How do you find the nearest woods?

[Asa Samuel]

I live around farm land so as you can imagine there is a lot of fields but not much woodland. Nearest thing to a woods is a small bunch of elder trees in the corner of a field.

My question is how do you find where the nearest woods are that you can light a small fire and set up a hammock for the night?
Also, if you find a piece of woodland how do you know whether it is ok to stay there and how do you find out who the land owner is to ask?

If anyone near me knows of any woodland that is a good place to stay in that isn't that far away from the gorran/boswinger area then please speak up

Thanks in advance,
Asa.

 

[Melonfish]

maps.google.co.uk is your friend.
allow for variation in woodland though as alot of the arial photo's in question are 3 years old.
after that its just a case of well "casing" the woods you find.
look around your local area and see what you find

 

[Peter_t]

OS maps are good because they show public rights of way, boundrys etc. but this does not mean you can camp there.

pete

 

[SimonM]

Google Earth can be useful too.

 

[Prawnster]

I use google earth too.

Woods. Fishing spots. Campsites. Kebab houses. Very useful.

 

[bri66]

Hi Getamap from the Ordnance Survey is quite a handy way of finding woods with access through them,as far as camping goes if you're discrete and tidy no one will know,Brian

 

[Shewie]

Google Earth and plenty of door knocking Asa

 

[redandshane]

http://www.multimap.com/

Has OS maps and various views just an alternative to Google
I prefer it for some reason

 

[stevenout]

As an alternative I use digital maps: Mapyx Quo is free software but you pay for the maps and it links to Google Earth. It is very useful for planning routes and since I do a fair amount of trekking, it comes in useful.

 

[ANDYRAF]

Woodland Valley Farm near Laddock is probably your best bet, allows fires and if you ask they allow some vermin control (rabbit and squirrel). At a fiver a night it's reasonable.

Andy

 

[Asa Samuel]

Thanks for all the replies, I've seen one patch of small woodland, probably just big enough to hide myself in (a public footpath does go through it but it's just at the edge) I think I've been through it before, I've convinced SWMBO to come for a walk with me some time this week and scout it out as a possible camping spot.

Andy, thanks for the heads up, that looks like a great place to stay, is there a seperate area where campers go or is it you pay your fiver then wonder into the woods? Also, are there any toilets there? Often farms that let people stay don't have any.

 

[ANDYRAF]

At WVF there are two areas in use, at one there is an 'ole in the ground already dug and enclosed, the other area is where you learn the tree squat. There's quite a few local BcUK members who regularly use this farm so keep your eyes peeled on here for dates etc.

Andy

 

[Asa Samuel]

Here is the place I thought of, http://www.multimap.com/s/ioOCTxuJ I hope that link worked. It's within walking distance of my house so it would be great if I could stay.

Do you guys reckon it's big enough to hide in?

 

[ANDYRAF]

Here is the place I thought of, http://www.multimap.com/s/ioOCTxuJ I hope that link worked. It's within walking distance of my house so it would be great if I could stay.

Do you guys reckon it's big enough to hide in?

Why hide ask around someone might know who owns it and if they are approachable with a view to allowing you to camp there with permission (much better).

Andy

 

[Asa Samuel]

That's probably a much better idea Our landlord is the local farmer, I don't think his reign goes that far but he might know who owns it.

Thanks to everyone who's replied