a wild camper's diary by Ben's Hikes & Camps

It's been a while. I'm sorry... So where have I been...and where am I going?

It's not long until I head out onto the South Downs Way for my first every thru-hike. How am I getting on? Am I even ready for a 100-mile hike??? Join me for some hiking training on a spring day in Surrey!

Alexander Darwall recently won a court case meaning that nobody can wild camp on his land on Dartmoor. The judge ruled that Section 10 (1) of the Dartmoor Act 1985 does NOT permit wild camping. What does this mean for the rest of the commons? Will other landowners follow? Is wild camping now banned on Dartmoor - an historic right lost?

It's 2023! Happy New Year everybody. In this episode, I make a special announcement about something new I plan to do this year. Just to clarify that I will still be doing my normal wild camping trips too.

Could we lose the right to wild camp without permission on Dartmoor? What exactly is going on? In this episode, I look at the legal challenge that had been brought by landowner Alexander Darwall. Why is it happening? What might happen next?

I bailed! Wind, rain and the approaching sea! Sometimes other things are more important than wild camping. In this episode, I talk about when enough is enough.

Slowing down with likeminded people outdoors...Is there a better way to spend an autumn weekend?

Wet woodland walks, bonfires and the place to ourselves...The perfect time to wild camp! I also reflect on and pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who sadly passed away just a few days ago.

Camping near lions? Sitting with wild mountain gorillas? No phone or internet?! In 1994, I travelled to east Africa and camped nearly every night in the bush for six weeks.

The Cost of Living crisis is well and truly upon us. With many of us having to cut back on things we don't really need, how does this impact how we finance our wild camping hobby?

What is it about the woods and forests? Why do we sometimes feel 'spooked' and uneasy? This happened to me very recently on a wild camp. This is the first time I've talked about it. Thanks for listening.

What REALLY is Leave No Trace? Why do wild campers talk about it a lot? Is it worth it?

So I bought a kayak...that looks like an inflatable banana - it really does. In this episode, I talk about what compelled me to buy it and whether or not it might be worth taking wild camping.

Hot and sweaty nights! Is it really worth it? In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of summer wild camping.

Welcome to my first podcast. In this first episode, I talk about the reasons why I wild camp alone and the benefits solo wild camping brings. Vlogs of my wild camping adventures can be viewed at Londoner Outdoors on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/londoneroutdoors