Wild camping offers a fantastic experience: when you're away from campsites, you can feel at one with the natural landscape and enjoy a more adventurous journey. However, it’s important to understand the legality of wild camping to ensure that you do so while within your rights. To help you out, we’ve put together a guide to wild camping in England, how to do so compliantly, and our tips for the best possible experience.
Can You Wild Camp in England?
In England and Wales, most land is privately owned, meaning that wild camping is generally illegal and is regarded as trespassing – a civil offence. As such, it’s necessary to get the permission of the landowner of your chosen area before you camp in the wild.
In Scotland, the Land Reform Act 2003 states that people have the right of responsible access to most land and inland water. This includes the right to wild camp on most unenclosed land as long as you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and practise 'Leave No Trace' principles. These principles include packing all waste with you to dispose of appropriately, camping on durable surfaces to reduce impact, and being respectful of your surroundings and its wildlife.
As such, you should wild camp in Scotland to ensure that your camping is fully compliant with the laws of the land you’re camping in. However, there is an exception for Dartmoor regarding legal wild camping in England, as explained below.
Can You Wild Camp on Dartmoor?
Dartmoor is the only place in England where you can legally wild camp. However, this is restricted to specific areas only. You should choose the area you camp in by using Dartmoor National Park Authority’s camping map to find permitted zones and ensure that your camping is fully legal. Though you must abide by the following rules when you do so:
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Carry your own equipment on your walk and stay at most one or two nights, following their Backpack Camping Code.
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No overnight stays in vehicles, campervans, or motorhomes.
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No large tents or large groups camping.
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Leave no trace – don't light fires and take all rubbish home.
Wild Camping Sites in England
While there are no blanket access rights across England, some areas are more commonly associated with wild camping than others. These include:
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Lake District National Park
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Peak District National Park
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Northumberland National Park
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Yorkshire Dales National Park
Best Practice for Wild Camping in England
If you are wild camping in England, it is generally tolerated under certain circumstances. These are:
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Camping in high-altitude areas away from residences and lake shores
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Carrying out ‘Leave No Trace’ camping
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Limiting stays to one night
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Pitching late and packing up early
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Being discreet
Being respectful of the land you’re on while wild camping is key, though bear in mind that landowners or their representatives have the legal right to order you to break camp and move on.
What Are the Essential Items to Bring for Wild Camping?
When wild camping, it’s important to make sure that you take all of the essentials you need with you and that they are lightweight, practical, and durable. You may need to take additional items with you, depending on your personal needs and the type of trip you’re on. However, the standard camping equipment that you’ll need to take with you includes:
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Lightweight tent or bivvy
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Waterproof clothing
We also recommend bringing freeze-dried meals. These meals are lightweight, contain plenty of energy and important nutrients, and taste great. With just the addition of hot water from a stove, you can quickly rehydrate these meals, making them ready in an instant. If your trip is short and you can afford a little extra weight in your camping rucksack, wet meals offer a more homely flavour and are quick to prepare.
High-Quality Wild Camping Supplies at Base Camp Food
By using our tips above, you can enjoy the exciting experience that wild camping has to offer while ensuring that your trip is fully compliant and respectful of the area you’re camping in. Above all, remember to “Leave No Trace” and minimise your environmental impact.
At Base Camp Food, we offer a convenient selection of camping meals and outdoor equipment to keep you prepared for your trip. All of these are from trusted brands for lightweight, high-quality, dependable options.
If you’d like to know anything more about our wild camping products and how they can help you on your outdoor pursuits, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.