Does Anyone Like Stealth Camping?

[SlimJim]

For those that don't know what it is here's a generic definition - "Camping out of sight on land not designated as a campsite, especially on land not used for habitation, agriculture etc".

It ranges from secretly camping out in the middle of the woods to nesting down in urban areas for the night. It's very popular among bicycle tourers, lightweight backpackers and bushcrafters (not that they'd admit it). I'm just preparing a few bits ready to do it in remote areas this summer.

Wondering if anyone has spent the night at any urbex sites or is into it?

 

[MrDan]

I believe one or two have, I know some have in Europe.
I've not got round to it yet, but am sure the time will come.

 

[cogito]

I've slept wild both in rural and urban places more times than I can remember! I've slept in castles, palaces, power stations, metro systems and even an unfinished hotel that had a couple of show rooms ready (including mini bar and working tv.)

It's great fun

 

[flyboys90]

I,ve slept in a few mostly old farmhouses they all smelt of soot funny enough,still great fun.

 

[Derek]

It's how I take my holidays or visit anywhere away from home. I resent the idea of using camp site and hotels, anyway I'm not rich enough for hotels.

Derek

 

[AgentTintin]

Not yet however I am thinking it may be necessary to get into a very well secured asylum soon with 24 hour security etc

 

[Richard Davies]

I remember reading about someone staying overnight at Cane Hill before it was pulled down, I'm not sure if they got much sleep!

 

[cogito]

I remember reading about someone staying overnight at Cane Hill before it was pulled down, I'm not sure if they got much sleep!

A few of us slept in the old beds in West Park on one of the north east wards before that was pulled down too, pretty comfy!

 

[Dirus_Strictus]

Give something, that man has been doing since he ventured out of his cave and walked off down the valley, a fancy name and suddenly it's the latest craze. From 1968 to 79 it's how my future wife and two friends managed to travel all around Europe and North Africa during our annual holidays. It was the only way we could have afforded to see all those places. Slept in old buildings, but not with Urbex in mind as we did not think wandering over old ruins anything special - there were still plenty of wartime derelict sites around when we were kids, so did not see anything special in old fortifications etc.

 

[krela]

Practically everyone I know has spent a birthday, or at least a night in one of the many Bath Stone mines around Bath and Corsham.

I suspect most people who get around the country a lot have done it a few times or more, or at least slept in the car. We're not all rich!

It's a bit of a bizarre question if you ask me, there's no such thing as stealth camping... just sleeping in places you're probably not meant to, or that aren't conventional.

I was always under the impression that camping was what you do in a tent, in a field somewhere. You only pay for a camping site if you want the toilet, shower and bar to go with it.

Do long haul truckers stealth camp?

Daft.

 

[SlimJim]

Give something, that man has been doing since he ventured out of his cave and walked off down the valley, a fancy name and suddenly it's the latest craze. From 1968 to 79 it's how my future wife and two friends managed to travel all around Europe and North Africa during our annual holidays. It was the only way we could have afforded to see all those places. Slept in old buildings, but not with Urbex in mind as we did not think wandering over old ruins anything special - there were still plenty of wartime derelict sites around when we were kids, so did not see anything special in old fortifications etc.

I wouldn't say it's a craze now, just a name put to something previously unlabeled.

 

[krela]

I wouldn't say it's a craze now, just a name put to something previously unlabeled.

I've always known it as bivvying... it's always been labeled... But hey. I guess it depends which circles you move in and how trendy you want to be.

 

[SlimJim]

I've always known it as bivvying... it's always been labeled... But hey. I guess it depends which circles you move in and how trendy you want to be.

You've jolted my memory...ROUGH CAMPING!

 

[krela]

It is really only in the last 10-15 years that it's died out and become a new fangled trendy thing. From where I come from, up until the mid - late 90s it was a fairly standard past-time. But then again the South West is the land of the travellers and crusties so maybe that's why?! lol.

 

[possessed]

I heard about a guy who camped for 6 weeks in Grain Tower Battery. I've heard other examples of people camping in derelict buildings and exploring the building during sunrise- something I hope to do one day!

 

[SlimJim]

I heard about a guy who camped for 6 weeks in Grain Tower Battery. I've heard other examples of people camping in derelict buildings and exploring the building during sunrise- something I hope to do one day!

6 weeks! Sod that! I only know that Bradley Garrett dude did it.

 

[krela]

I heard about a guy who camped for 6 weeks in Grain Tower Battery. I've heard other examples of people camping in derelict buildings and exploring the building during sunrise- something I hope to do one day!

6 weeks? At what point does camping out become squatting? lol.

I think the grain tower battery and others have been a "target" for campers/squatters for a long time, along with the martello towers. What with the history of pirate radio etc. Didn't someone squat and try and declare the martello towers an independent state once recently?

 

[oldscrote]

6 weeks? At what point does camping out become squatting? lol.

I think the grain tower battery and others have been a "target" for campers/squatters for a long time, along with the martello towers. What with the history of pirate radio etc. Didn't someone squat and try and declare the martello towers an independent state once recently?

I believe this is what you are thinking of

http://www.sealandgov.org/

 

[krela]

I believe this is what you are thinking of

http://www.sealandgov.org/

Aaah yes that's the one.

 

[SlimJim]

I think that geezer is in Spain now. Knock John is empty, not to mention thoroughly coated in about an inch of guano.