Wild/Stealth/Free Camping Whilst Cycle Touring

[DaleFTW]

Am I the only one who really struggles with this?

I have no real problem/issues when I'm off walking as I'm usually at a high level, away from people/roads, but when I'm biking it's completely different. The problem is I'm on a road - which leads from one group of people to another group of people, usually with people living in between. Secluded spots are hard to find form my viewpoint on the road.

Any tips?

Or is it a case of hike a bike to higher ground?

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
It is difficult to find a spot that is quite when on road.

The way I do it it with 2.5 " to a mile explorer OS maps, you need the detail of the land.
You need one then you can eye up posible camp spots which are common land / away from dwelling / not visable from the road or dwelling.
Dont light fires and place your cooker on a rock and or near a stream / river.
Take all your rubbish with you, any signs of camping then odds are they will clamp down.

I tend not to go for wooded sites when at high level Moors etc, as its always damp and restricted sunlight in morning for drying / airing gear.

But on the road you will probably have to pick more wooded sites so not to be seen by inquisative children / nosey do gooders.

Only dog walkers to contend with who arent all grumpy. By the time early in morn you see them you are packing up.

Remember only police can move you on at the owners request or the owner, if you happen on private land.
Not a bod with big boots and a navy acrilic knitted jumper with lapels.
Its funny how the police will move individuals on but not a pack of transits towing caravans.
Stealth is the key I normally camp at dusk then less likely to be spotted.
Then you could always ask the owner if a house nearby, I have never been refused

[DaleFTW]

Aye, not too bothered about legalities/intricacies etc. it's actually finding a place to pitch away from prying eyes that I struggle with. Always seem to be just off the road, easily visible to everyone who passes.

[b1galus]

why is that getting close to camping time you see nothing but every bloody morning within 5k you always spot a perfect pitch lol

[tatanab]

I do not do it, although I probably would in countries where it is perfectly legal.

The bit that stumps me the most is "pitch late, leave early". Leave early is no problem, I do that anyway. But because I leave early my riding day can be completed by early afternoon, mid afternoon absolute latest. What would I do until it approaches dusk and I can set up?

[DaleFTW]

I do not do it, although I probably would in countries where it is perfectly legal.

The bit that stumps me the most is "pitch late, leave early". Leave early is no problem, I do that anyway. But because I leave early my riding day can be completed by early afternoon, mid afternoon absolute latest. What would I do until it approaches dusk and I can set up?

Yeah, I struggle with that too. It usually means a 14 hour cycle, which is not something I'm too fond of tbh.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Every one to there own, as solo rider who does'nt frequent pubs and cafe's often I tend to keep riding till dark.
I can understand that if your used to camping and going into town then wild camping has little to offer.
I go to get away from the bustle of people so solitude is ok for me.

[hufty]

I agree - it is hard to find a quiet spot a lot of the time in overpopulated England, which is a good reason to go elsewhere, and until it goes dark it can be difficult to relax. But people are less observant than you think and also less bothered, especially if it's not their land you're on. Definitely I would want to be a fair distance from the last/next clump of houses to reduce dog walker contact, but with respect to car drivers, they are usually eyes front so you don't have to be that far back from the road to go unobserved especially if there's stuff in the way to limit the sight lines or if you find a spot where they will be concentrating on something else such as a bend. Also I would think a good place is somewhere where people can't easily park up so no tracks starting off from lay-bys.

[b1galus]

unobservant people or just don't care, i have made camp in laybys , picnic areas and on more than one occasion on a roundabout . the hardest thing is finding somewhere nice and quiet

[kilroya]

Lakeshores / riverbanks.

[bidi]

This might interest anyone cycling canal towpaths in England and Wales. I emailed the Canal & River Trust to ask what is the official position on cycle-camping alongside canals. Here's the reply:

Thank you for your email.

Camping near the canal side is permitted, providing you are not obstructing the towpath or canal in any way. Also, we would not allow littering or the lighting of fires.

I hope that helps - let me know if you have any further questions.

Kind regards,

Katy Thomas



Customer Service Advisor


Canal & River Trust

That's good to know.

[RobMac]

I do not do it, although I probably would in countries where it is perfectly legal.

The bit that stumps me the most is "pitch late, leave early". Leave early is no problem, I do that anyway. But because I leave early my riding day can be completed by early afternoon, mid afternoon absolute latest. What would I do until it approaches dusk and I can set up?

Have more breaks or longer ones.

[psmiffy]

Unless you are in an urban conurbation there is always somewhere to wild camp - they are not always the best of places - but once the tent is up and you are off to sleep it doesn't really matter - As I am not a wild camper by habit (although I've probably wild camped over a 100 times in Europe) I find that the most important thing for me is to actually decide that I'm going to wild camp and not push on for that extra hour in the dark to where I know that there is a proper campsite - Finding a decent spot in the dark can be very difficult - once I've decided then making sure i have suitable wild camping food and a supply of water becomes a priority - I start looking for a spot about an hour before dusk - proactively looking for places relatively close to the road I'm on but discrete and not too close to inhabited dwellings - By the time I've found what i'm looking for its practically dark anyway - (In a lot of countries the caveat to the no wild camping rule is that if it is not safe to carry on then its OK) - Early up - early leave.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=172957&v=3K

I've found that being prepared to wild camp if necessary provides another layer of flexibility to touring - only having a barebones plan of where I'm going and never having any particular schedule to keep to apart from having to be back at work on a certain day.

[psmiffy]

Yeah, I struggle with that too. It usually means a 14 hour cycle, which is not something I'm too fond of tbh.

I dont mind being on the road for long periods - I dont really regard it as being a"cycle" - I tend to toddle from place to place - I think though that that my mindset is not about getting from A to B but enjoying the country that im exploring - some of the most memorable parts of my tours have been cycling in the late evening and seeing the landscape in a different light

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

Finding a decent spot in the dark can be very difficult - once I've decided then making sure i have suitable wild camping food and a supply of water becomes a priority - I start looking for a spot about an hour before dusk - proactively looking for places relatively close to the road I'm on but discrete and not too close to inhabited dwellings - By the time I've found what i'm looking for its practically dark anyway - (In a lot of countries the caveat to the no wild camping rule is that if it is not safe to carry on then its OK) - Early up - early leave.

I've found that being prepared to wild camp if necessary provides another layer of flexibility to touring - only having a barebones plan of where I'm going and never having any particular schedule to keep to apart from having to be back at work on a certain day.

It can be slightly stressful as its gets dark not finding a spot to camp down, but if you have a good front lamp which gives a wide angle not narrow beam and you have food and water I just plod along and some spot will appear.
Like said once its dark and you are not in plain view of cars headlights you could be anywhere.
I wild camp because it gives flexibility to my ride, I am not always tied to a set plan.
It always amazes me that LEJOG / JOGLE riders will plan for months where they will stop in lodges etc, then struggle as you do to meet that schedule
The small weight penalty as little as 2.5 kgs and ditch those extra clothes that are dirty two minutes after you put them on, dont bother with cooking gear either just grab fish'n chips or a cold pastie from the spa shop whatever and ride off into the sun set
If your obsessed with being squeaky clean just stay at home, your only roughing it for 10 days or so, washing in cold water is not that bad once you have done it.
A bit of shower gel on your hair and you smell fresh all over