Forests and losing yourself.

The opening line isn't a statement but a question.

Living in the UK and thinking about it for a few days now I'd take a few lines to explain myself.

Firstly I'm a 30 odd year old guy, married, house , no kids or pets, rides a motorcycle to work everyday, working in London.

Now my question is this, are there , or do you know of any forests in the UK or across in France where I could lose myself for a few days , say 4 or 5?
I've been thinking about going off the grid for a few days to get some quiet comtemplation time, away from the hustle of city life and from the wife ( there's no problems at home I just want a few days to myself).

What I was planning is getting a tent, some supplies, and taking the bike somewhere , parking deep in a forest far away from any people, listen to the forest sounds , meditate and contemplate, get away from the PC , family, work, and just sit in the tent in the forest safe in the knowledge that there is a very small chance of someone stumbling across my tent whilst I'm sat in it.

So my question is, do you know where there is a forest big enough for me to do this? or do you have any recommendations for the UK or France?

Or have you done something like this yourself, what did you do? what did you take? and what where your discoveries? revelations?.

Cheers DW......

You may not want to rely on geographical insights from those of us who get lost going to the bathroom. I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not familiar with European geography at all. (I do well to remember where I parked my car!).

As for your other question of experience with getting away from it all: I have done so many times and did so recently. Very short trip a few weeks ago but my focus was so intent on just making myself semi comfortable in the constant rain that I had little time to reflect on deeper matters.

There was a time for quiet reflection in the morning before the sun came up and before I wrestled with starting a fire with wet wood. Those moments of solitude and reflection are precious to me. Wherever and whenever I find them.

In today's busy, hectic, stressful, dog-eat-dog world, there are dozens of things to DO. We must always be busy "doing". And when we're not doing, we must focus on what we are to do next. There's very little time for just "being". No time to think, consider, weigh, reflect, ponder, cogitate.

When I do make time to get away and just think, I come away more relaxed, calm and at peace with myself and the world than I do when I "take a vacation".

Best of luck finding a spot for solitude. You'll be glad you did.

[edit on 30-9-2009 by whitewave]

reply to post by whitewave


Thanks for the reply, I'll probably be looking to go over teh channel to France as the forests here in the UK are a bit small I was going to say a bit pants but thats unfair. .
I'll have to see if there are any huge forests over there and see if I can walk the bike in a couple of kilometers and park it up out of sight. Or failing that put it in a carpark and walk into the forest a few Km?
Cheers DW..

Heres a few to at least look up

Epping Forest -
Ashridge Forest -
The New Forest -
Forest of Dean -
Afan Forest
Sherwood Forest


I love forsets also New forest is pretty good,

reply to post by asala


I did think about forests here in the UK, but to be honest I can't help but feel the forests here would be inadequate , I'd need a forest large enough so that I wouldn't be disturbed by passers by for a few days like total seclusion away from everybody. but thank you for the reccomendations, I'll certainly look into them though.