Wild Camping Tips: A Beginner's Guide

Wild Camping Tips: A Beginner's Guide

Are you ready for your first wild camping trip but don't know where to start? Here are some wild camping tips to help you get into nature

Recently, as I prepared for a hike and wild camping trip to Dartmoor, I wrote a post about layering and how to prepare for the moody weather that comes with spring in the UK. How satisfied was I that I had prepared well? Very.

I found myself on a threatening moorland landscape as Storm Katie arrived in the UK, plunging large parts of the country into chaos. Within two hours of hiking, I found myself in the middle of high winds, torrential downpours, and hailstorms.

As lightning flashed overhead and the third hailstorm hit me head-on, I decided I wouldn't make much progress that day and hastily pitched my tent in the most sheltered spot I could find.

I didn't sleep much that night, what with the howling winds and the constant rain and hail, but the trip was far from a wash as the weather slowly improved over the coming days.

I have wild camped on Dartmoor several times as well as many other parts of the UK and Europe. I love wild camping, even when it's cold, wet and windy (which is quite often in the UK). For me, that's the draw. I love the wilderness, the isolation and the challenge that wild camping brings.

Over the years I have perfected my preparation so that when a storm hits Katie, I am ready. However, for beginners, wild camping can be intimidating. If you're interested in giving it a try but aren't sure where to start, use these wild camping tips to get you away from the campsite and into real nature.

Wild camping etiquette

One of the most important wild camping tips is to practice proper etiquette.

Leave no trace: This is the most important rule when wild camping. The reality is that wherever I'm camping in the UK, I'm probably on someone's land.

It is important, not only for relationships between landowners and campers, but also for the environment, wildlife and the future of wild camping, that campers leave their campsites exactly as they found them. It goes without saying that you should take all the trash home with you and put it behind you.

Arrive late and leave early: This is an important part of your route planning. Ideally, you should arrive at your campsite just before dark.

Give yourself enough time to set up and get comfortable before darkness falls. Likewise, you should try to pack as early as possible the next morning.

Do not light open fires: This rule must not be broken without the express permission of the landowner. Aside from leaving unsightly marks on the ground, campfires damage ecosystems and have the potential to destroy acres of landscape.

If you plan to have a campfire, you should stay at a campsite with the proper facilities for it.

alt=”Wild camping tips Dartmoor – 13″>I spent my last night at a campsite enjoying a campfire

Consider wildlife: Do not camp in a location that will disturb local livestock or wildlife. The world's best wild camping spots are home to native wildlife - this is one of the biggest draws of wild camping.

Make sure your presence does not alarm or disturb any animals – wild or not.

Think about others: If you are camping on someone else's land, you should try to get permission first. Realistically, this is often inconvenient and unnecessary as long as you don't leave tracks or disturb livestock. Additionally, you should also consider other outdoor users.

Avoid camping near footpaths and trails and be sure to pitch at least 60 m (200 feet) from water sources to avoid any contamination.

Choose your toilet carefully: Find a sheltered spot at least 60 m (200 feet) from water sources, footpaths and other campsites. Also try to make sure you are downstream from popular campsites.

Dig a hole about 6-8 inches deep, either with your hands or with a trowel if you're a little more civilized. Replace the soil when you're finished and carry all toilet paper with you.

For a little more comfort, try choosing a spot with a slight incline and position yourself uphill in front of you - this will help with, er, execution. Don't let yourself be arrested!

Where to camp wild

Regulations change from country to country and locally depending on who owns the land or is responsible for maintaining it. Always research your destination to find the best local wild camping tips.

Dartmoor: Dartmoor is the only area in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where wild camping is officially legal and is an ideal location for the first time wild camper.

Located in Devon in the south west of England, Dartmoor National Park offers a unique landscape of rolling moorland, granite outcrops, wooded valleys with winding rivers and wide open spaces - perfect for wild camping.

There is an excellent network of walking trails including the popular and challenging Two Moors Way.

alt=”Wild camping tips Dartmoor – 7″>Dartmoor National Park is the only place in the UK outside of Scotland where wild camping is legal

Scotland: Scotland and its public access to land and water rights provide excellent outdoor opportunities. The mountains surrounding Glen Coe are among the most accessible and are full of history, natural beauty and wilderness.

Norway: My first wild camping trip outside of the UK was in Jotunheimen National Park in Norway. Like Scotland, Norway has very liberal public access laws and some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Additionally, the national parks offer excellent hiking trails, well supported by refuges and campsites if you fancy a bit of (relative) luxury.

Where to serve

Finding a good spot to pitch your tent is the difference between a pleasant experience and a miserable one. The following wild camping tips for finding a decent spot should ensure you get a good night's sleep under tarps. For a more detailed breakdown, take a look at our guide on how to find a good campsite.

alt=”Wild camping tips dartmoor – 2″>The only shelter I could find – the best of a bad situation

• Versuchen Sie, einen flachen Boden zu wählen.
• Überprüfen Sie die Oberfläche auf Steine, Äste oder andere Dinge, die Ihren Schlaf stören oder, schlimmer noch, Ihre Bodenplane zerreißen könnten.
• Versuchen Sie, einen natürlichen Unterschlupf oder Windschutz zu finden.
• Lagern Sie in der Nähe einer Wasserversorgung, aber mindestens 60 m (200 Fuß) von Wasserquellen entfernt, um jegliche Kontamination zu vermeiden.
• Vermeiden Sie verdichteten Boden oder Vertiefungen – diese können leicht überfluten.
• Achten Sie auf Gefahren wie Steinschlag, Sturzfluten, Hochwasser oder Lawinen.
• Gute Campingplätze werden gefunden, nicht gemacht – achten Sie immer auf Ihre Umgebung und versuchen Sie, sie genau so zu hinterlassen, wie Sie sie vorfinden.

What to take

When it comes to packing, the most important wild camping tips I can give are to try to find a balance between bringing the essentials you need and keeping your pack as light as possible. Approach packing with the assumption that you will get dirty and smell, so go as light as possible! Here's what I take:

• Zelt oder Biwaksack
• Schlafsack
• Schlafunterlage
• Schlafrolle
• Primus Herd und Gas
• Wasserdichte Packsäcke
• Wasserflasche
• Überlebenstasche
• Topf und Becher
• Besteck
• Gefriergetrocknete Lebensmittel (normalerweise Couscous)
• Energieriegel (Frühstück und Mittagessen)
• 3-in-1-Kaffeebeutel
• Wanderstiefel
• Wasserdichte Jacke und Hose
• 2 x Hosenreißverschluss
• Vlies
• Base-, Mid- und Top-Layer
• 2/3 dicke Socken
• Thermounterwäsche
• Hut, Handschuh, Buff
• Kompass, Karte, Taschenmesser
• Erste Hilfe und grundlegende Toilettenartikel

alt=”Tips for wild camping dartmoor – 1″>Dry food such as couscous is ideal for maintaining weight

Read our Ultimate Camping Checklist for a more detailed camping list for longer trips.

Learn to use a compass and map

Last but not least, this is the most important of all the wild camping tips I can offer and could save your life. Wherever you decide to go, you need to make sure you have a good compass and a detailed map with you.

GPS and hiking apps are great, but they rely on batteries and satellite reception. We've written a comprehensive guide to using a compass and map that should be enough to get you started. I swear by Ordnance Survey Explorer maps (1:25,000) for the UK. And of course, as with any outdoor activity, make sure you tell someone where you're going, your expected route, and when you expect to return.

Check what the weather will be like

I'm playing devil's advocate a bit here because even if I know the weather is going to be terrible (Storm Katie anyone?), I'm still going! But as I said, that's the draw for me. However, as with many of these wild camping tips, it's a good idea to be as prepared as possible.

Before heading out into the wilderness, check the current weather forecast and, if possible, try to stay up to date with any changes during your expedition - there are plenty of smartphone apps that can help with this. Our favorite is Weather Live (iOS, Android).

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Main image: PEXELS

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