Author Topic: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk  (Read 7083 times)

brendan

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Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« on: 17:28:57, 12/07/20 »
Hi,


I am a 69 year old distance walking  novice, who's very keen to start!
Now that the world is opening again (too soon! but our leader knows best!) I'm planning my first UK hike in October/November. My requirements are (1) not many people (2) good for wild camping (3) not mountainous - Problem with heights (4) can buy food en route - not a deal breaker but preferable (5) lasts about a week. (6) very keen on things like stone circles etc.


I'm in the SE, but will travel


Any suggestions most welcome.


Cheers
Brendan

ninthace

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #1 on: 17:44:59, 12/07/20 »
Not sure how easy it is to wild camp this one but plenty of history


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ridgeway
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway/


If you started at Ivinghoe Beacon you could have a grand finale at Avebury and Stonehenge
Solvitur Ambulando

gunwharfman

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #2 on: 17:51:44, 12/07/20 »
I'm in Portsmouth, have you considered a walk in the South. There are many good routes to follow.

If not, if you are taking your car, either hike a circular walk or try to decide on one where you can get back to it easily.

The Cotswold Way might be to your liking, trains at both ends, starts at Chipping Camden and finishes at Bath, plus a really great stone barrow en-route.

November, long nights and short days, that needs planning for.

Are you camping or B&Bing?

gunwharfman

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #3 on: 17:53:05, 12/07/20 »
Sorry, I'm getting old, of course you are planning to wild camp. No problems I suspect in November.

rural roamer

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #4 on: 22:42:19, 12/07/20 »
My first thought was also the Cotswold Way, though not sure how easy that would be wild camping. Also the Two Moors Way. Have walked both and enjoyed them.

richardh1905

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #5 on: 22:42:56, 12/07/20 »
I would be tempted to head to southern Scotland: the Borders or Galloway, the main advantage of crossing the border is that wild camping is completely legal in Scotland.
WildAboutWalking - Join me on my walks through the wilder parts of Britain

richardh1905

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #6 on: 22:53:19, 12/07/20 »

Here's some suggestions for southern Scotland that don't go too high:

Cross Borders Drove Road
Borders Abbey Way

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richardh1905

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #7 on: 22:54:52, 12/07/20 »
..and try to fit in a couple of one or two night trips beforehand just to get into the swing of things.
WildAboutWalking - Join me on my walks through the wilder parts of Britain

Little Foot

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #8 on: 18:13:04, 13/07/20 »
Not sure how easy it is to wild camp this one but plenty of history


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ridgeway
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway/


If you started at Ivinghoe Beacon you could have a grand finale at Avebury and Stonehenge


I want to do that. It looks a fantastic walk, with lots of history and variety.

Booga

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #9 on: 18:22:48, 14/07/20 »
I'm also looking at The Ridgeway and considering going East to West. Most guides suggest that landowners along the way are generally ok with wild camping and on the Western section there seems to be plenty of space at the side of the trail. My concern would be where to camp East of Streatley, there's a camp site at Watlington but a few spots between there and Ivinghoe Beacon would be nice to know about.

brendan

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #10 on: 18:53:01, 19/07/20 »
Much obliged everyone! Very helpful. I'm sort of think of trying the Lake District which I believe turns a blind eye to wild camping in certain areas (anyone with particular experience of this?). Got to get up there of course and will have to decide whether it might be too difficult for a first essay into the wilderness.

Steveandsam

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #11 on: 07:47:28, 17/08/20 »
Peddlers way and Norfolk coast path.

watershed

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #12 on: 08:16:40, 17/08/20 »
The Arran Coastal way sounds interesting. Midges should be gone by then. stone circles etc.


Slogger

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #13 on: 16:05:19, 17/08/20 »
Lake Districr - Cumbria Way 75 miles (ish) Ulverston to Carlisle a South to North trail. backpackers usually take 5 days, stopping overnight in Coniston, Langdale, Keswick, and Caldbeck. All campsites but can wild camp along the way too as far as High Pike after that its mostly farmers fields so may not be as easy.Other one that finishes in the Lakes is the 84 mile Dales Way from Ilkley in Yorkshire to Bowness on Lake Windermere, lovely route, wild camping possible with care . Note campsites may not be open at the time you want to go anyway so may have to wild camp.

snoopdawg

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Re: Best one weekish walk for wild camping uk
« Reply #14 on: 20:00:47, 17/08/20 »
West Highland Way good choice, 95 miles mostly flat,waymarked on good tracks,no need to carry more than 2 days food and if the hostelling situation changes there are potential overnight stops should the weather turn wet. Easily fill a week with train transport at both ends

 

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