It's time to head for the hills…

Even if based in the heart of a city, you're less than an hour to the outdoors. As the seasons get warmer, take your chance to breathe the fresh air with new friends…

Last year I accidentally started a tribe. In so many ways social media has decreased direct communication and I wanted to see if it could be used in a truly social way.

Wondering if I could turn my Facebook followers into real people I extended an invite to come camping for a night. The message was simple:

Meet me under the clock in a London train station, and let's go sleep outside for a night.

Nineteen people turned up that evening. It was the beginning of something magical.

As we gathered around then made our way onto the train, speeding out of town towards the countryside, everyone was grinning. It was like we were up to no good. Without exception these strangers had packed for a night under the stars with a bunch of people that they had never met, and what's more, when their work colleagues had asked where they were going with that rucksack, the truth was met by surprise.

Of course, anyone who is prepared to do the unusual is used to naysayers, then jovially ignoring them, because going outside just makes people happy.

Even better, as the weeks went on and these campers continued to join these microadventures, their work colleagues went from doubtful to interested. This is how the tribe grew; word of mouth only happens when the product is good and when nature is so available, even better…

For me, that first camping trip last summer turned into something much bigger. I was thrust into an unexpected leadership role at the same time as gaining an added incentive to go and do more what I've grown to love ever since I abandoned my urban life one decade ago.

There's something gorgeous about wrapping up warm and appreciating the warmth clothing brings, rather than just the touch of a button.

An early night is more likely. It’s rare to rally against the promise of more sleep, especially outsides.

I love sleeping in a hammock. Swinging gently in the wind at the same time as wrapped up in a cosy, dry sleeping bag, a rainfly offering protection from the most brutal elements yet ensuring you're very much outside.

Making the most of the items at your disposal, whittling a stick to a point in order to peg down the rainfly, using the shavings to start a fire…

Show me a better way to get to know people than sitting in a circle around a fire. Off in some strange woods in the pitch blackness — this is so often the setting for a horror movie! — but by getting out there you just realise that we're not at odds with nature, and that working with it is good for us.

A few hours later the sun glints through the trees. We wake knowing each other. Yesterday we weren't friends, we'd never met.

This is the start of something bigger. Since the YesTribe began hundreds of people have decided to do something new because they're surrounded by people who will support them. There's nothing more important than encouragement and now, bred from these tales around campfires and under the stars, we have a growing community all dedicated to pushing ourselves and those around us.

There's a peace that comes with spending time outdoors. It's easy to be present and mindful out here. Walking and talking means less phone time and more thinking.

We've woken with the sun, so there's time to chat before packing up. For most of us a day of work is waiting. The bivvy bags and hammocks are tucked into bags, the camp scoured for displaced items.

We leave no trace and head for the nearest station, a little tired maybe but bouyant. Already, motivated by the stories of others, everyone is thinking, 'what am I going to do next?'

The YesTribe meet regularly both in and out of the city. If you feel like you're stuck in a rut or are holding off on an adventurous plan because you've got more naysayers than supporters around you, this is your community.

Each October, we hold the Queen of all campouts, an adventure-based festival called Yestival. This year it's October 21st to 23rd.

Check us out on Facebook and join us for another night under the stars.