leave no trace Archives

Exploring Bentley Wood, Wiltshire | A Quiet Woodland Walk

I had hoped for a quiet and peaceful evening surrounded by trees, but what stood out the most was the sheer amount of birdlife.

No music, no TV, just me and a chance to walk, spend a night outdoors, clear my head and return home feeling refreshed.

It can be awesome. It can be fun and exhilarating. But it will definitely be noisy and memorable.

With its sand dunes, heathland, woodland, freshwater habitats and coastline, it is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year.

I’ve been doing this for many years, and for me it’s about more than just picking up rubbish. It feels like a way of saying thanks.

Is wild camping for you? Well – you don’t know until you try. If you’re thinking about wild camping, you’re probably asking a few simple…

I knew very little about this place before I arrived. I’ve passed through the area a few times and knew the Cranborne Chase landscape is very pretty…

I’ve camped in a lot of places over the years, but this stretch - from the Isle of Purbeck across the Jurassic Coast - always feels special.

My approach is simple. I keep things quiet, low profile and try to leave no trace or signs that I was ever there.

Is wild camping for you? Well - you don’t know until you try. This is the first of a four-part blog that will help answer some of those questions.