One of the biggest joys in the world is escaping the hectic work week and heading out somewhere scenic and rural for some time amongst the trees or under the stars. Swap your oyster card and business attire for some sturdy hiking boots and the passenger seat of your best mate’s car and start your weekend of wild camping bliss.
What is wild camping?
Wild camping, if you’re not already familiar, is a blanket term for any sort of camping out in the wild without the use of a campsite or other designated space. Wild camping can be pitching a tent in the middle of nowhere, taking your van out to the coast for a wild night, or hanging up your hammock between some sturdy trees and spending a night under the sky. Or anything else really – as long as you’re not in the comfort of a traditional campsite.
The beauty of wild camping is that you can literally just pitch up your tent or hammock absolutely anywhere and enjoy what’s around you. Just as the Romantic poets intended.
Camping is about shedding your busy, corporate, working skin and just enjoying the natural sights, smells and sounds. No more hectic phone calls, millions of emails and overbearing bosses. Simply pack a bag, sort out your sleeping arrangements and head off for a weekend of bare-minimum bliss.
The rules:
So, wild camping is not entirely legal in the UK and, as such, you will need to be careful about camping just anywhere. While it is mostly illegal, it is largely tolerated as long as you respect the land and don’t cause a mess or disturbance.
The general rules of thumb for wild camping in the UK are listed below:
- Camping should be done in small numbers to avoid causing a disturbance.
- Clean up your rubbish. Anywhere you stay should return exactly how you found it. That means no littering, no fires, and no disrespecting the land.
- Camp in a way that does not cause an issue for farmers or other locals.
- If you can get permission from the landowner – do it.
- If it is marked as private property – leave it alone.
- Wild camping in remote areas is tolerated as long as you leave no trace that you’ve been there.
You can read more about wild camping here.
For some wild campers out there, the minimalist approach is the way forward, offering you the opportunity to literally let go of all the crap from the week and just explore what’s around you, living with only the bare minimum. For us, there’s nothing better than scouting out a local wild swimming spot or an area of natural beauty, going for a hike, or maybe a wild swim, and just spending the day with your mates, your dog, your partner – whoever.
Minimalist camping might not be for everyone. It refers to camping with the absolute bare minimum. So, for avid campers looking to do a hefty hike without the pain of carrying all their gear around, a minimalist camping trip might be right up your alley.
Minimalist camping is pretty much just carrying around the bare minimum you need for survival and depending on how good your camping backpack or rucksack is, will determine how much stuff you can actually carry with you. For the bare minimum, we’ve included a list below of what we think could get you by.
Sleeping
This could be a tent, a hammock, a sleeping mat, bivvy bag, or a Tauntaun. Whatever you want to take with you.
If you haven’t camped in a hammock before, it’s a completely different experience. Spend your night swinging beneath the trees in a cosy hammock cocoon. Hammocks are useful as they can be packed down incredibly small and carried in your camping backpack or on your back easily.
To sleep comfortably in a hammock, you’ll also need an under blanket which ensures a pocket of warm air remains underneath you, keeping you toasty in the night. Once it’s set up, you can just throw in your sleeping bag and you’re good to go. You might need a bug net to escape the mozzies, but not to worry, we stock hammocks with bug nets.
If you’re more of a tent fan, we have a huge selection of tents and shelters for camping in any weather, all of which can be compacted down and strapped to your back.
Living
For real minimalist camping, we think your living arrangements will be next to none. That means no camping chairs or other camping furniture, just something to sleep in or on – and possibly, a small outdoor cooking device.
In terms of cooking, the handy Jet Boil can be used to create culinary masterpieces, including the finest pasta dishes and your morning cup of coffee. Jet boils are incredibly useful for cooking when out and about, especially in the colder months when a hot meal is definitely needed.
Jet boils come in a few sizes so you can buy one for single-person use, or for cooking as a group. However, if you still need something bigger to cook on, the Petromax Rocket Stove is a great tool.
In regard to a toilet… there won’t be one, so get comfortable with doing it like bears do and shitting in the woods. We do stock some portable toilets, but for the minimalist camping trip, you should really be roughing it. A nature wee or poo should be taken away from your camp set-up and away from any natural water sources to avoid contamination for animals or people.
For a nature poo… just like an animal would, dig a hole, do your business, bury it and forget about it. Toilet tissue can be used, but you will have to dispose of this properly as it will not biodegrade and could become the dinner of an unlucky creature. Biodegradable toilet tissue is fine though.
For your survival, make sure you have enough water or at least something that can hold water. We stock loads of water purification gear to keep you hydrated even in the middle of nowhere.
For grub, we got you covered. Preppers Shop stocks only the finest freeze-dried meals, military ration food pouches, and performance snacks and meals. Survival food at Preppers Shop is ready-packed and full of hearty, nutritious ingredients to keep you fuelled up for any adventures.
We stock freeze-dried meals, prepped camping food, and dehydrated meal pouches for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. You’re welcome. Browse the full range of survival food.
Camping bag
Your camping bag should be a sturdy and reliable bag with enough room to hold everything you need for a few days of rough camping. We stock a variety of capacities and various styles of bags, including backpacks, tote bags, rucksacks, and holdalls. So, you’ll definitely find something that works for you and fits all your gear in easily. For function, a backpack or rucksack that you can strap to your back is best, as it frees your hands up and allows you to explore constraint free.
If you’re carrying a mini adventurer, Kelty has some brilliant child carriers to ensure the whole family can enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.
If you’re keen to go a step further and push your outdoor skills to the limit, why not strap on a survival bug out bag and rough it for a few days. Our bug-out bags come fully stocked and packed, so all you need to do is strap it on and get going. You can have a look at our pro bug out bag and decide for yourself if you’re up for the challenge, but rest assured that you’ll find everything you need to survive for your true minimalist camping trip inside our bug out survival bags.
Checklist
Below, we’ve included a list of miscellaneous items you might find useful for your minimalist camping trip:
- Matches/fire starter
- A torch of some kind
- Bin bags/waste bags
- Paracord
- Versatile clothing
- Waterproof jacket
- Camping knife
- First aid kit
- Bug repellent
- Power bank/charger
- Compass/map
Remember campers, wild camping is illegal in the vast majority of the UK, but most people will tolerate it as long as you respect the land and don’t leave a mess anywhere. It should go without saying that you need to leave the land exactly how you found it, but for the sake of us all, please respect the land and whatever laws or restrictions are in place where necessary.
You can find everything you need for a minimalist or maximalist camping trip on our website. We stock everything for every type of camper. Whether you’re a luxury camper looking to splurge on some fancy new gear, or a prepper fanatic keen to push yourself to your limits, Preppers Shop has something for you.