Our first wild camp of the year: one night on a quiet hillside above a reservoir, stars you could actually count, and Piper deciding at 2 a.m. that the tent zip needed guarding from an owl.
Wild camping isn’t legal everywhere in England and Wales, so we always check local guidance and camp light, leave no trace, and stick to spots that are clearly tolerated. This one we’ve used twice before — discreet, flat, and far enough from the path that morning walkers won’t trip over guy lines.
What we packed
- Two-person tent (Piper gets the foot end, obviously)
- Sleeping bag rated for cooler nights — hills drop temperature fast
- Camping stove, porridge oats, coffee, and a shared bar of chocolate
- Collapsible water bowl, extra lead, and a small towel for muddy paws
- Head torches, power bank, and a map in case the phone dies
Morning
We woke to low cloud and the smell of damp grass. Coffee from the stove, porridge with honey, Piper circling the tent until I agreed it was time to pack up. The walk back to the car took forty minutes through mist that burned off as we descended.
Not a glamorous camp. No sunset photos, no perfect Instagram light. Just a good, quiet night outdoors with my favourite walking companion. That’s usually enough.
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