Wild Camping

Below you will find links of my multi day walks that have (mostly) involved wild camping, listed in reverse chronological order.

  • Ennerdale and Pillar Wild Camp – April 2024 – a two day trip with my son up what is becoming one of my favourite Lakeland valleys.
  • A two day Annandale Round – April 2024 – A circuit around upper Annandale, which included a wild camp with Tess, our springer spaniel, and an ascent of Hart Fell.
  • Rydal to Thirlmere Wild Camp – March 2024 – Another multi day linear walk that I have had my eye on for some time is a walk along the length of the lower fells between Rydal and Keswick. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas…..
  • Red Screes, Fairfield and a Grisedale Tarn Wild Camp – March 2024 – A challenging walk over Red Screes and snow covered Fairfield, followed by my 4th camp of the year so far, on the windswept shores of Grisedale Tarn.
  • Seathwaite Tarn Wild Camp – February 2024 – This was very much a walk of two halves, a leisurely day walking up beautiful Dunnerdale to Seathwaite Tarn, followed by a tough day crossing the fells to Coniston in at times quite harsh conditions.
  • Penrith to Keswick – January 2024 – A two day winter hike that included a walk along the Eamont Way to Pooley Bridge, a battle through a tangle of fallen trees on the flanks of Great Meldrum, a snug wild camp overlooking Ullswater on a wild and windy night, an airy traverse around Gowbarrow Fell, with Ullswater far below, and a walk along the old coach road between Dockray and St John’s in the Vale.
  • A Cold Wild Camp on Yoadcastle – January 2024 – I have been resting up after injuring my ankle on Remembrance Sunday, but I felt sufficiently recovered to take advantage of the recent good weather and try a wild camp on Yoadcastle, an easy trip. Or so I thought.
  • A fording of the Esk and a wild camp on Yoadcastle – August 2023 – A two day linear walk from Ravenglass to lower Dunnerdale with my eldest son, fording the Esk at low tide before heading inland past Muncaster Fell, then south along the line of quiet hills overlooking the Irish Sea before descending the Corney Fell Road into Dunnerdale
  • Moffat Dale Horseshoe – July 2023 – A 30 mile two day wild camping trip over the hills around Moffat Dale, which included Capel Fell, Bodesbeck Law, Andrewhinney Hill, Grey Mare’s Tail, a wild camp at Loch Skeen, Firthhope Rig and Hart Fell.
  • Ben Macdui and the Lairig Ghru – July 2023 – A two night wild camping foray into the Cairngorms, which included a walk up beautiful Glen Derry, a wild camp at the foot of Lairig an Laoigh, a visit to remote Loch Etchachan, an early morning dash across the Ben Macdui plateau in perfect conditions, a lofty brew up on Lurcher’s Crag, an arduous crossing of the Lairig Ghru, a wild camp and swim in magical Gleann Laoigh Bheag, followed by an easy walk out through the Caledonian Forest to Lui Bridge. A memorable outing.
  • Greenodd to Keswick via Scafell Pike – June 2023 – A varied 3 day walk across the Lake District with my eldest son – a visit to Beacon Tarn, a swim in and a wild camp at Blind Tarn, exploration of the world’s oldest slate mine, a cloud inversion, a delectable swimming hole in Upper Eskdale, a crossing of The Great Moss, an ascent of England’s highest peak, a wild camp overlooking Great Gable, a descent down leafy Borrowdale and a wander along Derwentwater’s beautiful west shore, where we enjoyed yet another swim. A hugely enjoyable walk, albeit hard going in the hot sun at times.
  • A snowy Keswick to Langdale overnighter – March 2023 – A two day linear walk from Keswick to Langdale after a heavy fall of snow. I climbed over Catbells and High Spy before descending to a deserted Borrowdale campsite as the light was fading, eventually pitching my tent by torchlight in 10cm of snow! I completed my journey with a walk up beautiful Langstrath, and a battle up the snow plastered northern side of Stake Pass.
  • Moffat to Innerleithen – February 2023 – A three day wander along the Southern Upland Way, a night in Upper Phawhope bothy, and my first wild camp of the year on the shores of St Mary’s Loch.
  • Bootle to Coniston Wild Camp – November 2022 – a two day walk through the less well-known fells of the southwestern Lakes, during which I was treated to a spectacular cloud inversion.
  • Grasmere to Foxfield Three Day Wild Walk – September 2022 – A 3-day walk involving 2 high level wild camps, taking in High Raise, Stake Pass, Grey Friar and the Old Man of Coniston. My camp on top of White Maiden turned into an endurance test, both for me and my tent!
  • Seascale to Keswick Multi-Day Meander – September 2022 – I walked from Seascale to Keswick over three days, making my way up lonely Worm Gill to enjoy a wild camp on top of remote Caw Fell, before continuing on over Haycock, Scoat Fell and Pillar, eventually descending into Borrowdale via Moses Trod to escape approaching foul weather. A walk down Borrowdale and along the shores of Derwentwater completed a memorable outing.
  • Eskdale to Langdale Overnighter – August 2022 – A linear walk from Eskdale Green to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, taking in Miterdale, Burnmoor Tarn, a wild camp on Great How, the Great Moss, Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Bowfell and Oxendale.
  • St Bees to Keswick Overnighter – August 2022 – A wild camp at Floutern Tarn, followed by one of the most pleasurable days of mounting walking that I have experienced in years, despite not climbing a single hill!
  • Ennerdale and Haystacks Wild Camp – August 2022 – a family adventure, walking the length of Ennerdale to camp just below the summit of Haystacks. Moonrise over Great Gable, Sunrise over Fleetwith Pike, and 3 wild swims!
  • Stonycroft Gill Wild Camp – July 2022 – I fancied a night on the fells before a Walking Forum meet.
  • A wild camp on the Great Moss – May 2022 – a family walk from Eskdale to Langdale, which included a night spent in Lakeland’s wild heart.
  • Yoadcastle Wild Camp – May 2022 – A 2 day walk from Ravenglass to Silecroft, which included Muncaster Fell, Devoke Water, Yoadcastle, Whitfell, Buckbarrow and Black Combe
  • Penrith to Windermere via High Street – April 2022 – A high level ‘through trip’ along the length of the High Street range, which included a blustery wild camp just below the summit of High Raise.
  • Keswick to Langdale – March 2022 – my first overnight trip of the year. Not a wild camp, as I retreated down to a Borrowdale campsite due to the onset of unpleasant wintery conditions on the fells.
  • Holehouse Tarn Wild Camp – July 2021 – a night out with my son in a quiet corner of the Lakes
  • Caw Wild Camp – July 2021 – a micro-adventure on one of my favourite smaller fells. The sunset was sublime
  • A Langdale Round and Wild Camp – September 2020 – An afternoon promenade over Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike, where I camped just below the summit, then on to Great End, returning to my start point over the Langdale Pikes.
  • Helvellyn via Hard Tarn – September 2020 – A wild camp at remote Hard Tarn, followed by a promenade along the Helvellyn tops, and a descent down Sticks Pass past the old mine workings at Greenside.
  • Levers Water wild camp – August 2020 – a sultry afternoon walk over Wetherlam, followed by the mother of all thunderstorms and a sublime wild swim.
  • Lingcove Beck wild camp – July 2020 – a wild night in the Wild Heart of the Lake District
  • Hayeswater wild camp – July 2020 – a wild camp with my son at the head of lonely Hayeswater
  • Kentmere Horseshoe wild camp – July 2020 – the classic round, with a wild camp and an airy promenade out to Grey Crag thrown in!
  • Back O’Skiddaw wild camp – July 2020 – a meander over Carrock Fell, Knott and Great Calva into the wilderness of the upper Caldew valley.
  • Braeriach wild camp – June 2019 – a one night foray into the Cairngorms, squeezed in on a trip ‘Sooth’ from Orkney.
  • Glen Feshie wild camp – June 2018 – a Munro, a crossing of the Moine Mhor, a walk down the remote River Eidart, a wild camp, and a wonderful descent into Glen Feshie.