Wild camping and campsite etiquette: where it is legal, quiet hours, fires and waste

TUREFF• •0

Wild camping, pitching a tent away from an organised campsite, is one of the most rewarding ways to spend a night outdoors. Whether you are allowed to do it depends almost entirely on where you are, and rules vary widely between countries and even within them. Check before you go; this guide only covers the general picture.

Where wild camping is allowed: the UK example

The UK shows how much the law can vary across a short distance.

Scotland: the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives the public rights of responsible access to most land, and these include wild camping. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code explains what responsible means: small groups, lightweight camping, staying only two or three nights in one place, and keeping well away from roads, buildings and fields of crops or animals. Access rights do not cover camping from a car, campervan or motorhome.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is an important exception: seasonal byelaws apply in Camping Management Zones, where between 1 March and 30 September you need a permit or a campsite pitch. Check the park's website for the current rules.
England and Wales: there is no general right to wild camp. You need the landowner's permission, although in some upland areas quiet, discreet camping is often tolerated. Dartmoor is the main exception in England: in May 2025 the UK Supreme Court confirmed that the public has a right to camp on the Dartmoor commons, in areas set by the national park authority.

Elsewhere

Some countries have strong traditions of public access to the countryside that include short stays in a tent, with conditions attached.
Many others restrict camping to designated sites, or allow it only in certain parks with a permit.
National parks often have their own rules, which may be stricter than the national law.

Search for the official access rules of the country and the specific park or area you plan to visit, and remember that rules can change.

Wild camping well

Arrive late, leave early: pitch towards evening and leave in the morning.
Keep it small: one or two tents, no large groups.
Choose durable ground, away from paths, water sources and buildings.
Leave no sign you were there: no flattened circle of grass, no rubbish, no stone fire ring.
Human waste: go well away from water and paths, bury it where local guidance allows, and carry out toilet paper. Some areas ask you to carry all waste out.

Fires

Use a stove rather than an open fire wherever you can.
Many areas ban fires outright, and some ban them seasonally. In Scotland, the Access Code advises against open fires in dry spells, in forests, on peat or near buildings, and some parks have their own fire byelaws.
On a campsite, only use fire pits, raised fire baskets or barbecues where the site allows them.
Never leave a fire unattended, and put it out completely.
Disposable barbecues scorch grass and cause wildfires. Do not use them on open ground, and never on peat or moorland.

Campsite etiquette

Quiet hours: most sites set them, often from late evening until morning. Keep voices low, turn music off and be quiet when packing up early.
Respect other pitches: do not walk through someone else's pitch or between their guy lines.
Light: point lanterns and head torches down and away from other tents.
Cars: drive slowly and avoid moving them at night.
Facilities: leave the toilets, showers and washing-up area as you would like to find them.
Dogs: keep them on a lead where required, and pick up after them.
Children: a site is a playground for them, but within sight and with the site rules in mind.

Waste

Take all rubbish home or use the site's bins and recycling correctly.
Do not leave a broken tent, chairs or other gear behind. Abandoned tents after festivals and busy weekends are a real problem for landowners.
Wash dishes at the washing-up point, not in streams or lakes.
Pick up any small scraps, including food, before leaving.

The general rule

Leave every pitch, wild or not, so that the next person would never know you were there. That is what keeps places open for everyone. Where have you wild camped, and what rules did you need to check? Share your experience or ask a question in the comments.