If you’re planning to wild camp in Scotland, Bradly of “Dream Big, Travel Far” shares his 15 prime ideas and tips to make your expertise safer and extra nice. They’ve been driving world wide since 2020 and have knowledgeable ideas for wild tenting in Scotland and past.
How to Wild Camp in Scotland
Since changing our van (who 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, because of the many wonderful spots for wild tenting in Scotland. Teeming with extraordinary nature and wildlife, there’s no higher method to discover the nation than in your personal 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 outdoors of registered campsites, or at a location the place you don’t should pay for.
Wild tenting shouldn’t be the identical as tenting in common. While organising tents in wilderness areas is a type of wild tenting, so is sleeping in an RV, campervan, or motorhome! Some examples embrace parking in a subject, close to a lake, or in a public automobile park.
As the latter is what we’re greatest accustomed with, our options right now are for vehicle-based wild tenting. However, lots of the factors really apply to the opposite type of wild tenting, equivalent to in a tent. Check out a Scotland highway 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 personal or renting a campervan, it’s necessary to select the perfect one for your wants. Some options to consider embrace:
Size – Are you travelling alone or with another person? Make positive that you would be able to 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 necessary 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 overlook to find out your price range, 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 personal 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’ll not solely be a automobile, but additionally the place you’ll sleep, prepare dinner, eat, and chill out all through your journey.
We noticed all types of campers throughout Scotland. Some travellers have been even in giant transformed 4×4 ex-military automobiles that may be pushed onto seashores. You can hire all kinds of automobiles from giant rental corporations like McRent.
Or even from native Scottish individuals via websites like Outdoorsy. It actually does rely in your private choice; although I’d advocate the smaller the higher in case you are 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 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 positively 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 may or can’t park, it’s typically fairly straightforward to get permission.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code grants you accountable entry to the Scottish outside. This contains forests, hills, seashores, rivers, lochs, parks, and a few farmlands.
Respect others, care for the setting, 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 legislation offers entry to all unenclosed land and inland waters in Scotland, it doesn’t really embrace vehicular entry. It does, nevertheless, permit 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 mostly potential in most locations inside the nation, besides for one: the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Between March and September, tenting is barely allowed on official campsites or if in case you have a tenting allow.
This byelaw goals to guard the National Park from environmental injury, which is sensible as a result of Loch Lomond is among the prime 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 nice.
We will cowl extra ideas under that you must comply with to have a secure 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 cellular app out there on each iPhone and Android that exhibits you all of the spots the place you may 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 annoying. 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 at all times updating day by day. Plus, you may share private experiences and ideas a few 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 operate is the short 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 giant open automobile parks or areas the place you possibly can probably 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 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 realm and see what it seems to be like.
When you’re wild tenting in Scotland or anyplace else, at all times attempt to be as ready as potential. This contains having an thought of what the positioning you’re planning to sleep in seems to be like.
6. Ask at pubs & eating places in case you can keep there
For instances once you’re wanting to remain close to the 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 accomplished this a number of instances ourselves and individuals are typically very good about it. Just ensure that to ask in advance.
On the same word, asking locals can also be an effective way to seek out the right tenting spot. This manner, you will discover locations that aren’t even talked about in guidebooks and on-line databases. A pleasant hey might take you to a hidden gem or two!
7. Buy the Brit Stops e-book
This one is a extremely cool idea. You purchase a bodily Brit Stops e-book for the 12 months (it’s launched on a yearly foundation) which can then provide you with entry to over 1000 wild tenting spots throughout the UK, together with Scotland, the place you may 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 lot of distinctive spots, from nation pubs, wineries, and fruit farms to vacationer points of interest, vintage centres, and extra.
The e-book itself prices £32 and offers you the prospect to remain in some actually cool areas. You may buy some native goodies if you would like while visiting.
What’s extra, they now supply a model new app with the acquisition that you should utilize to satisfy native hosts. It’s positively an effective 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 consequence, lots of the greatest wild tenting spots have began to shut down and now have limitations, indicators and police patrols to cease the follow. 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 contains 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, equivalent to rock, gravel, dry grasses and snow Not damaging what you discover (flowers, vegetation, previous archaeological buildings, and many others)
In common, attempt to minimise any lasting impression on the grounds!
9. Be respectful in different methods
In addition to cleansing up after your personal mess, it’s additionally good to be respectful in different methods. This is related irrespective 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 might disturb different campers in the realm 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 advocate shopping for regionally every time potential. Whether meaning going to native pubs and eating places or buying from native shops, you’ll be serving to enhance the native financial system whereas being extra supportive to the follow of untamed tenting.
Also, don’t go organising such as you’re at a campsite. This actually winds individuals up, particularly if it seems to be such as you intend to remain in the identical spot for many days! As a rule of thumb, I’d say that staying for solely an evening or two is greatest.
10. Avoid ingesting alcohol
If you’re requested to maneuver on by police and you’re over the alcohol restrict, there’s a probability you’ll get fined and prosecuted for driving underneath the affect. So, it’s at all times greatest to keep away from ingesting, particularly once you’re transferring to a brand new metropolis or space.
We personally haven’t had this drawback, however have heard horror tales of this occurring to individuals in Scotland and different nations. 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 a number 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 nearly totally 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 exquisite.
The local weather additionally varies between areas, however it’s typically fairly changeable. For instance, the West will get twice as a lot rainfall because the East.
As you may anticipate, summer time is the perfect time for wild tenting in Scotland in phrases of climate, although the site visitors might get intense. Despite the sunshine, you must 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’ll need 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 feel the changeable skies add to the expertise…
12. Pack blackout curtains in summer time or headlamps in winter
Scotland is kind of far north and the hours of daylight will be fairly an excessive throughout peak winter and summer time months.
You can stand up to 18 hours of daylight in June in the Northern Highlands, which is a whole lot of 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 hold the within of your automobile (or tent) tremendous darkish. Oh, and don’t overlook a lot of sunscreen too!
On the opposite hand, you may get daylight solely from 9am to 3pm in December. Pack sufficient headlamps and flashlights so you may nonetheless do stuff outdoors. Otherwise, you’ll simply be caught inside your van all day, which isn’t an thrilling method to camp.
While it’s most likely not the perfect time for wild tenting, the snowy panorama of the winter months does have its personal appeal…
13. …what in regards to the lavatory scenario?
One of the commonest issues individuals have when wild tenting is the lavatory scenario. This shouldn’t be an issue once you’re staying near civilization. And in case your automobile has a rest room, it’s all a matter of accountable waste disposal. If not… Well, time to study the artwork of doing your corporation outside.
In the wilderness, it’s usually okay to decide on any spot that’s effectively away from trails. Avoid waterways and sapling timber, although bigger established timber and bushes are okay. Don’t go immediately 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 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 accomplished, you must cowl the outlet with the unique filth. If you utilize any bathroom paper, ensure that to deliver it again with you and eliminate 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 time months of June, July and August. In some instances, you might 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, take into account visiting in the course of 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 concept of untamed tenting for the whole lot of your journey? There’s no cause you may’t strategy it slowly. For a whole lot of first-timers, it’s an amazing thought 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 method to benefit from the pleasure of untamed tenting whereas nonetheless having fun with the advantages of a campsite’s amenities. A pleasant bathroom, scorching bathe, stocking up on necessities, and extra.
All in all, wild tenting is really the most effective 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 numerous wildlife. I hope the following pointers will assist make your upcoming journey go extra easily.
If you bear in mind just one factor from this huge checklist, it’s to be respectful and thoughtful in every single place you go!