If you’re planning to wild camp in Scotland, Bradly of “Dream Big, Travel Far” shares his 15 prime suggestions and tips to make your expertise safer and extra nice. They’ve been driving world wide since 2020 and have skilled suggestions for wild tenting in Scotland and past.
How to Wild Camp in Scotland
Since changing our van (who is known as 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 considered one of our private favorite locations to go to anyplace in the world. Particularly for vanlifers, as a result of many wonderful spots for wild tenting in Scotland. Teeming with extraordinary nature and wildlife, there’s no higher option 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 primarily tenting in a single day outdoors of registered campsites, or at a location the place you don’t should 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 automobile park.
As the latter is what we’re greatest accustomed with, our ideas as we speak are for vehicle-based wild tenting. However, lots of the factors really apply to the opposite type of wild tenting, akin 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 precise motorhome or campervan
The very first thing you must do earlier than beginning your journey is to decide on the precise automobile. Whether you’re shopping for your individual or renting a campervan, it’s vital to choose the very best one for your wants. Some options to consider embody:
Size – Are you travelling alone or with another person? Make positive you can confidently drive your chosen automobile. While a bigger motorhome could also be extra comfy to dwell in, they’re tougher to navigate tough terrains and off-the-beaten monitor. This is crucially vital to recollect, as most roads in Scotland are very slim; 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 funds, which can 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 in case you’re renting from a dependable rental firm, however essential in case you’re shopping for your individual automobile. Ideally, you need it to come back with a full service historical past to make sure that it’s well-maintained.
When contemplating which camper or motorhome to get, bear in mind that it’s going to not solely be a automobile, but in addition the place you’ll sleep, cook dinner, eat, and loosen up all through your journey.
We noticed every kind of campers throughout Scotland. Some travellers had been even in giant transformed 4×4 ex-military autos that may be pushed onto seashores. You can lease all types of autos from giant rental companies 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 advocate the smaller the higher if you’re unfamiliar driving in the UK, and on smaller slim 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 customarily allowed, so long as you do it responsibly.
Land Reform Act 2003
This Scottish land reform act doesn’t think about parking in a single day in a motorhome as wild tenting. While it’s undoubtedly simpler to wild camp in case you’re on foot or bike, as you don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about the place you’ll be able to or can not park, it’s usually fairly simple to get permission.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code grants you accountable entry to the Scottish open air. This consists of forests, hills, seashores, rivers, lochs, parks, and a few farmlands.
Respect others, care for the surroundings, and be accountable for your actions. Basically, present widespread sense and decency when you’re wild tenting. More on Scotland Travel at: 7 Crazy Adventures in Scotland
While this regulation provides 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 personal land, which suggests it’s crucial that you simply ask for permission earlier than parking your automobile anyplace.
Loch Lomond Byelaws
Wild tenting is usually potential in most locations throughout the nation, besides for one: the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Between March and September, tenting is barely allowed on official campsites or when you’ve got a tenting allow.
This byelaw goals to guard the National Park from environmental harm, which is sensible as a result of Loch Lomond is among the prime vacationer locations in Scotland!
Overall, the final rule of thumb when wild tenting is to respect any “No overnight parking” signal. And so long as you park someplace distant and smart, you need to be fantastic.
We will cowl extra ideas under that you must 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 very best place to search out wild tenting spots all throughout Scotland (and Europe). It’s a free cell app out there on each iPhone and Android that exhibits you all of the spots the place you’ll be able to 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 severely such a helpful app that may make your journey much less demanding. No extra hours of researching on-line simply to find {that a} parking spot feels dodgy and unsafe.
I really like that the database is made by fellow van lifers and that it’s all the time updating daily. Plus, you’ll be able to share private experiences and ideas a couple of spot, and studying updates from different customers will provide you with insightful info.
The interface itself is tremendous easy and simple to make use of. My favorite operate 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 search out new places
Another useful gizmo for discovering new places is Google Satellite. You can use the satellite tv for pc view on Google Maps to search out giant open automobile parks or areas the place you might doubtlessly keep the evening.
Or merely search “parking” in any space of the map, which can then checklist parking spots and you’ll zoom in to examine if it’s viable.
Alternatively, if you have already got a selected spot in thoughts, that is nonetheless a good way to scout the realm and see what it appears to be like like.
When you’re wild tenting in Scotland or anyplace else, all the time attempt to be as ready as potential. This consists of having an concept of what the location you’re planning to sleep in appears to be like like.
6. Ask at pubs & eating places in case you can keep there
For occasions if you’re wanting to remain close to town, it’s price asking at pubs and eating places in case you can park your automobile close by and keep the evening. We have achieved this a couple of occasions ourselves and individuals are usually very good about it. Just be certain to ask in advance.
On an analogous be aware, asking locals can be a good way to search out the proper tenting spot. This manner, you will discover locations that aren’t even talked about in guidebooks and on-line databases. A pleasant howdy might take you to a hidden gem or two!
7. Buy the Brit Stops guide
This one is a extremely cool idea. You purchase a bodily Brit Stops guide for the yr (it’s launched on a yearly foundation) which can then offer you entry to over 1000 wild tenting spots throughout the UK, together with Scotland, the place you’ll be able to 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 a number of distinctive spots, from nation pubs, wineries, and fruit farms to vacationer sights, vintage centres, and extra.
The guide itself prices £32 and provides you the possibility to remain in some actually cool places. You can even buy some native goodies if you would like while visiting.
What’s extra, they now provide a model new app with the acquisition that you should use to satisfy native hosts. It’s undoubtedly a good way to satisfy 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, lots of the greatest wild tenting spots have began to shut down and now have limitations, 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 fully afterwards Not inflicting any type of air pollution Travelling and tenting on sturdy floor, akin to rock, gravel, dry grasses and snow Not damaging what you discover (flowers, crops, previous archaeological buildings, and many others)
In basic, attempt to minimise any lasting impression 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 great distance.
For instance, don’t be noisy, particularly as soon as evening falls. Noise could disturb different campers in the realm or worse, drive away surrounding wildlife from their pure habitat! I all the time go about it by remembering that I’m merely a visitor and to maintain quiet as a lot as I can.
I’d additionally advocate shopping for domestically each time potential. Whether meaning going to native pubs and eating places or purchasing from native shops, you’ll be serving to enhance the native economic 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 appears to be like 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 greatest.
10. Avoid ingesting alcohol
If you might be requested to maneuver on by police and you might be over the alcohol restrict, there’s a probability you’ll get fined and prosecuted for driving below the affect. So, it’s all the time greatest to keep away from ingesting, particularly if you’re shifting 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 might be 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 propose on having a couple of drinks one evening (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 fully unpredictable, and you’ll’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, nevertheless it’s usually fairly changeable. For instance, the West will get twice as a lot rainfall because the East.
As you would possibly anticipate, summer season is the very best time for wild tenting in Scotland in phrases of climate, although the site visitors could get intense. Despite the sunshine, you must nonetheless put together for cloud, wind, and rain all in the identical day! As properly as midges, that are famously horrendous to take care of so you will have bug spray in case 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 evening. It’s all a bit overwhelming in case you’re unprepared, however actually, I believe 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 may 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 numerous alternative to discover the wilderness! But that additionally means sleeping is usually a little bit of an issue.
I like to recommend utilizing blackout curtains that may preserve the within of your automobile (or tent) tremendous darkish. Oh, and don’t neglect a number of 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’ll be able to nonetheless do stuff outdoors. Otherwise, you’ll simply be caught inside your van all day, which isn’t an thrilling option to camp.
While it’s in all probability not the very best time for wild tenting, the snowy panorama of the winter months does have its personal attraction…
13. …what in regards to the toilet scenario?
One of the commonest considerations individuals have when wild tenting is the toilet scenario. This shouldn’t be an issue if 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 study the artwork of doing your small business open air.
In the wilderness, it’s usually okay to decide on any spot that’s properly away from trails. Avoid waterways and sapling bushes, although bigger established bushes and bushes are okay. Don’t go instantly in small our bodies of water, however greater lakes or rivers can dilute any urine. In alpine areas, it’s really helpful to do it on a rock floor.
Now, when doing quantity two, you need to be extra cautious. Walk no less than 200 toes away from a path or water supply, then dig a gap of round 6 to eight inches deep. This is an effective depth that may nonetheless decompose the waste whereas stopping others from stepping on it.
Once achieved, you must cowl the opening with the unique grime. If you employ any rest room paper, be certain to deliver it again with you and eliminate it correctly!
14. In busy season, plan forward
Many of the very best wild tenting spots in Scotland will replenish very early on, particularly in the busy summer season months of June, July and August. In some circumstances, you could wish to arrive at your location by round 2 or 3pm to have a greater probability of securing a spot to arrange in a single day.
Better but, think about 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 improbable as a result of we just about had the route all to ourselves.
15. Try The 2:1 Rule
Intimidated by the thought of untamed tenting for everything of your journey? There’s no purpose you’ll be able to’t strategy it slowly. For numerous first-timers, it’s an awesome 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 evening. This is a pleasant option to benefit from the pleasure of untamed tenting whereas nonetheless having fun with the advantages of a campsite’s services. A pleasant rest room, scorching bathe, stocking up on necessities, and extra.
All in all, wild tenting is actually probably the greatest methods to expertise Scotland. You can cease anyplace and don’t should depend on registered campsites, so in a manner it’s far more releasing.
The Scottish countryside is certainly an oasis of breathtaking sceneries and various wildlife. I hope the following tips will assist make your upcoming journey go extra easily.
If you bear in mind just one factor from this large checklist, it’s to be respectful and thoughtful all over the place you go!
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