I’m Martin Grove, the adventurer behind Vildmark — a hub for wild camping UK tips, packrafting adventures, hiking stories, and outdoor gear reviews built on real-world testing and honest storytelling.
Working as an Emergency Medical Technician in East Anglia, I see life at its most intense. My day job puts me at the centre of emergency situations where every second counts. It’s a world of pressure, sirens, and decisions made fast — which is why the outdoors has become my reset button.
Stepping into wild spaces gives me perspective, balance, and peace of mind. That mix of chaos and calm fuels my passion for roof tent camping, wild camping, hiking, and packrafting both in the UK and across Scandinavia.
What Vildmark Means
The word “Vildmark” comes from Swedish and translates roughly to “the wilderness.” For me, it represents the untamed spaces where people can reconnect with nature, escape routine, and live simply. It’s a philosophy as much as a place — the pursuit of silence, wildness, and adventure. Everything I do under the Vildmark name carries that spirit.
My Story
My journey into outdoor life began with a fascination for Scandinavia. I was drawn to the Swedish concept of friluftsliv— a philosophy that means “living simply in nature.” On a Swedish lake, I discovered the kind of peace that can’t be found in daily life: paddling at dawn, fishing in quiet bays, and sleeping under the pines. That discovery shaped every adventure that followed.
Since then, I’ve travelled from roof tent wild camping in the Scottish Highlands to fishing from a packraft in Sweden’s Glaskogen wilderness. Along the way, I’ve learned that the outdoors doesn’t have to be complicated. The simplest setups — a roof tent, a lightweight packraft, a compact fishing rod — can unlock experiences that stay with you for a lifetime.
This passion even led me to write a book: “Lakes, Lures & Laughter.” It tells the story of a packrafting adventure in Sweden, blending humour, fishing mishaps, and the restorative power of the wild. Writing the book cemented what Vildmark is all about: adventure with a human touch, where gear, place, and story all come together.
Vildmark began as a personal journal of my trips. Over time, it grew into a trusted resource for others who wanted to make their own adventures happen. Today, my platform blends storytelling, practical advice, and authentic outdoor gear reviews that show how kit performs when it’s really put to the test.
What I Create
At the heart of Vildmark is content that inspires people to get outside — whether that’s a weekend wild camp in the UK, a hiking trip in Scandinavia, a local micro adventure being that: a day fishing or paddling on the river, a coastal hike or learning about gear that makes life easier on the trail.
- Outdoor Gear Reviews – I provide detailed, honest reviews of products tested in the field, including the best packraft review UK, lightweight stoves, fishing gear, and roof tents. Every review is backed by real use, not just studio tests.
- Wild Camping UK Guides – from simple riverside overnights to multi-day expeditions, I share practical tips for setting up in the wild, staying safe, and making the most of the experience.
- Packrafting Adventures – documenting trips on Scottish lochs, Swedish lakes, and UK rivers, with fishing stories woven into the journey.
- Roof Tent Camping – sharing setups, gear recommendations, and real-world insights from long trips with a tent on the truck roof.
Everything I create is designed to be useful, relatable, and inspiring — not just for hardcore adventurers, but for anyone who wants to explore more and make there outdoor adventure easier and get more out of them.
My Reach
Vildmark has grown into a multi-platform outdoor brand with a highly engaged audience:
- Instagram (@vildmark.co.uk): 10,000+ followers. Reels on wild camping and outdoor gear regularly reach thousands, with some content going viral. Example: This reel hit over 2.4 million views.
- TikTok (@vildmark.co.uk): 600+ followers. Adventure shorts and gear review videos often exceed 200k views, like this one which reached 67,000 views.
- YouTube – Vildmark Channel: 6,000+ subscribers. Long-form wild camping guides, packraft trips, and in-depth outdoor gear reviews for an engaged community of viewers.
- Website – vildmark.co.uk: Over 2,000 followers and averaging 500+ hits per day, with readers searching for outdoor gear reviews, wild camping UK tips, and packrafting guides.
Combined, my content reaches hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts every month. More importantly, it reaches people who are actively interested in outdoor gear, camping setups, and packrafting adventures — an audience that values trust, authenticity, and recommendations from real-world use.
Collaborations & Outdoor Gear Reviews
I partner with outdoor brands who want their products tested and showcased in authentic conditions. That means gear gets used where it matters, for example:
- Packrafts on Scottish lochs in wind and rain.
- Camping gear in Scandinavian forests, where reliability is essential.
- Roof tents tested in UK weather, from coastal winds to highland storms.
- Outdoor Gear is thoroughly tested prior to review being made.
Every review is story-driven, practical, and relatable, showing how equipment performs when it’s really needed. This approach makes content engaging for the audience and valuable for brands — it’s not just a review, it’s a story.
Examples of Outdoor Gear Reviews
Brands I’ve Made Outdoor Gear Reviews For
Over time, I’ve collaborated with a wide range of outdoor brands, from packraft and fishing companies to tent and stove manufacturers. These partnerships have helped bring great products to a wider audience, while keeping my reviews honest and authentic.
Some of the brands I’ve worked with include Flextail, Rigged and Ready Travel Rods, Shine Turbine, Basecamp Food, Paqualife, Anfibio, and Armaskin, to name just a few. I also collaborate with MicroRafting.com, which supplies ultralight packrafting equipment.
These collaborations have allowed me to put gear through its paces in real outdoor conditions — from inflating rafts with Flextail pumps, to landing fish on Rigged and Ready rods, powering trips with the Shine Turbine, and fuelling expeditions with outdoor meals supplied by Basecamp Food. I’ve paddled Scandinavian lakes with Anfibio packrafts, explored rivers with Paqualife gear, tested long-distance comfort with Armaskin socks, and carried ultralight setups from MicroRafting.com.
Brands trust me to showcase their products in authentic adventures, and my audience trusts me to highlight both the strengths and limitations of every piece of kit.
Why Vildmark Works
What sets Vildmark apart is the blend of professional storytelling and genuine use. My background as an EMT means I’m detail-oriented, practical, and used to thinking ahead. My love of the outdoors means I test gear not just once, but over multiple trips, in real environments, with real challenges.
For brands, this creates a powerful platform where products are seen by an engaged community in content that inspires and informs. For audiences, it provides authentic outdoor advice they can trust.
Media Kit
📥 Download my full Vildmark Media Kit (PDF) here: Download Media Kit PDF
The media kit includes audience demographics, engagement stats, and content package details for brands interested in working with Vildmark.
Contact
Please email all interest to martin@vildmark.co.uk
