Where to rough / wild camp
Discussion
Not sure if this is the best place to post but here goes.
We have all the camping gear and go as a family but my son wants to go basic.
He's a scout and a love Bear Grylls and would like to be able to camp out and make a fire etc etc.
Most sites ban fires and I appreciate why but does anyone know places where you can do the above?
We could go along the Thames which is near but I realise land owners probably wouldn't like it
We have all the camping gear and go as a family but my son wants to go basic.
He's a scout and a love Bear Grylls and would like to be able to camp out and make a fire etc etc.
Most sites ban fires and I appreciate why but does anyone know places where you can do the above?
We could go along the Thames which is near but I realise land owners probably wouldn't like it
Good post and interesting question.
I have family in the USA who go camping every couple of months or so, and I really admire the way they can virtually go anywhere they want, completely off the track, miles from anywhere and set up a camp, have a camp fire, chop a bit of wood for the fire, do a bit of fishing, take rifles and shoot something for their tea, and generally be totally alone in the wild without seeing another human except those in their group.
Compre that to over here, and you basically aren't allowed to do anything fun or camp anywhere you want to despite having vast areas of uninhabited land such as where I live in the Lake District.
As far as I know, you cannot:
Camp wherever you like
Have a campfire
Chop a bit of wood to burn
fish for something to eat in any nearby river or lake without having various licences/permits.
But... I don't know what the 'rules' on camping actually are. Maybe I'm totally wrong and you can do those things?
Someone will maybe come along and have the answers here
I have family in the USA who go camping every couple of months or so, and I really admire the way they can virtually go anywhere they want, completely off the track, miles from anywhere and set up a camp, have a camp fire, chop a bit of wood for the fire, do a bit of fishing, take rifles and shoot something for their tea, and generally be totally alone in the wild without seeing another human except those in their group.
Compre that to over here, and you basically aren't allowed to do anything fun or camp anywhere you want to despite having vast areas of uninhabited land such as where I live in the Lake District.
As far as I know, you cannot:
Camp wherever you like
Have a campfire
Chop a bit of wood to burn
fish for something to eat in any nearby river or lake without having various licences/permits.
But... I don't know what the 'rules' on camping actually are. Maybe I'm totally wrong and you can do those things?
Someone will maybe come along and have the answers here
I do almost all of my wild camping in the Lake District. As long as you're above the highest boundary fences it's fair game, and the scenery is spectacular if you're okay with a bit of walking and ascent to get there. Plenty of fast running streams as a water source too which saves having to carry too much up with you.
I tend to leave early in the morning for a clear run on the motorways to get there, takes a big chunk out of the journey time.
I know a good chunk of people go wild camping on Dartmoor or in Wales as an alternative.
If you're looking somewhere more local to you then it may be worth posting on Outdoors Magic, I've seen mention of people wild camping in the home counties and you should get an idea of locations etc. Not sure it'd be for me though, the idea of having to dodge land owners doesn't appeal.
I tend to leave early in the morning for a clear run on the motorways to get there, takes a big chunk out of the journey time.
I know a good chunk of people go wild camping on Dartmoor or in Wales as an alternative.
If you're looking somewhere more local to you then it may be worth posting on Outdoors Magic, I've seen mention of people wild camping in the home counties and you should get an idea of locations etc. Not sure it'd be for me though, the idea of having to dodge land owners doesn't appeal.
andburg said:
I believe its technically illegal to camp on public land in England so you'd need a private landowner, or go to Scotland
All land in the UK is owned by someone...OP all you need is land owners permission, you can wild camp where ever you please.
Wild camping on some of the national parks/forestry commission owned land is allowed.
All the national parks & forestry commision have a page like this on their website, its worth a look, but be aware that most land in national parks is owned by farmers, so you need their permission.
http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/wheretosta...
Some have a no fire rule due to the risk of forest fires.
As tehofive said above you can generally get away with it above a certain height, but its best to be discrete and be atleast 5 miles ish from any houses.
It may also for your first trip be worth considering a campsite that allows has facilities for fires - http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=4
Me and the OH have been "wild" camping for years and had two trips last year with our 10month old.
Really simple...
1. Look at a map, find a spot that seems remote from main roads etc
2. Drive there, suss it out for a good camping spot/field.
3. Go to the nearest house or farm - be really polite, stand there with your son and ask for the landowner or if the resident knows who the owner is etc etc.
4. The next bit is important - you must stress to the owner that you know the "rules" - Tell them you will have a fire but will lift turfs and dig a pit, and that when you leave.... You will leave nothing but flat grass.
5. Mention some money for goodwill (farmers love cash) But only to seal the deal at the end of your conversation.
This is camping!!
Its been done like this for a long time - its not that tricky, Remember the person your asking most likely camped in the same way themselves. In ten years I cant recollect a firm "NO". Some we go back to year on year - one in particular in north devon, a truly amazing spot.
Tip - plasterer's bucket and bin bags........ Easier (all round) than squatting.
Really simple...
1. Look at a map, find a spot that seems remote from main roads etc
2. Drive there, suss it out for a good camping spot/field.
3. Go to the nearest house or farm - be really polite, stand there with your son and ask for the landowner or if the resident knows who the owner is etc etc.
4. The next bit is important - you must stress to the owner that you know the "rules" - Tell them you will have a fire but will lift turfs and dig a pit, and that when you leave.... You will leave nothing but flat grass.
5. Mention some money for goodwill (farmers love cash) But only to seal the deal at the end of your conversation.
This is camping!!
Its been done like this for a long time - its not that tricky, Remember the person your asking most likely camped in the same way themselves. In ten years I cant recollect a firm "NO". Some we go back to year on year - one in particular in north devon, a truly amazing spot.
Tip - plasterer's bucket and bin bags........ Easier (all round) than squatting.
There is website/forum dedicated to wild camping for motorhomes/campers. Not what the OP was after but might be useful for other people.
www.wildcamping.co.uk
www.wildcamping.co.uk
National trust is officially a no, But we've camped a few times (one place in particular) where on the first visit the ranger turned up and told us that camping is not allowed but.... "Its such a beautiful spot, I've camped here myself and your clearly not going to have a rave or anything"
Some of the forestry commission sites are very nice, beddgelert in particular - no fires and there will be other people there though.
TBH lots of the smaller approved locations we've been to have been empty and never minded a fire off the ground, walk around the hedgerows and gather some wood etc.
At there any forest schools in your area? They are gaining popularity and by the sounds of it your boy might be up for it? - I'm sure they would have local knowledge to point you in the right direction regarding camping.
Some of the forestry commission sites are very nice, beddgelert in particular - no fires and there will be other people there though.
TBH lots of the smaller approved locations we've been to have been empty and never minded a fire off the ground, walk around the hedgerows and gather some wood etc.
At there any forest schools in your area? They are gaining popularity and by the sounds of it your boy might be up for it? - I'm sure they would have local knowledge to point you in the right direction regarding camping.
Couple of friends and I camped near mommouth last year - big wild meadow on flood plains next to a large river, kept fires at the edge of the field and camped under a huge oak tree out of the way.
Few locals came by and congratulated us on our choice of weekend activity and even asked us to leave the rubbish near his gate so he could take it away for us!!!
Was a great weekend.
Few locals came by and congratulated us on our choice of weekend activity and even asked us to leave the rubbish near his gate so he could take it away for us!!!
Was a great weekend.
Antony Moxey said:
I'm pretty sure one of the few places you can legally wild camp is Dartmoor. Just watch out for the military's live firing areas though.
Only certain areas of dartmoor. There are maps available online I'm sure!OP, as your son is a scout, there are plenty of greenfield scout campsites, might be worth asking one of them
http://campsites.scouts.org.uk/
shedweller said:
National trust is officially a no, But we've camped a few times (one place in particular) where on the first visit the ranger turned up and told us that camping is not allowed but.... "Its such a beautiful spot, I've camped here myself and your clearly not going to have a rave or anything"
Wild camping is a no no. However, leave no trace, don't get seen, and a blind eye will be turned.
Fires are a big giveaway of your location, and as that is possibly one of the things your lad is really keen on, I'd suggest looking for some more fire friendly sites to start with.
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=4
We often wild camp, but walk in late and camp far from any paths, no fires, and up and gone early leaving no mess or anything which could show we had spent a night.
The key to wild camping is pitch up late and leave early.
I did it for a couple of years in my motorhome (WC member). In general if you are polite you wont get any big problems. I stayed in plenty of FC car parks etc - they tend to lock up around 8-9pm so you are locked in. Your best bet is to find somewhere to park your car, village car park etc then plan out a 4 hour walk out and pitch up around dusk and then up at dawn and a 4 hour walk back.
Make sure you take precautions re telling people where you are going, what time you will be back etc. IME the best wild camping spots have poor to no mobile coverage.
A good starting location is Llanddona beach. The only down side is the lane going down is *mega* steep and very narrow. But, there is a free car park and then you can pitch up on the beach. Most summers weekends you will have 10 to 15 motorhomes plus a few in tents. There is a small café which opens at 8am.
There are "beach patrol" types in the summer, but they tend to go around 5-6pm. After that its a bit of a free for all! The fishermen turn up around 8pm ish IME. We have been there probably 6 or 7 times over 2 years and never had a problem. Good phone coverage. Toilet block, café and that's about it. There are perhaps 5 houses on the hill side so its not really remote if something went wrong. Its a gravel beach.
Avoid bank holidays though, gets very busy.
Another good spot in Wales is Lake Vyrnwy - few good car parks and if you go to the far end there is no one really passing at all during the night. Some good trails if you head west towards Aran Fawddwy.
I did it for a couple of years in my motorhome (WC member). In general if you are polite you wont get any big problems. I stayed in plenty of FC car parks etc - they tend to lock up around 8-9pm so you are locked in. Your best bet is to find somewhere to park your car, village car park etc then plan out a 4 hour walk out and pitch up around dusk and then up at dawn and a 4 hour walk back.
Make sure you take precautions re telling people where you are going, what time you will be back etc. IME the best wild camping spots have poor to no mobile coverage.
A good starting location is Llanddona beach. The only down side is the lane going down is *mega* steep and very narrow. But, there is a free car park and then you can pitch up on the beach. Most summers weekends you will have 10 to 15 motorhomes plus a few in tents. There is a small café which opens at 8am.
There are "beach patrol" types in the summer, but they tend to go around 5-6pm. After that its a bit of a free for all! The fishermen turn up around 8pm ish IME. We have been there probably 6 or 7 times over 2 years and never had a problem. Good phone coverage. Toilet block, café and that's about it. There are perhaps 5 houses on the hill side so its not really remote if something went wrong. Its a gravel beach.
Avoid bank holidays though, gets very busy.
Another good spot in Wales is Lake Vyrnwy - few good car parks and if you go to the far end there is no one really passing at all during the night. Some good trails if you head west towards Aran Fawddwy.
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