IS WILD CAMPING LEGAL?
The law varies across the UK. In all of Scotland (except parts of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs) wild camping is legal so long as you follow the Outdoor Access Code (leave no trace and do not disturb people or animals). Outside of Scotland, there is no legal right to camp wild in the UK, except in Dartmoor. Technically, in the rest of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can only wild camp if you have the landowner’s permission. However, in many hill areas such as the Lakes, there is a long tradition of wild camping and sleeping in the fells has been unofficially tolerated for decades.
have one) inside your bag. A dry-bag stuffed full of spare clothes can act as a makeshift pillow, if you haven’t packed a camping pillow. Remember also to ensure your sleeping bag’s temperature ratings are season appropriate. A good strategy is to aim for something slightly warmer than you’re likely to need – that way you’re prepared for an unexpected cold snap.
BONUS TIP Waft your sleeping bag outside before you get in it – this will help the down expand and re-loft.
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What should you wear? You’ll be hiking in to your wild camping spot, so you’ll already be wearing your usual walking clothes – sturdy boots, waterproofs and warm layers. For wild camping, you only really need a few extras such as thermal base layers for pyjamas, spare socks (yours might be damp), and a hat, gloves and an additional insulated jacket for those cold evenings.
BONUS TIP For added warmth at night, fill your water bottle with hot water, cover with a sock and you’ve got yourself a makeshift hot water bottle.
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What equipment do you need? A lot of this is self-explanatory. You’ll obviously need your tent, sleeping bag (with optional liner), and sleeping mat. For cooking you’ll need a camping stove, gas canister, lighter, pot, mug and spork, and for morale a flask of whisky or pack of Percy Pig sweets are irreplaceable. Other essential items include headtorch, trowel, several drybags, rubbish bag, emergency rations and spare pegs and guy lines. But don’t overdo it – an exceptionally heavy rucksack will give you backache and spoil the adventure. Be efficient with your packing and only take what you really need.
BONUS TIP Take a powerbank so you can recharge your phone, headtorch and other electronics.
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What sort of food should you cook? You can make things as simple or complicated as you like, be it the humble Pot Noodle or a five-star gourmet steak. A simple and tasty option, however, is an expedition meal from a brand such as Summit To Eat or Firepot. These dehydrated or freeze-dried meals come pre-prepared in a pouch and all you have to do is add boiling water. There’s no washing up either, as you eat them out of the pouch. For breakfast, porridge pots and a coffee sachet are popular choices.
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How can you find safe drinking water? Water is heavy, so you’ll probably need to re-supply at a water source such as a stream or tarn. Running water is generally safer than still water and it’s best practice to collect from as close to the source as possible. Remember to check upstream for dead sheep or waste too. For drinking water, bottles with integrated filters such as the LifeStraw Go are your best bet – simply fill up and drink. It’s that simple. But for water for cooking, you’ll need to boil it, add water purification tablets or use a more advanced product such as the Sawyer 1-Gallon Gravity Water Filtration System. If you’re only going for a one-night wild camp, however, you might be able to carry enough water, thus avoiding the need for filtering.
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What if you need to go to the toilet? This is the question everyone asks – and just the thought of needing to go for a number two out in the wild is enough to put some off wild camping forever. But there’s no need to get too embarrassed about an al fresco call of nature. It’s all relatively simple. Find a quiet spot at least 50m away from paths and water sources, dig a hole 15-20cm deep with your trowel (a mini shovel), do your business, cover with dirt, and carry away all toilet tissue in a sealed bag. Job done. As it were...
BONUS TIP Pack spare ziplock bags for carrying out toilet tissue, and hand sanitiser for washing your hands.
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What safety precautions should you take? Always carry basic safety equipment with you – map, compass, GPS device, mobile phone, headtorch and first aid kit – and let someone know your approximate route, where you’ll camp and what time you’ll be home. That way, in the unlikely event of an emergency, they can raise the alarm and provide useful info to Mountain Rescue.
BONUS TIP Make a mental note of potential escape routes if things go wrong during the night.
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What should you do if the weather forecast is really bad? Wild camping is heaven or hell, depending on the whim of the weather gods. If it’s sunny and still, you’re in for an aweinspiring experience; if it’s stormy, things could get very ugly. A sensible strategy is to keep a close eye on the weather forecast via the Met Office and Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS), and if things look particularly wet or windy it might be best to postpone.
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How can you make the experience as memorable as possible? A lot of this guide has focused on skills, ethics and troubleshooting – but we don’t want to make the whole process sound too daunting or technical. Ultimately, wild camping is about letting loose, escaping into the wild and having fun. It’s about relaxing in your camping chair, sipping on a hot chocolate and watching the sunset over a jagged skyline of majestic peaks. It’s about lying in your tent, listening to the pitter-patter of the rain as you read a good book, or waking up at dawn for a revitalising dip in the tarn as your everyday worries joyously float away. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? So stop procrastinating, pack your bag and get going!