Know the Rules Before You Pitch

Wild camping on access land feels like a privilege, and in some parts of the UK it is a right; in others it is only possible with the landowner’s permission. In Scotland, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives a right of responsible access that includes lightweight wild camping on most unenclosed land. In England and Wales, access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is generally for walking, not camping, so you need permission unless a local byelaw says otherwise. Always check the local access authority’s guidance, keep groups small, and stay for one night only.

If you are unsure, ask the landowner or use a campsite. Once you know you are welcome, the practical choices below will help you leave the hill as you found it.

Arrive Late, Leave Early

Pitch late in the evening and leave early in the morning. It reduces your impact on fragile ground, disturbs wildlife less, and means you are less likely to be seen by others who might copy a bad pitch. Aim to arrive with enough daylight to choose safely, but not so early that you spend hours trampling the same patch. In midge season, pitching just before dusk also means less time as a meal.

Leave by 7am if you can. Pack quietly, take everything with you, and do not leave a trace of your visit. If you must walk out in the dark, use a headtorch and keep noise low. A late arrival and an early departure are two of the simplest leave-no-trace tools you have.

Find Flat, Dry Ground

Look for ground that is already durable: short, dry grass, gravel, sand, or rock. Avoid deep heather, moss, lichen, and soft bog. A good pitch is flat enough that you do not slide downhill, but not so flat that it is a drainage basin. A gentle slope of a few degrees is often better than a dead-flat hollow.

• Test the ground by lying down in your sleeping bag before you pitch. If you roll, shift.
• Clear only small stones and twigs. Do not dig drainage ditches or remove vegetation.
• On a slope, sleep with your head uphill and your feet downhill.
• Use a sleeping mat with good insulation. Cold ground drains heat faster than cold air.

If the ground is damp, move on. A dry pitch is warmer, lighter to carry, and less likely to leave a muddy scar. In the UK, a patch of tussocky grass may look flat, but it can hide a wet flush. Press your hand down or kneel to check.

Stay Clear of Water, Livestock and Fragile Vegetation

Camp at least 30 metres from streams, rivers, tarns, and lochs. This protects banks from erosion and keeps you away from flash floods, midges, and noisy water. If you need water, collect it downstream of your pitch and treat or filter it.

Livestock are a fact of UK hillwalking. Sheep, cattle, ponies, and deer all use access land. Do not pitch in a field with a bull, a cow with a calf, or a ram in tupping season. Even gentle sheep will investigate your tent and nibble guy lines. If animals approach, stay calm and move on if needed. Close all gates behind you.

Fragile vegetation includes sphagnum moss, cotton grass, alpine flowers, and lichen-covered rock. These take years to recover. On popular routes, use an existing pitch if one is there, but avoid enlarging it. If you cannot find durable ground, walk on rather than camp on fragile ground.

Avoid Hollows and Other Cold Air Pools

Cold air is heavy. At night it drains downhill and pools in hollows, valley bottoms, and behind walls or embankments. These frost hollows can be several degrees colder than the surrounding slopes, and they often hold mist, damp, and midges. You may wake in a soggy, chilly pocket even if the forecast was mild.

Instead, look for a slight rise on a valley side or a shoulder of a hill. A spot just above the valley floor, with a gentle downhill run in front of you, will often be warmer and drier. Avoid camping in gullies, ravines, or below steep crags where rockfall and water runoff are risks. On a ridge, camp a little below the crest to escape the worst wind, but not so low that you are in a bog.

Check the wind direction and choose natural shelter from rocks, a wall, or a small bank. Do not camp under dead trees or lone trees in a thunderstorm. In high winds, a lower pitch is safer than an exposed summit.

Break Camp Without a Trace

When you leave, the spot should look as if no one has been there. Take all litter, including fruit peel and tea bags. Do not burn toilet paper. If you need the toilet, dig a small hole 15–20cm deep, at least 30 metres from water, and bury the waste. Carry out hygiene products in a bag.

• Shake out your tent and check for pegs, guy lines, and litter.
• Fluff up flattened grass with your hand or boot.
• Leave gates as you found them, and do not block tracks or paths.
• Use a stove rather than an open fire unless fires are expressly permitted and safe.

Wild camping is about travelling lightly and leaving the hills better than you found them. Choose your pitch late, keep it small, and be gone early. Do that, and you will sleep well, stay warm, and earn the quiet welcome of the next walker behind you.