Stealth Camping on Abandoned WW2 Pillbox [Below Freezing]

Pillboxes are small, heavily fortified concrete structures built in the UK during World War II as a defensive measure against potential enemy attacks. They were intended to be manned by soldiers and were placed in areas of strategic importance, such as coastlines, bridges, and other key locations.
The Royal Military Canal is home to a whole heap of them, and as I was recently down in Kent, I was keen to head off along the canal in search of a suitable one in which to spend the night.
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[@rocky5755]

“Hitler was looking as if he might have a go” - classic British understatement Ed.

[@ixxxxxxx]

made me laugh when i heard that

[@ljd8520]

Hundreds of men a day are landing in Dover btw.

[@wavecentral]

So now that Ed Pratt has decided to start stealth camping, it's only fair that someone teaches Steve Wallis how to ride a unicycle.

[@DaveKahn]

Gotta get them together. What a team they'd make.

[@billlynn8256]

A Wallis wannabe

[@DaveKahn]

@@billlynn8256 Having unicycled around the world with a tent he's no wannabe.

[@jodyssey9921]

Start stealth camping? He's been doing it for years!

[@jama211]

@@billlynn8256 they're both amazing, no need to throw shade

[@Jaqaroo]

That starry time-lapse was definitely worth sleeping in the frost with pants over your head...! Great work Ed!

[@1stklass]

How this doesn't have hundreds of thousands of views is beyond me... Ed's work is incredible and i truly look forward for all his work, his around the World Series is still the best thing I've ever watched, all those amazing episodes.... crazy how much effort was required by him, but it was a masterpiece

[@maxlutz2115]

I love the new direction you’re taking with your videos! Great work as always!

[@TheStellalegs72]

There is a pillbox near to where I live in Parkgate on the Wirral that has been converted to a mini bat sanctuary, the door and windows slatted leaving just enough space for the bats to enter/leave

[@RViscara]

Ed you couldn’t have picked a worse spot to camp. That cement block is a complete heat sink sucking the little heat your body could produce. That klymit sleeping pad is a warm weather sleeping pad not made for cold weather. I am surprised you even made through the night lol. Lesson learned don’t sleep on damp dense masses that are cold they will suck the warmth right out of you. If you have to sleep on a spot like that you need a far better sleeping pad and a foam pad additionally under your sleeping pad. I bet your back was much colder then your frontside

[@nohedes]

Crikey that looked cold. I think a better sleeping mat would be a good investment if you’re planning to bivouac on freezing concrete again! Enjoyed the vid though 🍻

[@jodyssey9921]

I love sleeping out like that. Anytime I'm camping and not expecting rain I'm exposed to the sky. Never used a bivvy or anything waterproof though, because of what happened to you. If it's at all cool condensation will build up inside and everything gets wet. That's why I only do it if I trust the forecast to be dry.

[@wendysplace3867]

It's great that you know HISTORY! Great Britain has tons of it. In my country the young people just fresh out of college don't even know who fought in the US Civil War.

[@tobyk8125]

Some Americans and some other Americans? :)

[@vasiliipopov416]

@@tobyk8125 Sometimes a couple of French guys came along as well

[@marcfuchs6938]

I am someone who needs very little comfort compared to what's normal for people. But sleeping in the freezing cold on a hard surface in the open wild is something, that is not desirable to somebody like me. I don't need it warm necessarily, but having something around me, that serves as a proper layer of protection from the elements and also people and animals. So sleeping in a car is perfectly fine for me, a tent is suitable enough for a few nights, but just laying in the open would make me feel like a steak on the grill. Which is why I have created plans for building my very own adventure cycle. A 3 wheeled bicycle, where you sit in front like on a recumbent one but have a large and solid box behind you, which serves as your mobile storage but also as your bed all at once. This construction would be very sophisticated and I don't know, if I can ever build it, but I love the idea. Going on endless trips while having lots of storage, a full size protected bed and a very comfortable riding position all in one fancy vehicle. The thing would be very heavy, but it wouldn't necessary to go high speeds, when you don't need to reach specific targets. You would just stop somewhere, do a little conversion of the rear part of the bike and you can lay down very comfortably. If I had a million bucks, I'd start constructing this thing tomorrow. No it wouldn't cost that much, but when I would build such a thing, I would want to use it for a long while, so you need to have money for riding around all day and not earning any more money. =)

[@kit4250]

Wonderful! These videos are so calming.

[@tymanot]

Small adventure right next door. Wonderful.

[@sparkyvespa]

Be great to see another cycle touring film especially with the new bike.

[@marissapratt5423]

I like your videos

[@grahames9228]

Man on a Pillbox. Interesting title for a book or film.

[@AManCalledBiggles]

I live in Kent - As a youth my friends and I once "slept" in a pillbox, I say "slept" because none of us slept very well or for long. Being youths we were woefully under prepared for our stealth camping trip and took the bare minimum with us which meant no ground layer/padding. Cold concrete is not the best to sleep on. 🤣

[@slickpickle6996]

Love you videos Ed! Keep doing your thing!

[@sbob17]

years ago when younger me and some friends painted the inside of a pillbox white, made it brighter and a cool place to hang out.

[@EdPratt]

What a neat idea!

[@daviddavies2072]

Good video, very interesting 👍

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks very interesting 😊

[@DaimonWalker]

Hi Ed, I'm local to Kent. I walked this a few years ago and you've made it a lot more interesting than I found it. I loved the physical A to B but due to its construction I found sections quite monotonous. I think you'd hopefully enjoy (and make a better video of) the southern coast to coast which @thelongdistancewalker recorded (me). Cheers.

[@sinatrabone]

Ed, you’ve got to do a collaboration with Geowizard! I would love to see Tom try the camping things you do, and I think his type of adventuring would suit you well!

[@chargeriderepeat7024]

I now need to turn the heating up after watching that. Another splendid video

[@Svartez]

Get this man a chopping board!

[@dunch1988]

Can you imagine coming across a stranger sleeping on top of a pillbox covered in frost, sniffing a pair of pants....😂😂

[@vasiliipopov416]

You should definitely consider getting yourself a thicker mat with some decent r-value. This ultralight one will not stand against the concrete in winter conditions for sure.

[@RickallsBushcraft01]

I walked that canal start to finish, raising awareness for men's mental health

[@Mumbles274]

Little interesting fact about the canal... the kinks in it are at the distance a musket could fire so if the french tried to cross the british had line of sight along the stretch of the canal

[@bruhgart]

British man talks to sheep and wears underwear on his face! (you won't believe what happens next)

[@marissapratt5423]

Your food so good

[@andydelarue9344]

Wow , good trick having a polar star to rotate around.

[@Rabbitunderground]

Ed with pants on his head You've gotta love it.

[@pault1289]

What a great idea, nice and dry, up away from many of the bugs and an improvised buff - what more could you ask for?!

[@Rahi0823]

Keep us updated mate we love your videos❤

[@CallMeMicahT]

Enjoy this while you still can, because kids will end your travels. Most beautiful thing in the world, but if I could go back, I would explore the world first.

[@xxwookey]

I'm very impressed with the dual overnight timelapse. Makes it worth the trip. Is your bivi bag goretex (or other decent vapour-permeable material)? You shouldn't be getting quite so soggy inside, but I guess there just wasn't enough heat to drive vapour transmission at that temp? I've done a lot of biving and camping and cave-camping when it's cold, but nearly always just above freezing. I've only got that soggy when using an actual plastic bag (terrible idea) as opposed to a decent goretex bivi.

[@ljd8520]

What bivi do you recommend ?

[@AndrooJeanPierre]

Ed, maybe you should consider taking a vegetable cutting board, next time.

[@douglasfazzani269]

I grew up on the Royal Military canal. I was always fascinated by the pill boxes but we were never allowed to play in them as they were full of beer cans, needles and water

[@colorlace]

Love the history bits

[@ТУРИСТ-АВАНТЮРИСТ]

Good job, I love watching your videos. 👍

[@NorfolknStealth]

Cool, like it..

[@kylebooth2528]

Cool Shiey cosplay

[@JoelBlackman.]

In the north of england there is one near Rudyard lake. Not sure if there are anymore

[@TheNails3]

"Biscuits are my motivation!"... This just popped into my head as I was cooking. Have you made a T-shirt with this on yet?

[@billymoffat4744]

Hi Ed the bivvi is great for keeping moisture out, try a british Army goretex pretty cheap or snugpak special forces one you wont get so much moisture build up inside bit more breathable.

[@tobyticehurst]

Fantastic effort Ed, Those stars on the time-lapse were incredible, even a Galaxy whizzed past. If you didn't know already, don't put your head under the sleeping bag as the moister from your breath will far exceed the breathable capabilities of the bivvy. A full face mask or what I use, a scrim net over the face will give you better experience. Just my two cents...

[@grbadalamenti]

First time I saw a pillbox was in Malta...the grand British heritage

[@onidason3128]

Oh my god you need to meet up with Steve Wallis and collab asap.

[@nielsvandenbrakel9857]

Way better cooking this time Ed haha!

[@thelegoman1977]

On top of a concrete pad with no natural cover its mo wonder it was cold. Get down on that ground with bushes or walls as cover and you’re feel the difference

[@Yike-ov7gz]

Nice video! Those bunkers were interesting. It would be fun to see the unicycle on some of those adventures as well :)

[@Teetuetenmogli]

Out of curiosity it would be nice to get any info on what you are doing with your days when you're not on tour.

[@Moewenfels]

Something something Ballaclava.

[@benboo6351]

Wilderness curry is the best. It's how I bribe hiking mates to call me the next time.

[@TJStellmach]

Say, is Will ”Super Cycling Man” Hodson back in the UK these days? It looked as though maybe he was.

[@eskiDMO]

Are you planning on making the Unicycle-Tour into a full leght movie? Like all in one video? I'm here for my 3rd re-watch and it would just be cool to have it all in one long as*s video haha

[@sealslayer]

Stale beer and urine is the typical smell found in your average pillbox

[@bigupyourself]

I have only just been given your channel... This is going to take a little while to get through.

[@ss-sh6nb]

Good video mate but I definitely would not have slept on that big lump of cold concrete.

[@chriscourson2824]

Hi from Alabama!

[@caveman__ogof]

Who would of funk it! Haha love it!

[@tigrecito48]

is that on the thames path? ive seen those along the thames when walking it

[@chalkisplacebo.6697]

cool

[@pootinplays]

Being an American I dont quite understand the stealth camping. What is stopping you from camping on top of that thing? Or rather what could happen?

[@lawrencedavies4398]

There is no right to wild camp in England, except for on parts of Dartmoor. It's considered trespassing, which is a civil offence, and can become a criminal offence under certain conditions.

[@pootinplays]

ty for that info. So like how severe would it be? Like a ticket and told to fuck off type of thing? Surely not cuffs or something? @@lawrencedavies4398

[@megsmith6758]

I wonder why the second pill box has extra bricks on the inside as well as blocking the entrance

[@patrickmccarthy5462]

Deluxe model

[@caveman__ogof]

You had trains I need trains on my next stealth camp. Camping on top is cool I almost did that.. using your underwear ad a snoowed to keep warm.. why didn't I think of that?! 😂

[@kylem9476]

Nice to see the rat running around at 11:55.

[@EdPratt]

I think it’s a small bird, but good spot :)

[@the_well-known_stranger2275]

Surely it would have been warmer to just sleep inside the bunker?

[@chrisbarker270]

Cool spot but why so much gear for one night? That pack looks loaded.

[@51-FS]

Better to have to much...

[@xxwookey]

He's got a drone and tripod(s) and camera gear as well as camping, cooking, food, water and clothes. But yeah, he's no long-distance lightweight camper :-)

[@АдамВеисхаупт-е7е]

Why change the thumbnail? (Algorhythm I guess :/) That other one was beautiful tho!

[@poordadrichson6115]

we need Americas bycicle tour

[@张花-y5y]

B站来的，打卡

[@creativtea]

What temperatures are your two sleeping bags rated for?

[@EdPratt]

My down one is advertised at 0 degrees Celsius comfort, but as I’ve had it 5 years and it’s become soaked through on more than one occasion I doubt it’s as affective as it once was. And for my summer one I’ve got no idea - but it’s synthetic, cheap and pretty thin

[@benjaminturner5613]

It's a shame you didn't meet any interesting people

[@moecantileverjr]

Go forest go run around the world 🌎.

[@Miguli98]

Love the monthly videos, keep it up Ed :)👍

[@zeez4178]

Where is the wife ?

[@slapdat.byteme]

I did the undershorts buff one cold night, but mistakenly pulled it from my dirty laundry bag. Woke up cross-eyed! 😖

[@billlynn8256]

Dude ...this has been done about 500 times on youtube..time to get a new gig