Finding a New Angle: Wild Camping in the Lake District

Armed with my little trowel – which of course had to be bright orange, why even bother being subtle about it – I made my way up a hill just behind our campsite while the rest of the group were still in their tents, …prime time to take care of mother nature.

Coming out of my little hiding spot, I made my way up a bit further to have another look at our camp and feel once more the sense of achievement that filled me the night before knowing that we all managed to put roofs over our heads, something that turned out to be much easier than expected. Taking in the landscape around me, my glance fell on the valley next to us which was covered in a thick white layer of clouds. It looked rather magical and provided a breath-taking contrast to the mirror-like surface of Angle Tarn, the lake we camped next to. I stood there for a moment, the sun warming my face, taking in the view and felt completely at ease. 

In contrast to the first day which was full of worries about the gear, wondering if everything will fit into my bag, then carrying it all the way up the hills while hoping to get on well with the group and not being too daft when getting navigation lessons – we made it to the campsite, so I guess I did okay – having that moment of just gazing into the morning sun made all those worries melt away and set the scene for the rest of the trip which turned into a humble reminder of what’s really important in life, and most importantly, that we’re all in it together.

Without wanting to sound like a little self-help book, that weekend in the Lake District was a bit of a pivotal point for me in 2020 as it highlighted how important it is to live in the moment and appreciate the things around you even when circumstances are not ideal, something a lot of us talk about but hardly ever do. In addition to that, I think it made all of us realise how few things you actually need to have a good time and how irrelevant some of our daily worries are in the grand scheme of things.

Having returned to civilisation quite a while ago now, I noticed how easy it would be to slip back into old ways, we’re all human after all. But knowing now how to get myself out there, how to be fully self-sufficient which in itself is a truly liberating experience, I’m planning on keeping that moment alive, …trowel and all. So, I hope to see you out there one day!

When was I there? 14-16 August 2020