If you’re planning to wild camp in Scotland, Bradly of “Dream Big, Travel Far” shares his 15 high ideas and tips to make your expertise safer and extra nice. They’ve been driving all over the world since 2020 and have skilled ideas 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 one in every of our private favorite locations to go to wherever on the planet. Particularly for vanlifers, because of the many wonderful 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 is wild tenting?
Also often called 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 need to pay for.
Wild tenting just isn’t the identical as tenting on the whole. While establishing 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 area, close to a lake, or in a public automobile park.
As the latter is what we’re finest accustomed with, our ideas at present are for vehicle-based wild tenting. However, most of the factors really apply to the opposite type of wild tenting, comparable 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 correct 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 vital to choose the perfect one to your wants. Some options to consider embrace:
- Size – Are you travelling alone or with another person? Make certain that you may confidently drive your chosen automobile. While a bigger motorhome could also be extra comfy to stay 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 notably 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 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 trouble when you’re renting from a dependable rental firm, however essential when 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’ll not solely be a automobile, but in addition the place you’ll sleep, prepare 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 types of autos from massive rental corporations like McRent.
Or even from native Scottish folks via websites like Outdoorsy. It actually does rely in your private desire; although I might suggest the smaller the higher in case you are unfamiliar driving within the UK, and on smaller slim roads.
3. Know the wild tenting legal guidelines in Scotland
Make certain 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 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’ll be able to or can’t 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 contains forests, hills, seashores, rivers, lochs, parks, and a few farmlands.
Respect others, take care of the atmosphere, and be accountable for your actions. Basically, present frequent 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 embrace 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 mostly attainable in most locations throughout the nation, apart from 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 harm, which is sensible as a result of Loch Lomond is likely one of the high 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 wise, you have to be tremendous.
We will cowl extra rules under 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 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 can make your journey much less anxious. 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 all the time updating each day. Plus, you’ll be able to share private experiences and ideas a few spot, and studying updates from different customers gives you insightful info.
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 locating new areas is Google Satellite. You can use the satellite tv for pc view on Google Maps to seek out massive open automobile parks or areas the place you possibly can doubtlessly keep the night time.
Or merely search “parking” in any space of the map, which can 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 a good way to scout the world and see what it appears like.
When you’re wild tenting in Scotland or wherever else, all the time attempt to be as ready as attainable. This contains having an concept of what the positioning you’re planning to sleep in appears like.
- Read extra journey guides in Scotland
6. Ask at pubs & eating places when you can keep there
For occasions while you’re wanting to remain close to town, it’s price asking at pubs and eating places when you can park your automobile close by and keep the night time. We have carried out this a number of occasions ourselves and individuals are usually very good about it. Just be certain that to ask prematurely.
On an analogous word, asking locals can also be a good way to seek out the right tenting spot. This means, you will discover locations that aren’t even talked about in guidebooks and on-line databases. A pleasant good day may take you to a hidden gem or two!
7. Buy the Brit Stops ebook
This one is a extremely cool idea. You purchase a bodily Brit Stops ebook for the 12 months (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 totally free.
It was impressed by the corporate Harvest Hosts within 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 ebook itself prices £32 and offers you the prospect to remain in some actually cool areas. You can even buy some native goodies if you need while visiting.
What’s extra, they now supply a model new app with the acquisition that you need to use to satisfy native hosts. It’s undoubtedly a good way to satisfy new folks 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 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, most of the finest 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 folks 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, comparable to rock, gravel, dry grasses and snow
- Not damaging what you discover (flowers, crops, previous archaeological constructions, and so forth)
In common, attempt to minimise any lasting influence 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 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 night time falls. Noise might disturb different campers within the space 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 suggest shopping for domestically every time attainable. Whether which means going to native pubs and eating places or purchasing from native shops, you’ll be serving to increase the native economic system whereas being extra supportive to the apply of untamed tenting.
Also, don’t go establishing such as you’re at a campsite. This actually winds folks up, particularly if it appears such as you intend to remain in the identical spot for a lot of days! As a rule of thumb, I might say that staying for under an evening or two is finest.
10. Avoid consuming alcohol
If you might be requested to maneuver on by police and you might be over the alcohol restrict, there’s a probability you’re going to get fined and prosecuted for driving beneath the affect. So, it’s all the time finest to keep away from consuming, particularly while you’re transferring to a brand new metropolis or space.
We personally haven’t had this drawback, however have heard horror tales of this taking place to folks 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 for my part, the dangers merely don’t outweigh the prices. If you propose on having a number of 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, partly, 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 may anticipate, summer season is the perfect time for wild tenting in Scotland by way of climate, although the visitors might 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 cope with so you will want bug spray when you go to on this time interval.
Winter within 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 kind 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 within the Northern Highlands, which is loads of alternative to discover the wilderness! But that additionally means sleeping could be 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 number 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’ll be able to nonetheless do stuff outdoors. 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 allure…
13. …what concerning the rest room scenario?
One of the most typical issues folks have when wild tenting is the lavatory scenario. This shouldn’t be an issue while 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 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 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 have to be extra cautious. Walk at the very least 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 can nonetheless decompose the waste whereas stopping others from stepping on it.
Once carried out, you need to cowl the opening with the unique grime. If you utilize any rest room paper, be certain 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 replenish very early on, particularly within the busy summer season months of June, July and August. In some instances, it’s possible you’ll 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 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 everything of your journey? There’s no motive you’ll be able to’t strategy it slowly. For loads of first-timers, it’s an awesome concept to interrupt up the journey with extra comfy campsites.
You’ll be wild tenting for 2 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 amenities. A pleasant rest room, sizzling bathe, stocking up on necessities, and extra.
All in all, wild tenting is really among the finest methods to expertise Scotland. You can cease wherever and don’t need to depend on registered campsites, so in a means it’s far more liberating.
The Scottish countryside is certainly an oasis of breathtaking sceneries and numerous 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 in all places you go!