What to do in Princes Risborough, Bucks, if you are a hiker? Actually, quite a lot of things, everything considered. It might not come to mind as a place for outdoor activities, and it is a shame because you can find in Princes Risborough a camping site for a total immersion into nature, and learn some bushcraft basic skills. Here is a guide to an outdoor weekend getaway accessible from London by train.
You dream of a night outside staring at the stars, roasting marshmallows and snuggling into a blanket by a campfire… but there it is, you are a city dweller and you have no idea where to go or even how to set up a tent. I get you, I’ve been there too. So if you live in London, or near Buckinghamshire, here is the perfect one for your outdoor weekend.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated in any way with Alex UK Bushcraft and the below itinerary and review are based on my own experience. Of course, the itinerary of the weekend can be tailored to the activities and practices you want to do.
What to do in Princes Risborough: Day 1
Walking, camping, burgers on the BBQ, drinking mulled wine by a campfire and learning the basics of bushcraft, there is a lot to do in Princes Risborough.
Logistics
Where: Alex UK Bushcraft, Speen, Princes Risborough HP27 0RT
How to get there:
- By direct train from Marylebone to Princes Risborough and then a cab to the campsite
- By car. There is a car park at the entrance of the campsite
What to bring for the weekend:
- A backpack (40L minimum recommended)
- A sleeping bag (warm, very warm)
- Beanie for sleeping and when around the campfire
- Plate, bowl, mug and cutlery
- Some snacks (lunch, dinner and breakfast are included but you might want to bring some extra)
- Headlamp
- Warm and comfortable clothing
- Thermals if not for the day under your hiking outfit at least for the night
- Comfortable and waterproof pair of shoes
- Last but not least … alcohol!
Make sure you don’t forget anything and download my wild camping packing list
Additional Information: There is no running water but freshwater is available in jerry cans and there are composting toilets on site with toilet paper and hand sanitiser.
Arriving at Camp & Lunch
When you arrive you will be welcomed with a warm comforting lunch by the campfire. Soup and bread are always welcome when it is cold outside. Time to unpack and choose your hammock. All the hammocks with tarps are set up for you so that it takes the stress away. You get a demonstration of how to get into a hammock and the correct position to take to sleep in a hammock (it is not that intuitive).
Tip: Put your backpack on the ground underneath the hammock and never next to it as if it rains the water will drop from the tarp onto your backpack.
Initiation to Bushcraft
Once you are all set, head to the campfire for an initiation to bushcraft.
But what is bushcraft?
It is learning the skills to survive in the wilderness and be able to satisfy the human being basic needs which are food, water, fire and shelter.
During the training course, you will learn how to start a fire with a flint and steel kit and then with a flint steel striker and stone. You can use cotton or dried mushrooms to catch the spark and then put it in hay mass. Blow on it until the hay starts burning. And there you go, you started a fire!
Afternoon Walk
Once the bushcraft class is over, it is time to hit the trails to stretch your legs. I highly recommend going to Princes Risborough during the autumn season for the amazing leaves’ colours. Follow your guide for a stroll in Monkton Woods. As you walk in the forest, you get to learn about the different species of trees and types of mushrooms you can find. The walk is fairly easy and lasts less than an hour. This was also because the sun goes down early so you need to be back at the camp before sundown.
Related Content: Wendover to Princes Risborough Walk
Diner
Ever had mulled wine made on a campfire? If the answer is no, then this is the perfect place and time to try it. A pan of mulled wine on the grid over the campfire, burgers cooking on the BBQ and potatoes getting warm in a Dutch oven: here is the perfect recipe for the perfect “night out“.
As the evening goes on, the burgers make a place for the marshmallows, a MUST if you are going camping. Put them on a stick, roast them above the fire, eat them straight off the stick, or be more American and make a S’More out of it. The choice is yours!
Headlight on, you can venture yourself away from the main tent where the campfire is and go for a night walk around the campsite. It is the perfect time if you are like pulling some prank on your friends. As soon as you get away from the light of the fire, you can gaze at the stars.
If you were looking for ideas for Halloween next year: full moon, forest and campfire, I’ve got what you need!
What to do in Princes Risborough: Day 2
If you survive the night in the cold and the wilderness (and trust me you will), welcome to day 2!
Breakfast
Hopefully, you returned to the hammock and managed to get into your sleeping bag without falling on the ground. If everything went according to plan, you have spent the night sleeping outside in your thermals, comfortably snuggled into your sleeping bag with your beanie down on your face to protect it from the cold.
So you will be rewarded! When morning comes, you can admire the ground fog on the fields as you wake up. Make your way to the main tent for a warm cup of coffee brewed on the fire. You will be served a breakfast made of sausages and bacon on the BQQ and eggs cooked over the fire. Help yourself with some bread and make your breakfast sandwich.
Breaking Camp
Sadly, it is already time to pack up and clean up. Any good hiker and camper know the rule: Leave No Trace. The same applies here: cleaning plates and other cutlery, cleaning the table and then put the leftovers away, packing your backpack and re-packing your sleeping bag (that is definitely the worse). The good news is that you do not need to take down the hammock and the tarp, Alex, your host, will do that for you.
It is time to say goodbye to the forest, your guide and maybe some new friends you made around the campfire the night before and make your way back to the train station. For my side, we were lucky enough to find a kind soul with a car to drop us back, but you can also order a taxi.
There are not many trains going to London on Sundays from Princes Risborough station, so check the timetable before leaving the camp. You don’t want to be waiting too long freezing on the platform.
Final Thoughts about What to Do in Princes Risborough
This is a great way to spend a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Whether you are looking for a turn-key camping experience during the summer or improving your bushcraft skills, whatever you are into, I highly recommend you take a look at AlexUKBushcraft and the list of activities, walks and services. You can book online at www.alexukbushcraft.com.
And you, what is your favourite place for camping? Let me know in the comments below.
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