Wild camping in the ice cold wind | Hilleberg Soulo BL test
Welcome back to the Shropshire Hills. I set out for another adventure in this beautiful part of England, heading up towards the Long Mynd, starting from Small Batch Valley. My plan was to spend the night wild camping near Grindle. It turned out to be a memorable trip, marked by a dramatic mix of weather and the excitement of testing out a brand-new piece of gear.
Watch the YouTube video - Wild camping in the ice cold wind | Hilleberg Soulo BL Test
The weather was fairly brutal from the start. On my way up, I was caught in a sudden snow shower, which quickly passed but left a biting chill in the air. The wind a strong northerly 15 gusting 25 knots, with occasional blasts even stronger. It was around 2°C, but the wind chill made it feel significantly colder. I knew this would be a proper test of my gear and my resilience.
This trip was special because it was my first outing with a new Hilleberg tent, the Soulo Black Label. It’s a serious bit of kit—designed for extreme conditions—and I was eager to see how it would perform in the strong winds and unpredictable weather. It wasn’t exactly the calmest conditions to break in a new tent, but sometimes you’ve got to dive straight in.
The walk up was stunning, as always, but challenging. There was a constant back-and-forth between sunshine and snow showers, with the sky constantly shifting between dark, brooding clouds and bright, golden light. This kind of weather, while tough to endure, creates such a unique and beautiful atmosphere that it’s hard not to love it.
I was wearing my trusty Buffalo Special 6 shirt, which has been my go-to for over 20 years. It’s a remarkable piece of kit—keeps you warm even when it’s wet, and it’s just simple and reliable. No sponsorship here, just pure appreciation for gear that’s stood the test of time. That said, I did manage to put my hat on inside out in the rush to get moving when the snow hit. Classic.
The route took me up Small Batch, with Callow Hill on my right—a spot I’ve camped at many times before. This time, though, I decided to push on towards Grindle, a rounded hill with a nice plateau at the top. I’d been there before but never approached it from this angle. The ground was rough, covered in heather and gorse, and I wasn’t sure I’d find a decent pitch. With the wind howling, I thought I might have to drop down to the eastern ridge, a spot called Nills, where I’d camped a few times in the past.
As I reached the top of Grindle, the views were incredible despite the biting wind. Visibility was great when the snow showers weren’t rolling through. Standing there at 459 meters and spending a few minutes soaking in the views, I decided to move down a couple of hundred meters to find a bit of shelter from the wind.
I eventually found a reasonably flat spot on Nills, surrounded by heather and, unfortunately, a fair amount of horse manure. It wasn’t perfect, but it offered a bit of protection from the wind and still had stunning views. With an hour or so until sunset, I got to work setting up the Hilleberg Solo BL for the first time.
Pitching the tent in those conditions was an experience. The wind was relentless, but even with just one guy line secured, the tent felt rock solid. It’s clear that this thing is built to handle serious weather. Once it was fully set up, I climbed inside and was immediately impressed by how stable and secure it felt. There’s not as much headroom as I expected—at 6’2”, I can just about sit upright—but there’s plenty of space overall.
As the sun began to set, I stepped outside and was treated to one of the most spectacular sights I’ve seen in a long time. The low light illuminated the snow showers in the distance, creating an otherworldly golden red glow. Moments like these are why I love wild camping. Yes, the gear is expensive—this tent cost me nearly £1,000, but it’s worth it for the chance to experience views like this.
After the sun dipped below the horizon, I retreated to the tent to warm up. I brewed a cup of tea and settled in for the night.
The tent held up beautifully against the wind, and I slept soundly despite the conditions outside. Waking up the next morning to beautiful skies and spectacular views was the perfect way to end the trip.
This adventure reminded me why I keep coming back to the hills, no matter the weather. There’s a sense of peace and accomplishment that comes from braving the elements, and the Shropshire Hills never fail to deliver.