There’s a risk to spending a night outdoors: being noticed, getting into trouble. But on the other side of that risk is something that’s hard to replace: a sense of immersion in nature that you rarely get any other way.

 

 

Well-measured challenge
 

Especially at the beginning, it’s important not to push yourself too hard. The most valuable resource when spending nights out in the open is experience — and as a beginner, you naturally don’t have much of it yet. So take it slowly, step by step.
 

A good way to start is to stay at small campsites first, and only later — gradually — add individual nights out in nature. Not too much at once. Give your experiences time to sink in.
 

Personally, I really like alternating between campsites and nights in the wild. Both have their pros and cons (see below). But simply knowing where the next campsite is can already be a relief. Because I know: if I don’t find a spot, there’s always a fallback option. That knowledge is calming.
 

That’s also one reason why the Yelloway Out cycling network map exists. Between Berlin and the Baltic Sea, it gives me a sense of security — just in case.