Scared of SOLO Wild Camping? Tips for conquering the fear of Wild Camping ALONE in the UK
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- čas přidán 27. 03. 2021
- I wild camp on my own all the time, and something that pops up over and over again is people asking how I'm not afraid of going solo. Truth is - sometimes I am! But also, there really isn't that much out there to be afraid of... not in the UK anyway.
Over the years I've developed some tips and tricks, that I thought I'd share with you.
The main tip (and I didn't labour this point in the video), is to keep going! The more times you do it, the easier it becomes. You can see why I didn't put that in as a tip can't you - stating the obvious really.
I'd be interested to know what tips you have? Please leave them in the comments for everyone to read.
This video doesn't cover general tips for wild camping - please always leave not trace, pitch late and leave early. Wild camping is not legal in the UK, apart from in some areas of Dartmoor, and in Scotland. So please respect land owners and others out enjoying wild places.
Thanks for watching, and if you enjoy this video or find it useful, then please share it with others 😊
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#solowildcamping #wildcampingUK #soloFemaleWildCamping
My first wild Camp I was sure I'd picked the perfect spot. Then in the night I heard a banging against my tent. My mind started racing. Was it the landowner telling me to get off his land? Was it an axe murderer? Was it a cow come to trample me to death? I gingerly got out my tent to be faced with a sheep headbutting my tent. Backing up, then headbutting it again. I shone my torch at it (which didn't faze the sheep one bit) and I waited for it get bored and walk on. It took me a while to get back to sleep that night. Fun memories though.
Such a brilliant video! Love the humour. I totally understand people being scared going solo camping if you are not not used to it. I am a former para ranger (a small military unit if you don’t know what it is) and done hiking for over 30 years, most of the time solo hiking. For me there is three things that can scare you and two of them is actually nothing to be scared for (depending where in the world you live, I have to add). 1 people 2 wild animals and the third I get to in the end. So people, is that something to be scared of? How likely is that that someone sits at home, feeling an urge to kill someone, and goes out in completely darkness in the forest walking around hour after hour day after day to hope to stumble upon a tent to find someone to kill? I think if I was them I take someone on their way home after a late night out in a city instead. So, darkness is your friend.. if you can’t see them, they can’t see you.
So what about wild animals. I live in an area (in sweden) with bears, wolves and lynx just on my backyard. My biggest wish is to see some of them in the wild when I am out. After 30 years in the forest I have seen them…. zero times.. they are more afraid if you then you are of them and they will notice you long time before you notice them and they will avoid you. So what have I been afraid of then? Well, being bad prepared, bad equipment facing bad weather. Most times rescue operations has to be carried out is not because there is a crazy murderer out looking for people in the night or wild animal attacks.. it is people poorly prepared and with wrong equipment getting caught in bad weather. I did a hiking in the north if sweden (kungsleden) in the winter, 400km skiing out in no mans land.. was cought in a snowstorm and even if I was trained thats the only time I had a real reason to be scared. So, get educated, be prepared, tell people about your plans and where you are supposed to be and listen to Sarahs advices and enjoy hiking ❤️
Love it!!! 😁 Absolutely spot on ✌🏼
That's very good information
Thank you great advice, I love how you describe your experiences! Ive thought what am I scared of? Who is going to find me in a wild place?! Embracing adventure with courage is really feeling alive i think! 😄❤️
I would love to visit Sweden for the challenge of your climate and the beautiful Northern lights. I heard the moose are the main thing to worry about over there, that and people. But you're spot on, darkness is your friend. I can't camp with people that overdo it with the headtorches lol
@@aliasofanalias7448 you should absolutely come and visit. The northern light is amazing. A moose could be grumpy but most will just ignore you or run away before you see them. So don’t worry about them :)
My top tip is 'become the axe murderer.' I wear a bank robber style balaclava and carry an axe while camping in the woods. Problem solved.
Exactly this. In reality I'm the scary one. I'm quiet and stealthy, dressed in full camo and armed with rifles and knives. I could easily be mistaken for the bad guy, when in reality I'm just doing some hunting lol.
Yea I'm thinking just look at scary & menacing as possible haha plus camping tools can make good bosh bosh weapons if needed which is highly unlikely.
😂😂😂
Hey that's what I do
Just pick a low profile tent add camo for that season
Also no fire or lights at night
And cam in high weeds nettles Bush
You have something unique with your channel in this wild camping genre - humour. Everyone else is so gear pushing obsessed and earnest but have little to say about where they are. I think your subscription may just escalate.
Nailed it....its fun to watch and good advice.
Oh and a gorgeous lady, don't forget that
I was actually scared to death on my first solo camp. Now I find it the most peaceful experience ever. Its good for the soul.
Firstly, ask yourself what your afraid of. Is it just the unknown? Other people? Animals? Once you start asking yourself you begging to actually realise your just afraid of being alone rather than anything at all lol. X
@@HayleyRobinsonhale Unknown
@@HayleyRobinsonhale Im always terrifited by a "walking" noise. I imagine some other people, who want kill me. On the other hand, i often watch a horror movies. Then im scared by ghost, demons and zombies (even if they dont exist and the noise is made by some hatchhock).
I really want try solo camping someday, to face my fear, but im the piece of shit now, and im scared.... :/
The full moon tip is actually a very good one. I decided to make my first solo camp a full moon trip mostly because it was Halloween night but, the full moon was a nice bonus. When I crawled out for the 2am pee my sleep muddled brain thought it was morning. It was so clear and bright I ended up sitting outside for 20 minutes soaking in the beauty. It was a truly magical moment that erased any thought of being nervous or afraid.
Love the editing!
First time I wild camped alone I was convinced there was a huge human-eating animal right next to my tent; woke up in the morning and where the noise had been there were a load of fluffy white feathers on the ground - it was a duck. 🙃🦆
Ducks are the most dangerous of all the night creatures
Grow up man
Iron Miaden - Fear of the Duck 🦆
I’m watching this absolutely baked, giggling my ass off! This chick is hilarious!
A big Sarah carrying a mini Sarah in her rucksack while she’s inside the tent packed up? I have to applaud you because that is next level creative imagination :’)
The only thing I ever worry about is other people. Animals don’t bother me because they behave rationally. People don’t.
The more remote I am the safer I actually feel.
For a first time I agree with camping within reach of your vehicle just as a reassurance thing. It helps to know you could run away if you freak out.
By the way, I really loved your humor and editing!
I'm a 60 something male and this video randomly appeared onto my youtube feed. I have to admit that I presumed most of the younger generation simply sat at home with their videos and playstations and I'd never even heard of "wild camping".
This video was done with style and humor and a joy to watch. The fact that there are young people with a sense of adventure and a love of nature gives me hope for the future. Great stuff.
During a winter camping trip in the woods, I thought during the night that someone was walking around my tent in the snow for minutes. Freaked me out as it was in the middle of nowhere. Turned out it was so exceptionally quite that night (no wind, nothing else that made any noises) that I started hearing my own heartbeat, which sounded like steps…
Omg 😂😂😂 That’s a new one!
@@FitforAdventure It was in Norway - also fewer midges here … just watched your Scotland midges/spider attack horror story, omg 😵💫
As a 6'2 bloke who lives with a lot of social anxiety I'm completely comfortable sleeping alone in nature but utterly terrified of being caught and shouted at by angry landowners. Can't wait to get out of the Southeast where there is essentially no open access land at all :(
That is totally my fear as well! I don't care about the dark, or animals, or potential murderers. My terror is that I will wake up and find myself yelled at, or the police asking me to get out. I live in Cambridgeshire, which is fields. No woods, no forests, no hills, no mountains. Diddly squat. But the landowners are arseholes.
@@bonariablackie4047 same here also in Cambridgeshire can’t wait to get to the mountains 🏔
I think too much when I go solo. When I'm in my one man tent I think if someone decides to mess with me I'm stuck in this fabric coffin with no room to do anything.
exactly the same here. i'm even 6'2 lol
You should watch the tent scene in Dog Soldiers, that will get ya mind going.
The scariest thing I've heard in the night, I learnt later was deer barking. Freaked the hell out of me - and that was just laid in a bivvy bag - no tent to hide away in.
Tip: If you're camping in a new area, find out what wildlife there is. It can be fun trying to identify the calls/sounds you hear and it helps relieve the anxiety of strange noises.
We have foxes, badgers, 3 types of deer, nightjars, owls and the Surrey Puma around here at night. 😮
Great video and some very useful tips. I'd like to add that staying through the night if you do get scared is far better than packing up and heading home. If you pack up and go then you're basically telling your subconscious that there was something to be afraid of and the evidence is that you left. It will be hard to recover from that the next time you're out so always try and stay through the night.
Wow, you did an AMAZING job on this. I LOVED it. I did two weeks before and now I'm heading out again in 6 days.....whoop whoop. Being scared makes me feel ALIVE. I LOVED your tips. I want to mention that I take a safety whistle, some spray and a knife and a flashlight bright enough to blind someone for a few minutes, while I run away, lol. It makes me feel quite secure.
Is now the correct time to mention, i’m a fully grown 14st male that practices the majority of these tactics?
I use a hammock when I wild camp and on one of my first solo camps I was woken by what sounded like a heard of elephants charging through my camp. Didn’t sleep the rest of that night. Found out when I got light that it was badgers 🦡. I always check for signs of animal dens now as it scared the shit out of me (I’m 6’2 and 18 stone so we all get scared)
Thanks!
😂 that’s hilarious! Everything appears to be louder in the night, badgers=elephants at midnight 🌙
😂😂😂
Great video. Well done Real Sarah. For anyone who’s still not convinced that solo wild camping at night is safe, remember that any person out there in the dark is going to have some sort of light. So, no light, no person so nothing to worry about.
well. have gone camping without a touch before and walked into a strangers tent. they weren't too happy. however in Scotland or the mountains. no one would be walking about long at night without a torch.
well maybe a werewolf.
For me it's the thought of getting caught.
Unless it's like a Navy SEAL with some night vision lost on his way to Bin Ladins mansion.
Due to my military experience I always move without a light, even it total darkness. Darkness is the safest time to move in enemy territory.
I feel no need to advertise my presence for miles around me with a flashlight.
If I have to look at the map I hold a small torch inside my fist and let out just a bit of light on to the map.
In the darkness I am very careful with and mindful of what I put where so I can collect it all back without using a light.
For safety reasons I always set up the tent away from any paths and if possible in a difficult to get to place where no sensible person would go to, especially at night. It is also important to have limited visibility range around the tent so it will not be seen by accident. If someone wants to get me they have to put some effort into it.
I do not cook and eat by the tent. Cooking makes noise and smells that can attract animals and people. If something or someone comes to check on that all they will find is me eating or an empty spot. I will be sleeping elsewhere.
The common wisdom applies to wild camping safety, too: make yourself the least likely target to be found.
You made an excellent video and you have tons of charisma. I wish you lots of success in everything you do.
Thank you for your really helpful video. I used to camp a lot when I was younger, but then life started happening. Now I'm 63 years old, and I really really want to start camping again. But between then and now I have watched way too many Bigfoot, dogman, and crazy killer videos. But wish me luck. I am going to try to solo camp this spring. Again thank you for your input and video.
A fun video! The best way to deal with irrational fear is to face it. Just like you do. Exposure therapy. It works. I have been wild camping alone since I was a boy and still am (I'm now 65). I have never ever experienced anything scary (maybe except for my tent full of mosquitoes or ants, that's kind of scary...but there's tricks for handling that too). Happy solo camping! You're lucky to have all those wild camping years in front of you!
Love your idea about the moon! But even as a seasoned wild camper, I've had at least one night where I went to sleep with clear skies, then got woken up by the moon rising, which sends you into a waking panic that somebody has a torch pointed at your tent!
This video helped me understand that I'm not the only one with these thoughts and I'll probably be okay camping solo ! Thank you 😊
OMG I have just found your channel and I am so glad I did you are so amusing, so inventive and so easy to watch. The information you provide and the way you relay it is brilliant... I was in stitches but also found myself nodding in agreeable with some of your tips.You’ve got yourself another follower 👍🏕🌅🏔
Absolutely love this video!! Thank you so much!
Brilliant video. I'm planning my first solo and you've covered so many of my questions, the getting out and making a mental picture of my direct surroundings is God tier tip. Plus you're very funny too, glad to find your channel, ty.
By far the one of the most informative and entertainingly funny Vlogs I’ve watched. Well deserves an add. Keep up the good work.
You are an absolute hoot! Love the effort and video quality 🤯. Look forward to seeing you again! 👍
Don't stop making videos!!! This was amazing and great advice. I've been camping for 10+ years and this video is one of the best I've seen for beginers getting into wild camping or camping in general. WELL DONE!!!
Great tips. Thanks for sharing!
You are completely bonkers, entertaining, engaging, informative and fabulous! Love your vids!
I actually enjoyed your video. I recently started hiking around where I live, and camping is my next goal. What you said in video is more or less what was going in my head, plus you give some extra examples. And all of that with a great sense of humour. I really like that. Subbed :)
I absolutely LOVED your video!!!!!! You have an awesome personality and thank you for making videos for us! Please keep it up! I'm in the USA and I hope your channel grows even more. Your deserve it!
You are genuinely so funny, I love it 😭 great video!
Really good tips delivered in a nice humorous way. Great job!!
Hi Sarah!
Really loving your videos and particularly like this one as it deals with fear, (of the dark / being alone.)
My life has taken a unexpected turn recently, leaving me homeless and although I have had the support of some amazing people who have supported me, being on my own, (in field / in my car on my own, at night etc,) it has been very scary and overwhelming at times.
Your videos always bring a smile to my face and your approach to life's anxieties with the use of humor and openness is very refreshing.
Your humor is just brilliant and your energy and passion for what you do is so inspiring. You clearly enjoy what you do and thank you so much for sharing what you do
I'm Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures in the future.
Much love, Ash. x
Hope you find yourself in better circumstances dude?
I loved this video Sarah! Thank you so much for all of the great tips, really helpful! I'm doing solo SWCP in 3 weeks and I found your strategies very valuable 🙏❤
Another fab video Sarah. Your style and humour are excellent so don’t ever change! Easily my favourite CZcams channel of this genre. 👏 👏
You are an absolute cute find.
So many questions. What's the largest animal you have to worry about? Here on the east coast of America we can run into black bears very easily, the occasional wild boar, the very occasional wild cat, and of course the ever-present squirrel that sounds like a grizzly bear in the middle of the night.
Seriously though I'm very impressed and like the fact you're a woman who knows what she enjoys and pursues it and isn't scared of doing it alone. However having said that, we live in a very real world where people can be an issue. The only thing I might suggest to you specifically is that while you've given a lot of great tips on how to deal with fear consider for yourself though how to address a very real issue that could present itself to you. I don't know what's legal for you where you live. If you can carry protection like a knife, better yet a gun, do it and know how to use it. Whatever it is you're carrying even if all it ends up being is bear spray, absolutely know how to use it. Because if you don't know how to use it having it is meaningless. The other thing I would suggest to you is take this very seriously. No one wants to go through life scared or worried about their own life and other people's potential effect on that. Nonetheless that should be a very real concern for you and anyone like you that's camping alone. I say this as a 50-year-old 6' 1" well built man who camps on his own on occasion and is prepared for potential encounters like this from other people. Doesn't matter how many times you've never encountered a bad situation, it's the one you do that you need to be aware of and prepared for.
Stay safe out there.
Very good advice!
Have just found this channel and this is AMAZING. Showed this to my daughter and it's really helped. Thanks!
You put so much effort into this, and I’m glad I found you! I’m off for a wild camp on Wednesday, the first one on my own. This has really helped x
How did it go phoebe?
Love your videos, very informative and funny, great job. Thank you
I don't know how, but I found a hidden gem! I loved the lighthearted, comedic approach! I hope you do stand-up or at least use your talent on your friends and family, so it won't be wasted in between two videos! All the best :)
I am addicted to your channel Great editing. Beautiful locations. You are hilarious and such a beautiful soul!
I truly, TRULY loved this video. As a newbie solo wild camper, I cannot thank you enough for your tips.
Love this! Funny, interesting, keeps you hooked in with your filming/production technique and very real. Thank you🙂
Thank you so much! Cheers for watching 😊🤙🏻
Brilliant video. Very informative and hilarious. Proper legend!!
Thank you so much. Great upload. Helped me alot 👍
Superb video. Informative and useful but so much more. Brilliant humour. I've now subscribed. Thanks
Great tips there. I Started wild camping a few Years ago in the SOUth near Hastings. Was scared at first but the best piece of advice I read is that it's extremely unlikely that there will be a murderer in the woods as everyone else is just as scared as you and so won't go into the woods either! And it would have to be a very comitted crazy person to find a wild camper. I got more scared by small birds rustling in leaves which sounded exactly like footsteps coming towards me, and trees make a weird sound that are touching in the winds, like a eeeaw sound that creeped me out until I realised what it was.
Strangest experience was sleeping on a nudist beach on the shortest night of the summer in an isolated part of south coast, it was just me with the beach to myself all night and was magical with a clear starry night, , but I woke up to old dudes walking naked around me not even bothered by my presence.
Love your video. Helpful tips
So helpful and you are absolutely delightful in humor and soul!! Just found you today and subscribed after 30 seconds of watching! ❤❤❤
Just watched this, it came up on my CZcams feed because I've been watching similar videos recently. I'm new to solo wild camping and recently bought all the gear (I went mad and am as prepared as an SAS operative so my backpack weighs a million tons lol), anyway, this video was informative, lighthearted and brilliantly presented even though it is based on a subject of facing fear, if I had a hat on I'd take it off in respect to you Sarah, well done and thank you. Looking forward to watching your other videos now 🙂
This popped up in my feed, and I have been thinking of wild camping. Your style is brilliant and fun, thank you Sarah that’s very helpful.
Just found this video probably the best I’ve seen on the subject looking forward to watching you channel stay safe
Awesome video, thank you! Planning my first wild camp soon so I really needed these tips!
Best helpful video I’ve discovered.. I feel way more prepared. Thank you
Love this video, I tell every one of my friends that want to try camping alone to watch this video, it's a lot of common sense Information that people for the first time generally do not think about and could clear their fears a little, well done!
Great tips! Love your humor and creativity!!!
Wife and I loving your video's, unique in every way. Please keep them coming. Stay safe.
You are so cheerful. Thank you for admiting to your fears and tips.
Been camping in tents and caravaning all my life JUST WISH MORE PEPOLE HAD THE COMMON SENCE to enjoy this wonderful out door life and past time .
Good on you. YOU injoy life and want to share it with other people.
Great video. Very helpful. Thankyou
Deffo a fave CZcamsr , legend of an adventurer and funny with it , well done Taff 👍🏻
Thank you thank you, that vid was great, great sense of humour, very enjoyable, good work.
Hilarious as usual. You channel is my favourite on CZcams. You are a natural presenter with lots of humour to keep it all lighthearted. You filming & editing skills are very good. All in all you are a very talented young lady. Keep the videos coming.🙂🙂🙂
Great vid. And really liked the ancient burial mound behind your tent.
Ong, you are such an amazing person...im not breathing how helpful is this and how funny way you did it..I just started with solo hikes and going for my first wild camp, making videos too..Thank you so much for sharing all your experience...
Thanks so much, this is really helpful!
Epic vid keep the fun and the energy going its amazing
Very well structured video.
I’ve been watching videos on wild camping for the last hour or two and this has been refreshingly hilarious. I also feel like I could totally solo camp myself now, thank you!
That was so brilliantly entertaining and informative. Thank you!
Brilliant , funny and wise advice !
So happy I stumbled upon your channel Sarah, its awesome. Keep up the good work!
Aw thank you! Cheers for watching 😊🙌🏻
What a great video! So funny but also practical. I am getting into camping and want to wild camp alone. This is a great help. How to be safe and feel safe too!
Brilliant video! So much fun but still shared fantastic helpful information!! Bravo 👏
for years I would solo camp, never afraid, then I joined the US Army Infantry....after my service (4 yrs) went solo camping, the anxiety and fear, and panic drove me to leave my gear behind, and drive 1 hour to get cell service to talk to my wife for an hour, went back and slept OK. Since then I've solo camped dozens of time and started a youtube channel to help others with solo camping and survival. LOVE it now, the most peace Ive ever felt was while solo camping!
Great film, in 2 adjectives informative & funny. Thanks you so much. Subscribed.
Fantastic video and lots to think about Sarah. I have my tent, sleeping bag, mat and Brukit now all ready to go. Just need a bit of confidence........you are a real inspiration 🙂
Sarah! I'm so happy you are doing well and making Vlogs! This is awesome! XD
Absolutely brilliant video, entertaining, creative, lighthearted & informative. You made learning fun, which is a rarity. ❤️👍
Such a great way of giving these tips! Thanks!
I'm soon going to head on a solo adventure bike tour and this came in handy, along with making me laugh a bit too! Keep the good stuff coming!
Good luck! Thanks for watching 😊🙌🏻
All good tips. Great vid.
Great video, can tell you definitely put a lot of work into making this one, I appreciate that.
Great video! Thank you so much for sharing. Stay safe and keep out there.
What a fantastic video. Sound and sensible advice. Also your creative imagination is awesome. 😃👍😊🍻🌻☀️
Wow just found your channel and I love your quirky take on things. Camping gold ✨️ 👌
Commenting again 3 years later just to say the tip about the tent flapping sounding like footsteps is SO GOOD. I have shared this a number of times with pals, and it is so so true.
Nice vid 👍 I’ve yet to brave a ‘wild camp’ but when I do, your tips will no doubt help me through the night.
I’m subscribing to your channel now after seeing this brilliant video!!! Love your humour xxx
You are amazing, I was really looking for a video like this.
This was great. I loved the way you explained things and about the noises. (That chocolate wouldn't have lasted the hike up there with me.) Anyway, I'm glad I found your channel and your unique style of filming/vloging. I haven't been camping yet just for the reasons you mentioned and it has been too hot in my area of the US East Coast (VA) for me. You and others have slowly given me the courage to try it soon. Take Care and Stay Safe.
One of those rare gems - an informative and also very entertaining outdoors vlog. 10/10. The times I've wild camped have been after a day's cycling so the tiredness certainly helps, but my vote goes to 'the cocoon' technique.
Brilliant,funny and calming. I will have your voice in my head when I finally get to do my first solo camp. “You are totally bonkers young lady” but you already have me hooked on your channel even though this is the first vlog of yours I have seen😂👍
One of the funniest videos about this topic I’ve seen. You just earned a subscriber 😄
Brilliant Vlog Sarah, your mad as a hatter, I was in stitches watching it.
I'm hoping to get all the equipment for wild camping in the next couple of months, I can't wait to get out for my first solo camp.
You have just got another subscriber 😊😊
Love your edits & love the funny titanic quote.
Absolutely smashed it! Nice one :) Subscribed!