Main image: Beyond wild camping in a hot tent on Low Fell | Credit: Laura Nurse @lauzexplores
What is it about sleeping outside that makes us feel so alive? You could chalk it up to the fresh air, the noises of nature, the beauty of a morning mountain view… ultimately, though, much of that kick comes down to novelty. Ditching the standard routine of Netflix nights and duvet mornings jolts us out of the mental boxes in which we spend most of our lives. It forces us to engage with our environment, notice things that would otherwise pass unnoticed, listen to our senses rather than the to-do lists inside our heads. For most of us, simply camping somewhere on the scenic side is enough to ignite the touchpaper of novelty. But some like to take it a step further and go beyond wild camping: those whose taste for the unusual drives them to seek out strange, surprising and sometimes mildly terrifying overnight experiences. Their sleep stories span cave bivvies, snow-bound hammocks and haunted huts – even a tripwire-defended night in polar bear country. Find your unique sleep out inspiration in this issue.
Highlights of this issue:
PLUS: Jim Perrin paints a portrait of Sgurr nan Gillean; honest and trusted reviews of the best hiking shoes and budget packs and undies; the latest news from the mountains, outdoor walking festivals we rate; and our reviews of new outdoor books to inspire.
Nights of wonder: From bivvying in caves to camping in polar bear country, we asked five ‘strange sleepers’ to share their tales of the unexpected
“I sometimes like to put myself up against nature a bit; go into bad weather – well-prepared of course and with a back-up plan – and see if I’m able to successfully create shelter and spend the night. Structures, trenches, caves and fallen trees can all provide valuable shelter from the wind and even a small amount of heat retention. It’s important to consider if a potential spot is safe, of course. Could anything fall on me? Could it flood? But once I’ve found a usable space, there’s also an element of creativity to it. One of my favourite things to do is to go out with a tarp and see what I can find and what kind of camp I can create. The possibilities are endless, really, and I adore the solitude…”
Time traveller: Author and researcher Kat Hill visits Maol-bhuidhe, one of Britain’s most remote bothies and a key staging post on the Cape Wrath Trail. With photographer Nicolas White, she retraces the steps of the teachers who travelled between Highland communities as the world changed
“It doesn’t take long to feel as though you are walking away from the world when you head out for one of Britain’s most remote inhabited buildings, Maol-bhuidhe bothy. Along a path through Glen Elchaig, the mountains fold around you and herds of deer watch with anxious intensity. The bothy is a welcome stopping-off point for weary travellers on the Cape Wrath Trail, but it’s also possible to make an overnight trip. We start from Camas-lunie below the White Waterfall, Eas Ban, but you can set out from Killilan or make your way from Morvich. This route runs past the thunderous Falls of Glomach – whose name derives from the mist that the water throws into the sky – to join the path at the eastern end of Loch na Leitreach. Look back from here and you see Carnan Cruithneachd; look ahead and it’s the lonely expanse of Wester Ross that stretches before you…”
Drawn to Earth: Pennines-based Will Lake enjoys nothing more than escaping his desk with camera in hand, often to the Lake District. His images are refreshingly relaxed and unprocessed, reflecting a personal aversion to technology ‘as an outdoorsy person with an interest in photography’ – not the other way round
“I was in a band at sixth form college, decades ago. I learnt a few chords and played them appallingly, even writing some embarrassing songs. Not surprisingly, there was no recording contract and no critical acclaim; but my bandmates and I got to play a handful of gigs for a slightly bigger handful of friends, having brilliant and carefree fun in the process. I sometimes think we’re losing sight of this simple pleasure: the pleasure of just doing something because we enjoy it, and not sweating the small stuff or obsessing about performance. Instead, it’s all too easy to get hung up on endless metrics, goals and comparative rankings. Photography for me is an antidote. It’s about getting out and getting back to basics. It’s about losing myself by doing what I love, in the places and ways that I love. It takes me right back to being in that band...”
In the shadow of giants: Peter Elia joins a once-in-a-lifetime trek to K2 Base Camp and finds splendour, strength and comradeship in the heart of Pakistan’s Karakoram range
” I felt utterly insignificant as I watched the sunrise at Concordia, gateway to some of the world’s highest peaks. Ahead, K2’s snow-draped pyramid pierced the sky, its sharp top glowing in the first light of dawn. Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I and II – also members of the elite 8000er club – rose like invincible titans on either side. I suddenly understood why this amphitheatre of rock and ice is often called the ‘throne room of the mountain gods’ – where nature’s supremacy is absolute, and human ambition feels fragile. The silence was immense, broken only by the distant thunder of avalanches. A few trekkers from our expedition joined me, huddling together on the moraine. Encircled by giants, every demanding step and sleepless night felt worthwhile. Concordia wasn’t just a destination — it was a revelation...”
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