The Village At The Edge Of The World
A 5 day wilderness camp in the Lake District leading to a Dawn-to-Dusk Nature Solo.
(Apply here for a bursary place)
Participant Testimonials
Check out the Village Video Playlist
The Village Video Playlist
Dates: 2pm, Tuesday 19th – 2pm, Sunday 24th August 2025
Location: A wild mountain basecamp in the Southern
Lake District, near Grizebeck, Kirkby-in-Furness, LA17 7XN (exact location provided on sign up)
Age: There is great value in a diversity of life
experience and age is part of this. We welcome everyone over 18 + years to take part.
No. of participants: 12 (+ 4 staff)
Join to discover what happens when we tune in to the wisdom of nature, when we choose to put our phones away and give ourselves time to notice our bodies in the present, our stories of the past and our dreams for the future.
When we do this together, being witnessed and witnessing each other, listening to and learning from the land, helping each other to be our most authentic selves, we connect with how a more liberating and just future might feel!
✅ THIS EXPERIENCE IS FOR YOU IF YOU…
- Looking for a meaningful adventure
- Wanting to connect to your nature and the nature around you
- Craving some time alone, to slow down, tune in to your senses and gain perspective,
- Wanting to do something you really believe in but feeling nervous to begin
- Seeking a deeper connection to your gifts and your purpose
- Want to hear the stories of other people with different dreams than you
- Want to connect to new people and feed your imagination and creativity
- Want to learn new skills and practices to support your wellbeing forever
OK, I’M INTERESTED. SO, WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
Navigating modern life can take a toll on our mental, physical and spiritual health. During this 6-day adventure we will tend to ourselves by walking & swimming in the mountains, listening deeply to each other and the nature around us. We will be active with simple things; journaling, meditating, dancing, cooking, campfire-ing, playing games and will each leave with practical ways to create more wellbeing in daily life.
We’ll equip you with the skills needed to embark on a ‘Nature Solo’, an ancient practice of sitting with the self and the land without distractions – no phones, books, music or technology. You’ll head out at dawn and be welcomed back at dusk to a feast and a night of sharing our adventures. We will celebrate with a closing ceremony.
In addition to community living, this change of pace from your day-to-day life will give you time to enjoy some solitude, space to reflect on your purpose & place in the world, and a change of scenery to help inspire your journey of self-discovery.
The ‘Nature Solo‘
We help you to prepare for you ‘nature solo’, which involves spending a day in a spot in the wild of your choosing, away from the group. It’s an invitation to fast from food, productivity and modern distractions, to create space to notice, be present and connect more deeply with life.
You can read more about the WHY and HOW of nature solo’s here. The solo can be a challenge and we invite you to trust yourself and own your relationship to your body to choose whatever you need to look after yourself.
The phases
We will travel through three distinct phases: Severance, Threshold and Incorporation. Found in Rites of Passage traditions the world over and throughout time, these are used in marking intention in one’s life. This flow supports you to let go of what no longer serves you (old identities, old stories, old habits…) and step more fully into the life you are wishing to lead.
What might you wish to mark with this experience? We will invite you to state your intent before you arrive with a letter or any other expression, telling us what within you has received the call to nature, to stillness and to community?
Day 1 – 2: ‘Severance’
- Everyone will arrive and set up their tents.
- We’ll greet each other with an opening ceremony where there will be an optional phone amnesty and we’ll share our first meal together.
- We’ll listen to each other’s intentions.
- We’ll explore closely the details of our landscape and embark on activities that reconnect us with our senses.
- We will do some journaling and gentle embodied exercises to align our mind and body
- We will have a night walk and sit spot to prepare the body for deep rest and dreams
Day 3 – 4: Threshold
- We will prepare ourselves for our Nature Solo with practical skills
- We will learn about self-generated ceremonies and how we can use them to make the most of our solo time
- We’ll learn from the wisdom of the Four Directions and how we look to nature to guide us in our everyday life
- We will embark on a 12 hour Nature Solo. We will spend the day alone in nature, with an invitation to fast and go with as little as possible.
Day 5 + Beyond: Incorporation
- We will witness each other’s stories
- We will learn how to create a ritual collectively and form a closing night ceremony together
- We will say goodbye to each other and our time on the land
- We will organise a virtual fireside call together 1 month and 3 months on from our camp to hear updates and continue the process of ‘reintegration’ to hear everyone’s intentions and progress.
Image Gallery
BASECAMP
Our basecamp is nestled in the mountains with scenic views over the Southern Lakes. There are two compost toilets on site and a beautiful outdoor shower. A central camp tent provides an outdoor kitchen and social space for us to gather.
We can walk directly into the mountains from the campsite as well as being a short drive from some of the bigger mountain climbs and lakes. The campground is large enough for each person to find a quiet spot away from the group or to camp together.
Check out the site Here
YOUR GUIDES
The camp is delivered by two Lead Guides who are experienced in taking groups through deep transformative journeys. They are supported by two assistant guides, from our network of trained and trainee facilitators. All guides are DBS checked.
LEAD GUIDES
Amy Cooper
Amy is a facilitator, she loves making things easier and helping things to happen. Despite having not camped as a child the wilds are now a comfortable home for Amy and she currently spends a lot of time on farms creating opportunities for people to have a deeper connection to agro-ecological farming practices. She has worked for many years to bring vibrancy to various communities using food, dance, craft and theatre and as a facilitator of collaboration and creative problem solving within and between organisations.
Liv Dowd
Liv is a creative collaborator and coach, with passion for breaking patterns, forming new habits and finding joy! She loves to bring people into a deeper connection with nature. She facilitates groups of peers to explore their creativity – devising ensemble theatre, writing film scripts, making plays – as a way to reflect and to reform. She has her own movement and creative practice which she teaches at the National Youth Theatre and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She brings learnings from being guided on a Vision Quest by the School of Lost Borders in Colorado, training with the Dead Good Guides in how to facilitate rituals and rites of passage and mirroring with Betsy Purless and the Transalquimia folks in the Les Guilleries Park in Northern Spain.
TICKETS
Tickets are available at different four price points. Please be mindful that if you purchase a ticket at the lowest end of our sliding scale when you can truthfully afford a higher ticket price, you are limiting access to those who truly need a bursary place. Thanks for your help promoting economic justice!
Figure out how much to pay by using our sliding scale guide!
➤ Pay it Forward : £695 (pays for you & funds a bursary place thus widening access to those in a less financially privileged position)
➤ Standard : £600
➤ Supported : £350
➤ Bursary* – £50 To apply, see here
🎫 Bursary Tickets
We believe nature belongs to everyone and making it more accessible is one of our main priorities.
Spending time in nature is proven to significantly increase our mental and physical wellbeing. But those who stand to gain the most from nature are often systemically deprived of it.
More must be done to overcome barriers to nature access – and financial barriers are one place we can start. Our aim, by providing these funded places, is to help support an urgent transition to a more nature-connected life, for everyone.
If you’ve experienced marginalisation and want to reap the benefits of spending a week immersed in nature, please apply today!
ABUNDANT TICKETFor those who can pay-it-forward
- I never struggle to meet my basic needs*
- I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property
- I own a car
- I am employed OR I do not need to work to meet my needs
- I have access to savings
- I have expendable income**
- I regularly buy new items
- I can easily afford more than one holiday a year
STANDARD TICKETFor those who can pay the cost of the service
- I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs*
- I may have some debt but it doesn’t prohibit the attainment of basic needs*
- I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property
- I own a car
- I am employed OR I do not need to work to meet my needs
- I have access to savings
- I have expendable income**
- I can afford to buy new items
- I can afford an annual holiday, or to take time off work
SUBSIDISED TICKETfor those in the middle of our sliding scale
- I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them*
- I may have some debt but it does not prohibit my attainment of basic needs*
- I rent a mid-level flat/property and have stable housing
- I own or lease a car
- I am employed
- I might have access to financial savings
- I have expendable income**
- I am able to buy some new and second hand items
- I take a holiday annually or every few years without financial burden
BURSARY TICKETfor those at the bottom end of our sliding scale
- I frequently stress about meeting basic needs + don’t always achieve them*
- I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs*
- I rent a lower-end flat/property or have unstable housing
- I do not have a car or access to a car
- I am unemployed or underemployed
- I qualify for government assistance
- I have no access to savings
- I have no or very limited expendable income**
- I rarely buy new items because I’m unable to afford them
- I cannot afford a holiday or to take time off without financial burden
❓- Frequently Asked Questions
🙋🏽♀️ Erm, will I be able to do this?
➤ Yes. Doubt is a totally normal, healthy and human response to any new opportunity. This course has been designed with beginners and those early on in their environmental and education careers in mind. You will get all of the support and time you need from us and your peers. We believe anyone with an open mind and a collaborative attitude can easily complete this training.
➤ Consent is key for us – we will never make you to do anything you don’t wish to and you will be supported to meet any challenges gently and in gradual stages .
🚅 How do I get there?
We ask participants to organise their own travel, and to meet us at Ulverston train station at 2pm on the start date of the camp. We will travel to the campsite from the train station together, which is about a 15 minute drive.
Travel is at your own cost so we advise if you to book early if you are getting the train, and to use a railcard if you have one!
If you are travelling by car, please meet us at the train station at 2pm and let us know if you have space for others as this may be helpful to the group!
🐌 What if I’m not an experienced outdoors person?
➤ Great, we’re here to help you get experienced!
➤ We have camping gear that we can lend as necessary and will teach you how to use confidently.
➤ The things I feared most going into the camp and thought I would find most challenging, like the rain and cold, bats, slugs and bugs, and using an outdoor shower and toilet, ended up being the things I most appreciated. I faced my fears in a gentle and supported way, which has enabled me to see myself in a different, more capable way. So grateful to The Visionaries team for allowing me to be a part of this life-changing experience.” – Nadege Rene, past participant with The Visionaries*
🆘 Is the countryside safe for people like me?
➤ We recognise that camping and the countryside can feel less familiar and sometimes daunting for many. AND all of our ancestors, no matter who we are, lived closely to the land. This is an opportunity to reconnect with that lineage.
➤ We know it can be challenging. As an organisation, The Visionaries have been successfuly leading diverse groups on positive trips into the wild for 4+ years. As a course Faculty, we have 80+ years joint experience. We’ve got your back 🙂
👨🏽🦽 What if I have mobility issues?
➤ Everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors, no matter what their experience or ability. If you have limited mobility, or are a wheelchair user, you will know that outdoor access can present challenges. We are committed to partnering with anyone in this position to try to maximise inclusion, and we will make necessary adjustments and do whatever we can to help you to participate.
➤ Wherever possible, the course takes places in fully acccessible venues with disabled toilets – please see the course dates section for details. Please feel free to contact us to discuss specific details of the sites we will be using: hello@thevisionaries.org.uk
➤ If you are a wheelchair user who has never previously camped we would advise you against applying to this course this year. But please do feel free to contact us to discuss – and to come on one of our public camps to start your journey.
🌚 Can you tell me more about the ‘wilderness solo’?
Absolutely! This is a practice we are deeply passionate about. You can read what it’s all about here. There are different ways of holding it, but at it’s core it’s a three phase process – preparation, threshold, return. The intention is to provide a ceremonial container within which all kinds of magic can stir up within and around you. It creates space to tune into questions such as ‘What are my gifts? What is the world asking of me? Who am I?’
We prepare you, physically, practically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually to spend 24-hours alone in a spot of your choice in a wild place. The invitation (adn we do mean *invitation*) is to fast, to be with stillness and to go with as little distractions as possible – no phones, no notepad, no music, no food. Simply taking what you need to stay physically safe (e.g. a tarp, sleeping bag, some water and warm clothes). Tuning out of all of these things allows you to tune in to the wisdom in nature, something we rarely do.
Check out our testimonials
💰 How are the bursaries funded?
We can provide subsidised places to those who need it thanks to generous support from the Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust, who are also committed to getting more young people engaged in the outdoors.
🏕️ What happens before and after the camp?
Pre-camp – It’s important to us that you feel prepared and well supported arriving at camp. So we will have a pre-camp onboarding call with you so you can meet one of your guides and ask any questions you might have. This is also a great chance for us to hear your intentions for joining.
Post-camp – we have a growing calendar of events, taking place across the country. Villagers often get together at our events or they organise their own meetups. We also offer a post-camp 1-2-1 debrief with one of the guides, to help integrate the experience back into your everyday life.
🤙 Any other questions?
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch: hello@thevisionaries.org.uk
Still can’t decide? Why not check out our Instagram to see more photos and videos from previous Village camps.