LEAVE NO TRACE

How to keep your impact minimal

Over the last year or so there has been some confusion over the term

‘wild camping’, with media reports often conflating it with the sort of irresponsible roadside carnage-camping we saw many reports of last summer – but if that’s your bag, it’s unlikely you’ll be reading The Great Outdoors for tips!

‘Wild camping’ as defined in this article – and by the outdoor community in general – means the act of making lightweight, temporary camps, solo or in small groups, in wild places, and in locations which have involved a substantial hike to put some decent distance between you and civilisation. Most crucially, it involves being a responsible steward of the local environment, taking away all your litter, and leaving no trace of your presence when you leave.

Doing the right thing will ultimately give you a far more satisfying experience and enable you to be closer to nature.

Here are 10 tips for how to do wild camping right.:

Always leave no trace and carry away all litter.

Pitch up late in the evening and de-camp early in the morning. Groups should be small and stay for one night only at each location. Never light fires and never chop down trees or vegetation.

Perform toilet duties well away from paths and water sources.

Bury all human waste with a trowel. Minimise your impact on the environment and respect wildlife. Camp on open access land, above the intake wall.

Camp well away from hamlets and farms.

Be quiet, camp discreetly and don’t be a visual eyesore.