Wild camping in its simplest term means camping on land that isn’t an official campsite. This could be anything from a roadside setup to a farmer’s field with no electrical hookups, toilets, or pre-booked pitches. However, before you pack up and go, you need to know the official wild camping laws uk rules. The country is split down the middle on what is actually considered legal.
Wild Camping Laws in Scotland
Scotland is what we call the gold standard for wild camping. The reason for this is that under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, wild camping is completely legal on most unenclosed land if you are on foot or riding a bicycle. You just need to follow a few responsible rules.
- Stay a distance from peoples houses.
- Leave no trace.
- These rights do not apply to cars, vans or motorhomes.
Wild Camping Laws in England and Wales
Unfortunately unlike Scotland’s rules once you cross that border to the south it is a drastic change of rules. In England and Wales wild camping is illegal almost everywhere unless you have the landowners permission as most of the land is privately owned.
The Big Exception: Dartmoor National Park
There is some positive news for England and Wales. Dartmoor National Park is the only National Park where wild camping is set in stone with the law due to the Supreme court unanimously ruling that the public has a legal right to backpack camp on Dartmoor’s commons, provided you follow the park’s local bylaws which i have provided below
- Camping is only permitted in certain areas, you can see the map for this here
- Maximum 2 night stay
- These rights do not apply to cars, vans or motorhomes.
- No large tents or large groups.
- Leave no trace – don’t light fires and take all rubbish home.
For more information on Dartmoor’s Code of Conduct
What Happens If You Get “Caught” in England or Wales?
Just to keep this as simple, pitching a tent on private land without permission is a civil matter called trespass, this is not a criminal offence. In most cases if you are caught this will likely be by the farmer or landowner, they have a legal right to ask you to leave their property. If this happens you should pack your things politely, apologise and leave.
Conclusion: The Golden Rule of Wild Camping
The best way to experience this type of camping is by following the rules. Now that you know the official wild camping laws uk guidelines, pack up your gear responsibly, Leave no trace, and enjoy the great outdoors!
If you want to explore the UK without wrestling with a traditional setup, check out our head-to-head guide on rooftop tent vs ground tent options to see if a vehicle-mounted setup is a better fit for your trips.