Tenner in my pocket: The rise of alternative adventure
British tourism is often concentrated into a handful of areas – Cornwall and the Lake District for the locals, Cotswolds, Edinburgh and London for the internationals. But thanks to YouTube, there’s more local exploration done and a new appreciation for the British countryside among Millennials.
The tenner in my pocket phenomenon
At the heart of this is the “Tenner in my Pocket” and straight-line missions from Tom Davies (GeoWizard). The premise of the former is simple: grab a sleeping bag, stuff exactly £10 in your pocket, and walk in one direction as far as possible. The series gets millions of views because it celebrates that adventure can be found locally on a weekend – not a big expensive trip.
The popularity of these videos is in their authenticity. There are no five-star hotels when the camera turns off – Tom will sleep on a bench if he has to. The views are not curated, but accidentally stumbled upon. And his straight line-missions, where he cannot deviate more than 100 meters sideways, cross entire countries by climbing over farmer fences.
Beyond the postcard views
This GeoWizard effect has encouraged travelers to embrace the texture of the land itself. It’s about the in-between spaces, not the summit of a famous climb. The quiet farm tracks and windswept moors rarely make it onto a tourism brochure.
England is particularly lucky in this regard. It has ancient farmland and stunning countryside. There are a few industrial areas you’ll get caught in, and even when living in central London, you’re never too far from a national park.
The quiet satisfaction of the long traversal
There is something deeply primal about the concept of a traversal. It’s not about seeing the Lake Distict but getting to the Lake District – a challenge with a reward, not a drive into a busy car park of a well-known viewpoint.
It’s perhaps more important than ever when so many of us face alienation at work, especially with the rise of AI and technology which replaces us. Meaningful challenges must sometimes be created because we lack them in our modern society – a little bit why running has taken off.
It’s a different mindset, where feeling replaces seeing. You become aware of your elevation because you’ve worked for it. You’re in touch with the rhythm of the land and the weather, and the unexpected turns – like sun pouring through the grey British skies – mean that much more.
How to explore the wild side of England
The “wild” style of trekking as GeoWizard knows it (jumping fences and surviving on ten pounds) is often better suited to creating content. It’s not for everyone, and actually, England isn’t all that wild per se, meaning you’d have to break some rules.
You can certainly create your own adventure, but to ease yourself in, there is no harm in navigating an expertly mapped multi-day route. Companies like Orbis Ways can help you with accommodation so you can focus on the journey of the land, but when you get more experienced, you can head out with just the route and some camping gear.
The key here is that it’s a trail, not a viewpoint, and to let yourself wander off the beaten path from time to time.
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