What is Wild Camping? | A complete beginners guide with kit list Included
So you have recently discovered the term ‘wild camping’ and are completely bemused by what it is, how you do it, and what you actually need to wild camp?
I was once in the same position as yourselves, a virgin in the realms of wild camping, daunted at the prospect of pitching up in the middle of nowhere and potentially being caught by an angry farmer with a pitchfork.
In order to to help you understand what wild camping is, what equipment you need and how you do it safely I have decided to write a beginners guide to wild camping blog post,
While I don’t exactly believe I am a wild camping expert (more of a poor mans Ray Mears) I have undertaken a significant number of wild camps in both in the UK and abroad, including spending 15 straight days bike-packing (cycling and camping) around the Welsh Coastal path to raise money for charity.
Hopefully, this blog answers all the questions you may have and after you realise wild camping is much easier than you think it will hopefully inspire you to get out there and try it yourselves.
WHAT IS WILDCAMPING?
To put it as simply as possible, It is camping in the great outdoors away from designated campsites and caravan parks. You can do it for one night or for weeks at a time and can pitch up in whatever part of the wild you see fit.
A wild camp on the Seceda ridge line 2,500m up in the Italian Dolomites.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WILDCAMP?
To enjoy all the benefits which come with camping in the great outdoors without the downside of having unwanted people around. No campsites, no people and hopefully no problems.
Spending time surrounded by nature has been proven to provide huge mental and physical benefits. For many including myself, I head to the mountains and coast to escape the stress and anxiety that can come with modern-day life and technology.
Wild camping not only increases and extends that feeling you get from being in the great outdoors but Its carefree and simplistic nature gives you a sense of freedom and almost primitiveness that normal camping simply doesn’t provide. Especially when Susan and her husband Kyle are having a pissed-up argument about whose idea it was to bring the barking dog.
It is a cheap and cheerful way to complete multi-day hikes in inaccessible places and also means you can go to sleep and wake up in some of the most epic locations you can ever imagine. You’ll also get the chance to witness some of the most incredible sunsets, sunrises and if you’re lucky, star-filled nights of your life.
IS WILD CAMPING LEGAL?
That depends on where in the UK you are actually wild camping. In Scotland, it is perfectly legal thanks to the Land reform act of 2003. The same can be said of Dartmoor National Park in Southern England, where wild camping falls under the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
In the rest of the UK, it is not legal unless you ask the landowners permission before doing so.
Although technically illegal, it’s widely tolerated especially with the UK national parks. You will get away with wild camping if you choose an isolated location, be discreet as possible and follow the unofficial rules of wild camping which I have highlighted below.
The way I see it is If you’re going out of your way to camp in the wilderness (such as up a mountain), you’re only going to meet other like-minded people and unless they are a complete tosser, then they aren’t going to have an issue with you doing it. There is also no such thing as the mountain police
Laws regarding wild camping in Europe vary, with some countries being far more tolerant than others. In Switzerland for example, it is very illegal and you might go to jail, whereas in Norway it’s completely legal.
I have wild camped in the Dolomites in Italy, despite it apparently being illegal. I just used my common sense and followed the unofficial rules I have highlighted below. It also helped that I coincidently met another lunatic at the summit doing exactly the same thing as me.
IS WILD CAMPING SAFE?
Despite always having a feeling that I’m going to be murdered during the middle of the night, I am yet to come across any issues of safety while wild camping. Provided you have chosen your location well it’s unlikely that you will be disturbed by another human.
The main issues with safety revolve around having the wrong equipment and clothing for the conditions you are planning to camp in. Always check the weather forecast, take plenty of warm layers and pack some waterproofs.
In addition, make sure there is no livestock or wildlife nearby, the last thing you want is a herd of cows trampling your tent. Finally, take a phone and tell someone where you are camping and when you’ll be back. We don’t want anyone going full ‘127 hours’ do we?
Don’t go full 127 hours please.
HOW DO I DECIDE ON A LOCATION?
The three things I consider when choosing a Wilcamp location are;
How easy is the spot to reach? (Does it involve navigating a risky/ difficult terrain ie rivers or ridges)
How far is the spot from civilisation? (Will it take one or several hours to reach)
How epic is the spot going to be? (whats my sunset and sunrise view going to be like)
My suggestion would be to use google’s satellite imagery alongside normal ordnance survey (OS) maps to help find a location. Once you’ve found a potential spot then visit the location during the day to scope it out, before returning later in the evening to wild camp.
Once you have found an area to camp, you then have to decide where to pitch your tent.
Try to pick a spot that’s flat, sheltered from the wind and that isn’t in a place which will flood if it rains (you certainly don’t want to wake up in a small lake). Oh and make sure your tent entrance is facing away from the direction that the wind is blowing in or it might turn into a kite.
To get accustomed to the process of wild camping, I would suggest undertaking your first wild camp in a location closer to home or one that you are very familiar with. (It could even be your back garden)
This will not only help with any nerves you may have but if something does go wrong you can easily reach your car or get back home with minimal fuss.
Failing that, you can do what I did and just throw yourself in the deep end.
My first ever wild camp was beneath Steal waterfall in the Scottish highlands, then the following night I slept at 1,000m on top of a mountain in Torridon!
My first wild camp location in front of Steal Waterfall in the Scottish Highlands. I initially scoped out the location during a hike then returned later in the evening to camp (a little too late as it was getting dark when I set up my tent).
WHAT ARE THE UNOFFICIAL RULES OF WILD CAMPING?
Leave No Trace
The most important rule of wild camping is that when you leave, no one should be able to tell that you have camped there.
Take care not to damage the environment and whatever you bring with you must also leave with you. That means leaving no litter, any faulty equipment and definitely not a pile of human excrement covered in wet wipes (I have seen plenty).
2. Pitch up late and clear out early
This is so you spend the least amount of time being a visual impairment to the land you are camped on.
Do however arrive with plenty of daylight so you can scout out the best spot to pitch you tent. There’s nothing worse than arriving at location late and frantically trying to find a pitch and set up in the dark. Trust me I’ve done it, and it definitely takes the fun out of wild camping. After you have found the right spot take time to enjoy the view and wait until closer to sunset to pitch your tent.
Get up for sunrise and take in the view before packing up and heading down before the first walkers hit the trails.
3. Out of sight out of mind
To be as discreet as possible and so others don’t stumble across you, look to camp away from any tracks and paths.
As a general rule, the higher you go, the less likely it will be that you will run into other people or be camped on someone else’s property. Nobody technically owns a mountain summit do they?
Oh and If on the rare chance you do get asked to move along, do so apologetically and without a fuss.
My second ever wild camp on a mountain in Torridon, I didn’t see a single person on the way up or on the way down.
4. Don’t be a fire starter
Not only does this draw attention to yourself, but it also presents a huge fire risk not only to the equipment you are sleeping in, but also the environment you are camping on.
Most wild camping spots are located in beautiful landscapes which would only be damaged and destroyed by a pointless fire. If you’re cold then you should have packed more layers.
5. Make sure you’re toilet trained
Never go to the toilet within 30m of fresh or running water (That means no Kriss Aqua-poo-si’s).
If you unfortunately do need to go for a number two, make sure it’s buried at least 15cm deep (there’s a reason I’ve included a garden towel on the kit list) and don’t bury or leave the toilet paper nearby, take it home with you.
Upon getting home, remember to bin that toilet paper that’s been festering in your rucksack. Unexpectedly discovering it several weeks later doesn’t quite have the same thrill as finding a £10 note in your coat pocket.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED?
The secret to wild camping is trying to keep your equipment down to a bare minimum and finding the most efficient way of carrying it.
You can spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds on your set up, or if you’re like me (tighter than a ducks arse) then you can do it on a budget.
My complete wild camping set up cost less than £200 and although aspects of it could do with an upgrade, it hasn’t stopped me spending the night in some epic locations.
Never be put off by the fact that you don’t have the top of the range tent or you’ve read a blog post which states you need a ‘Pata-Gucci’ sleeping bag that’s been tested on the slopes of the Himalayas.
Just make sure you have the essential equipment, prior experience using it, and you aren’t doing anything that’s going to have mountain rescue called out to find you.
My wild camping kit list. Not shown is my food and drink as I don’t like to be judged on how much chocolate & Haribo I eat.
Lightweight Tent or Bivvy bag
Alongside your tent being lightweight it should also be robust enough to endure the elements, meaning a pop-up tent from Aldi probably won’t do the job.
If you are camping alone, a tent less than 2kg is a good starting point. One man tents are the lightest but this usually comes at the sacrifice of space and they can resemble a coffin (Great news if you’re Dracula, not so good if you’re over 6ft). If you do want a little more room for activities then consider getting a two-person tent.
If shopping for your first tent there are a huge array of lightweight tents across a wide spectrum of prices which can make things confusing. A general rule of thumb is the more you pay, the lighter and better designed the tent will be. Although expensive, MSR has a huge range of lightweight tents are one of the best brands in the business.
That being said you don’t have to splash out hundreds of pounds to find a high-quality tent. I have a Berghaus peak 3.1 one-person tent. I picked it up for £70 and so far have I have zero complaints. At 1.6kg it’s not the lightest but it packs down very small, is easy to assemble and is surprisingly roomy.
If you want a more ‘pure’ wild camp or are really looking to save on weight then you can consider using a Bivvy bag. This is effectively a wind and waterproof sleeping bag shell. You simply put your sleeping bag inside and off you go, no pegs no poles and no roof over your head.
2. Sleeping bag
Finding one that is suited to the seasons and weather conditions is vital. You can’t use a one season (summer) sleeping bag in winter and using a four-season sleeping bag during summer would be pure torture.
A three-season bag would be the best all-round option, especially if you are planning on camping in the mountains.
You will want the bag to be light and pack down as small as possible. Again you’ll pay more for a lighter, better quality sleeping bag. One thing to check before buying is the temperature rating of the bag.
The Limit rating indicates the temperature at which the average adult male can expect to have a comfortable sleep. Focus on this number when buying a bag. The Extreme rating is the lowest temperature at which the average woman can survive for 6 hours without getting hyperthermia (so its probably best to ignore this rating).
Temperature rating also depends on the individual. I tend to be a very warm sleeper so will look to get a sleeping bag as I can always wear extra clothes if I do get cold.
For summer wild camps I have a Highlander Trekker superlight. It cost £35, weighs under 500g, packs down very small and has a limit rating of 8 degrees. It’s a quality bit of kit for a very reasonable price which certainly does the job.
For Autumn and Spring, I embarrassingly have a three-season ‘Viking Trek’ sleeping bag I bought off Amazon. It cost me £25, weighs 1.4kg and has a limit of 3 degrees celsius. I can’t knock it too much as it has survived an autumn night in the Dolomites at 2,500m and a spring wild camp in Scotland at 1,000m, which once again goes to show that you don’t need the best equipment out there.
3. Sleeping Mat & Pillow
I have seen some people describe these two as luxury items but for me they’re integral for a half decent nights sleep.
Sleeping pads come in the form of inflatable mats and ‘yoga style’ foam roll mats. They help keep your body heat from escaping into the cold, damp ground alongside providing some much-needed comfort.
I’d recommend an inflatable sleeping pad as they pack down very small and are comfier than the foam alternative. There are hundreds of brands to choose from and some will claim that you can inflate them in as few as 10 breaths, but unless you have an iron lung don’t believe that bollocks.
I have a HIKENTURE sleeping mat which I purchased of Amazon for £29. It weighs less than 500g and does a grand job. My pillow is a trekology inflatable pillow from Amazon, it cost £10, weighs virtually nothing and packs down smaller than a wallet.
4. Head Torch
A hands-free light which will allow you to navigate in the dark is always a winner in my eyes. (If you do have it shining in your eyes you are wearing it completely wrong and maybe wild camping isn’t for you) I have Petzil Tikka. It’s a quality little light which costs less than £30 and does the job perfectly.
5. Backpack
Unless you’ve hired Sherpa or have your own personal mule on hand then you’re going to need a backpack to carry all your equipment in.
Make sure you have a good quality ‘hiking backpack’ with padded shoulder straps alongside waist and chest clips to help disperse the weight. With regards to size, somewhere between 35 and 60 litres will be sufficient depending on how long you are going wild camping for and how much equipment you have.
I have a 35-litre rucksack I bought from the outdoor shop Blacks. It is a little on the small side but I tend to pack light and don’t look to wild camp longer than one night without resupplying.
6. Warm & Waterproof clothes
It may be sunny and warm when you set off for you wild camp but that will quickly change after dark. To quote the Arctic Monkeys, ‘they say it changes when the sun goes down’ and that’s certainly true-up in the mountains. Even during the summer months it can get cold at night especially if you are camping at a higher elevation.
If I am hiking in shorts and T-shirt, I’ll tend to pack a lightweight down jacket, waterproof windbreaker, long sleeve mid-layer alongside thermal bottoms (the kind that athletes wear), a pair of thick socks, A beanie hat and lightweight gloves (essential if your planning night photography).
7. Water
Carrying enough fluid to get you there and back or having the means to refill your vessels, is essential. Water can be a heavy burden so knowing there is a clean water source or having a refillable/ purification device, such as a Life straw or Grayl Geopress, can shave a huge amount of weight off. Depending on the length of the hike, I tend to take 2-3 litres spread between a water reservoir (camelback) and a bottle. I’ll also bolt a pint of water before I start the hike to make sure I’m Hydrated before I set off.
8. Food & cooking equipment
With regards to food, this once again depends on the individual and the length of time you are planning on going wild camping for.
If I know I’m going for one night, I don’t take any cooking equipment to save space and hassle. Instead will eat a big meal before I depart then take lots of snacks (which are definitely essential) to eat on arrival. As I know I will be departing early in the morning I’ll just wait until I get back to my vehicle to have breakfast and enjoy some fasted morning cardio.
If you are someone who enjoys a hot meal or has to have a coffee in the morning then you'll need a lightweight cooking set up. This will usually include; single burner stove, gas canister, lighter, pot, cutlery (usually a spork) and mug for a hot drink.
There are loads of lightweight burner stoves available with Jet boil being very popular. I have a £10 burner stove which I bought off amazon, it screws onto the top of a gas canister and is about the size of a large thumb, and a Vango cook set. There is no right or wrong cooking set up and it all comes down to about how much space you have and what you are actually planning on cooking. Gas canisters will cost you around £4 and are available for most outdoor stores.
My cooking set up (The bottle of hand gel is for scale, i’m not Donald Trump)
9. Toiletries
All down to personal hygiene but I like to take a travel toothbrush and toothpaste as I’m not a straight-up savage. I also pack some loo roll and hand sanitiser in a plastic zip-lock back alongside a miniature garden trowel (I don’t like digging holes with my hands) in case my bowels decide to activate during the night.
If you’re injury/accident-prone, consider taking a small first aid kit for emergencies.
10. Mobile phone & Powerbank
We all want to connect with nature but not go full Christopher McCandles (‘Into the Wild’). The phone is a way to contact people if something goes wrong, a form of navigation and a way to document your wild camp. Just make sure you have enough charge before setting off or bring a power bank just in case.
OTHER USEFUL ITEMS
Spare clothes - Its always nice to have a clean pair of socks, pants and a T-shirt to change into after several hours of hiking with a sweaty backpack.
Swimmers and a travel towel - For that sunset or morning dip if you’re camping near a river or lake.
Dry Sacks- Keep any gear and equipment dry if it rains and to double up as a makeshift pillow.
Map and compass- In case your phone runs out of battery or breaks.
Camera equipment - Personal preference but mine goes everywhere with me.
Earplugs - Helps block out the noise of the tent rattling in any high winds.
lightweight sliders. These are perfect to slip into after a long day of walking. They will also save you having to put your hiking boots back on if you need a wee in the middle of the night.
An alcoholic beverage- I will take a can of beer or cider with me to enjoy during sunset, and yes I make sure it comes back with me.
So there you have it, that’s my guide to wild camping, including my kit list. If you have any thoughts, questions or think I’ve missed anything essential from my kit list, feel free to take a pop at me in the comments section.
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