Wild Camping UK | Heading South | John Clare Country
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Fancying something a little different (and not a hill nor mountain in sight) I recently got it in my head to plan a walk and wild-camp taking in an area down south I've had a fondness for for a good few years. A family member used to live this way on and I got to know the area quite well, gadding about and visiting nature reserves and other places of interest.
I call this area 'John Clare Country' after the poet who hailed from and spent most of his life hereabouts.
And if things went to plan, I was hopefully going to be serenaded by nightingales through the night.
What a great video Chris. Absolute pleasure watching and listening to you and your love for the fauna and flora that surrounds us. Wife walked int the room while I was watching this episode and asked, "What are you grinning at?", I had been enjoying your video with a smile on my face and hadn't realised it. Brilliant. Thanks for your enthusiasm. 👍
Thank you Alan. I often wonder if I go bit OTT with the nature stuff so your comment gives me encouragement. It's a great area, very different from the landscape up here.
Brilliant! So nice to see flowers and nature reserves on a walk. Bird songs exquisite. Certainly makes a change from local counties. Not heard of Rutland or John Clare Country. Excellent film production and variation of topic scenery. Talented and knowledgeable. Should be a Television programme.
Thank you Shanita. As much as I like the hills, sometimes they can get a bit 'samey' for me and I need something a bit more quaint and picturesque. I'd like to do more stuff like this really. Hope you and Michael are well.
@@ChrisJB Glad to read your feelings on taking on something different. I agree. Keep it up. We are both well at mo🙂
What a brilliant film. And the countryside was at its best. I always thing the late spring/early summer sees vegetation at its best - newly opened, in full splendour, and not yet subject to the ravages of heat, drought, and depredations of insects eating away at it. Such interesting things you had to say.
Thank you Michael. I love the uplands (and coast) but I like the lowland pretty stuff too as I always like rooting around old villages and churches. Yes, May is my favourite month of the year for the reasons you describe and the wildlife. I always feel a little sad as we slip into June and the birdsong starts to tail off.
Brilliant Chris, so informative.
Thanks John. It's a lovely area with a lot of material to work with. 🙂
I must admit I'm a complete ignoramus when it comes to recognising birds by their song - so thanks for teaching me what a nightingale sounds like. Felt for you being woken up so early, we were on a campsite in Coniston recently and were woken by a shout-off between the birds, ducks and a couple of cows! Full of knowledge and humour as always Chris - nice one.
Hello Roger. I love the dawn chorus but occasionally it gets so intense that it just becomes a like loud static crackling on an old wireless. Two incidents like this spring to mind in Dent and Keld in the Yorkshire Dales. Many thanks, Chris
Lovely to hear the Nightingales...we used to hear them when we camped at Orwell meadows near Ipswich....there is nothing to beat them, although i kinda like the Song thrush , Blackbird and Blackcap.
How do Steve. Being from up north, nightingales are a bit of a novelty for me. I remember my first, near Cley in Norfolk with my late father. Good memories. You are right though, it does have rivals and the three you describe are also firm favourites....with the 'blackie' being my number one of all.
Honestly Chris, absolutely brilliant these videos. So relaxing and informative and its nice to hear the story/ies behind your interests and passions. Top work mate.
Adge.
Cheers Adge. I'm pleased some of my wafflings are well received. I sometimes wonder if I go on a bit. 🤔
I’ve just found your channel through our mutual love of John Clare. It is usually me leaving the Helpston landscape, headed north to beautiful Yorkshire. How lovely to have a Yorkshire man here, enjoying the hills and holes, hanglands and villages.
Oh I love John Clare and have a strong attachment to 'John Clare Country'. It's quite a long way for me to get to (from Lancashire rather than Yorkshire 🙂.....though I am on the Yorkshire border) but I can't leave it too long before I need to go back. Thank you for watching and your lovely comment.
Once again brilliant stuff
👌
Thanks Andy mate. 👍
We live Northamptonshire and could understand your apprehension about wildcamping.
Walking and observing are two joys in my life so I love to join you on your walks.
Pulled my poetry books off the shelf and checked out John Clare ,quite like 'Morning'.
Thanks Chris
Hello Di. You certainly live in a lovely county. It's very different from my bleak moors of northern England (though I like them too!). If you get into John Clare you should go a make a pilgrimage to St Botolph's in Helpston. Thanks for watching and commenting. Chris.
Brilliant video Chris. I really liked how you pointed stuff out and explained things along your route. Also, it was good to see your passion for poetry. That was a fair old racket going on outside your tent during the early hours and it was great to hear on video. I imagine that it was even better being there. A really interesting (and educational) video mate. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it.
How do Hengist. The bird song was nice but only now and again.....I couldn't cope with it on every camp! Thanks for watching and commenting. ATB, Chris
My point exactly. Took the words out of my comment 😊😁👍. Great to see a pair of me favourite channels converse👍🙏🙌👌
Hello Hengist. I'd just like to say that I have tried three times to comment on your Seal Stones vid but my comment keeps disappearing?? 🤔. Anyway, great trip mate and well done for persevering with a dodgy tum! I'll check out Brian's YT station too. ATB, Chris
Hi Chris, I saw your test reply which worked fine. I've just been through all the YT community settings and nothing has changed there. I'm stumped as to what's going on mate.
I don't know if this will make any difference Chris, but I added you as an 'Approved User'. This is the first time that I've done this, and I'm not sure what it will change, but I thought that I'd give it a whirl.
Absolute bloody belter that pal. I’ll give John Clare a coat of looking at now Chris. Thanks for taking the time and trouble of putting these little gems out. 👍👍
Thanks Darren pal. Somewhere a bit different. I'm not sure it'll catch on like The Lakes or Dales but I like it 🙂. Thanks for watching and commenting pal.
Great these videos Chris, your tuning into my favorite wild camper/botanist story telling youtuber! love it keep em coming
I'm not sure there are many You Tube wild camper/botanist/storytelling-types out there Lewis, but I'll definitely take that as an accolade.😎👌. Thanks and best wishes, Chris
A great trip you were like a kid in a sweet shop when the birds were singing.ive traveled around Rutland and surrounding areas a bit and been to greatham it's a really nice area I love the colour of the stone buildings
How do Craig. Yep, I was a happy chappy on this one. It's a bit flat hereabouts but there is some nice countryside and lovely old villages and churches. Thanks for watching and commenting as always mate. 👍
That is a genuinely beautiful video, Chris. I'll be researching John Clare, Nightingales, and Ben Wall. Can't help thinking that if you spent a week camping out there you would be out of your tent screaming Shuddup Nightingales by day 4. Although the song would probably just assimilate into your dreams. Thanks for sharing that Chris.
Hello Sean. You won't got far wrong reading up on those three 😉. The birds were great but not something to experience too often......it can turn into a bit of a racket! Thanks for watching at commenting pal. 🙂
Great video Chris, there's more to life than hills.
I generally enjoy lower level walks these days, there's just so much more flora and fauna 👌
Thanks for sharing, both the video and your knowledge 👍
ATB Alistair 👍
Correct.....there is more to life than just hills.
I like the lower stuff too, there just tends to be more stuff of interest like you say, wildlife, villages, churches, etc.
Thanks and best wishes pal, Chris
I love your videos . I always feel like I’ve learned something. Thank you so much for sharing 😊
Thanks Helen and best wishes, Chris 🙂
Another interesting video, I learn something every time I watch one, Keep em coming 👍
Many thanks Paul. Bye for now, Chris
That was the best ever Chris, so moving. I wonder if there are nightingales at the bees as it’s all blackthorn thicket. Max wall😂.
Just brilliant brilliant brilliant.
❤👌
Thank you Dave. The hills up are are nice but I also love the pretty places, the old villages, churches, etc and I'd like to do more walks like that.
Down your way always worth keeping your ears open for nightingales where there is a lot of blackthorn. Best wishes mate, Chris 🙂
A great film that Chris, the look of joy in your face ! This is the problem I have down south, trying to find a spot to camp. When I'm doing my deliveries I 'm aways on the look out ! That sounded like a fox had caught a rabbit to me, I live on a farm and it happened all the time. But now the baggers have killed a lot of the rabbits, it does not happen that often ! Thanks for sharing 👍.
I can imagine! It's so easy in the hills and there were folk knocking about here quite late on. Fox catching a rabbit.....I think you have nailed it there 👍. I hadn't thought of that. It was a different experience this one and I liked it a lot. Thanks and best wishes, Chris
Great to hear the birdsong!
I like listening to the birds just as much as watching them I think. 🙂
Brillant! These sort of moments are worth all the searching. I've been out looking for Nightjars, in the past and it's just such thrill when you hear them, and don't get me started on roaming Woodcock, they're so spookey.
You clearly like your nocturnal birds! In nightjar and woodcock you have just described two of my absolute favourites. I'd love to camp within earshot of those two. Thanks for watching and commenting, Chris.
Beautiful countryside, buried Roman villa, ancient monuments and churches, nature, birdsong, stealthy camp, you sure packed a lot into this one Chris! Oh wait, Max Wall? Haha! I remember him 🤣🤣👍👍
It was a bit jam-packed Anthony. I only just about remember Max Wall but remember laughing at him as a little lad! Thanks and best wishes, Chris 🙂
Brilliant Chris. Loved it.
Cheers Uncle Pete. 🙂
What a fabulous place to camp, loved the nightingales, I walked through nettles once with shorts on and one shot up my leg, you can imagine where it had a direct hit, another great video chris , very interesting pal, take care
Thank you Mark. Oooh, I can imagine the nettle incident 😬! Nightingales have a special place in my heart. I remember birding trips in years gone by with my late father listening to them. I have to make an effort every few years to catch up with them.
Very enjoyable trip down south. Fun to hear the Nightingales singing so closely! Did you figure out what the loud screech was? I enjoyed hearing about you favorite poet and seeing his grave and former house… seeing places where poets and writers lived and wrote about is so helpful in appreciating their work. I loved seeing the wild orchids - that was such a pretty field, and interesting to hear about the old time furrows too. Ah, we have the same poisonous hemlock as well… they’re working to educate people and root it out.
Very enjoyable video, great to join you! Cheers - Jen 😄
Thank you Jennifer. I just fancied something different from my usual bleak landscapes. I've been told the screech was probably a rabbit getting caught by a fox, which seems to fit. I'm a big John Clare fan. Like many poets he was a troubled soul but his love for nature and the countryside really shines through in his works. Bye for now, Chris 🙂
Lovely trip Chris. I live over in Cambridgeshire so not far away, I’ll certainly check out what I think was Southey Wood. I live in the middle of nowhere on a small holding and the night sounds are fab, screech owls, barking foxes, muntjacs very different to the moors, but I love living down here….I bought the tarp tent notch and the Atom packs Mo and used them for the first time on Calf Top Barbondale 2 weeks ago. Awoke to a cloud inversion, got to say I think it’s the best viewpoint I’ve camped on! The Howgills take your breath away when you come over the trig!, Wild Boar fell looks such a lump from there too, the view to Morecambe Bay is fab! Next one in 2 weeks will either be Wards Stone, Kinder on the Nab, or maybe the Howgills, I like Langdale. I know you boiled snow on Calf Top, but there’s a good spring down in Wrestle Gill. Many thanks for the effort you put into these, I also was looking at Black Combe from Calf Top but I reckon it might be prone to sea frets…ATB Nick
Ps I read a lot of Ronald Blythe books who was a great fan and president of the John Clare society and a fabulous author!
This is the best thing about YT Nick, the interesting comments I get from people. I love the landscapes of the uplands (and coast) but I just love the countryside full-stop, including the quaint picturesque stuff of the lowlands. Where you live sounds idyllic. I would like to head down that way again (to look for a dragonfly we don't get up here) sometime soon but I'm not sure I can fit it in this summer.
I take it you have a long drive to get to the places up here you describe? I'm impressed by your commitment.
Calf Top is a good one and thanks for the info' re Wrestle Gill, I'll certainly bear that in mind. Black Combe is great but you are right, the sea-fret caught me out a bit and left me frustrated.
Cheers for the heads up re Ronald Blythe......I'll check him out.
Thanks and best wishes, Chris.
Fantastic that, Chris! Some beautiful orchids, and very jealous of the nightingales! I've never heard or seen one in the UK, and they are getting a lot scarcer where we go in Spain these days 😟 I'm probably more John Cooper Clarke than John Clare, but he sounds a decent sort, so I'll have to check him out! 👍😁
Thanks Des. I know JCC but can't say I'm too familiar with his poetry. I'll check it out. 👍. I've seen nightingales at a few locations since I was a lad but they are certainly getting harder to find. Saying that this venue is the best I've experienced them so if you ever head down that way let me know and I'll give you the details.
Merchant bankers have an aversion to public rights of way,guess that's why they seed em with nettles😆. That's the problem down south..🙄. A joy to watch mind, good job Chris jb 😊😊😁😁👍
I think you are right re the nettles Fraser 😭. Thanks for watching and commenting pal. 👍
Down our neck of the woods here Chris, we live in Kettering so not too far away. When our eldest 2 were young we used to venture out that way on a lot, some pretty places around there. The nightingales were amazing, never heard one myself to date, was amazed to see a greater spotted woodpecker visit our bird feeder on a couple of occasions lately, that's as exciting as it gets for us beyond the sparrows, dunnocks, blue tits, coal tits, black birds and a plethora of pigeons of all kinds. Neil & I love watching your videos, since the covid rubbish arrived we've been on house arrest (well feels like it!) our 12 year old has Down's Syndrome, his immune system is totally rubbish, so we've taken no risks, he's been home schooled ever since (he has severe learning difficulties) & we have been absolutely nowhere, so we seek a bit of sanity via CZcams watching people like yourself exploring the world that we very much miss. Love to learn new things too from you, hadn't heard about John Clare till you spoke of him so we've been doing some research of our own as a result, funny how you never know what is on your own doorstep! Keep doing what you do & we'll definitely keep watching. Fiona & Neil x
Hello Fiona and Neil. Yes, it's funny how we often overlook the things closest to home. As for the nightingales, around Peterborough way is one of the last few places where they are still doing okay as they have gone from many areas sadly.
Re the Covid times, I totally understand you not taking any risks. Covid in 2020 hit my family in the worst possible way so if an immune system is in any way compromised, better to play it safe. The fact that my very amateurish efforts at filming, in some tiny way, provide you with some light relief then I am glad. Thank you for your kind comments and take care, Chris x
Another cracking post Chris, yes very different but I can see why you made the venture. I live very close to Thorne Moors a raised peat bog SSSI and a Ramsar site. We’ve got a nice little nightjar population on there and I’ve spent a few nights on there listening to them. However even though it’s a unique call, it is somewhat toothachy compared to your nightingales
Hello Ron and thanks. I know Thorne Moors a little from bird-watching trips, though have never been for the nightjars. I love nightjars (what a mind-blowing sound they make) and always try to see/hear them each summer. In fact I am hopefully going to see them next week. Yes, very different from a nightingale but no less impressive😎. Bye for now, Chris
Loved the birdsong , I had my app on when the screeching bird was on ( I was identifying birds in my garden ) it said it was a Sparrowhawk . I thought it was in my garden then I realised it was on your video 😊.
That's interesting Victoria.......I don't think I've ever heard vocalisation from a sparrowhawk either by day or night before 🤔. Others have also suggested that it's a rabbit getting got by a fox. I'm really not sure but it's definitely not something I've heard before. Best wishes, Chris
@@ChrisJB it was at the start Chris not the sort of barking sound later in the video . Well it was on twice in the preview bit when you first put up the tent .
@@victoriahaworth2651 Ah right. Ta 🙂
Great trip Chris, something a bit different. I have to admit I had to look John Clare up, every day's a school day. Its not until you get to walking pace at ground level you find out how interesting places are. Cheers for sharing, David
I've just noticed no comment here, which is odd as I distinctly remember writing one! You are right mate, walking is the best way of getting to know a place. I'm just part wat through your recent SU vid'. What a place. 😎
@@ChrisJB it is fantastic, I really enjoyed it
What an excellent trip Chris , really interesting with the wild plants and the varied bird life . Some great nightingale sounds and plenty of scary sounds lol …. You do know if you do get black legging pants all I will think is max wall 😂😂😂 I have Nike ones for winter cycling/running but I wear shorts on top !!!
Ha ha! Thanks Dave. I only just remember Max Wall but he used to crack me up when I was a little lad 😆. The birds were great but I couldn't handle that racket all through the night on every camp! I'll check out the Nike leggings. 👍
How do Chris, A bit late commenting on this one. As always a great mix of nature and stories, with a bit of poetry throw in on this one 👌 I write a bit of poetry myself so I will be checking out John Clare. Loved the Max Wall reference 🤣Some of your younger watchers will just have to google it 😂. I also saw you briefly on a Paul Messner video with Andy Beavers I shall look forward to that one if you filmed anything that day 😉
How do mate. Good on you for writing poetry......I'd like to be a poet or an artist but am crap at both 🙂. Ha ha! Max Wall cracked me up as a little lad. I did film our walk with AB and PM but I hope I have enough footage as I was trying to be more sociable rather than filming all the time!
My part of the world.....was cycling some of those bridleways in the last few days....
If you ever want to see lots of Red Kites, this is the area....
Great part of the world Steve. I just wish it was a bit nearer to Lancashire! I did see a fair few red kites......pretty tame too, flying in quite close.
Well that was something completely different Chris, the nightingales sounded lovely, but bit too rowdy a night, give me a moor all day long 😂 poetry is something that can be so profound, I am a big fan of Arthur Rimbaud and Lord Byron.
But there many others, looked like you had a great time, out in the new toy tomorrow so video to follow soon, all the best pal, Tito 👍
You are right Tito.....great experience listening to them but only now and again. I wouldn't call myself a poetry fan by a long chalk but some poets and poems really strike a chord with me. I'm not familiar with Arthur Rimbaud but will look him up. I was out in the Notch Li a couple of nights ago. I was on pins as the wind really got up and I probably took it to somewhere near its limits. It held up well though. 🙂
@@ChrisJB Rimbaud was a very troubled soul, but some of what he produces works for me. I am taking longer pegs and forecast is good, will definitely modify it when I get a chance, should be calm tomorrow, so good to know it stood up, don’t like short pegs 🤞
@@titothetroddler I think the 'troubled souls' often make the best poets. Poor old JC ended his days in Northampton Asylum. Yes swap the 6" Eastons.....they are not fit for purpose.
The Torpel Way links Peterborough with Stamford and is 11miles in distance
Ah right....thanks Jeffrey. Stamford is a beautiful town.
Long one for you Chris but chock full of interest. Riveting from start to finish.
You'll be rocking quite a look if you combine some leggings with those gaiters bud 😳
Tfs, Paul
P.S. got another notification. I see you're out with PM & AB? Something of a holy trinity.
Thanks Paul. Ha ha! Yes, I'm not sure on the gaiter leggings combo 👍. I did join AB and PM on a trip the other day. I had a great time with those two....excellent company 🙂. Bye for now, Chris