WILD CAMPING. 

Overnight camps are held in Shining Cliff Woods, a ten minute drive from Wirksworth. 

Wild camping is offered as an option when booking the minimum of a half day, three hour activity. We recommend a full day of instruction.

Parking is at the wood margins or at a small car park deep in the wood. Maximum of 4 vehicles. It is a 10 to 15 minutes walk to the camping and fire pit areas. 

We provide a trolley and wheel barrow to transport the gear. Carry your personal stuff in a rucksack. 

At the camping area you will build your shelters, sort out the toilets,  light a fire, boil a kettle and cook. That's it Wild Camping. 

As the woods are a Site of Special Scientific interest it is not allowed to collect firewood. We can provide you with some

Bivouac, build a shelter to sleep under or bring small back packing tents  and any other equipment. 

Row doesn't  stay overnight but will return the next day to supervise packing away. 

                                                                FIRES.                   

The following pictures show some of the fire lighting methods and shelters.

Lighting a fire with a magnesium rod and shavings. 

A metal fire striker, flint and some  charpunk wood. 

The bow and drill, friction method. 

The glowing ash after it has been transferred to a 'nest' of tinder, all natural and gathered from the local area.

                                      SHELTERS.

Build your own bivvies using tarpaulins and ropes that are provided.  

A simple but very effective military 'basha' style shelter. We provide the sheets.

 Bring along your own tents and equipment if you want. 

                                             TOILETS.

There are no mains toilets in the woods. We provide chemical loos or the traditional pit or hole in the ground. 

                                              WATER.

No mains water. We provide full water containers. Use the water responsibly. Get a bucket of water from the stream or lake for fire safety purposes. 

                                       FIREWOOD.

Firewood is provided for half day activities. Over night campers will need extra supplies. 

DON'T BURN FALLEN, DEAD TIMBER OR CUT DOWN ANY TREES. 

The woods are a SSSI, a site of special scientific interest. 

                                      OPEN All YEAR ROUND. 

Whatever the time of year you have the chance to get away from it all with a four season sleeping bag, carry mat or camping mattress,.  A bivvy bag would be great but not essential. They are about £10 to buy your own.  With the right outdoor gear and your own fire it's adventure time. 

 We do not provide sleeping bags. Bring your own. 

                                           THE END OF THE DAY.

Time to enjoy the evening round the campfire. This group enjoyed some woodland based arts and crafts. Brought their own tents but also learnt some bushcraft skills. Next visit they are going wild. 

Row doesn't stay overnight. He will return the next day to help clear up. 

                           CAMPFIRE COOKING. 

One of the obvious highlights is going to be your food. The adventure camps are 'self catering.' You bring your own food. This reduces the costs of the camps and you make sure you eat exactly what you want

              CORDON BLEAU CAMPFIRE COOKING. 

Row can help you learn to cook something special, not your traditional burgers and sausage cobs. We don't do 'Bush Tucker' or 'Catch and Kill.' 

Wildwood adventure camps believe in eating healthy foods. We believe in 'clean' eating with an emphasis of fresh local ingredients.

We do Cordon Bleau! Menus are chosen to suit.  Row has travelled extensively . There is a 'fusion Asian' style to his recipes. Try Vietnamese noodle soup, Coconut curry with pak choi and pork, Duck with strawberry. Then there are vegetarian options. All you have to do is ask.

Typical cost £15 for two courses.

                            FIRE PITS AND BAR-B-CUES.

There are three fire pits in the woods. These have seating areas and are impressive. Because of the dry weather there is a danger of fires breaking out. Much of the forest floor is deep peat, fires can only be built in those fire pits.

Bar-b-cues are allowed but must be raised off the ground and tended very carefully.

Always have a bucket of water nearby, use the  fire gloves and don't chop or saw wood in the dark. Get all your fuel ready in the daylight. Don't try to break long lengths of wood by kicking or jumping on it.

The woodland toolbox will not be available overnight. You will be unsupervised and responsible for your own safety.

It's best to have one person who stays sober and is in charge of the fire! 

Bring your tents and equipment. Do your own thing. Arrange with Row for whatever activities you want him to cover.

                                 ADVENTURE PLAY.

Climb trees, splash in the streams, build dams, play hide and seek, explore the woods, scramble in the quarries. Endless opportunities.