Forest Camp at Lake Wedromierz

This year’s holiday idea was different from usual – instead of long trips abroad, we decided to look for quiet places in Poland, away from the tourist crowds.

Mrok on an evening walk in the water.

In the early 1980s, I used to camp in Łagów – then still a small, charming town on the Lubusz Lake District. Camping Promyk felt like a dream come true, and even a heavy two-person tent weighing over ten kilos could not spoil it. At that time, it was my home. I remember the clear lake, fresh rolls and milk in the morning, and the famous canned “tourist meat,” which tasted better than any dish in a fine restaurant.

Our Land Cruiser with a rooftop tent hidden among the pines at Lake Wędromierz.

This year, Łagów was one of our goals. But before going there, we looked for a chance to set up camp by a lake, deep in the forest, away from any facilities – the simplest way to avoid crowds. Add no phone signal to that, and the only meetings left were with people like us 😊.

Monika sharing a tender moment with Mrok on the kayak, surrounded by the silence of Lake Wędromierz.

We spent the first few days of our journey in a relaxed atmosphere, with perfect weather for camping, at a forest campsite made available by the State Forests a few years ago. For readers outside Poland: for many years, camping like this was not possible here. The lake was small, but good enough for kayaking with Mrok. It’s called Wędromierz, and it’s surrounded entirely by forest stretching for many kilometres.

Inside our rooftop home – Mrok still wondering if the day is really over.

Mrok adapted quickly, and by the second day he was already running by himself to the lakeshore, only twenty metres from camp. He soon befriended an older female dog who came with a kind couple from Germany.

If I had to describe this place in a single word, it would be silence. The whisper of pines, the sound of waves on the lake, sunshine, a star-filled sky at night, and long walks through the forest.

Monika relaxing in a colorful hammock among the pines at Lake Wędromierz.

Every day we paddled the kayak, preparing for the second stage of our trip – going down the wild Obra River. The main goal was to check how well Mrok’s training worked after weeks of practice, including sessions with the kayak set up… in our living room.

During these outings we also landed on a green peninsula, where we tested our new lightweight tent. We would later use it in the third part of the trip – cycling around the island of Rügen.

Mrok standing on the bow, watching the shoreline with curiosity.

From Wędromierz we went north. We passed through Łagów, which has now become a very different place from what I remembered. The lake is surrounded by private campsites, which is not really our style. Still, tasty fish and a friendly lady sharing stories about how Łagów changed over the years made our visit worthwhile.

Another lake and another camp just a few meters from the water.

Our next camp was by another lake – larger, with beautiful sunsets. Again long walks through the forest and along the shoreline. To our surprise, on windy days we could sometimes hear the distant hum of the motorway reaching this quiet place.

If I had to choose one word for this spot, it would be sunsets.

Everyone still asleep, while we’re out walking to feel the morning dew on our paws.

A week passed, and it was finally time for the Obra River – the real test for us and for Mrok.

Mrok on the pier at sunset, watching the still waters of the lake.

How the huge fallen trees surprised us, why Mrok behaved like a squirrel – you’ll read about it in the next story: Kayaking the wild Obra River with a dog on board.

Warm sunsets and crisp mornings – this is how it feels in our Poland.

A few more moments by the lakes – welcome to the gallery.