If you’re planning to wild camp in Scotland, Bradley of “Dream Big, Travel Far” shares his 15 high suggestions and tips to make your expertise safer and extra nice. They’ve been driving all over the world since 2020 and have professional suggestions for wild tenting in Scotland and past.
How to Wild Camp in Scotland
Since changing our van (who is named Helen), we’ve pushed to dozens of nations throughout Europe, in addition to to North America & South America. However, Scotland stays very near our hearts as we spent greater than 4 months there, dwelling in our van and driving round this spectacular nation.
It is hands-down one in every of our private favorite locations to go to wherever in the world. Particularly for vanlifers, because of the many superb spots for wild tenting in Scotland. Teeming with extraordinary nature and wildlife, there’s no higher technique to discover the nation than in your individual automobile. Without additional ado, let’s get proper into it!
1. Understand what wild tenting is
But first… what’s wild tenting?
Also generally known as free tenting or boondocking, it’s basically tenting in a single day exterior of registered campsites, or at a location the place you don’t must pay for.
Wild tenting just isn’t the identical as tenting in basic. While organising tents in wilderness areas is a type of wild tenting, so is sleeping in an RV, campervan, or motorhome! Some examples embody parking in a area, close to a lake, or in a public automotive park.
As the latter is what we’re finest accustomed with, our options at present are for vehicle-based wild tenting. However, most of the factors really apply to the opposite type of wild tenting, corresponding to in a tent. Check out a Scotland street journey at: North Coast 500 – The Ultimate Trip Guide to Scotland’s Epic Drive
2. Choose the proper motorhome or campervan
The very first thing you need to do earlier than beginning your journey is to decide on the proper automobile. Whether you’re shopping for your individual or renting a campervan, it’s necessary to select the perfect one for your wants. Some options to consider embody:
Size – Are you travelling alone or with another person? Make positive that you may confidently drive your chosen automobile. While a bigger motorhome could also be extra comfy to dwell in, they’re more durable to navigate tough terrains and off-the-beaten observe. This is crucially necessary to recollect, as most roads in Scotland are very slender; even alongside the NC500 and significantly in cities. Number of beds – Likewise, take note of the variety of berths or passengers {that a} automobile can accommodate. Budget – Don’t neglect to find out your price range, which is able to have an effect on the kind of automobile you may get and its situation. Full service historical past – This final one shouldn’t be a problem when you’re renting from a dependable rental firm, however essential when you’re shopping for your individual automobile. Ideally, you need it to return with a full service historical past to make sure that it’s well-maintained.
When contemplating which camper or motorhome to get, keep in mind that it’ll not solely be a automobile, but additionally the place you’ll sleep, cook dinner, eat, and calm down all through your journey.
We noticed all types of campers throughout Scotland. Some travellers have been even in massive transformed 4×4 ex-military autos that may be pushed onto seashores. You can hire all kinds of autos from massive rental corporations like McRent.
Or even from native Scottish individuals by way of websites like Outdoorsy. It actually does rely in your private choice; although I might suggest the smaller the higher in case you are unfamiliar driving in the UK, and on smaller slender roads.
3. Know the wild tenting legal guidelines in Scotland
Make positive you’ve learn up on all of the wild tenting legal guidelines in Scotland. Is wild tenting authorized in Scotland? The brief reply is not any, however it’s tolerated and usually allowed, so long as you do it responsibly.
Land Reform Act 2003
This Scottish land reform act doesn’t take into account parking in a single day in a motorhome as wild tenting. While it’s undoubtedly simpler to wild camp when you’re on foot or bike, as you don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about the place you possibly can or can not park, it’s typically fairly simple to get permission.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code grants you accountable entry to the Scottish outside. This consists of forests, hills, seashores, rivers, lochs, parks, and a few farmlands.
Respect others, care for the atmosphere, and be accountable for your actions. Basically, present widespread sense and decency whilst you’re wild tenting. More on Scotland Travel at: 7 Crazy Adventures in Scotland
While this regulation offers entry to all unenclosed land and inland waters in Scotland, it doesn’t really embody vehicular entry. It does, nonetheless, enable wild tenting so long as it’s “lightweight and done in small numbers”.
Road Traffic Act of 1988
The Road Traffic Act of 1988 acknowledges most roads as non-public land, which suggests it’s crucial that you just ask for permission earlier than parking your automobile wherever.
Loch Lomond Byelaws
Wild tenting is usually doable in most locations inside the nation, besides for one: the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Between March and September, tenting is simply allowed on official campsites or in case you have a tenting allow.
This byelaw goals to guard the National Park from environmental injury, which is smart as a result of Loch Lomond is without doubt one of the high vacationer locations in Scotland!
Overall, the overall rule of thumb when wild tenting is to respect any “No overnight parking” signal. And so long as you park someplace distant and wise, you ought to be wonderful.
We will cowl extra rules beneath that you need to comply with to have a protected and enjoyable wild marketing campaign expertise in Scotland. But lengthy story brief, we by no means as soon as had any issues wild tenting in Scotland after dozens of nights in each single a part of the nation.
4. Download Park4Night
Park4Night is by far the perfect place to seek out wild tenting spots all throughout Scotland (and Europe). It’s a free cell app out there on each iPhone and Android that reveals you all of the spots the place you possibly can park up in a single day.
Whether you’ve lived in a van earlier than or that is your first-time wild tenting, that is significantly such a helpful app that may make your journey much less disturbing. No extra hours of researching on-line simply to find {that a} parking spot feels dodgy and unsafe.
I like that the database is made by fellow van lifers and that it’s at all times updating on daily basis. Plus, you possibly can share private experiences and ideas a couple of spot, and studying updates from different customers gives you insightful data.
The interface itself is tremendous easy and simple to make use of. My favorite perform is the fast search, which helps you to browse particular factors like nature spots or water refill stations, and filter solely 5* areas.
5. Use Google Satellite to seek out new areas
Another useful gizmo for discovering new areas is Google Satellite. You can use the satellite tv for pc view on Google Maps to seek out massive open automotive parks or areas the place you may doubtlessly keep the night time.
Or merely search “parking” in any space of the map, which is able to then checklist parking spots and you may zoom in to test if it’s viable.
Alternatively, if you have already got a selected spot in thoughts, that is nonetheless an effective way to scout the world and see what it seems like.
When you’re wild tenting in Scotland or wherever else, at all times attempt to be as ready as doable. This consists of having an concept of what the positioning you’re planning to sleep in seems like.
6. Ask at pubs & eating places when you can keep there
For occasions once you’re wanting to remain close to the town, it’s value asking at pubs and eating places when you can park your automobile close by and keep the night time. We have achieved this just a few occasions ourselves and persons are usually very good about it. Just ensure that to ask in advance.
On the same be aware, asking locals can be an effective way to seek out the proper tenting spot. This approach, yow will discover locations that aren’t even talked about in guidebooks and on-line databases. A pleasant whats up may take you to a hidden gem or two!
7. Buy the Brit Stops ebook
This one is a very cool idea. You purchase a bodily Brit Stops ebook for the 12 months (it’s launched on a yearly foundation) which is able to then offer you entry to over 1000 wild tenting spots throughout the UK, together with Scotland, the place you possibly can keep at for free.
It was impressed by the corporate Harvest Hosts in the USA (which we additionally love), so that is just like the UK model. The checklist options numerous distinctive spots, from nation pubs, wineries, and fruit farms to vacationer points of interest, vintage centres, and extra.
The ebook itself prices £32 and provides you the prospect to remain in some actually cool areas. You may buy some native goodies if you need while visiting.
What’s extra, they now supply a model new app with the acquisition that you should use to fulfill native hosts. It’s undoubtedly an effective way to fulfill new individuals and get native suggestions of issues to do across the space!
8. Don’t depart any mess (Leave no hint coverage)
Following Covid lockdowns, van site visitors and wild tenting in Scotland has exploded. And the poor behaviour of many of those new van lifers has actually upset locals. As a outcome, most of the finest wild tenting spots have began to shut down and now have boundaries, indicators and police patrols to cease the apply. Be part of the answer, not the issue.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code encourages campers to keep away from inflicting issues for native individuals and animals, therefore the “leave no trace” coverage.
This consists of issues like:
Removing all of your litter Keeping fires small and placing them out utterly afterwards Not inflicting any type of air pollution Travelling and tenting on sturdy floor, corresponding to rock, gravel, dry grasses and snow Not damaging what you discover (flowers, crops, previous archaeological constructions, and many others)
In basic, attempt to minimise any lasting affect on the grounds!
9. Be respectful in different methods
In addition to cleansing up after your individual mess, it’s additionally good to be respectful in different methods. This is related regardless of the place you’re wild tenting, and being thoughtful whereas tenting out in nature or public locations goes a good distance.
For instance, don’t be noisy, particularly as soon as night time falls. Noise could disturb different campers in the world or worse, drive away surrounding wildlife from their pure habitat! I at all times go about it by remembering that I’m merely a visitor and to maintain quiet as a lot as I can.
I’d additionally suggest shopping for regionally at any time when doable. Whether which means going to native pubs and eating places or procuring from native shops, you’ll be serving to increase the native financial system whereas being extra supportive to the apply of untamed tenting.
Also, don’t go organising such as you’re at a campsite. This actually winds individuals up, particularly if it seems such as you intend to remain in the identical spot for many days! As a rule of thumb, I might say that staying for solely an evening or two is finest.
10. Avoid consuming alcohol
If you’re requested to maneuver on by police and you’re over the alcohol restrict, there’s a likelihood you’ll get fined and prosecuted for driving underneath the affect. So, it’s at all times finest to keep away from consuming, particularly once you’re transferring to a brand new metropolis or space.
We personally haven’t had this downside, however have heard horror tales of this occurring to individuals in Scotland and different international locations. If you’re in your automobile with the keys accessible, and you’re the driver and over the restrict of alcohol, then it’s classed as an intention to drive drunk.
Your name; however in my opinion, the dangers merely don’t outweigh the prices. If you intend on having just a few drinks one night time (which, let’s face it, you’re in Scotland so why not?!) then keep in a campsite.
11. Be ready for temperamental climate
Here’s the factor about Scottish climate: it’s virtually solely unpredictable, and you may’t depend on forecasts. This dramatic local weather and shifting climate is, in half, what has helped make Scotland so wild, rugged and delightful.
The local weather additionally varies between areas, but it surely’s typically fairly changeable. For instance, the West will get twice as a lot rainfall because the East.
As you would possibly count on, summer season is the perfect time for wild tenting in Scotland in phrases of climate, although the site visitors could get intense. Despite the sunshine, you need to nonetheless put together for cloud, wind, and rain all in the identical day! As effectively as midges, that are famously horrendous to take care of so you will want bug spray when you go to in this time interval.
Winter in the Highlands means snow and ice, with the temperature reaching as little as minus 4 at night time. It’s all a bit overwhelming when you’re unprepared, however actually, I feel the changeable skies add to the expertise…
12. Pack blackout curtains in summer season or headlamps in winter
Scotland is sort of far north and the hours of daylight will be fairly an excessive throughout peak winter and summer season months.
You can rise up to 18 hours of daylight in June in the Northern Highlands, which is a number of alternative to discover the wilderness! But that additionally means sleeping generally is a little bit of an issue.
I like to recommend utilizing blackout curtains that may hold the within of your automobile (or tent) tremendous darkish. Oh, and don’t neglect numerous sunscreen too!
On the opposite hand, you would possibly get daylight solely from 9am to 3pm in December. Pack sufficient headlamps and flashlights so you possibly can nonetheless do stuff exterior. Otherwise, you’ll simply be caught inside your van all day, which isn’t an thrilling technique to camp.
While it’s in all probability not the perfect time for wild tenting, the snowy panorama of the winter months does have its personal appeal…
13. …what concerning the toilet state of affairs?
One of the most typical issues individuals have when wild tenting is the lavatory state of affairs. This shouldn’t be an issue once you’re staying near civilization. And in case your automobile has a bathroom, it’s all a matter of accountable waste disposal. If not… Well, time to be taught the artwork of doing what you are promoting outside.
In the wilderness, it’s sometimes okay to decide on any spot that’s effectively away from trails. Avoid waterways and sapling bushes, although bigger established bushes and bushes are okay. Don’t go straight in small our bodies of water, however larger lakes or rivers can dilute any urine. In alpine areas, it’s beneficial to do it on a rock floor.
Now, when doing quantity two, you ought to be extra cautious. Walk a minimum of 200 ft away from a path or water supply, then dig a gap of round 6 to eight inches deep. This is an efficient depth that may nonetheless decompose the waste whereas stopping others from stepping on it.
Once achieved, you need to cowl the outlet with the unique grime. If you utilize any rest room paper, ensure that to convey it again with you and get rid of it correctly!
14. In busy season, plan forward
Many of the perfect wild tenting spots in Scotland will refill very early on, particularly in the busy summer season months of June, July and August. In some instances, you could wish to arrive at your location by round 2 or 3pm to have a greater likelihood of securing a spot to arrange in a single day.
Better but, take into account visiting throughout the off season! We did North Coast 500, a 500-mile journey across the Highland space of Scotland, again in November 2020. It was incredible as a result of we just about had the route all to ourselves.
15. Try The 2:1 Rule
Intimidated by the concept of untamed tenting for the whole thing of your journey? There’s no purpose you possibly can’t strategy it slowly. For a number of first-timers, it’s an ideal concept to interrupt up the journey with extra comfy campsites.
You’ll be wild tenting for two nights and staying on a campsite for one night time. This is a pleasant technique to benefit from the pleasure of untamed tenting whereas nonetheless having fun with the advantages of a campsite’s services. A pleasant rest room, sizzling bathe, stocking up on necessities, and extra.
All in all, wild tenting is really probably the greatest methods to expertise Scotland. You can cease wherever and don’t must depend on registered campsites, so in a approach it’s rather more releasing.
The Scottish countryside is certainly an oasis of breathtaking sceneries and numerous wildlife. I hope the following pointers will assist make your upcoming journey go extra easily.
If you keep in mind just one factor from this large checklist, it’s to be respectful and thoughtful in every single place you go!