Wild camping means sleeping out away from campsites, with nothing but what you carry. It's quieter, cheaper and better than you'd think. It just needs a bit more planning.
Where you can go
- Scotland: responsible wild camping is allowed on most unenclosed land under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Some areas, like parts of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, need a permit in the busy months.
- Dartmoor: backpack camping is allowed in permitted areas of the Dartmoor commons. The Supreme Court confirmed the right in 2025.
- Everywhere else in England and Wales: you need the landowner's permission. Some areas, like the high fells of the Lake District, have a long tradition of discreet, one-night camping, but it isn't a right and a landowner can ask you to move on.
Our guide Can you legally wild camp in the UK? goes into more detail.
The unwritten rules
- Pitch late, leave early. Arrive near dusk and be gone in the morning.
- One night only in the same spot.
- Stay out of sight of roads, houses and fields with animals.
- Small groups. Two or three tents at most.
- No fires. Use a stove. Fire scars last for years and wildfires spread fast.
- Leave no trace. Take all your rubbish home, including food scraps. Go to the loo well away from water, and bury it or carry it out.
Choosing a pitch
- Flat, dry ground with some shelter from the wind.
- Close to water, but not right next to it.
- Away from paths, and not in a hollow that fills with cold air or rain.
What to take
- A light tent you've pitched before
- An insulated sleeping mat and a sleeping bag rated for the night
- A stove, gas, a pot and food
- Water, plus a way to treat more
- Waterproofs, a warm layer, a hat and a head torch
- Map and compass, a charged phone and a small first aid kit
- A bag for your rubbish
Start small
For your first night, pick somewhere you could walk out of in the dark if you had to. Check the forecast, tell someone where you're going, and turn back if the weather turns.
Don't have the kit? We hire everything above. Start with our guide to choosing camping kit, or browse camping hire.
