I have always been focused on the big hills and mountains of Wales, Scotland and the openness of Dartmoor, as well as the cold wildness of the Norwegian mountains and fjords from my younger service life. I hadn’t really explored the south east, only seeing the crowded towns, housing estates and roads of the south coast, but with weekends extended by a day, and influenced by a fantastic colleague in my workplace, I resolved to explore the hills surrounding me. And learn I did. Fantastic views, looking out to sea and inland across the green patchwork of the South Coast. Cold, beautiful sunrises, wind lashed hills and secret ruins amongst the woods and lanes that have escaped the planning and expansion of a growing population. Long may it do so.
Early mornings are the best time to start, in the cold predawn, in time to reach the sun rise and then on, onto the hills where joggers and dog walkers take their morning exercise. A lot of hills can be reached not far from the roads in this area, so it was easy to park the car, walk metres to a few miles to the peak and back, and be back in time for lunch and family duties, or to rest.
Wild camping is allowed in only certain areas of the UK, opposed by landowners especially close to popular long distance routes and tolerated in other areas if you are stealthy enough. You can’t be moved on if they can’t find you… My own plans in this area is to apply some stealth wild camping in areas along the south coast in the summer, along with some wild swimming if the SLE allows, as luckily such places exist in my surrounding area. I have the kit and the experience and have often wanted to escape and sleep on a beach, to be awoken by the sound of sea on shore. I’m fast appreciating the seizing of moments, snatched from a busy world to stop and relax. Must be this mindfulness acting up again…
Walking with the Wolf 