Let’s go wild camping in Dartmoor!
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of going to sleep after hours of trekking through the hills, and pulling out a delicious Melksjokolade, (Norwegian chocolate aka, the best chocolate in the world!), as you set up camp in Dartmoor national park, the only place in England where we’re still allowed to wyld (see what I did there) camp. Well… That is until very recently at least.
Tommy, setting up camp. Photo @di.ana.gram
See, a group of landowners in Dartmoor National Park threw a bit of a tantrum and… TLDR: Banned wild camping from Dartmoor. Great. Thanks guys. So I had a bit of a think about this, because honestly, coming from Norway the whole Idea that wild camping isn’t allowed is absurd.
“The latest developments seem to be that the National Trust is going to pay landowners to keep allowing access, which is sort of slightly less regressive, kind of like a bad band-aid. This whole ordeal just highlights some of the problems with the attitude of being in nature from the establishment in the UK. ”
On my last trip I think I spotted some of the landowners…
In Norway, wild camping is allowed anywhere (well there’s “some rules” like you can’t pop up in your neighbors garden… kinda thing) but as long as it's done responsibly and with respect for the environment and local residents you're basically good to go. Even a bit closer to England, in Scotland, the Land Reform Act of 2003 gives the public the right to camp in most areas of the country, again as long as it's done responsibly and without causing damage or disturbance. Which kind of makes you wonder, what’s the deal with y’all England?
Now, you may be thinking, "Why should we care about wild camping?". Wild camping can actually be a positive thing for both the environment and local communities. It can increase tourism and bring economic benefits, not to mention promoting conservation and sustainable outdoor practices. Plus, there's nothing quite like falling asleep under the stars and waking up to the sound…of rain, dripping from your tent that wasn’t actually waterproof right onto your soaked through sleeping bag." BUT IT'S still fun!!
It's not just about the fun of it either, wild camping also allows people to get up close and personal with nature, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world. And with this understanding comes a sense of responsibility to protect it for future generations to enjoy, which can have a ripple effect through society inspiring people to even become more sustainable in their day to day life.
This isn’t the bin…
Growing up in Norway, I had easy access to the great outdoors and learned about "leave no trace" principles from a young age in school. This taught us a deep appreciation for the natural world and gave us a sense of responsibility to protect it. Even just through practises in school like dugnad, where we’d go and clean trash in the streets around our school area… You kind of grew up feeling a little bit responsible, and less inclined to littering, since in fact you’d have to pick it up.
“Dugnad is a Norwegian concept of community work, where a group of people come together for the benefit of the community and can include activities such as cleaning, repairing, or organizing events or facilities. The word “dugnad” literally means “work party” or “work together” in Norwegian.)”
But when I moved to the UK, I found that the culture of responsible outdoor behavior and free access to the wild just wasn’t a thing. A lot of it seems down to how confusing access to nature in the UK is.
In Norway, it's pretty clear that you're allowed to take a dip in a river or lake, but here in the UK, it's usually not that easy. You have to check online, are there rules? What’s the fines, what’s the dedicated swimming area. I have to pay someone to go in the river? Like, it becomes a whole ordeal. You shouldn’t need a law degree to swim in that lake. It’s almost as if you’re being actively discouraged from enjoying nature. Nature in England feels very much like an "other" thing, something separate from our daily lives and not as easily accessible. This can make it harder for people to connect to it and understand why it's important to preserve it.
Having a dip in a stream down from the glacier. Nice and warm!
It’s a real shame, as England is home to some incredible spots, you almost even have a few “mountains” that- no. I can’t do it they’re not mount- You got big hills, okay. They’re cool. Anyway that’s the Norwegian in me getting petty (we’re slightly mountain obsessed).
Location? Definetly not “illegal” camping in” Lake District. “Probably most epic spot I've ever woken up in” - Tommy. Photo @di.ana.gram
In short, this whole Dartmoor ordeal is a massive step in the wrong direction, that leads to less integration with nature making it even harder for people to start enjoying the wild.
Maybe one day we can all enjoy all these places without too much research on which hills we’re not allowed to step on.
