How do you have a wild night out when you don’t particularly like camping? You go for a wild night swim instead! Ok, it wasn’t technically ‘night’ because it’s summer, but the sun was lazily sinking behind the treeline as I arrived at Hatchmere Lake for my swim.

Recently I lost an elderly friend, Paddy. My favourite memory of Paddy was when she participated in Wild Night Out, albeit a few days before the official date so as to coincide with her birthday. Even in her 80s she had active outdoorsy ambitions. 

On Saturday we caught the train from Bristol to Yatton and cycled along the Strawberry Path passing apple orchards and loads of families on bikes and then veered into the Mendips stopping at the Swan in Rowberrow which does good beer and food and has a garden with a play area.

At 4pm on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with camping gear all deposited in advance at Stable Fell camp site at Marsett we started the mountain bike ride back to the site.  We followed an ancient roman track, Cams High Road offering stunning views over Wensleydale and Raydale.

What did you do for Britain's national day - and night - of adventure? We had an amazing night. I arranged for 15 of my friends to come and camp in a field that my dad owns. It’s not near any houses and most of my friends had never camped. There was good bonding helping each other put up new tents, bbq, etc.