Escape to the country with Wild Camping

Wild camping is definitely not everyone’s choice for a perfect holiday. No amenities close at hand, often in the middle of a wilderness. Not a coffee shop or restaurant in sight. And then there is the toiletry question…

However, while a large number of people may baulk at the idea of pitching a tent in the middle of nowhere, for others it is an ideal opportunity to switch off from the pressure cooker environment of modern life.

Taking camping to the next level

While regular camping is taking a step away from the office, the town and the city, wild camping is the next level. It is the chance to escape the communal camp site, the caravan park; the on-site entertainment.

Of all the ways to lose yourself and reconnect with nature, hiking all day and then pitching a tent in a remote corner of the country and taking in the solitude and silence is the ultimate experience. 

By leaving the noise and demands of your daily life behind, you are actually living in the moment. Everything is about what is happening now, including taking in the beauty of the natural world, appreciating the sights, sounds and smells of nature and experiencing the frisson of fear – after all, you are all alone. 

Rediscover life’s natural rhythm

One of the big benefits of wild camping is that it gives your body a chance to reset your circadian rhythm. This is our body’s natural cycle of sleep and wakefulness but it is one that is seriously disrupted by modern lifestyles. Just a few days of spending nights sleeping under the stars and waking with the sunrise is a powerful way to bring your body back into harmony with nature. 

Another benefit is that wild camping inevitably means you are leading an active lifestyle. The very act of camping involves physical activity. You are very likely to be spending your days hiking, cycling or wild swimming while you are out in the wilderness. Exercising outside is believed to make us feel better than exercising indoors and the impact on our emotional state is likely to be very positive. 

Being alone in nature frees you from the expectations – real or imagined – of other people. You don’t have to act a certain way or worry about what anyone is thinking. This can be a profoundly relaxing and liberating experience. Your brain is given a rare chance to rest and heal itself because it is very hard to do this with other people around, telling you all of the time what to think and feel.

Wild camping in West Norfolk

The good news is that Wild Camping is available via Rookery Farm’s sister company in East Winch, near King’s Lynn. Operating under the Wild By Consent business, the wild camp sites offer all the above benefits and more. Two sites exist on the working farm. One is next to a beautiful reservoir that is positively humming with wildlife. The other is situated in a quarry that has been returned to nature. While the elusive water rail darts among the reeds of the reservoir, the quarry resonates to the song of the Nightingale.

And if Wild Camping is just a step too far, there is also the option of our small and exclusive camp site at West Beckham. The Caravan and Campsite at Rookery Farm is small, intimate and basic. We don’t offer huge shower blocks or an on-site convenience store; what we offer is the chance to re-acquaint yourselves with nature.

The site is on the edge of a working farm, with lovely views across fields and open countryside. There are miles and miles of signposted walks around both the farm and the local area. There is a play area for children, hewn out of wood and perfect for the kids to burn off energy.

So, whether you are up for the challenge of solitary living in the heart of nature or whether you just fancy a quiet stay at a small and secluded camp site, Rookery Farm has all bases covered.