Wild Camping in Scotland (some do's and dont's)

One of 31,460 beautiful Lochs!

I am first to trumpet the beauty of our Scotland. It's stunning. Glencoe is breathtaking, Killin is stunning, The Cairngorms are like unexplored diamonds and the Highlands are like no other country on earth. Even the lowlands and the central belt wield some spectacular sights... not to mention some of the best crystal specimen locations in the world...

...But should you want to go exploring (and I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so) there are a few rules you should follow, just to keep you safe and out of trouble. Upsetting the locals is a sure fire way to never be invited back. Well this last few weeks I had the pleasure of going on my first wild camping trip of the season, something I do often and without real consideration for my safety. I love a good campfire; but I sleep with my rock hammer by my pillow *just* in case. At least we don't have any wolves... yet.

So let's dive in and get to work. Just because we don't have wolves doesn't mean it's safe and tame. Here are a few do's and don'ts for wild camping in Scotland that should keep you safe.

Rule Number 1: Do Avoid Pine Forests

 

 The Scots pine (and other assorted, non-native pines) make up many of our forests. They look pretty, are home to loads of wildlife and the bed of old needles looks soft and inviting to any camper having to sleep on a roll mat on the ground.

While truly comfortable to sleep on; pine forests in Scotland aren't 'tended' at least for the most part. One of my favourite forests at Braidwood has two unofficial woodsmen - and I've still seen fully grown trees blow over on a windy day. The taller the pines the more likely they are to fall on you. The winds get high up here.

Don't fall asleep in a pine tree forest unless you want to wake up with a tree on your tent. OK, so the chances are slim, but any chance is too much when you are out of mobile and Internet range.

Rule Number 2: Don't Camp In Someones Farm/Land/Garden Without Permission

 

This sounds like common sense but it's not. Really. There are vast areas of Scotland known as 'common ground' and these areas belong to the common... that means everyone. Quite often you find these areas in deep forest, in the middle of nowhere or on the side of mountains.

It's fairly easy to tell whether or not you are on someones land. If you are a stone's throw from a town, village, or property then you are probably on owned land. If you are in a field - owned land. If you are in an area marked by a boundary like a fence then you are probably on owned land. If the remains of a five hundred year old stone dyke mark the land then you might be safe.

There are two rules of thumb. 1: use Google Earth or the satellite view function on Google Maps before you go and pick a large area you can camp in. They are easy to find because there is no farmland and it looks like scrub on the map. Stick to this area and you should be OK. 2: Do not start a fire within view of any houses. You also need to be more than fifty meters from a roadside to BBQ or burn. There are a few other fire rules, let's do them next.

As an additional, don't camp too close to reservoirs... you don't want to be accused of tampering with the water supply!

Rule Number 3: Do Have A Fire!

 

By all means, have a fire! Just make sure you do it safely. Dig a small ditch, ring it with big stones and keep the flames inside the stones. Easy! Not only does this help contain the flames it also builds a pit of ash in which your ashes will stay warm as long as possible. The ashes at the bottom of the pit should only need a stir and some kindling to get going again.

• Don't start a fire near houses or within sight of a road.
• Do use other people's fire pits before starting one of your own. Chances are other people will have camped where you are and will have left traces. Wood that has been burned before, and charcoal, will light faster than a fresh pit (plus it's better for the environment).
• See this article for instructions on effective fire lighting.
• Take TWO lighters, firelighters and an old notepad you don't mind burning for help to get it going.
• When it is raining, the bottom branches of a pine tree will be shielded from the rain by the thick branches above. These are perfect for starting a fire in the wet.
• If you don't have a fire a disposable BBQ is fine - but TAKE IT AWAY WITH YOU! I pick up one of these a week.
• Better yet, pick up a small portable cooker that works on a gas bottle. They are cheap and make sure you always have hot food, even in the rain.

Rule 4: Don't Let Your Animals Wander

Kai in the Ochils last year

Dogs are the goodest and purest creatures on this earth; but any dog is tempted when a fat sheep wanders over. Don't let them off the lead if they are prone to chase, and sometimes even if they aren't. There are still parts of Scotland where dogs chasing sheep will be shot dead by the farmer - and not just in the highlands, but in the central belt.

Sheep worrying is a big problem in Scotland and we need to be careful. If your dog chases a pregnant ewe she can miscarry, even though you may think your beloved pooch has done no harm. If they are in the tent be sure they can't escape (the little b$gger above can slink under the door of my tent!) and if they are outside keep them on the leash.

Rule 5: Do No Harm.

 

Rather like the Hippocratic Oath a Doctor takes the first and foremost rule of wild camping in Scotland is that you do no harm. Respect your surroundings. We have the freedom to roam in this country and the common belongs to all of us - but the second you damage property you are in the wrong and may be asked to leave.

This means making sure all fires are properly extinguished before you move on, damaging no crops and hurting or scaring no livestock. When you cut through a field you don't trample it, you go around the side. There is no law preventing you from crossing someones land to get to where you are going - unless you do damage. So don't do any damage and you should be fine!

Rule 6: Do Leave Everything As You Found It!

 

Waterloo pond... one of our few flat waterways

The most important thing is that you leave everything as you find it. If you can put that fire out and prevent a forest fire, then take down your gear and get off without leaving the place looking a mess then you have obeyed this rule.

We are big on litter picking right now (and hopefully forever more) so take all your rubbish with you. If you are camping in an area you have particularly enjoyed, then picking up any litter others have left is a great way to say thank you to the land that has homed you.

Rule Number 7: DON'T Camp From October To March

 

You can get away with it in the lowlands, but people die doing this. It's cold. If you don't have proper gear you just can't do it. What you can do is look up one of the many bothies and use the building (if you really must have some free camping in the winter) but even I don't do that and I consider myself pretty hardened.

I can't stress this enough... don't camp in winter. If you absolutely must then take a double skinned or army grade tent, a winter sleeping bag (not just a normal one, you will freeze), plenty of fire materials and a few emergency blankets. I would also suggest some thick bedding to put something between yourself and the ground. I use a heat reflecting roll mat, but it's nowhere near good enough for winter in Scotland. Prepare as if you are going on an arctic expedition and you might just live to tell the tale...

 

Rule Number 8: Obey Camping Protected Areas

These are assigned by the Forestry Commission (and other governing bodies) to protect particular stretches of land, species or habitats. They also cover areas of Special Scientific Interest, which you can camp on but which you need to check the individual rules of before you go.

Put simply, check the area you want to wild camp on Google just to be sure there is nowhere to avoid. Get a feel for the area before you go, stop yourself wasting time hunting for a good spot and make sure you aren't on a camping protected area before you go. Google is great. Often, you can find other wild camper's have reviewed particular areas and this can give you inspiration.

A Few More Hints And Tips

 

• Stay out of the wind if you can, it gets bad on hillsides, look for a valley and camp on the side of it.
• There aren't always trees - and even if there are you should damage healthy branches for burning. One of these camping stoves or a bag of kindling is a good backup just in case, and picking up wood from the forest floor is fine.
• Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
• Invest in a solar charger for your phone. Many places in Scotland are off the Internet grid - but you can usually make a phone call in an emergency.
• Don't go alone (I'm never alone with Kai!) but if you do make sure people know where you are.
• If you find one of these:

                                                 ...There are people around and possibly drunks. Move on.

• Avoid electric fences/try to cross at turnstiles. Because common sense said so.
• Never pitch your tent at the bottom of a valley, you may wake up wet or far downriver.
• Try to pitch your tent with the door at an angle, if it faces uphill you may be flooded out.
• Take extra water, you will always use more than you think you will.
• Put a light on your pet. I'm serious...

Until next time - enjoy camping season! I've already got my bags packed...