aways, in which case you have your work cut out.
I find that the main problem is that actual campsites are way overpricing!,£12-20 for a pitch🤨even if it is a solo single pole tent😡
It's cheaper for a caravan pitch than a tent pitch on most official sites. How does that work???
Is £12-£20 really too much? It’s only the price of a decent pub meal and a pint yet you’d happily spend that. Turn it around the other way - if someone said for the same price as pie and chips and a pint I’ll give you a safe place to pitch for the night with toilet, shower and fresh water facilities I’m sure most people would think that’s reasonable.
You go wild camping to get away from the muggles not to save money. Who wants to spend a night on a campsite with dogs and kids everywhere, even if it was free?
Yes ai can’t imagine staying at a camp site with people talking, their music blasting and kids running around😳
@@20yearsagotoday1 Some of us don’t have £10-£20 just to put a tent up
especially in these hard times!
Go out and eat and have a pint?....what’s that?
Rich farmers cashing in on it too,using a fallow field with a portaloo and charging the Earth,no wonder people are flocking to the hills and beauty spots and then ruining it for everyone else by leaving a mess on the landscape🤨
End of.
Yep can't wait for benidorm to open again 😂 get em abroad Paul around a pool. N leave us, alone.. 👍🍻
Brilliant post as always, Paul. Can I add, subject to weather permitting, to avoid pitching shelters (especially brightly coloured ones) until dusk? I agree sand / brown is my preferred colour as well. Discretion is better then any form of confrontation.
A good tip to not get moved on is to nail a bottle of red on arrival to the pitch so there's no way you can be made to drive anywhere til morning
Typical, my husband and I buy all our kit to go wild camping for the first time and now people want to ban it in Scotland 😡 got tons of useful advice from all your videos in lockdown 😊
I visit Scotland every year and have seen changing attitudes to wild camping. Although wild camping is legal in Scotland, it is not permitted in lots of areas. Since the right to roam was introduced, there has been an ever increasing amount of antisocial behaviour around many of the lochs. Mainly from townies camping out around the lochs, going fishing and drinking around a campfire, and leaving all their crap behind. There are now bylaws in place around many areas, particularly the most popular lochs which ban wild camping and serve fines to those that do. If you're going up Scotland for a wild camp, your going to have to go quite remote. Hope this helps.
There will be trouble if they try and repel the land reform act in Scotland. Hard won rights mustn't be given up just because the magaluf and benidorm mob cant get away this year.
Get out and enjoy it! I hope you have a lovely time out in the peaceful wild👍🏻
Gamekeepers have done more damage to the Peak District than wild campers ever could. If the moors weren't kept dry to promote grouse we wouldn't have any wild fires.
Preach! Totally true.
100%. Not to mention the flooding downstream that a lack of meaningful vegetation creates.
@@stuartchester6899 yep. "Custodians of the countryside" my ass.
Its so pathetic, makes me really angry. We need the law changing to match Scotland. People should have an absolute right to enjoy the few wild places remaining to us.
I'm afraid the chances of a Conservative Gov enacting a similar outdoor Access code in England are very slim.
@@alanmacbeth1495 that's unfortunately true, particularly given that they're trying to make 'trespass' a criminal offence
As an adventure biker I like to wild camp, so I find your channel very good and interesting. In particular this very topic.
I truly hope its not the begging of the end and only wish all that do camp sort themselves out re fires and bbqs - just madness.
Finished a few days in the Peak District with a cheeky one on Bamford Edge tucked away as stealthy as i could a few weeks ago, Quads where about, had a great night and left no trace.
Paul because of all the wildcamping videos on TH-cam there is to many doing it thats the problem .
YES!!!! SOMEONE GETS IT 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
It’s a combination of things to me. I won’t lie, channels like this ignited something in me that I really want to do.
However, I believe the past year has been the main cause of this. If you tell people you’re not allowed to do anything much for the best part of a year, they’re going to try and find something they can eventually do that’s accessible until everything else is available again.
Unfortunately, with that, you get a segment of morons who are too selfish and stupid to think of anyone but themselves. Who probably only watched a couple of vids, then decided to get some kit without researching any further into the whole thing, how to be respectful and what it’s truly about. They’ll just see it as way to have a party.
When I do eventually get out for my first wild camp, I’ll do it knowing I have a respect for nature and having self responsibility for what I do. I’ll also do it knowing I’ve accumulated enough information about it from these channels to make the best informed decisions for me. And obviously will leave no trace!
Sadly you will get the selfish no brainers who, as per usual, have to eff it up for the ones who want to enjoy it for what it truly is. Both those starting out and who have been doing it long term.
I mean recently our local park saw some idiots having a disposable barbecue on a piece of carpet, thinking it would protect the grass! That alone tells you what kind of morons we’re dealing with!
@@chrisdraper845 Chris i agree I wild camp myself I've also slept in my car in the Western isle of Scotland I've been to most of the Hebridean islands this year im going bikepacking up the west coast of Scotland when I leave a pitch you wouldn't know I'd been there but sadly a lot of people just don't care .they will never ban wildcamping in tents in Scotland but they will ban caravans and motorhomes up there .
@@davidtalbot491 you are right David. In Scotland the campervan scene has already been ruined by the idiots now doing it and it's still being heavily promoted. I rarely use my van now. Big fear for where wild camping is going next.
"Call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye"
No, it would only be the "Beginning of the end" for wild-camping in England mate, not the UK ............. Scotland has no trespass laws, apart from Royal Deeside (the Queen's Balmoral Castle estates, and all that bullshit)😎
Typical English attitude really innit?
I was moved on from Grike, ennerdale lakes District, about 2 miles from where I live, camped there for over 30 years, even told them I was local but weren't interested. First trip in 18 months due to lock down and constant night shifts. At work, I'm. Gutted.