Fan To Travel

Glamping may be becoming increasingly popular but its polar opposite, wild camping, is attracting more and more followers. Whether this is because it is much cheaper than “mild camping” (i.e. camping on a recognised site) or whether it is a sign that we are increasingly seeking true peace and quiet, there is no getting away from the fact that wild camping is no longer just for hard core campers.

Many of us may be attracted by the prospect of walking (or camping) on the wild side but are worried about the legality of the practice. If you want to be free to camp wherever you fancy then Scotland is your best bet. Legislation passed in 2003 makes wild camping legal so long as it is done away from dwellings and roads. The position in England and Wales is slightly more complicated. Permission of the landowner is required and this is often impractical in remote areas. If possible get permission but in practice so long as you are discreet and follow certain common sense rules you are unlikely to find yourself in hot water. It goes without saying that if the landowner asks you to move you should do so.

These common sense rules include not disturbing livestock, not building fires, taking care of your environment, removing your rubbish including soiled toilet tissue, restricting the size of your group and staying for one night only. Wild camping can leave you more exposed to the elements, so make sure you take along good-quality waterproof trousers and ladies waterproof jackets.

Dartmoor is an exception to the usual English take on wild camping. The authorities there are far more relaxed and permit camping for no more than two nights “on farmland, on moorland enclosed by walls, within 100m of a road, on flood plains or on archaeological sites”. Take care, however, that you are not in the vicinity of the army firing ranges on the north of the moor.

While camping in such a natural environment, it’s easy to forget that you aren’t the only people in the world as you get lost in the stars. However, that doesn’t mean that you can treat your campsite as if no one will ever use it again. There are a few common courtesies you should remember that you would want to be extended to yourself by others.

1. Don’t litter. If there are rubbish bins provided, make use of them, but if there aren’t then use your own bags. Make sure rubbish bins make the list of camping accessories to remember to pack.
2. Don’t be too loud. If there are others camping then you should respect them by keeping music and other noise down to a minimum. They may be trying to sleep and it is disrespectful to just ignore this fact.
3. Don’t infringe on the campsites of others. If you want more room then you should move to a vacated space to do so, not into the space of fellow campers.
4 Don’t intimidate wildlife. You are in their territory, not the other way around. Provoking them could put yourself and others at risk.
5. Don’t build fires outside designated areas. If you have been told not to build fires in certain areas or if there are signs telling you not to, then they are all for a reason. Fire can be a danger and can spread out of control quickly. Fires can catch hold of material such as camping mats and cause widespread damage, so be vigilant at all times.
6. Don’t cut living trees down. If you need firewood then you should collect it from the ground, bring it with you or buy it from your campsite while you are there.
7. Keep your pets under control. Other campers may not share your animals’ enthusiasm and could be disturbed by their activities. Also make sure you clean up after them as others do not want to live with your pets’ waste lying around.
8. Stick to the signposted tracks and trails. Going off the trail can damage the environment and the homes of the wildlife that lives there. It could also be risky to wander off where there might be dangerous animals.
9. Take everything you bring. Ideally your campsite should be cleaner than it was when you got there; others do not want to deal with your left-behinds
10. Assign responsibilities within your group. You don’t want to be left arguing over who has to do what!

If you can follow these rules and be respectful in general, then everyone can have a good time and you could even make some new friends out of your neighbours.