So you were there then?, good good times. Cars & tents in a circle with a constant fire in the middle, cooking veg stew, jacket spuds & staring at the embers late at night while you came down. Oh what joy.
£20 to wild camp?
- Thread starter Fossil Bluff
- Start date
JKM
Thru Hiker
I like pop up tents just for the fun of watching the inexperienced trying to take them down afterwards.
Mine a particularly large so must provide amusement for the many though.....
My wife and I will nudge eachother when a new one arrives, or we see someone about to attempt a complex/new erection
Is there a camping version of Gongoozling?
Taz38
Thru Hiker
I volunteered at Glastonbury several times in the late 90s. It was big then, the week before the punters came was brilliant. You could still have fires (wood was provided), people would go round selling mushrooms and little cakes, and no one had a phone.
By Sunday the whole place stank, toilets and food waste mostly. Mountains of stuff was left behind. Monday morning a we went round scavenging the good stuff. The travellers took a lot also, the rest went to landfill I guess.
I personally think the organisers of big festifals should make sure there is less waste. Festies like Glasonbury and other big ones are disgraceful when it comes to waste and recycling. The Green Gathering does it very well, but that's very much down to the attitude of the punters as well as the organisers.
By Sunday the whole place stank, toilets and food waste mostly. Mountains of stuff was left behind. Monday morning a we went round scavenging the good stuff. The travellers took a lot also, the rest went to landfill I guess.
I personally think the organisers of big festifals should make sure there is less waste. Festies like Glasonbury and other big ones are disgraceful when it comes to waste and recycling. The Green Gathering does it very well, but that's very much down to the attitude of the punters as well as the organisers.
dovidola
Thru Hiker
I know it's a selfish and myopic point, but when there are obvious stinkers like dog-poo-bags and pop festivals, it means that casual hiking is more likely to go under the radar. Not that we're a problem, but that has little to do with it. In the age of the over-regulating Nanny State, the less attention we receive (rightly or wrongly) the better. I'm happy for the 'improvers' to concentrate their undoubtedly well-meaning energies on more deserving causes.
Michael_x
Section Hiker
Have to agree about the benefits of being under the radar, not known about, low numbers.
Once long ago geocaching was like that, then came smart mobile phones with GPSr chips in them. Add in an American business intent on monetising the hobby and maximising their profit. The result a massive increase in the numbers geocaching but at a huge cost in terms of the quality of hides, behaviour, etc, etc, etc.
The last thing wild camping or the few truly remote areas in England need are a large increase in the numbers doing it. I don't think it's selfish to argue against promoting it. Plus I smell a rat when those doing so are seeking to monetise it at the same time.
Michael_x
Section Hiker
Just a thought experiment. The wild camping app features:-
Available for android and apple.
Instantly locate and pay for a wild camp pitch near you. The magic arrow will then guide you straight there.
Someone camping in your pitch? Report them through the app to the local land manager with a quick photo and swipe right.
Personalised information about businesses and services near your tent. Fancy a pizza? Just order through the app and a cheerful zero hours contractor will be zooming it to you by diesel quad bike in no time. Delivery fees apply.
Easily and conveniently pay for your nearby parking in the Parking Eye managed layby.
Note the app tracks and records your location, personal details, phone audio and video, along with your contact list and any other data we manage to access which we then sell. Engaging in wild camping using the app means you agree to our doing this.
Failure to book and pay for your wild camping (TM) pitch may result in prosecution and a fine.
Available for android and apple.
Instantly locate and pay for a wild camp pitch near you. The magic arrow will then guide you straight there.
Someone camping in your pitch? Report them through the app to the local land manager with a quick photo and swipe right.
Personalised information about businesses and services near your tent. Fancy a pizza? Just order through the app and a cheerful zero hours contractor will be zooming it to you by diesel quad bike in no time. Delivery fees apply.
Easily and conveniently pay for your nearby parking in the Parking Eye managed layby.
Note the app tracks and records your location, personal details, phone audio and video, along with your contact list and any other data we manage to access which we then sell. Engaging in wild camping using the app means you agree to our doing this.
Failure to book and pay for your wild camping (TM) pitch may result in prosecution and a fine.
You’d need a reliable data connection to utilise most of the features though, which isn’t always possible in the UKs lumpy bits.
I’m all for pizza by drone though
I think they run a similar scheme around the Trossachs or there was certainly talk of it
I’m all for pizza by drone though
I think they run a similar scheme around the Trossachs or there was certainly talk of it
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dovidola
Thru Hiker
It's a horrible scenario @Michael_x , made all the worse because there's more than a whiff of truth about it. Let's hope there isn't some bright entrepreneur (like the one subject of this OP) picking up on this any time soon. Equally likely perhaps is that a regime of that kind would be introduced on the back of some 'elf'n'safety response to a crowdfunded 'victim'/family/supportgroup taking legal action against landowner/authorities for 'failing' to prevent some mishap or other. OK, the regulators will say, rubbing their hands with glee, but it'll cost ya!
oreocereus
Thru Hiker
There’s enough development happening in drone courier that I expect drone pizza delivery isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. And if there’s money to be made in the hills, they’ll find a way around any legal issues.
edh
Thru Hiker
Coincidentally, just came across this piece on USA trail apps.
oreocereus
Thru Hiker
Interesting article. I used phone maps a lot in the Pyrenees last year - quickly found myself depending on it too much. Would second guess common-sense things and check the app too often. Battery became stressful (even though I had real paper maps with me).
Haven't downloaded any mapping apps for the UK, and have enjoyed using maps properly again (even if my nav skills are low-level, i'm trying to improve).
I use a seperate camera, often just an analog point-and-shoot. I enjoy the more conscious photography, and it means I don't look at my phone.
Having running shorts without pockets means my phone stays in a dry bag, anyway.
I noticed I felt more anxious and less connected with the phone as a dominating presence.
Haven't downloaded any mapping apps for the UK, and have enjoyed using maps properly again (even if my nav skills are low-level, i'm trying to improve).
I use a seperate camera, often just an analog point-and-shoot. I enjoy the more conscious photography, and it means I don't look at my phone.
Having running shorts without pockets means my phone stays in a dry bag, anyway.
I noticed I felt more anxious and less connected with the phone as a dominating presence.
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edh
Thru Hiker
Interesting... I'm pretty much tied (literally) to mine, especially as I've made this a research area.
This said I do try to keep an open mind - and recognise a lot of what you say in myself and the observed behaviour of others.
Currently gathering empirical data to add a little weight to anecdotal reflections; a long way to go yet.
But it's fun... mostly.
This said I do try to keep an open mind - and recognise a lot of what you say in myself and the observed behaviour of others.
Currently gathering empirical data to add a little weight to anecdotal reflections; a long way to go yet.
But it's fun... mostly.
Taz38
Thru Hiker
I go out to get away from lots of people and man-made distractions, social media included. I might have a little look at a few sites on my phone in the morning and at bedtime when I check weather forecast and maybe routes.
Not been asked to move on in the UK (yet), but I tend to pitch late and not spent the night partying
Was asked to move a few times in my younger years in different countries, usually when sleeping in more public places (parks), or asked to come back to the farm house to stay there (for safety reasons; wild animals, people with guns).
Not been asked to move on in the UK (yet), but I tend to pitch late and not spent the night partying
Was asked to move a few times in my younger years in different countries, usually when sleeping in more public places (parks), or asked to come back to the farm house to stay there (for safety reasons; wild animals, people with guns).
oreocereus
Thru Hiker
I suppose it comes down to: I go out to feel connected with myself and the (somewhat natural) world. Anything extra that controls or interfaces that experience dilutes it.
Personal to me, my phone is a symbol of my own difficulties with anxiety.
Social media and internet connections are another beast entirely. I already have weird feelings about sharing hiking photos on social media.
If you’re sharing more or less instantaneously while hiking, does mediating the experience become more important than the experience itself?
Probably no for people on this forum, but it clearly does for some (see the Instagram page “youdidnotsleepthere”).
How much does our consciousness of social media affect our experience while hiking?
Very off topic. Apologies.
Personal to me, my phone is a symbol of my own difficulties with anxiety.
Social media and internet connections are another beast entirely. I already have weird feelings about sharing hiking photos on social media.
If you’re sharing more or less instantaneously while hiking, does mediating the experience become more important than the experience itself?
Probably no for people on this forum, but it clearly does for some (see the Instagram page “youdidnotsleepthere”).
How much does our consciousness of social media affect our experience while hiking?
Very off topic. Apologies.
oreocereus
Thru Hiker
There’s no “should”
HillBelly
Section Hiker
There was a time when I was conscious of the photies I would be taking... to show on Facebook, given that most of my friends were outdoorsy. I don't
There was also a time when wild camping affected my experience of walking. As I always seemed to gear myself up for - 'is it a good weekend to camp or not'. So it often got in the way of just getting out there and go for a good walk. Also I seemed to spend a lot of my time on walks judging places as potential camping spots, rather than just enjoying the scenery.
aqfnhoiaqh
Summit Camper
A good compromise might be similar to the English freshwater fishing licence. Pay, say £50 for a whole year and you get a 'camping permit' that allows you to wild camp on any number of national sites / common land, not just designated zones within them. Weekly or nightly passes available at reduced rates.
The money raised would not be huge, (including fining anyone caught camping without the permit) - and all proceeds put towards maintenance of pathways, forestry lands, even mountain rescue etc... etc...
It seems like a reasonable compromise?
The money raised would not be huge, (including fining anyone caught camping without the permit) - and all proceeds put towards maintenance of pathways, forestry lands, even mountain rescue etc... etc...
It seems like a reasonable compromise?
Fossil Bluff
Thru Hiker
You couldn’t do that without every land owner signing up. All land is owned, the requirement (Law for England and Wales) is to have the land owners permission - not the national park.
The reason why it works for Dartmoor National Park is because the ‘commons’ are all owned by one land owner (Duchy of Cornwall). Further to that, there is the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 providing open air recreation as well as commoners rights to grazing. This is then supported through a byelaw which lays down how wild camping shall take place i.e on the commons, not within 100m of a road, no fires and not for more that two consecutive nights on the same place. Trailers / caravans / Motorhome s etc are not permitted to stop in the car parks overnight.
dovidola
Thru Hiker
@Adam Peel Even though I'm instinctively against anything involving regulation (including licensing) in the arena of wild camping, that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.
What I'd worry about though is that once there is a licence to permit a particular activity, that gives a convenient framework to allow restrictions to be placed on that activity as well.
Also, the enforcement regime which would necessarily be required to enforce a statutory licensing scheme doesn't fill me with joy. Inevitably, there would be 'mission creep'...
What I'd worry about though is that once there is a licence to permit a particular activity, that gives a convenient framework to allow restrictions to be placed on that activity as well.
Also, the enforcement regime which would necessarily be required to enforce a statutory licensing scheme doesn't fill me with joy. Inevitably, there would be 'mission creep'...