The self-named ‘Supertramp’ takes his three sons wild camping because he can’t stand city-life.
Wild camping in the middle of nowhere with a eight, 10 and 12 year-old doesn’t sound like a relaxing weekend activity for many people. But for Craig Whittenbury, it is the only way he can relax.
Naming himself after watching ‘Into the Wild.’ A film about Christopher McCandless who renamed as ‘Alexander Supertramp’ when he hitchhiked across America and into Alaska to live in the wild.
Craig is a single father with three sons, an outdoor fencer from Oxford. Having previously lived as a nomad for most of his life, being settled in one place comes with its complications for Craig.
He explained: “I travelled over 246 cities and 719 places for work which meant over 50,000 miles in one year when I was working as a sub-contractor.
“It suited me down to the ground. I enjoyed living as a nomad because I love the freedom of exploring the country and finding hidden gems in nature”.
Having been homeless at 16 years old, Craig travelled the country from a young age from shelter to shelter.
He was therefore comfortable without the stability of a home and became equipped with strong survival skills.
He joined the army cadets for five years before having kids. Here, he fell in love with wild camping and foraging in the great outdoors during this time.
Wild Camping
Wild camping refers to camping in remote or undeveloped areas instead of campgrounds. It’s often done in forests, mountains or remote beaches where there are no manmade facilities such as toilets or showers.
“I was housed a few years ago for my kids and after 18 months I had a mental breakdown because it was affecting my mental health,” Craig explained.
“I’m no good indoors and I looked at my possessions like they owned me”.
He began taking his kids out with him wild camping to escape into the great outdoors.
As an experienced camper, Craig travels light with only a tarpaulin, sleeping bags and roll matts, giving his children an ‘outdoor education’ which they enjoy.
Craig explained: “Wild camping is the only way I can relax, being on the trail for three or four days, with as little gear as possible, only the basics”.
Hatred for City Life
Craig is thankful to live in Oxford, a place with fantastic access to the outdoors, he explained his relationship with the outdoors…
“I would never go back to a city – definitely not – I am in a small town surrounded by countryside and that’s the only way I could do it,” he said.
“When, I looked over the embankment in London and thought it is my hell, I remember it was all in neon.”
In total Craig has spent 30 years wild camping now, he recommends anyone to get outdoors into nature and wild camp.
He said: “Nature is so good for mental health and most people don’t know that you can wild camp.
“As long as you’re tidy and respectful, if leave a spot how you found it you’ll be fine”.
Bad Experiences
However, wild camping has came with a few bad or unlucky experiences for Craig.
From trees falling over during storms close to camp, to uninvited guests walking through his campsite and life threatening experiences…
He said: “I had Hypothermia a few times, I fell in a frozen river in an icy field one night and was soaked.
“I was so cold, and had to strip off in my tent and do push ups all night just to keep the blood pumping. I couldn’t wait to see the sun.”
Craig still recommends anyone to get outdoors and wild camp. He shares his foraging and survival tips on his TikTok @wildforagerUK which has amassed over 72,000 followers.
So, while we do recommend wild camping it can be dangerous if you are not clued up, research extensively online and go with company.
For first timers it is also highly recommended starting somewhere with signal in case of emergency.
