Wild camping north Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire

[Damo!]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any wild camping friendly woodlands in this area? I want to plan a 2 day walk/hike with a single night sleepover in this area and would prefer to wild camp.
If there are any members here that would like to maybe arrange something together i'd be open to that.

Anybody know of anything in these parts?

 

[Mesquite]

Have you checked out Church Farm in Ardeley?

They've got a small wood you can wild camp in and is about 10 miles from Hitchin so a reasonable hike.

 

[Damo!]

Awesome! Thanks for that, looks interesting.

Im thinking i may take a look at the Barton hills National Nature reserve or over the hill at Ashridge forest.

 

[boney gumbo mcgee]

Hi Damo! The woods at Barton Hills are quite small and very heavily used, not the best spot imo. Not far from you to recce yourself though and is always worth a walk and brew there Good luck with your searching.

 

[Damo!]

Hi Damo! The woods at Barton Hills are quite small and very heavily used, not the best spot imo. Not far from you to recce yourself though and is always worth a walk and brew there Good luck with your searching.

That was my worry, that it was busy.

Hmm, seems I may go over the hill then to Ashridge, unless I do a late camp, early leave to avoid the people traffic.

 

[boney gumbo mcgee]

Hi Damo! I will send you a PM.

 

[GreenNomad]

I'm based in Hitchin too, so Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire is on my radar. Any useful info boney gumbo would also be appreciated!

 

[Damo!]

I'm based in Hitchin too, so Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire is on my radar. Any useful info boney gumbo would also be appreciated!

Oooh a fellow Hertfordshire man!

 

[GreenNomad]

I'm off to Ardeley next month, took a drive up there the other night and it looks very nice. Choice of woods and fields to camp in. Though it is £25 for a fire kit inlcuding 'Extra Large 40 litre Bag of Ash Logs, Extra Long Matches, Kindling & Firelighters. Includes Permission for Open Fire.'

Think I'll be taking the meths stove

 

[bluey1610]

Ardeley? Is that nearby?


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[Damo!]

Church Farm, Ardeley?

 

[GreenNomad]

Ardeley? Is that nearby?


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Yes just past Walkern in Stevenage

 

[nephilim]

Ardeley sounds good. There's a place near me, called bidwell. Has a decent sized woodland but sadly lacks a stream of water.

I've been there a few times with a good water supply.

steam: nephilim460 | origin: netphlix_n_chill | twitch: nephilim_uk

 

[GreenNomad]

Bidwell, is that the scout site?

 

[nephilim]

Scouts use it yes. Council have given me the go ahead to camp there provided I clean up and such like. I've had no issues there, except once where there was a dog walker who complained that I had an axe and was cutting up deadwood away from camp.

 

[GreenNomad]

How did you go about getting the permission? Would have thought the council would be less likely to give anyone permission since they are more formal.

What a dull dog walker

 

[nephilim]

I got permission as I know the chap that does the parkland care. Providing I clean up, and make sure I put out any fires, spread the ashes etc, its all good.

 

[bluey1610]

Oh I see. Just looked up Ardeley. That looks good. Will look into that


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[Colin R]

Evening folks, just resurrecting an old thread. I'm new on here and getting into wild camping/ bush craft after a VERY long gap from the great outdoors. Based in Stevenage , I'm interesting on knowing what the Ardeley site is like nowadays.

 

[MikeeMiracle]

There's no real meets taking place around this area, the closest I attend is here:

Lords Wood meet 17-19 December 2021

Welcome to Lords Wood This meet i thought we would resume clearing and brash burning this will open up further glades for us to use. Instead of processing all the timber for the wood pile, we will keep the more useable pieces from the clearance. Over this and the coming meets we will utilise...

bushcraftuk.com

We have another thread which discussed meets in our area here but nothign came of it:

Hertfordshire/Essex meets ups?

im new to the site trying to get more info about bush craft, was wondering if there are any like minded people in Hertfordshire/Essex.

bushcraftuk.com