Where to go...

[Squidders]

I have been trying to get information on where I can go and practice my caveman skills in the UK in either Dartmoor or the Peak District or wherever really... but I have no idea where I can go legally or acceptably to do this. I have tried the National park authorities but they just shrug.

Can anyone help me out?

:yikes:

 

[Ed]

It really depends on what skills you want ot practice..... you may be allowed fires in certain places, but as for hunting and trapping, you'll need permission on private land..... and probably insurance..... game license.... Many of the trapping skills (like alot of traps) are now illegal in the uk and you just wont be able to do it anywhere legally.

What sorts of things were you thinking of doing?


Ed

 

[Squidders]

I just wanted to roam the land, maybe set up a bivvy, practice some friction fire lighting... eat some meals in a bag and some berries and be alone to survive. no hunting or trapping would be involved, just the camping side of it.

 

[Jon]

I just wanted to roam the land, maybe set up a bivvy, practice some friction fire lighting... eat some meals in a bag and some berries and be alone to survive. no hunting or trapping would be involved, just the camping side of it.

Yep, me too.
But where can you go ? :?:
The unrestricted national park sort of places are all above the treeline. Anywhere below the treeline, and surely bushcraft is about being in the woods, is owned and fenced.
Most of my bushcraft seems to get done on the patio. Well, she won't let me do it inside.

 

[Squidders]

I'm a patio cavemen too... it's just not the same... swelling with pride about your latest ignition when the cooker is 15 feet away.

 

[Jon]

I'm a patio cavemen too... it's just not the same... swelling with pride about your latest ignition when the cooker is 15 feet away.

I know exactly what you mean. My one and only ever success with a fire bow was greeted with a "thats nice dear, tea's ready".

patio caveman sounds better than usual name I get, "Twisted Fire Starter".

Jon.

 

[Stuart]

its when the neigbors are peering disaprovingy out of the window at you and calling there childeren inside as you practive your fire by friction that makes the patio cavemans life so hard

 

[Squidders]

Ok... so out of the 90 people who have seen this thread... there are two types of individual:

1. Like myself and the others that have posted in this thread, you have no idea where you can go "in the wild"... that isn't your happy-go-lucky next door farmers spare field.

2. You do know but you're keeping it a secret for some reason...

Either way, I still have no idea if I can go to any of the national parks in the UK and do what this entire site is dedicated to doing... I would have thought that this is pretty fundamental information... it's like being a rock climber but only being able to climb at home...

Can't anyone help???

 

[Stuart]

All the places that i use for practicing bushcraft are privately owned land on which i have permision

its the same with many of the people i know who practice bushcraft, its a very difficult passtime to undertake in public areas and there are many laws and restrictions

 

[Ed]

Most national parks do not allow you to have fires, though some have campsites where you are allowed BBQ style fires... ie a fire in a foil tray. You will need to contact the relavant park authoratory for more info on this.

Private land is the best way to go, but very hard to come by.... and getting a land owners permission can be a right pain.... there have been a few threads on this some time back.

Your other option is scout campsites.... some of these will let you hire a pitch when not in use, and out of season they are deserted, many will let you wildcamp. Again you will have to contact the relavant warden as each has its own rules.

There was a link posted sometime ago of an online database of scout sites and the relavant warden details.... does anyone have it to hand?

Ed

 

[JakeR]

I may just have an answer for you. If you want to be a CAVEman then the area surrounding Crickhowell has the largest caveing complex of europe, but that may be a bit cavey.

I promised to find information on the usk resevoir (location) to Maddave, as i have forgotten exactly where it is and i still havent given it to him. Sorry Dave. It is a real area of beauty. Myself and my Dad went down there in april and it was absolutely brilliant. you could walk from your car anywhere you wanted, the further you walk, the less likely the odds you will come into contact with humans. Anyways, there are fantastic walks, its a *real* beauty spot.

Will find out where it is when i next see my dad.

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Ed]

Also check out the meetups and scoial chat and bushcraft blog forums and see where other people go, pm them to get opinions and clarify any info you need.

Ed

 

[JFW]

Squidders,

the best way I have found is to find an area of ground that suits your needs, find out who the land owner is and pay him a wee visit. Discuss what you would like to do and offer to help maintain the site - use your bushcraft skills to clear dead wood, rubbish etc and repair fencing/walls.
Most reasonable landowners are willing to let you have a go - it means their land is maintained and has its own security staff at no cost to themselves. Always be responsible and advise the owner of any problems you may encounter - dead stock animals, vandalism, it keeps you in the clear and earns you more respect.

Hope this is useful

Cheers

JFW

 

[JakeR]

I'd say that that is the best advice, you usually hit the jackpot using that method.

 

[SquirrelBoy]

If youve got a spare £30,000 odd, you could buy yourself a woodland !!

... I`ll get me coat

 

[Squidders]

I think I've found the right land... http://www.viviun.com/AD-15615/ now all I need to is find 499,999 partners to buy it with

 

[Gary]

Squidders pm me - locations ect I might be able to help in the short term!

What experience do you have?

 

[Realgar]

I've gone a bit Stig too, I could use some suggestions - preferably places I can get to via public transport & a long walk - I can't drive.
The neighours rush to get the laundry out before I can fire up the kiln and they really don't like it when I run the smoker. Anglers get really upset when you start bashing things on the head and eating them. Can't we have some sort Mesolithic reserve we could charge people to come and look at the cavemen.

Realgar

 

[Great Pebble]

Would I be likely to get in trouble if I said.....

"Anywhere you like as long as you don't get caught and don't leave any evidence that you've been there when you leave"

?

 

[SquirrelBoy]

Would I be likely to get in trouble if I said.....

"Anywhere you like as long as you don't get caught and don't leave any evidence that you've been there when you leave"

?

Im affraid this is the style I have to use too.

Although I dont light fires very much, if I want to I will take the materials (dry sticks/twigs) home with me and set one up there. The last thing I want to do is start a forest fire