Wild Camping Summer/Expedition Training
Teaching you the skills needed to wild camp with confidence and safety with you and your family. In addition we offer expedition training for those wanting to go further afield on their overseas trips.
Ever thought about Wild Camping? And if so the popular question people ask is. “Can I do Wild Camping in the Lake District National Park?” The answer is YES! But there are rules to be adhered too.
In addition to our summer wild camping days. We offer expedition training courses. People going on bigger overseas trips to South America, or Nepal find these extremely beneficial.
Wild Camping can be done in any of our national parks throughout the UK, but coming on one of our Wild Camp and Campcraft expeditions will equip you with a sound understanding of what to do. Therefore we will equip you with the skills needed to head out and give this a go. Whether it’s with your family, friends or even a solo trip.
We show you how to undertake Wild Camping safely and efficiently, as well as looking at the essential skills of ‘basecamp’ Camp craft. See below for some of the main topics you will cover on your course:
- Wild Camping – Where to camp / Where not to camp
- How to pack a rucksack properly! (Often overlooked)
- Site choice and location
- How to pitch a tent properly
- Equipment choice & selection
- What to bring/What not to bring!
- Where to, & how to drink water safely
- Food choice
- Intro in navigation
- Walking on scree/uneven terrain
- Basic rope work (If appropriate to your needs)
- Emergency procedures
- Summer & Winter Wild Camping – The differences
Equipment
For our summer wild camping courses you can use Rock n Ridge’s tents, sleeping mattresses, stove and pans. We have a few sleeping bags, but advise for the interests of hygiene that you bring your own. We will be happy to help and advise on what to buy. You don’t need to spend a great deal to get something good. Also summer sleeping bags are thinner so cost less than winter bags. The tents that we use are made by Terra Nova. These are of exceptional quality and perform well in mountain environments. Alternatively you can use your own if preferred.
We do not provide walking boots and waterproofs. These items you just bring yourself. Likewise we can advise.
Course location:
Our courses are run from the Lake District, **Snowdonia, **Cairngorms, and all other locations throughout **Scotland.
Course dates / Prices
The course dates are flexible to suit you the client, although it is probably best to book ahead in the busy periods (June-August) so that you get the dates you require.
The courses are either 1.5 or 2.5 days in length depending on what you want to cover, how far you want to walk, and your holiday/work commitments. Longer back country expeditions can be sorted just get in touch and we’d be happy to help.
Outline Itinerary
An exact programme is difficult to confirm as we operate according to the weather, conditions and the progress of the group. If you are requiring a shorter walk in and you maybe just want the day to be about having fun whilst learning some wild camping skills. Then we can accommodate this. Below is a sample of our most popular course:
Day 1:
Meet and greet – A look at our equipment and if needed help and advice with the packing of your rucksack. A 2-3 hour walk into our chosen wild camping site. Setting the tents up and have a brew. Head out with our lighter rucksacks and aim for a peak. Looking at some basic navigation and hill skills. Back to our tents, preparing and cooking dinner. Camp craft skills. Watch the sunset as we crawl into our sleeping bags.
Day 2:
If booked onto our 1.5 day course, then it’ll be breakfast and a leisurely pack up and walk out. Re capping over the points learnt and next steps if you’re thinking about returning with others or on your own.
On our 2.5 day course, depending on our goals we’ll either leave the tent for another night. Or pack them up and walk into our next wild camping spot. Usually we cover more ground, more peaks and a greater knowledge base develops from being out in the mountains longer.
Prices & Dates:
Flexible dates to suit yourself and group.
A £50 deposit is required to book a place. See our Contact and Pricing page for more details.
Maximum group size of 4 persons. This keeps it nice and quiet. Additional persons please get in touch.
*A 10% discount will be applied if using your own tent and equipment. A sleeping mat for example can be borrowed free of charge if needed. We’re here to help.
** For Scottish and Welsh wild camping trips, there will be an extra surcharge to cover travel costs.
Wild Camping in Winter & Expedition Training
Wild Camping in winter is a very different thing altogether. The light is less therefore the days are shorter. The days are usually longer in duration due to the snow cover, making the going tougher. And pitching a tent can be harder and different than summer Wild Camping due to a number of factors. Waterlogged and boggy ground, high and gusting winds, drifting snow, avalanche prone slopes.
That said Wild Camping in winter is truly unbeatable. If you catch it right and the days are crisp and fresh it really is a wonderful experience that shouldn’t be missed! And even when the day is cold, snowy and the cloud is in, the feeling of getting into a tent at the end of the day and having a well-earned brew is just the best.
Winter Wild Camping is a great way to harden you up if you are planning on a trip overseas. Our expedition training days will be massively beneficial if you are thinking of undertaking something like Aconcagua, Mera Peak, Island Peak or Everest Basecamp. Here are just some of the main topics covered in one of our winter camping/Expedition Training courses. We also organise and run Alpine Training days, these are similar to our Expedition Training days but involve more technical rope work and no overnight wild camping.
- Where to camp whilst winter camping
- What to pack in winter?
- Food & nutrition
- Melting & collecting snow
- Battening down the hatches!
- High altitude knowledge (If appropriate to your needs)
- Avalanche knowledge
- Ice axe/Crampon use
- Ascending and descending slopes
- Snow shoeing (Conditions dependent)
- Snow holing (If requested)
Equipment
For our winter wild camping and Expedition Training courses, you can use Rock n Ridge’s tents, sleeping mattresses, stove and pans. We have a few sleeping bags, but advise for the interests of hygiene that you bring your own. The tents that we use are made by Terra Nova. These are of exceptional quality and perform well in mountain environments. Alternatively you can use your own if preferred.
We will be happy to help and advise on what to buy. You don’t need to spend a great deal to get something good.
We do not provide walking boots, winter tools and waterproofs. These items you must bring yourself. Ice tools crampons, ice axes; winter specific boots can be hired from us. Likewise we can advise on all of the above.
Course location:
Our courses are run from the Lake District, **Snowdonia, **Cairngorms, and all other locations throughout **Scotland.
Course dates / Prices
A £50 deposit is required to book a place. See our Contact and Pricing page for more details.
For larger groups of 4 persons please get in touch for pricing.
Our winter wild camping expeditions run between December – April depending on the snow conditions, and weather.
The courses are either 1 night 2 days or 2 nights 3 days in length. Longer backcountry expeditions can be sorted just get in touch and we’d be happy to help.
Outline Itinerary
An exact programme is difficult to confirm as we operate according to the weather, conditions and the progress of the group. If you are requiring a shorter walk in and you maybe just want the day to be about having fun whilst learning some wild camping skills. Then we can accommodate this. Below is a sample of our most popular course:
Day 1:
Packing for a winter wild camping trip requires a bit more thought and organisation than a summer trip. We take our time to prepare and get ready before heading out. A 2/3-hour walk in will get us to our night’s wild camping spot.
From here we’ll recoup, repack and head out to explore the area. Along the way we’ll stop to go through ice axe and crampon skills. Look at some winter navigation before heading back to our tents. Here we will refuel and talk about weather, camp craft, avalanche information. If you’ve booked onto one of our expedition training courses, we’ll cover altitude sickness, and advice on big expedition trips.
Day 2:
Wake to see what the day holds. Breakfast, and head out. Today we’ll take in a peak, which if in Scotland will generally be a Munro. In addition we will re cap over yesterdays learning’s and get some practice in. If required now will be the time to look at snowshoeing. Taking a look at how these ingenious devices work and keep you on top of the snow!
Return to our tents pack up and head out.
Day 3:
If on our 3 day winter camp craft course, the learning is stretched and slowly absorbed over an extra day. This for some people can have better results learning wise and slow the pace down a little. A chance to look more at crampon, ice axe and snowshoeing techniques again before heading out.
Pricing:
* With Rock n Ridge’s equipment:
1.5 Day course – Price per person:
1 person: £350
2 persons: £190
3 persons: £140
4 persons: £105
5 or more persons please get in touch
2.5 Day course – Price per person:
1 person: £550
2 persons: £280
3 persons: £210
4 persons: £180
5 or more persons please get in touch
*A 10% discount will be applied if using your own tent and equipment. A sleeping mat for example can be borrowed free of charge if needed. We’re here to help.
** For Scottish and Welsh wild camping trips, there will be an extra surcharge to cover travel costs.