BUSTED! Wild Camping Gone Wrong (Badly Wrong!)

This wild camp did not go to plan! I thought I'd go solo wild camping to test some new 2023 Exped camping gear. Everything was going well until a Range Rover stopped at the bottom of the fire break and 3 guys jumped out! This is my biggest wild camping fail to date!

My bright red top certainly did not help my stealth camping efforts. After casually saying 'hi' I got an immediate response of 'what the f#$k are you doing here!'.

However, lessons were learned with my wild camping gone wrong experience. I'm pleased how I dealt with the situation and I think others can learn from it too hence why I created this video.

At the end of the day, if you're on someone else's land and they catch you just confess up, say sorry and move on. There is no point getting aggy when you're legally in the wrong.

I had no idea the woodland area had been set aside for shooting. It's really hard to find out who the owners are of these woodland areas let alone find out what the woods are being used for. Obviously, if I had known, I would never have gone in there.

Getting busted does however highlight the sad fact wild camping is illegal in England outside of Dartmoor. It also highlights the sadness of the limited access we have on land. The right to roam and open access land is sparce, and if you live where I do, it's hours away. Unfortunately we live in a country where making money from land is far more important than people's physical and mental health.

It is a great shame, as I could have completed my wild camp, left no trace, and nobody would have been none the wiser.

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Wild Camping Gear 'used':

Exped Venus II UL tent https://www.exped.com/en/products/ten...
Exped Ultra 3R sleeping mat https://www.exped.com/en/products/sle...
Exped Ultra -5 sleeping bag https://www.exped.com/en/products/sle...

NOTES TO CONFIRM THE FOLLOWING:
1) At no point was a gun pointed at me. The stalker / ranger had it by his side with his arm / hand on it.
2) The stalker / ranger who saw me was working hence why I was told I could have been shot.
3) I now know what I thought were 'fire breaks' are actually 'rides'.
4) There was no signage to warn of the dangers. There is even a public footpath that runs down one side of the woodland.
5) I was there 1 hour before dark. Obviously when I'm not filming I am more discreet.
6) As far as I see it I was 100% in the wrong.
7) I will be requesting permission in the future and I'll let you know the outcome!

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Thanks, Andy.

#wildcamping #wildcampinguk #backpackinguk