Solo Bikepacking in Hamsterley Forest | Wild Camping No Signal, Pure Solitude

In this solo bikepacking adventure, I take on a remote 2-day journey through the wild landscapes of the North Pennines surrounding Hamsterley Forest, crossing the rugged terrain of Pikestone Fell, Doctor’s Gate and Langleydale.

My goal was simple: to find solitude—true aloneness in nature, disconnected from the world. Armed with my Ordnance Survey map, I followed ancient trails that eventually vanished, leaving me lost in an endless sea of coarse heather. With no signal and no one in sight for hours, I carried my bike on foot across harsh moorland, determined to reconnect with the path—and myself.

Along the way, the only signs of life were sheep, curlews, and black grouse. The terrain was brutal and slow-going, but the experience was deeply rewarding. After hours of effort, I reached Hamsterley Forest, where I filtered water from a stream and found a place to wild camp under the stars—completely off-grid with no phone reception.

🧭 Video Highlights:

· Solo bikepacking trip through remote North East England
· Trail disappears on in a remote area having to rely on map reading skills
· Wild moorlands, wildlife encounters, and total isolation
· Wild camping in Hamsterley Forest under the stars
· No phone, no signal, just nature and silence
· Off-grid mental health escape

#bikepacking #wildcamping #northumberland #getoutside #mentalhealthjourney #cyclingadventure #bikelife

Music credited below:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/moving-ahead
License code: UTLSKQLSVFISKMAE

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/zimpzon/mountains
License code: GDE6O4BBFDIBZCBK

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/adi-goldstein/hearts-of-fire
License code: QOB3QXEK7JKIWHPX

[Music] Hey, hey, back out on me bike again on a solo bike packing trip overnighter in an area that I’m completely unfamiliar with. A place called Hamsterly Forest, which is in um County Durham. I think it’s the the largest forest in uh the county. So, I’m going to be exploring some trails up here. I’ve got uh I’ve plotted a route on the ordinance survey map, but I’m not uh rigidly sticking to it. I’m trying to take in some lesser known trails. Um ones that aren’t really known about, natural trails, that’s what I’m looking for. Anyway, there’s trails everywhere. Like, so the trail I had plotted goes up here. This is the kind of place I could spend a lot of time exploring. Mine. I think I might have to come back here again. It’s really quiet as well. I think I’ve seen one person. Well, I’ve been claiming for the last 10, 15 [Applause] minutes. Didn’t think it would be a flat route. [Applause] Like I think it’s going to be one of those kind of roots that’s just amazing scenery, amazing riding riding. But uh slow, which is good for me. I want to take my time. Wow, what a hell of a climb [Applause] this. I’m enjoying it, though. You know what? I’d be surprised if I can’t find a bivy spot around here, but you never know. You look a bit too close together, them trees for me. Anyway, I want to get uh further out into the into the wild, out in the sticks. How nice is it around here, man? I’m loving it. I can’t believe I’ve only been here once years ago. I don’t think it was this bit. Let’s hope I find a decent bivy spot, though. Got me water filter. Got me um me camping meal, different flavor and some sonnies. Yeah, I don’t change, do I? I might surprise you. I might surprise you. Have a guess the flavor of me sandwiches. Right. Which way is it? Oh, views everywhere. Is it this way? Is it this way? Let’s have a look. Still going uphill. Makes it looks very gnarly. Looks like I might not be uh laughing in a minute. Looks like a potential hiker bike. See how much I can ride. I don’t know how I’m doing this. And we’ve got a clue. the amount of concentration it takes. You know, if I got off and pushed, I probably would have been quicker. I like the challenge. I think it’s uh leveling out a bit now. Just a massive climb for the last 45 minutes. Very slow. I enjoyed it though. But I got what I wanted. I’m literally out in the sticks and really high up in the complete middle of nowhere. I can see where I am on the map. So, I’m not lost. Um, but if you have a look at that, look at look at this. I mean, how remote and barren can you get? I’m heading straight on along the gnarly trail. [Music] If you don’t speak, you can hear it. Cuckoo. Hear it. I don’t know what that other bird is. God, I kind of I can’t believe how brilliant this is. It’s just mindb blown. So, I’m at a place according to the map. Uh, it’s called Doctor’s Gate. I think I’ve heard of that. Like, I don’t know how. I think it’s well known for like mountain bikers, isn’t it? I tell you what, like in the in the winter, this would be Oh, totally inhospitable. Is that the right word? You need a hospital if you come up here in the winter. I might try coming up here in the winter, actually. It would be absolutely freezing light, wouldn’t it? But oh my god, it’s just Wow. Anyway, it’s just uh amazing. I’m going to go going that way. Long a gravel track. There’s a sign there saying no access for motor vehicles or motorbikes. Oh, well, good job. I’m on a bicycle, isn’t it? See you at the next stop. All right, sheep and baby sheep. I’ve come in peace. They’re not off. Give you some funny looks [Applause] sheep. I feel sorry for it. Thinks I’m trying to catch it. I’m not. I’m just going the same way. I’m not following you. Sketchy sketchy gravel. I don’t know if it’s better going over a quick or taking me time [Applause] that one of these like refuge huts or something. I didn’t bother opening it. It was quite tricky to open and then I struggled like well I half opened it then I struggled to try and get it shut. So may belong to the farmer or something. If anyone’s got any local knowledge about that little thing uh put in the comments for us to know where it is. Wow. Does anyone ever come up here? Haven’t seen one person yet. So, the trails there was just starting to get a little bit easier downhill. Well, easy on the last bit, the first bit, and it’s went uphill again. Um, I seen a black grouse jumped out in front of the in front of me bike. Well, you know, probably 6 ft away. Um, flew over there. Didn’t get on camera, though. And apparently their red status endangered. I feel like I’m on another [Laughter] planet. The planet of nobody. Just me. Trails and birds. I hear bird over [Applause] there. If it’s a lap wing or what? No, it’s not a lap wing. I know some birds, but uh loving this [Applause] leg. This is the kind of route where you have to take your time. You can’t thrash through it cuz it’s it’s slow going. It’s doable as long as you you just accept you have to go at a slow pace and just really take your time then it’s all right. No rush is it? You see that bird is that coming out on the camera. You know I think it’s a curu or something like that’s got like a really long beak. This is [Applause] surreal. It’s just surreal. Riding on the gnarly tracks in the middle of the complete middle of nowhere. The sound of curus overhead. No humans at all. Far from [Applause] [Music] me. See bells aren’t just for pedestrians for sheep as well. Thank you. You’re welcome. So, I’ve just stopped to have a look at the map to see how much uh more this uh gnarly, grueling, slow going stuff I have to do. And I think there’s quite a lot more novelty wearing off now. Like, no, I’m only joking. It’s h I was just curious cuz I want to stop somewhere and have me sies. Um, but I’ll uh I’ll just keep going. That’s all I’m doing. Yeah, that’s the way I’m going. Look, the road to nowhere, the trail to nowhere, and that’s a view over here. Look, not sure where that is. Obviously, some village or town in the distance. Cur that one. it could be stuck on this for miles [Applause] and a lot of fuel was going to be tough a tough uh ride. The terrain now is a went from gnarly to gnarly and sandy. Tell you what though, this kind of terrain, you burn through the calories quick. You underestimate how many calories you burn. So I got to make sure I keep eating trail mix. [Music] [Music] Unfortunately, it’s not ridable [Music] anymore. So, a little bit of hike through here for a bit. Don’t know how long for like waterable to be honest. Actually, it’s probably easier if it’s up here. Oh, gross. Don’t know if it’s a black one or what. He’s probably thinking, “What the hell is he doing up here?” I think I’ve come off the trail somehow cuz there’s sort of like remnants of a trail here. going to have to carry to carry me bike. But I caught an ordinance survey map. I’ve come off the trail a little bit. So I’m making me way back to it. Let’s hope it’s ridable. Can’t be d this all day. Now I know why I haven’t seen anyone. Certainly nobody on a bike. I don’t know what happened there. Like I was uh following the trail on here and there was no trail to follow if you know what I mean. It just like the map was different what was on real life. So I just continued on what I could see. But then it just wouldn’t ride anymore. Wasn’t ridable anymore. arming or barely walk on it. So, I’ve managed to get back on the trail that’s marked on the map, which is that not ideal. You know what I mean? But, [Music] uh, just have to keep going. See where I end up. Uh, got a few couple of more miles. I I don’t know. I have no idea about mileage because it’s so slow. It’s like I may as well measure it in inches. the speed I’m going an inch an hour. Right, let’s go. It’s not the best, but it’s better than uh that other stuff. [Applause] Phew. I’m back on the trail. The ridable trail, gravel trail, whatever you want to call it. Fire road. Is it? That was tough. That like really tough. So, this fire road I’m on now. If I ever do this route again, I would um I would stay on this Fire road gravel track. It’s got to be a way cuz when I’ve looked back behind us, it goes back to the way I came. So, looks like I’ve actually went the harder [Applause] way. Right. So, we’re going down here and then I’m going to be over that hill. Turning right. Yeah. See what happens. I think eventually I get on a road much further ahead. Oh, then then I’ll have me sies. Oh, some downhill [Applause] [Music] finally. Wa! Look at [Applause] that. Whoa. So, I’m off the gravel now. I’m on this kind of stuff. Must be near a a road. I’ve just seen a car in the distance there like on the [Applause] horizon. What was that for a view then? A little lake, a pond or something. really hard trying to ride with one hand on this [Applause] terrain. I’m going uphill again. What a surprise. The downhill bits didn’t uh last long, [Applause] eh? Right, dig deep, Lee. I’m sure you’ve got a road coming up. Hopefully, it’s an easy one. Welcome to Teasdale. Thank you for visiting Weedale. Wow, tough ride so far. So, I’m on roads now. Um, I’m going to be going that way and going to find a little spot to have me sies. See you at the next stop. Ah, I earned [Music] [Applause] this. Very tough but rewarding. Jesus. Just stopped at this uh pub, but it’s shut just in the beer garden at the front. Couple of seats. Really tough. That was really tough. Um so I’m just having the sonnie now. Ham and peace pudding. Off the charts. So I’m just uh riding on the roads for a bit. I don’t know if I can face another one of those off-road things like not today anyway. So, I don’t know how long I’m going to be riding for. Probably be looking for a bivy spot soon. I’ve got a really strong headwind now and there’s been some uh hills. Can’t have a tailwind all the time, can I? Right. See you at the next stop. Hamsley Forest is over there. So, I’m going to head down this hill and look for a bivvie spot. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a a decent one. I know it’s quite um dense the forest like, but uh I’ll have a look. And uh I need some uh water, so I’ll have to filter some water as well. So, uh yeah, let’s go. Wow, that’s a steep [Applause] hill. That looks like a nice stream to get some water. I was going to camp next to that river just where I stopped there. Looked like an ideal spot. I just didn’t have the vibe. It was too close to the um well, this trail I’m on now. and and there’s a car park not far away and there’s a a car pulled in with some people not doing anything like it’s just if they see us it’s just like um you you feel more relaxed when you know you nobody knows you’re there or there’s no chance of anyone finding out you’re there. So now I don’t even have a clue where I’m going. Might be down the wrong way. I might end up back at that spot that I’ve just been talking about. It’s a lot of effort. See them trees over there in the field. I’m going to try and make me way over there. And see uh if I can get in there. Looks very secluded. Hard work to get there though. Still can’t find a bivy spot. Can you believe it? the place. Hundreds hectares of uh trees and I can’t find a busy spot. I’ve got to be happy with it. You know what I mean? I don’t want it to be dark. Don’t want it to be all close together, the trees. And I want it to be reasonably flat. Well, it took some work, but I think I found a decent spot down there next to the wall. See where me bike is? Well, there’s also here down there, there’s a trail over there behind them trees. It’s one of like a quiet trail. I don’t know if anyone or many people come down, especially at this time of night, but I kind of be riding around all night trying to find a perfect spot. It’s never going to happen. So, this is going to have to be the one. I’ll just be uh quiet when I’m talking. Right, let’s get set up. Well, I’m uh I’m all set up. Like I say, there’s a trail not that far through there. So, it’s a bit of a stealth camp. I can hear people in the distance. Mountain bikers. I think I passed a couple of mountain bikers just before there. But, uh I’m not looking around anymore for a bivy spot. This is going to have to do. But, it’s quite good. Like I said, there’s like a wall there. So, that’s that’s like hiding us a bit. And then I’ve got me top there. Look. And I’ll just show you is in here. There you go. All set up. I’m going to put me uh stove on now and have me uh camping meal. Different flavor. Oh, guess what? I forgot to bring herbal tea. End of the world or what? I’m going to I’ve got a sache coffee. So, I’m going to half it and I’m going to have uh some now like half a sache cuz I like to have a hot drink before I go to sleep. All right. So, right. See you in a minute. Right. This is what I’m having for me tea. Fire pot meal. Again, this one is uh beef stew with pearl barley. And I think I might have got the uh the water level right. I think so. I get it wrong all the time. Just having a cup of uh coffee cuz that’s all I’ve got. Well, half a sache. It’s not the best, but it’s warm and I’ve got no sunset. Uh, but I’ve got a view of a field. Look feel there. It’s getting really quiet. So, I’m going to taste this. See what it’s like. Beef stewer. So, let’s see this. Where’s me spoon? Doesn’t look like beef stew. Right. [Music] Um, school dinners. I don’t think it’s uh fully cooked in this bag. You’re supposed to leave them 20 minutes or even longer. It’s all right. Quite nice. You know, it tastes like a meal as opposed to like a pot noodle. Anyway, I’m going to have this have the rest of me coffee and I’m going to get into bed, get warm, and I’ll see you in the morning. Morning. Another successful night, Vivian. Um, this time I actually slept uh quite well. I think I woke up once, but when I was trying to get to sleep, right, I don’t know what it is about dogs and me at the minute. Do you know the last video and I said I heard dogs in the distance. Well, I heard dogs in the distance again. This time they were closer. Um, so the only thing I can assume is uh there’s there’s a couple of houses. cuz I passed actually in Hamsley Forest and I wonder if they had uh dogs in the garden. This is like 11:00 like and then after that just as I was getting off to sleep over here I heard something creeping around. I mean you hear stuff creeping around or you know rumaging around the uh the trees you know when you’re wild camping you always hear the sound of animals and you you get used to it. But this thing, I don’t know what it was, was just there. And I was thinking, what is it? Is it a deer? I did hear a deer, but I Anyway, I got up there, investigate, with me head torch, walked over, couldn’t see anything. And then I heard this like sniffing sound and then it went away. Didn’t run away, just went away. So, it was either a maybe a fox, badger, uh, or Bigfoot. cuz I have seen Bigfoot, you know. Go back to me other video, the uh the Holy Island one, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Anyway, I’m talking nonsense. I think it’s going to be quite a nice morning. A little bit hazy at the minute, but uh hopefully it’ll get out. I’ve got no reception on me phone either, and I know uh Michelle will be worried, so I’m going to try and ride somewhere where there’s reception. I think there’s a cafe down there somewhere and uh they might have Wi-Fi. But anyway, I’m going to make me coffee now and then I’m going to get packed away. See you in a minute. That’s it. All pack up. Leave no trace. In fact, I’ve actually uh tidied up somebody else’s rubbish. There was a can there like a can of pop. Looked like it been there 20 years, so I thought I may as well take it. There’s me bag set up. Then we’re going to get out of here. I need to find a mobile phone reception so I can contact Michelle cuz she’ll uh I know she’ll be worried. All right, let’s go. I’m not that far from the trail actually. I just seen it. Uh I just seen a woman walking past there with her dogs. She didn’t see like I mean I’m not that close to it. Sort like in the distance. Who would have thought that that how many acres of uh woodlanders are here in Hamsterly Forest and I actually struggle to find a a bivvie spot. That’s cuz I’m quite choosy. It’s got to be just right. Remember the uh Goldilocks and the three bears? Well, that’s me. That’s me with bivy spots. Right, here we go. Oh, there’s a river cuz I need to get some water. Very quiet this morning. Oh, the whole place smells of um flowers. It’s got like a sweet smell. I had a bit of a uh bit of a lie in this morning. Normally, I’m riding for about 6:00. I didn’t wake up till 10 7 and then I just lay there in bed, you know what I mean? Relax until 8:00 and then uh just took me time getting pack. There’s no hurry though, is it? That uh that riding yesterday was so hard. I mean, I enjoyed it, but I felt like I was riding for like well I think it was about the off-road bit was about 4 hours. I never seen a single saw for 4 hours. Now I know why probably not many people go up there. Um, but I was looking for solitude and I would say I definitely found it up there. Like yeah, definitely a challenge. We’re on some on nice easy terrain the day I think. Get myself some breakfast if I can find somewhere. I’ve had like a cereal bar thing. flapjack. But uh got to get reception, mobile phone reception so I can tell Michelle I’m okay. Right. See you in a minute. [Music] [Applause] Well, that’s the end of the video. And uh I still haven’t found a mobile phone reception, so I’m going to have to ride somewhere and uh somewhere with reception where I can I can contact Michelle. I know she’ll be worried about us. Um so yeah, it was a challenging route. Um, you know, the idea I had was to ride somewhere where like there was nobody, where I look for that solitude and I definitely found it. So, yeah, hard but absolutely rewarding. Brilliant. Anyway, if you made it to the end, thanks very much for watching. I really appreciate it. And I’ll see you on the next one.