By: Blonde Two
On Saturday night, the Two Blondes found themselves in the middle of an exciting bit of investigation and law enforcement. We had found a man for the night (see previous blog post on why we needed one http://wp.me/p2OiIR-oH) – we shall call him “Blackbeard” – and the three of us had decided that the youngsters were ready for a bit of independent time at the campsite. This meant that we could treat ourselves to a meal up at the Forest Inn (lovely meal, unusual carpet).
As we had all had a long walk on a hot, sweaty day and we were all craving water rather than beer (strange what Dartmoor can do to you), we elected to drive up the road. At Hexworthy Bridge it was evident that a group were setting up camp on the lovely little patch of grass by the river. You are going to have to forgive me from hereon in for sounding officious and indignant but I do have tendencies in that direction, I inherited them from my mum who writes a most excellent indignant letter. If it had been a little two person tent, I think we might have all ignored it but this was a huge six person tent, five cars, barbecue and pop-up tent affair which filled most of the area.
We went to the pub, had our meal, drank pints of water (there is photographic evidence of this) but it became clear that Blackbeard was so bothered by the Hexworthy invasion that he was going to have to stop and say something on the way back down. He got out of the car while Blonde One and I indicated our support by winding down the windows so that we could listen – so brave! To be fair, I think the group’s presence was more down to a misunderstanding of the concept of wild camping than any lack of care, they listened while Blackbeard quoted the “100 metres from road or houses” by-law at them and while he told them that there was a campsite up the road and that he thought they would be moved on before the end of the night. Once they worked out that he wasn’t a Dartmoor Ranger, they even offered him a beer.
We went back to the campsite, failed to find a contact number for a ranger but managed to get enough data access to post a comment on Twitter. Then something really weird happened – I am sure that it was nothing to do with us or silly campers but a helicopter appeared, hovered around the general area for a minute or two and then flew off. Now there have been a couple of times in my life when I have been really pleased to see helicopters but you can guarantee that this one would have put the wind up the naughty campers a bit.
Sure enough, when Blackbeard donned his “ninja” outfit later on and went down to investigate, the group had moved to the campsite. He returned early the next morning and picked up their litter (including dog mess in a bag) and left it on their cars with a polite note for each one.
The fact that you are allowed to wild camp on Dartmoor is becoming more well known – in many ways thanks to social media. How exactly you are supposed to do it is maybe something that we all need to think about publicising more.
Hi ladies, well done unfortunately I believe that this is now becoming a huge problem in The Lake District where I dont think its legal to wild camp. In fact probably best not even to refer to it as “Wild Camping” but as “Illegal camping”.
Maybe the National Park Authority should advise us on the correct procedure as I normally travel alone I really dont want to get into a confrontational situation whilst I’m supposed to be relaxing.
So frustrating Jon. I think in most places Wild Camping is tolerated if people are discrete and responsible. Unfortunately these people will ruin it for all the responsible walkers/ explorers/wild campers around. Makes me angry!
WELL DONE Blackbeard! These things wreck it for all those who use the hills and moors with care and sensitivity.
Hi Jon. It’s a tricky one. Had the Two Blondes been on our own we would probably not have said anything to the campers. Even with ‘Blackbeard’ we hesitated in case the campers were (alcohol fuelled) feisty. Sad to hear that the Lakes are suffering the same fate.
As I mentioned in my comment we had some muppets at our campsite. Hubby said why didn’t I get up and say something, but I thought they may be rather alcohol fuelled too by 3 in the morning so didn’t fancy the confrontation. Maybe we could borrow Blackbeard next time we go away???
Well done Blackbeard!!!! God, I would have been muttering away about the rules of wild camping and moaning about it for days but I would never have confronted them – big pat on the back. They are probably the same lot we saw last year setting up camp in the car park somewhere between Dunnabridge and Dartmoor Training Centre turn off. A huge monster of a tent – no attempt at being discrete. Just more of this “look at me, here I am doing whatever I want to do and not giving a stuff about anyone else” attitude. Grrr, makes me cross!!!!
Hope they did think the helicopter was watching them and pooped their pants!!!
And then the nerve to leave litter – grrr!!!!
We named a group at our campsite “The Ferral’s” after a number of crumble moments. Their kids (only about 2, 3 and 4) were left to run wild and we had one who thought it was great fun to run in and out of our awning – grrrrr! Then they left their dog to wander around the site (rules state they must be on leads) and it came and pooed on out pitch (we did moan to them about this one), they had a barbeque and fire and left burn marks all over the ground despite the rules to raise barbeques off the ground and no fires, then the whole music til 3:20 in the morning thing (rules state quiet between 10pm and 8am).
We tend to find Bank Holidays brings them all out. A couple of years ago camping in Salcombe a women had to be taken away by the police at 2:30 in the morning because of the disturbance she was causing – usually a lovely peaceful site!
A wild camp next bank holiday I think!!!
NEVER camp in the lakes on August Bank Holiday….typical of our experience is 6 young adults camped yards away playing music all night drinking and jacking up with heroin while we tried to sleep. I did remonstrate but the situation was untenable..we left in the morning. Police had attended the site but there were too many similar problems around the site for them to cope with…..and this was a National Trust site….I hate to think what the one we’d moved from earlier in the week was like!
What a sad sign of the times. I think this is what the group we were camped by this weekend were up to although I like to think not since there were several small children with them.
I think we have realised our mistake and probably won’t take a group up to Dartmoor again on a bank holiday. Being in the cow field saved us from disturbance (lovely lady at Huccaby’s suggestion) but the cars on our road section were quite an issue. Some were lovely and careful but others clearly didn’t think or care. Such a shame – at least we know that the youngsters we were walking with will grow up to take care and look after their environment.