Wild Camping in Scotland for Beginners

Wild camping simply refers to camping somewhere that’s not a campsite. No facilities of any kind, no formal arrangement. Just head out into nature, pick a spot, and pitch up for the night.

Wild camping is a great way to experience Scotland’s beautiful landscapes up close, from quiet lochside spots to remote mountain camps. For those new to wild camping, it’s about immersing yourself completely in nature; maybe as part of a longer journey or simply for its own sake. However, it’s important to be prepared, as wild camping means you have to be completely self reliant. The key is to keep things simple: bring as little as possible, act responsibly, and be ready to enjoy some of the most stunning scenery the country has to offer. Whether you’re by a quiet beach or tucked in a remote valley, wild camping in Scotland can be a rewarding experience for anyone who wants to connect with nature.

With us! Here at Highland Guiding we regularly run courses to teach beginners all they need to know to wild camp in Scotland safely, legally and enjoyably.

Alternatively, if you have the needed kit, there is nothing stopping you from simply giving it a go! That’s why we’ve prepared this blog, to help inform you of most of the essential info.

Contrary to what some may believe, you don’t need a huge array of equipment and gadgets to wild camp. On the contrary, the sign of a good wild camper is that they can get by with the bare minimum, and carry only what they need. My kit list for wild camping usually looks like this:

• My regular hiking kit
• A rucksack big enough to carry everything (around 65 – 75L capacity is plenty for 1/2 nights)
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Mat
• Stove plus food and utensils
• Personal meds/toiletries

If I am prepared to bring the extra weight, and have enough space in my bag, then I may also add a few small home comforts as luxury items. Perhaps a hot water bottle if it is forecast to be cold, or a travelling pillow. Maybe a book if I’m out for a few nights. A thermos flask is a great idea, as you can heat water and store it overnight to have a hot drink straight away when you wake up.

*Top Tip!*

Remember that a well packed rucksack should have everything neatly packed inside, with all zips, fasteners and pockets done up when not being accessed. Your rucksack should not have anything attached to the outside or dangling from it. If you look like Samwise Gamgee then you’re doing it wrong!

Can I camp anywhere in Scotland? No. The rules about where you can and can’t camp are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and we have another blog summarising that. In summary, you have enormous freedom to camp where you please as long as you are not intruding on someone’s privacy (such as in or right next to their garden/house); are not beside a road; and not camping in any of the other places that are reasonably excluded (such as fields with livestock or crops in). The good news is that Scotland has so much space where camping is allowed, that you should never have any need to pitch up somewhere you’re not supposed to.

In Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, local byelaws restrict wild camping in certain areas of the National Park, primarily along lochsides, villages and roadsides. A map of the camping management zone can be found here.

Sharing specific locations for wild camping is generally frowned upon. Sharing locations online leads to them becoming over used, and as numbers in a location increase inevitably there comes damage and degradation. So keep those good spots to yourself! Wild camping is about personal adventure and personal responsibility. It rewards exploration and figuring things out for yourself, and in turn fosters the skill of self reliance.

The important thing to note is that even if it’s permitted to camp in a particular location, you shouldn’t assume a campfire is also permitted. Many of the most attractive locations for camping also have special legal designations, known as Natural Heritage Designations, which prohibit fires. Many areas in Scotland are covered by multiple such designations, such as Rothiemurchus Forest in the Cairngorms, which is covered by all three.

To find a map of these Natural Heritage Designations, you can visit the NatureScot website here.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says:

Responsible fires:

The lighting of a fire is allowed as part of the exercise of access rights, if it is done responsibly. The Access Code provides the following guidance:

“Wherever possible, use a stove rather than light an open fire. If you do wish to light an open fire, keep it small, under control and supervised – fires that get out of control can cause major damage, for which you might be liable. Never light an open fire during prolonged dry periods or in areas such as forests, woods, farmland, or on peaty ground or near to buildings or in cultural heritage sites where damage can be easily caused. Heed all advice at times of high risk. Remove all traces of an open fire before you leave”.

One of the fundamental principles of wild camping is to leave your campsite in the same condition you found it, or better. We call this Leave No Trace.

Leave No Trace is taught as 7 key principles, which cover all the considerations you need to bear in mind (and practise!) to be a responsible camper.:

• Place Ahead and Prepare
• Be Considerate of Others
• Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife
• Travel and Camp on Durable Ground
• Leave What You Find
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Minimise the Effects of Fire

It’s important to understand that your ‘right’ to camp in Scotland only exists as long as you do so responsibly. This means respecting others, leaving no trace, and leaving the nature as clean and pure as you found it, if not better. Wild camping is a superb way to learn self reliance and responsibility, and to enjoy the superb natural heritage Scotland has to offer.