Author Archives: Campfire Kev

Old Town Canoes For Sale

Ebay is a great place to start looking for a new or your first open canoe – The Old Town brand is probably the most well known and established brand and really cannot be beaten in many ways, although there are other choices. But for a beginner looking to own your first open canoe then something like the Old Town Discovery range is a great place to start. Here’s what’s on Ebay currently in that range:

[wordbay]old town canoe[/wordbay]

Summer Woodland Camp

With special permission from a woodland reserve owner near Bath in Somerset we were able to have a fantastic summer camp in the middle of thick woodland in early June. The chance to sleep out overnight right amongst the wildlife of a living forest was a fantastic experience, one which really awakens the senses to the richness of nature living in our native woodlands here in the U.K.


For the date we’d chosen we had an unusually hot early summer day with temperatures up to 28 degrees, so the heat in exposed areas was intense, but as we sunk into the woodlands the temperature changed dramatically to a very comfortable, cool temperature with a light breeze rustling through the woods – perfect conditions for our camp-out.

Arriving mid afternoon we spent some time walking around the extensive woods on the reserve getting to know the wildlife and birds and the different types of trees. The reserve consists of some open natural grassland meadows, bordering onto several areas of woodland, which covers the hillside and several quite steep gullies with streams running down the hills. We spotted Speckled Wood butterflies resting in the sunshine – these butterflies are territorial unlike many species – they occupy usually a small patch of sunlight area amongst the woods, and keep that territory for themselves – this means you can often see them in the same spot, if the fly off you can just wait a few moments and they’ll usually be back, unlike most butterflies which often disappear out of sight once you’ve come across them.

After a while we found a lovely camp spot on the edge of one of the gullies -with a nice breeze rolling down the hill to keep the temperature cool, and views throughout the woods and across the gulley to the woodland fringe where it met one of the meadows, a likely spot for deer feeding in the meadow and using the shelter of the edge of the woods.

We returned to the Land Rover to collect our gear, including a couple of Australian “swag” bedrolls, that make perfect beds for sleeping out in woodland, open to the forest around. These aren’t light to carry as they’re made for 4×4 travel, but it was manageable to carry them and a minimal set of other gear including our STORM Kettle (from the Eydon Kettle company) back into the woods to our camp.

2 Aussie Swag bedrolls and some minimal camping gear

We set up the camp around a fireplace, taking care to clear dry leaves and twigs away and go back to bare earth as a preparation. The site was on a fairly steep slope, and to tackle that we placed long timbers horizontally along the slopes, secured with wooden pegs which would mean the swags could rest in a good flat position despite the slope. This worked really well and we were extremely comfortable during the night.

During the evening we were treated to some baby Roe deer with their striped markings wandering along the banks of the gully opposite the camp, feeding on new shoots and leaves. Later a large Roe Stag passed through, letting out large aggressive barking calls as he went.

We saw many species of birds among the woods including woodpeckers and tree creepers. When you stop, and sit quietly in woodland as we were at out camp you see and experience the activity in woodland completely differently and more richly than when walking through, however quietly you are moving.

As dusk fell we made our way through the woods to a badger sett recommended by the staff of the Reserve, which was situated on the opposite bank of a deep gulley meaning we had an excellent viewing position.A viewing platform has been set up by the Centre for badger watching at this area, making it very convenient for the school children and other visitors to the nature reserve to experience one of the great wonders of our native woodlands, an active badger sett.

Within minutes of arriving, just as the light inside the woodland was beginning to fade, there was activity in front of us: white and black striped noses peeked out of some of the holes, sniffing the air. With the wind in front of us, our scent was carried away from the badgers, and as a result they quickly began emerging form their holes in numbers, a bit of scratching first and then some rummaging around around the sett under leaves – breakfast for badgers I guess! It was an incredible and magical sight to see these graceful large animals coming out to start their night out in the forest, unaware of our presence. There’s something quite incredible about these animals when you see them for real in their natural habitat, and you feel absolutely alive and inspired by having the chance to witness it. It’s something many people will never get a chance to do, despite badgers being common in the UK – but they are entirely nocturnal, unlike foxes or deer for example, so unless you get out there in the dark, you just don’t seem them.

Swag Camp in the Woods

After 15 minutes of watching these wonderful creatures we returned to our camp as darkness fell around. We cooked some strips of rump steak on the fire, suspended on skewers made from green hazel twigs (so they don’t burn allowing the meat to cook over the flames). We had sweet potato and large baking potatoes cooked in the embers and then allowed to cool, both fantastic – a simple meal, with no need for plates or cutlery – the potatoes char completely on the outside but the extreme temperature in the embers cooks them through, whilst moisture is trapped inside, making these potatoes completely different and much sweeter than when cooked at home.

Swag Camp in the Woods - the perfect way to camp out

Later we heard a rustling in the leaves – something was coming up through the gulley right towards our camp – as we rose up to look, and large badger pushed through the undergrowth to just a few feet away, then stopped, looked up and decided to take another route around the the camp! If we hadn’t got up to look he would have wandered right into our camp and been unaware we were there.

So after a very loud “dusk chorus” from the birds, especially the crows above, the forest finally quietened down, while the bats flitted around through the trees above us, and we retired into the swags for the night – the feeling of sleeping out in an open swag bag in the woods, looking up at the trees above, with a few stars peeking through the leaves, and the sounds and smells of the forest all around is something quite magical, and we were really blessed with the perfect weather and time of year for our camp.

The dawn chorus was a symphony – an amazing experience in itself when you wake up right there in the woods. George (editor of UKWildlife.com) rose early hoping to spot more early birds, and then got the fire woken up again, cooking some bacon and toast on the fire.

After the morning watching the forest come to life, and more deer pass by, we were ready to go and set about the important job of clearing up the camp and the fireplace. We always practice “no trace” camping when camping wild of course, and especially in woodland it’s imperative to manage the camp and fire place, of course to be sure there’s nothing left smouldering, but also as a basic respect to the environment, to the wildlife that lives there and to other users – it must be left as if you were never there, and that’s what we did. So any logs were burnt off completely before we left, then the ash remaining doused and left to cool, then the ash was collected by hand to be sure it had cooled, and scattered over a wide area – ash contains important nutrients particlurlay potassium which is of benefit as long as it’s scattered thinly and not left in a mass where it leaves a negative trace, with nothing able to grow or process the nutrients.

No Trace Camping - the scene as we left it - just as we'd found it....

So finally when done we were happy to leave this beautiful place just as we’d found it, after a fantastic night bearing witness to the nature of our wonderful native woodland habitat, a truly magical experience, and one that I aim to repeat regularly from now on whenever possible, and certainly once in each of our seasons, to see the major changes throughout the year.

Woodland Camp

We just got back from a fantastic woodland swag camp in a local nature reserve. Given special permission, we were able to camp in a place not normally open to that activity, surrounded by the sights and sounds of a protected woodland and grassland nature reserve. We were treated to young Roe deer and even a badger wandering past our camp, as well as a large male Roe deer passing by and letting off loud barking calls just outside our camp. We’ll write up the trip in full soon, but here’s a pic of the woodland camp scene – you’ll spot the green Australian “swag” wild-camping bedrolls rolled up in the pics below.

May on The River – Overnight Camp

Took a trip to the River Wye at the end of May with our Australian visitor “OZMan” to show him what it’s like in a country that has rather more water and lush growth than they get down under. A fantastic trip again in gorgeous late spring weather, OzMan even took a dip in the river and climbed tup to the top of Yat Rock, he was really struck by the beauty of our English countryside. I lent him one of our genuine Australian swags so he’d feel right at home! Somewhere along that lazy river as the evening drew in towards dusk I spotted a rare “Hobby” falcon flashing over the surface of the water catching bugs, something I’ve never seen before – a really beautiful bird, with a very distinctive agile flight full of twists and turns as it races after dragon-flies and moths, eating them on the wing. As the canoe drifted silently on the water we came very close, right under a branch where it had stopped to rest for a while, so I could see that striking red underside and dark moustache features. But it’s in flight you want to see this bird – a really magical experience, and one you’d be unlikely to see except from down at the water level in a canoe, approaching silently on the water.

Wild Camping

“Wild Camping” meaning camping out amongst nature away from a managed campsite, is one of the most fantastic and wild experiences you can have, without having to journey to Africa or the Arctic Circle. It’s the best way to really tune in to nature, experience the seasons changing and the wildlife around you, and for canoeing there’s no richer experience than paddling your own way along a river or lake, stopping to camp over night under the stars, and then waking up surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature before you move of on your journey the next day. But what are the rules and laws you need to know about?

When it comes to rivers, there’s an advantage in that as the river level changes it will expose the river bed, which makes it possible to have a “no-trace” wild camp. In practice you can wild camp on the shingle beaches anywhere along the navigable parts of River Wye (because landowners are so used to recreational paddlers) but this is also true on other rivers subject to local conditions. We’ve been doing it for 20 years on the Wye without ever having any problem even though technically, legally you probably need to seek permission from the landowner, but of course finding out who’s the landowner is not easy, but if you do know then of course stop to ask. Remember trespass is not an offence, only trespass causing damage.

If you can find an actual island in the river it’s case that’s counted as the river bed so no permission needed; but there’s no need to go hunting for an island, as it’s really no problem provided you always follow some basic rules:

  • no damage
  • no litter
  • no noise
  • no trace left

A Simple Wild Camp, with minimal impact.


Campfires & Firewood

Having a campfire is a key part of the experience of camping and wild-camping where it’s allowed, especially in winter to keep warm of course, and for cooking. Clearly conduct a risk assessment in terms of vegetation and fire risk and observe any local guidance. Don’t burn waste (plastic, paper wrapping, litter) – the fumes can be harmful and the residue may be impossible to clear up. Be aware when collecting firewood that deadfall wood is a key provider of nutrients to the ecosystem, via fungi and insects; don’t ‘harvest’ from one spot in woodland or on the vegetation on the riverbank – washed up driftwood is what should be used. Always burn off any logs before you go rather than leaving half-burnt wood around which lasts for years – don’t throw half-burnt logs into the river either as they’ll just float down and end up somewhere else. Don’t have a bigger fire than you need, extinguish the campfire with water, then spread and tread the ash well into the stones, until you can barely see anything, and you’re ready to go. One point: be aware that either wet stones or stones with air pockets in can explode in the heat of the fire – it’s only happened once to me in the last 10 years, but it can happen – take a first aid kit.

Water Levels

Remember water levels can change rapidly depending on weather upstream in the mountains, so be aware of whether the river is going up or down and keep an eye on the river level webcams before you go, and on the river itself and skies when you’re out. Be ready to change your plans if the weather changes significantly.

Camp Rules
Don’t fish either as you’ll be raise unnecessary and very real concerns of poaching; and don’t wild camp in an area that is clearly managed for fishing specifically, it’s not welcomed there.

Keep to no more than 3 people/boats in a group at one site, find separate sites if necessary. Use a swag or bivvy and tarp or a small natural-colour tent rather than a monstrous orange tunnel tent if possible! Best to keep a fairly simple camp and not spread all your gear around either, particularly anything that could look like litter – plastic bags, bottles etc. keep them stowed out of sight. Don’t stay more than one night in the same spot, because it’s not your land for a holiday – arrive late in the day and leave early.

Sometimes the landowner will come down to take a peek in the morning, or late at night, and if you follow the rules above you’ll get nothing more than a friendly wave or a chat about the river and the weather – they can see you are respecting the environment and their land, and just enjoying the outdoors.

(Necessary Disclaimer: we’re not legal experts so read up online yourself if you’re concerned and seek out the local knowledge in your area; publishing this guide doesn’t make us responsible in any way – enjoy the wilds of our wonderful country! Thanks.)

First Trip and First Days of Spring on the River

Last weekend saw us make it on the first river trip of the year, finally after a very cold and rather drawn out winter this year. It was fantastic to finally get out on the water, and with the river Wye in quite a bit of flow after yet more rain the river itself felt as eager to move down stream as we were! A highlight was taking our new red Old Town Discovery 158 out for a maiden trip, and I have to say she is a lovely boat – there’s something classic about the red colour – perhaps it’s from the Bill Mason days (see below), and whilst our green one blends in visually with the surroundings, the red one seems equally at home out in the wilds. There was really no sign of spring yet, despite it being the very end of March – just some wild garlic in the woods with it’s rich pungent aroma as you walk through breaking the leaves and releasing the scent, and a few daffodils of course in the churchyards and gardens. But otherwise it felt like we were there at the very start of spring – the first day was much like winter, cold wind and grey clouds, no greeness in the trees at all. But when the sun came out after the nights camp on an island in the river, and all the birds in the valley burst into song it seemed like suddenly spring had gotten underway. Buzzards soared in breeding pairs above our campsite, the river flowed past, and overall it was a pretty special trip – here’s to many more this year! View the trip in video below:

Some still photos of the trip:

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Canoe Videos by Bill Mason, Waterwalker…

Waterwalker

A classic canoe documentary from the early 1980’s, still made available from the Canadian National Film Board:

“This feature-length documentary follows naturalist Bill Mason on his journey by canoe into the Ontario wilderness. The filmmaker and artist begins on Lake Superior, then explores winding and sometimes tortuous river waters to the meadowlands of the river’s source. Along the way, Mason paints scenes that capture his attention and muses about his love of the canoe, his artwork and his own sense of the land. Mason also uses the film as a commentary on the link between God and nature and the vast array of beautiful canvases God created for him to paint. Features breathtaking visuals and exciting whitewater footage, with a musical score by Bruce Cockburn.”



Song Of The Paddle

Also available is Mason’s 1978 film “Song of The Paddle”:

“Join outdoorsman Bill Mason in this short documentary as he and his family go canoe camping in the wilderness. Gain an appreciation for the art of canoeing while watching a small group experience the sheer joy and beauty of Nature. Along the way, the Masons experience countless adventures and some breathtaking scenery, including Indian rock carvings at Lake Superior.”

The Voyageurs

Another fantastic canoeing film available there is the documentary “The Voyageurs” from 1964, covering a subject featured heavily in Ray Mears’s recent series about Canada, “Northern Wilderness”:

“This short film tells the tale of the men who drove big freighter canoes into the wilderness in the days when the fur trade was Canada’s biggest business. The film recreates scenes of the early 19th century with a soundtrack by an all-male chorus.