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After a long journey...
After a long journey...
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Staying out in the sticks

Hiking through the Black Forest – sleeping in a clearing in the grass.
Hiking through the Black Forest – sleeping in a clearing in the grass.
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Here we are talking about some rather unusual places to spend your night: under bridges, in the ditch, under rocks, covered entrances, in the VW bus, in the woods, on the meadow, in the vineyard, on the beach, in dilapidated houses and much more.

Sometimes, when you are hiking or on a bike tour, you do not know where you will spend your next night. This is quite attractive to young people. In addition, you have the weather to count with. Will it rain? How cold will the night be? Is the place to stay safe? May I stay there at all?

Here we arrived just outside Paris by rain. We slept under a bridge.
Here we arrived just outside Paris by rain. We slept under a bridge.
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These are all questions which occupy one or the other to some degree. My personal objective always was, to arrive late, leave early and also leave the dwelling as if we never were here in the first place. This way we never had any troubles, regardless if we travelled through Germany, France or Sweden.

Even the French police noticed one or another place we stayed - well, if you stay right in a village on park benches and our bikes built up to a mountain, things like that do not go unnoticed.

The charm of the extraordinary

An overnight stay in the French Alps near a river bed.
An overnight stay in the French Alps near a river bed.
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The kids liked it. There was rain and even a bit of snowfall. Not even that compelled us to look for a covered spot in the middle of the night.

Such experiences - far from cuddly soft bed at home – are the stuff which creates unforgettable memories. Even after decades, the one or other night lingers in your memory.


On a hike in the gorge of the Grand Canyon du Verdon (France).
On a hike in the gorge of the Grand Canyon du Verdon (France).
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We stayed on the beach and woke up to the sun.
We stayed on the beach and woke up to the sun.
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What dangers may lurk out there?

A one-night stay in southern France forest.
A one-night stay in southern France forest.
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This is in Southern France. It was cold and wet. This dilapidated house was our stay for one night.
This is in Southern France. It was cold and wet. This dilapidated
house was our stay for one night.
© www.youthwork-practice.com

  • Woods or meadows: wild fire danger, wild boar - the special encounter

  • Ravine or high up on the rocks: rock falling, floods

  • Ditch: Car accident, traffic

  • Forest and meadow paths: agricultural vehicles could come up

  • Public spaces (park benches, driveways, porches): no clear view, you can be mobbed

  • Beach: Ebb & Flood

Evaluate the situation

In the end, it is always the situation where you spontaneously decide where to sleep. Alternatively, you could look at a map beforehand and decide on the places you could stay overnight. Also, find out if you allowed staying there.


It was just above zero degrees, a bitterly cold at night. You can still see the frost on the grass.
It was just above zero degrees, a bitterly cold at night.
You can still see the frost on the grass.
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We stayed on the beach - hiking in Brittany.
We stayed on the beach - hiking in Brittany.
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Southern France, French Alps at over 1000 meters.
Southern France, French Alps at over 1000 meters.
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South of France, Provence
South of France, Provence
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Bicycle tour through the Normandy - shortly before Cherbourg we stayed in the ditch. Canoe trip in Sweden
Bicycle tour through the Normandy - shortly before Cherbourg we stayed in the ditch.
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Canoe trip in Sweden
Canoe trip in Sweden
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Hiking along the Baltic Sea
Hiking along the Baltic Sea
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Hiking camp by the sea: staying on the beach and enjoying nature.
Hiking camp by the sea: staying on the beach and enjoying nature.
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A stay on the beach with the youth group.
A stay on the beach with the youth group.
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Somewhere to stay along the road; and in the morning, it's up and going again.
Somewhere to stay along the road; and in the morning, it's up and going again.
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After hiking staying at the beach only to be woken up by the sun.
After hiking staying at the beach only to be woken up by the sun.
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Sleeping in the middle of the forest at a lake.
Sleeping in the middle of the forest at a lake.
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Southern France: we spent the night on a dirt road with 27 people.
Southern France: we spent the night on a dirt road with 27 people.
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