Wild camping trip to Exmoor

I really love my wild trips to Exmoor…

I love wild camping with a backpack, I did it once with a guy I dated up in the Wye Valley - stunning area, and loved it and definitely want to do it again, but, I need to be kitted out a bit better, as the backpack I had wasn’t fitting well and a well fitted backpack, really does make a huge difference!

Anyway, for now, I love driving my Defender and sleeping in the back of it, I guess as a women, one does feel slightly safer in a locked vehicle, with the keys in the ignition, ready to bomb it, if the need arose to bomb it around Exmoor… not that you would probably need to in these sorts of places, but the option is there (safety comes first right! ;-) better to be prepared and all that…). But, really each time I do wild camp the safer I feel, the mind/ego just needs to know it’s safe.
It’s a funny thing, because some people think it’s totally awesome that I do this and some people’s reaction is of such shock that I would put myself in such “dangerous places”. I mean really…?! It’s mother nature, I have found humans to cause me more harm that nature… A life not lived is more dangerous!

So, the other week, I ventured down there as it’s not too far from me, plus I tend to take it slow and do the country lanes, taking my time, soaking up the scenery, greenery and peacefulness. Plus, I just love trundling along in the Landie at a slow pace, windows down, doing a bit of green-laning and driving through the odd Ford! Such fun! 38 going on 8, splashing through rivers and puddles with a beast of a machine, it’s a long way from wellington boots and splashing in puddles; which I still find myself doing even now and walking up or through rivers - such fun too! I mean… why would you not?!
Honestly, there is so much fun to be had in nature, if only one just let’s oneself, she has so much to offer, if we just take a moment, breathe and allow, we all have that inner child waiting to have fun and be unleashed into fits of giggles. Because, guess what? We are ALLOWED to have fun and be silly, which as a woman is frowned upon, but not me, not anymore! Such conditioning of how adults should and shouldn’t behave… I remember thinking years ago, in my, let’s call it “disconnected decade”, that being silly was futile, that I would be judged, rejected and that having fun wasn’t “respectable” behaviour… Well, when in Rome I say! I LOVE being silly and goofing around, it feels unbelievably freeing, joyous and what life is all about. Having those moments of freedom of self of just BEING oneself.

So, I just did one night as, despite it being JUNE! The temps got down to 6C I think, and the sleeping bag I had did not keep me warm, even though it said it would… I even had thermals on, thick ones! So, alas, it was still a wonderful, soulful 36hrs. I ventured down Somerset, over the Quantocks, skirted the Brendons, through Wheddon Cross and up through Exford. Got to the top and took a nap (as you do, on your day off), driving can be quite tiring for a High Senory Empath type person like myself, plus science is backing up 20-30mins during the day, really is like a power nap - highly recommend it!

I then drove on more and just really trusted my intuition this trip, I didn’t make plans or study the OS map, which I do love to do, I just wanted to flow this time.
I remember the first few trips I had anxiety for company… It certainly tainted the experience a bit, even if it was fulfilling on a soul level. However, each time I go, the anxiety dissipates nicely and this time, none! Hoorah!
So, I thought I would pop along the A39, then took a left and low and behold, there was a Ford! What a delight, so of course I had to drive through it (I really do need to upload the evidence onto my IG). I then decided it was time for walkies, and so I walked along the river and it was delightful, felt like I had gone back in time or entered into another world. There was moss over all the trees and just had a lovely ancient atmosphere. I then jumped back in and drove further on, to find out I had entered the Lorna Doone valley! What a treat, I had always fancied exploring there and here I was! Then there was a second Ford, so that was a great day for me, some serious inner child fun was being had.
I then drove for a bit, back up the top and back on the A39, it was time to head to my spot for the night and have some dinner.
I went to sleep, well, sleep did not want to come that night as it was too cold for me, but the morning view was worth it, the peacefulness, the calmness. That Aaah… moment when life hasn’t woken up yet and it’s blissful to be alive.
I then treated myself to a coffee and pastry in one of the local cafes in Porlock and had a local walkabouts, I jumped back in and headed to Bossington, oh I do love Bossington! The cottages are just incredible there, it really is like peaking into the past there, so English, so quaint and the weather was perfect, sunny and a coolness in the air. I wanted to head up, so I took the direct path up to the top of Bossington Hill and took in the stunning views at the top - just wow. I sat and had some lunch, then decided to head down again, where I came across some locals! Although, these were quite hairy and of the four-legged kind - cows. Thankfully, they just looked at me and carried on drinking from the river.
I really fancied an ice cream but it was too late, the cafe had closed, so I just popped my feet into the river to cool down and decided I needed another rest on the green before heading home early evening. There really is something to be said for just resting on the grass in the countryside, just being, listening to birds and watching the leaves flutter with the sunshine beaming down, cleansing you, just resting the body and mind.

So, that’s this trip in a nutshell… I hope to do more at some point, when my schedule allows, however my trips to Gloucestershire for cat/house sitting fill my craving to explore. One of my Archetypes is Explorer, so it makes sense to feed this aspect of me and why I feel SO good after going on these adventures.

What aspect of you are you denying? What needs some attention or feeding? Can you bring more inner child fun into your life?
Have a play - literally, with some ideas that can bring some laughter and silliness to your day, allowing more joy in.

Until next time!

Much love

Elisha 💖