Need camping/hiking advice.

[Magnum]

I am going on a camping trip with 6 friends later this month from Chelmsford to Colchester. This trip will not involve and camp sites, so we will be camping wherever we can (fields or forests).
The trip will last from saturday morning till monday afternoon and is about 26 miles in total.

Has anyone tried something like this before and has advice for me?

 

[andyd55]

Yeah done this many item, completed up to my gold duke of edinburgh award and was in the scouts for many years!

Top Tips - Enjoy yourself! Is all good fun

Bring correct clothing for climate, don't carry to much weight, go on a one night hike yourself and you will have a better idea of what you use and dont use! Leave behind what you dont use!!

 

[Magnum]

Yeah done this many item, completed up to my gold duke of edinburgh award and was in the scouts for many years!

Top Tips - Enjoy yourself! Is all good fun

Bring correct clothing for climate, don't carry to much weight, go on a one night hike yourself and you will have a better idea of what you use and dont use! Leave behind what you dont use!!

Thanks. Did you just camp on farmers fields?

 

[andyd55]

Yeah majority of the time, in scotland now all the rules have changed and you are allowed to camp anywhere basically?

 

[photon]

"In my day" the Youth Hostels network was being shrunk and I didn't want to be restricted so I slept in barns, woods and fields, beauty spots like the Malverns and even on a roundabout once! I used a homemade bivvy bag and the aim was to melt into the countryside at nightfall, only seeking permission if necessary. One trip, shortly after harvest, "my" field was visited by a muckspreader after midnight. Having breakfast one Sunday, I had to quickly pack up and leave the trailer I'd slept under, as the farmer wanted to tow it away. Happy days!

These days you're probably better organising your route and where you're going to stay i.e. look up farmers' numbers and speak to them before leaving. I was a member of the Fell Club which had a list of farmers prepared to offer anything from a corner of a field to washing facilities etc.

There are areas e.g. the Chilterns where there's little chance of authorised camping and the locals can be downright suspicious.

Keep the noise and mess under control and try to go unobserved which may mean breaking camp after the locals have left for work. Don't be surprised if half the next village you arrive at already knows you are on your way.