Wilderness Areas in the British Isles

[hootchi]

I'm sure that we all agree that the British Isles are far too heavily populated to allow far any 'real' wilderness areas but where do you think are the best of them?

'Wilderness' can be interpreted in a number of different ways, what do you think of when you think of 'wilderness' and what do you hope to realistically encounter when you visit them?

For me 'wilderness' conjures up thoughts of vast expanses of woodland, untouched by man since the beginning. This is possibly only realistic in the forests of New England, the Rockies, Norway, or Russia, the jungle just doesn't do it for me.:roll: However I would hope to be able to walk for a few days on the moors without seeing anyone, practice some bushcraft and not encountering any large sources of interference by man. Where is this possible in the UK?

Thanks for your input.:wink:

[paul in swindon]

there are many places in the uk where you can find yourself alone in the wilderness just a few are

sailsbury plain
exmoor
northwest scotland
north yorks moors
grizdale forrest
most forrested areas around betys coed near snowdon around the banks of lynn mubyr

just look around for non touris plases and ye shall find :chill:

[arctic hobo]

For me 'wilderness' conjures up thoughts of vast expanses of woodland, untouched by man since the beginning. This is possibly only realistic in the forests of New England, the Rockies, or Russia, the jungle just doesn't do it for me.:roll:

What about Norway?? T:

[arctic hobo]

This might sound silly to some of you but I can tell you Dartmoor can get very scary when it wants to be. There's something about it that I've not felt anywhere else in the UK, something scary and barren, like you won't ever get home again or something When you're lost on Dartmoor you feel very very lost indeed.

[hootchi]

What about Norway?? T:

Sorry chap, sorted it now. :wink:

[hootchi]

This might sound silly to some of you but I can tell you Dartmoor can get very scary when it wants to be. There's something about it that I've not felt anywhere else in the UK, something scary and barren, like you won't ever get home again or something When you're lost on Dartmoor you feel very very lost indeed.

I will have to agree with you there, but I havn't been really badly lost (touch wood), only at bit of dismay at times. :roll: I think I know Dartmoor a bit too well now to get totally overwhelmed.

I was wondering of any other wilderness areas that it is possible to wander alone for days in the UK with no feeling that anyone else has been there before. Does it exist?:?: I suppose if you choose the time of year well you could feel quite out of touch.

Cheers for your input.:biggthump

[arctic hobo]

possibly only realistic in the forests of New England, the Rockies, Norway, or Russia, the jungle

:rolmao: :biggthump

[anthonyyy]

In my experience the best way of getting the “wilderness” experience is by canoe or kayak. These allow one to visit areas which difficult to reach by other means.
Sea kayaking allows one to land on remote islands or beaches inaccessible from the land.
Canoes or kayaks can be used to explore inland waterways which are not navigable using other craft.
Another factor is that you can carry a huge amount of camping gear with no extra effort.

[outdoorgirl]

My brother and three freinds were doing the Ten Tors one year when we were all at school in Devon. They were on a practice hike on Dartmoor, with half kit - a two man tent, half rations, etc...

The day had started well, but the mists rolled in, the weather turned bad, and the rivers swelled. One of the boys turned his ankle trying to jump a river and they ended up having to camp overnight. They were airlifted off the next morning by the rescue team...

Dartmoor can be VERY scary...

[george]

Hootchi
The coastal fringes of NW scotland are amongst the few wilderness areas left in the uk. If they dont have big mountains then you're unlikely to find anyone else there. I can think of places I could go where I wouldn't see anyone literally for months at a time.

George

[hootchi]

Hootchi
The coastal fringes of NW scotland are amongst the few wilderness areas left in the uk. If they dont have big mountains then you're unlikely to find anyone else there. I can think of places I could go where I wouldn't see anyone literally for months at a time.

George

Now you're talking. Would that be on the West Coast higher than Inverness? :biggthump

Cheers :wink:

[george]

Yup

There are some spots I know where the likelyhood of meeting another person is just about nil. Of course there are other places that are very popular - but outside of tourist season they're often totally empty too. They can be pretty difficult to get to, but if you want the place to yourself it's worth the effort.

George

[alick]

I've been up above Ullapool on the West Coast - about as far as sugarloaf - and felt that it was getting pretty quiet. Driving with a caravan up on the Wick - Thurso road many years ago also felt very reminiscent of the empty places in American road movies !

[Graham_S]

Hootchi
The coastal fringes of NW scotland are amongst the few wilderness areas left in the uk. If they dont have big mountains then you're unlikely to find anyone else there. I can think of places I could go where I wouldn't see anyone literally for months at a time.

George

does anyone fancy a mini exped type trip in this sort of area this summer?
might be fun.

[Neiltoo]

Hi
I guess it depends on your definition of 'wilderness' but Lough Erne in Fermanagh would get my vote - hundreds of forested islands, most uninhabited and a few in a 'natural state' (untouched by man for 50 or 60 years)
With my canoe and my tent there are few places I would rather be.
It looks a lot like parts of Canada, ok smalller and less remote but at least the mosquitos dont carry off your children. lol

My avatar is not Lough Erne before some one ponts this out - but it could be

[simonsays]

The Cheviot hills. I once spent 3 days there wild camping and wandering wherever my feet took me. I didnt meet a living soul, might as well have been the last man alive.

It was great

Simon

[arctic hobo]

Hi
I guess it depends on your definition of 'wilderness' but Lough Erne in Fermanagh would get my vote - hundreds of forested islands, most uninhabited and a few in a 'natural state' (untouched by man for 50 or 60 years)
With my canoe and my tent there are few places I would rather be.
It looks a lot like parts of Canada, ok smalller and less remote but at least the mosquitos dont carry off your children. lol

My avatar is not Lough Erne before some one ponts this out - but it could be

Is that lower or upper Lough Erne? I've been to upper, was a lovely place

[Spacemonkey]

The Cheviot hills. I once spent 3 days there wild camping and wandering wherever my feet took me. I didnt meet a living soul, might as well have been the last man alive.

It was great

Simon

But is there anywhere Down South? I've yet to find anywhere solitary on Dartmoor, or Salisbury Plain (of course you're never far from a moving, armed bush in these ares.. ) but I've never been to Exmoor. On the map it looks too small with too many roads, surely? Where's the best place closest to the M25/M40 (Slough) area near west London?

[arctic hobo]

But is there anywhere Down South? I've yet to find anywhere solitary on Dartmoor, or Salisbury Plain (of course you're never far from a moving, armed bush in these ares.. ) but I've never been to Exmoor. On the map it looks too small with too many roads, surely? Where's the best place closest to the M25/M40 (Slough) area near west London?

Which parts of Dartmoor have you been to? And what was the weather like? Because I can assure you it can more than live up to its reputation for being a very creepy place indeed.

[Squidders]

But is there anywhere Down South? I've yet to find anywhere solitary on Dartmoor, or Salisbury Plain (of course you're never far from a moving, armed bush in these ares.. ) but I've never been to Exmoor. On the map it looks too small with too many roads, surely? Where's the best place closest to the M25/M40 (Slough) area near west London?

Short answer is nowhere... black park but there's loads of people there... virginia waters but again... loads of people.

In short, it's all rubbish in our area.

[Spacemonkey]

I'm currently scouting out regions of woodland in the Chilterns near the M40 at the mo'. Found a good little patch near the Wycombes, but it is small. There are a couple of spots where nobody seems to stray-not been disturbed so far-but it's far from ideal! However, there is a great range of flora and fauna. Yesterday I saw 4 roe deer, a buzzard whose there everytime (got very close this time), the usual common big/small rodents, and the first daylight fox I've seen for years.

Dartmoor. Yes I agree it can be creepy, but I've always encountered people there for most of the time. Ok, when the weather turns or daylight fades it does improve. Where abouts would you recommend? I must admit to not having explored much of the northern part, but I do prefer wooded areas. Where do you recommend? Would appreciate some pointers here!

[arctic hobo]

Dartmoor. Yes I agree it can be creepy, but I've always encountered people there for most of the time. Ok, when the weather turns or daylight fades it does improve. Where abouts would you recommend? I must admit to not having explored much of the northern part, but I do prefer wooded areas. Where do you recommend? Would appreciate some pointers here!

Where to start? The emptiest part (and probaby the scariest) is south of Princetown. There's one enormous hill, which I can't remember the name of, but it's so large it has the largest marsh of the moor across its flat top. You have very short visibility over most of it, and obviously when the mist comes down (most of the time!), and/or it's dark, it's nasty - not being able to see is not fun when you know that a step might take you six feet under (I've dropped up to my chest in pond-bogs there twice). Once we crossed this area completely and hit a road, where cars shot past at 60+ mph, and somehow we seemed even further from civilisation - it seemed like a place nobody would dare stop. Dripping wet and covered in mud and weed as we were, I don't think anybody would want to anyway!
That said, the moor north of Princetown, between there and Okehampton Camp, although much more full of people has it's fair share of creepiness. Try navigating a 30mi route across the moor, following a bearing and without taking off tors - if you're feeling daring, without looking at the map. You can get hopelessly lost, and very wet. Last time I did this I ended up in Cranmere pool (the wettest if not the largest marsh) surrounded by water on what seemed like four sides and in a heavy downpour... still, at least the mist had gone

[Neiltoo]

Is that lower or upper Lough Erne? I've been to upper, was a lovely place

Yes, I was talking about the upper lough - the lower lough is great too but once you get to the northern half of it, it can get a bit scary in a blow for a canoe. Ive seen 4 foot swells in only a moderately strong wind. Not my idea of fun in an open canoe!

[arctic hobo]

Yes, I was talking about the upper lough - the lower lough is great too but once you get to the northern half of it, it can get a bit scary in a blow for a canoe. Ive seen 4 foot swells in only a moderately strong wind. Not my idea of fun in an open canoe!

Exactly the reason I wasn't there! I too was travelling by canoe. It was a long time ago (well, I was 14), and I don't remember it awfully well, but isn't there a castle on a tiny island near the upper end? I seem to remember really wanting to live there! Don't know why but it really struck me as a beautiful place to be.Recommend it heartily to anyone thinking of going

[R-Bowskill]

Guess I'll have to go and pay my cousin a visit, she's recently moved to near Lough Earne with her partner for the fishing etc.

[Neiltoo]

Exactly the reason I wasn't there! I too was travelling by canoe. It was a long time ago (well, I was 14), and I don't remember it awfully well, but isn't there a castle on a tiny island near the upper end? I seem to remember really wanting to live there! Don't know why but it really struck me as a beautiful place to be.Recommend it heartily to anyone thinking of going

I think you are probably thinking of Devinish Island - its actually an old monestary but it has a tall round stone tower and does loook a bit like a castle. There are lots of ruins all around the lough and the history (which I've only just started to find out about) is fascinating.

[arctic hobo]

I think you are probably thinking of Devinish Island - its actually an old monestary but it has a tall round stone tower and does loook a bit like a castle. There are lots of ruins all around the lough and the history (which I've only just started to find out about) is fascinating.

With 2 quid Ryanair flights I think it's time I visited again