The Power of a Night Alone

Holly heads out for a solo night near Malham Tarn and finds exactly what she was looking for...

Holly is one of our long-standing members and has spent time across a huge number of Wild Spaces. When we heard about her most recent trip to Wild Space Clint & Gryke, we were blown away by her experience.

Here it is, in her own words.

On a Friday night in March up in the hills near Malham Tarn, I stayed at the Clint & Gryke Wild Space, just me and my tent. The excitement for these adventures always starts with packing: what do I need to survive the night, what will the weather be like, what snacks can I take? I love looking for wild spaces that are a bit more remote, they often take a bit more effort to get there but they’re always worth it.

Sunset Camping

I knew I was taking my winter loadout as soon as the forecast said sleet and high winds but that just added to the sense of adventure. As soon as I finished work on Friday, I was on the road and heading to Malham, which is only a 90-minute drive from Leeds where I live and work. The drive is lovely; through hills and old villages with stone walls and single lanes, almost like travelling back in time.

The hike to the wild space is reasonably short and a straightforward route to follow, which meant I could get set up in time for sunset. I found the perfect pitch overlooking a valley with the sound of the wind and a rushing river below. Once pitched I could hear birds chirping and saw some sheep settling down on the other side of the valley as the light faded.

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There’s nothing better than being comfortable in your tent, out of the elements, eating a hot meal and having a warm drink with nothing to do but relax, no pressure or responsibilities. I love using the dark winter hours to finish reading books that I never seem to have the time to otherwise. Once I’d got into some warm clothes and into my sleeping bag, I heard snow gently falling onto the tent whilst I drifted off to sleep. My favourite part of sleeping outside is waking up naturally with the light slowing filtering through the tent; I didn’t know what time it was, but I felt well rested and refreshed. The best part about booking a wild space is knowing that there was no need for me to rush off; I could have a slow morning sipping coffee in the crisp air and enjoying the beautiful sunrise coming up over the hills with the sound of the dawn chorus.

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There is something empowering about relying solely on yourself and your gear to thrive in the wild. Packing up, leaving no trace, and hiking back to the car, I felt a sense of

accomplishment. In less than 24 hours, I had completely reset. I’m so grateful for CampWild making these wild, rejuvenating escapes entirely possible. There’s something deeply restorative about getting out in nature, especially by yourself. It’s a chance to switch off, unwind, and find a bit of peace. Whenever I book my next adventure with CampWild, I know I’m guaranteed an exclusive, beautiful wild space, and best of all it’s with permission, so there’s no worry of me being asked to move on in the middle of the night.

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