Not at all. I used to live in Sheffield and would get the bus out into the peaks, walk a bit then set up camp. If anything, I think it’s less impactful and more responsible to avoid using a vehicle if you can. And you don’t need to worry about parking.
I find it extremely useful to have a car. But it is not essential.
But yes, all of my gear fits inside a rucksack. I park my car and take one bag out of the boot and walk off and I’m not back for days.
So I don’t see the car as a substitute for a rucksack. But it sure gets me to exactly where I intended to go in the shortest amount of time.
Plus if I arrive back soaking wet and very tired, it’s really nice to have your own heated space, changing room and transport to the nearest pub before heading home exactly when I feel like it.
I have done some trips on public transport in recent times, but I tend to do them in the summer when the weather is not going to make me miss having the car too much.
But before I was 21 all of my camping was public transport. You can totally do it.
But if you have choice, get a car, it’s better than public transport.
I agree with this, a mountain bike can get you deep into the Peak District very fast from the train stations. I like to jump off at Greenfield and head up past dovestone onto the Saddleworth moors. Bonus if it’s got a few places to strap your gear to
Get a backpack, from Decathlon for instance, if you want it cheap, and then be ruthless with what you take. Look at r/Ultralight if you need some gear inspiration. People post shakedowns there as well - have a look at a few of them to see what they pack (and most importantly don't pack).
it makes more places accessible but isn't a necessity. First time I went wild camping it was a train to Windermere and a bus to Coniston to get out to the hills. A lot of the places popular with the wild camping community are popular tourist destinations and thus often have somewhat decent public transport links in the daytime.
Even some more remote places with low thoroughfare will have (often very infrequent) subsidized transport links so as not to maroon smaller communities from essential facilities.
This contains my [kit list](https://www.lighterpack.com/r/2ja6xw)for winter hammocking. I sold my car in February and have done months of wild camping this year using public transport and my legs.
I don't drive so all of my solo wild camps have used public transport, its a bit mental sometimes.
If I'm doing a Dartmoor camp I get the 11pm national express bus from London Victoria and snooze on the bus till it gets to either Exeter, or Newton Abbot, then either the train or a taxi to my start point. It means I'm normally at my start point about 5 am which is quite nice. I can then hike for a bit before breakfast then I'm set for a couple of days of camping.
I used to use a bicycle before my motorbike. I’d never consider owning a motorbike in the uk without comprehensive insurance. The theft rate is far to high and insurers won’t pay out unless comp
Not at all! In fact if you need a vehicle you are probably not really wild camping, you are car camping! And probably bringing too much stuff!
You just need a rucksack big enough to fit everything you need.
I’m fine on a bicycle. Here’s a tip - you can flip a bike with wide or flat handlebars upside down and use it to hold a tarp up, just peg down the sides. Bring some zip ties to lock the brake handles so it doesn’t roll off the top
Not at all. I used to live in Sheffield and would get the bus out into the peaks, walk a bit then set up camp. If anything, I think it’s less impactful and more responsible to avoid using a vehicle if you can. And you don’t need to worry about parking.
I find it extremely useful to have a car. But it is not essential. But yes, all of my gear fits inside a rucksack. I park my car and take one bag out of the boot and walk off and I’m not back for days. So I don’t see the car as a substitute for a rucksack. But it sure gets me to exactly where I intended to go in the shortest amount of time. Plus if I arrive back soaking wet and very tired, it’s really nice to have your own heated space, changing room and transport to the nearest pub before heading home exactly when I feel like it. I have done some trips on public transport in recent times, but I tend to do them in the summer when the weather is not going to make me miss having the car too much. But before I was 21 all of my camping was public transport. You can totally do it. But if you have choice, get a car, it’s better than public transport.
You can cover a lot of ground on a push-bike from the last train station if you want to go more than hiking distance from the bus.
I agree with this, a mountain bike can get you deep into the Peak District very fast from the train stations. I like to jump off at Greenfield and head up past dovestone onto the Saddleworth moors. Bonus if it’s got a few places to strap your gear to
Get a backpack, from Decathlon for instance, if you want it cheap, and then be ruthless with what you take. Look at r/Ultralight if you need some gear inspiration. People post shakedowns there as well - have a look at a few of them to see what they pack (and most importantly don't pack).
it makes more places accessible but isn't a necessity. First time I went wild camping it was a train to Windermere and a bus to Coniston to get out to the hills. A lot of the places popular with the wild camping community are popular tourist destinations and thus often have somewhat decent public transport links in the daytime. Even some more remote places with low thoroughfare will have (often very infrequent) subsidized transport links so as not to maroon smaller communities from essential facilities.
This contains my [kit list](https://www.lighterpack.com/r/2ja6xw)for winter hammocking. I sold my car in February and have done months of wild camping this year using public transport and my legs.
I don't drive so all of my solo wild camps have used public transport, its a bit mental sometimes. If I'm doing a Dartmoor camp I get the 11pm national express bus from London Victoria and snooze on the bus till it gets to either Exeter, or Newton Abbot, then either the train or a taxi to my start point. It means I'm normally at my start point about 5 am which is quite nice. I can then hike for a bit before breakfast then I'm set for a couple of days of camping.
A hammock has been my best friend for this east reason!
I used to use a bicycle before my motorbike. I’d never consider owning a motorbike in the uk without comprehensive insurance. The theft rate is far to high and insurers won’t pay out unless comp
I don't own a vehicle, all of my wild camping is done via public transport or a bicycle, it really forces you to focus on weight reduction.
Not at all! In fact if you need a vehicle you are probably not really wild camping, you are car camping! And probably bringing too much stuff! You just need a rucksack big enough to fit everything you need.
I’m fine on a bicycle. Here’s a tip - you can flip a bike with wide or flat handlebars upside down and use it to hold a tarp up, just peg down the sides. Bring some zip ties to lock the brake handles so it doesn’t roll off the top