When you’re planning to wild camp in Scotland, Bradley of “Dream Large, Journey 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.
Methods 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. Nevertheless, 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’s hands-down one in every of our private favorite locations to go to wherever on this planet. Significantly for vanlifers, because of the many superb 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 car. With out additional ado, let’s get proper into it!
1. Perceive what wild tenting is
However first… what is wild tenting?
Also referred to as free tenting or boondocking, it’s basically tenting in a single day exterior of registered campsites, or at a location the place you don’t should pay for.
Wild tenting shouldn’t be the identical as tenting typically. Whereas 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 discipline, close to a lake, or in a public automotive park.
Because the latter is what we’re finest accustomed with, our ideas as we speak are for vehicle-based wild tenting. Nevertheless, most of the factors really apply to the opposite type of wild tenting, reminiscent of in a tent. Try a Scotland highway journey at: North Coast 500 – The Final Journey Information to Scotland’s Epic Drive
2. Select the suitable motorhome or campervan
The very first thing you must do earlier than beginning your journey is to decide on the proper car. Whether or not you’re shopping for your individual or renting a campervan, it’s necessary to select one of the best one to your wants. Some options to consider embody:
- Measurement – Are you travelling alone or with another person? Just remember to can confidently drive your chosen car. Whereas a bigger motorhome could also be extra snug to reside in, they’re tougher to navigate tough terrains and off-the-beaten monitor. That is crucially necessary to recollect, as most roads in Scotland are very slim; even alongside the NC500 and significantly in cities.
- Variety of beds – Likewise, take note of the variety of berths or passengers {that a} car can accommodate.
- Funds – Don’t neglect to find out your price range, which is able to have an effect on the kind of car you may get and its situation.
- Full service historical past – This final one shouldn’t be a trouble for those who’re renting from a dependable rental firm, however essential for those who’re shopping for your individual car. Ideally, you need it to return 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 car, but in addition the place you’ll sleep, cook 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’ll be able to hire all types of automobiles from giant rental corporations like McRent.
And even from native Scottish individuals via websites like Outdoorsy. It actually does rely in your private desire; although I’d 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
Ensure you’ve learn up on all of the wild tenting legal guidelines in Scotland. Is wild tenting authorized in Scotland? The brief reply isn’t 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 think about parking in a single day in a motorhome as wild tenting. Whereas it’s positively simpler to wild camp for those who’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 typically fairly straightforward to get permission.
The Scottish Outside Entry Code
The Scottish Outside Entry Code grants you accountable entry to the Scottish outside. This consists of forests, hills, seashores, rivers, lochs, parks, and a few farmlands.
Respect others, look after the atmosphere, and be chargeable for your actions. Principally, present frequent sense and decency whilst you’re wild tenting. Extra on Scotland Journey at: 7 Loopy Adventures in Scotland
Whereas this regulation offers 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 “light-weight and completed in small numbers”.
Street Visitors Act of 1988
The Street Visitors Act of 1988 acknowledges most roads as personal land, which suggests it’s crucial that you just ask for permission earlier than parking your car wherever.
Loch Lomond Byelaws
Wild tenting is mostly attainable in most locations throughout the nation, aside from one: the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Nationwide 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 Nationwide Park from environmental harm, which is smart as a result of Loch Lomond is without doubt one of the prime vacationer locations in Scotland!
Total, the final rule of thumb when wild tenting is to respect any “No in a single day parking” signal. And so long as you park someplace distant and smart, you ought to be effective.
We’ll cowl extra rules beneath that you must comply with to have a secure and enjoyable wild marketing campaign expertise in Scotland. However 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. Obtain Park4Night
Park4Night is by far one of the best place to search out wild tenting spots all throughout Scotland (and Europe). It’s a free cellular app out there on each iPhone and Android that reveals you all of the spots the place you’ll be able to park up in a single day.
Whether or not 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 irritating. 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-after-day. Plus, you’ll be able to share private experiences and ideas a couple of spot, and studying updates from different customers gives you insightful info.
The interface itself is tremendous easy and straightforward 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 tv for pc to search out new places
One other useful gizmo for locating new places is Google Satellite tv for pc. You should use the satellite tv for pc view on Google Maps to search out giant open automotive parks or areas the place you possibly can probably keep the night time.
Or just search “parking” in any space of the map, which is able to then listing 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 an effective way to scout the world and see what it seems like.
If you’re wild tenting in Scotland or wherever else, at all times attempt to be as ready as attainable. This consists of having an thought of what the positioning you’re planning to sleep in seems like.
- Learn extra journey guides in Scotland
6. Ask at pubs & eating places for those who can keep there
For instances once you’re wanting to remain close to town, it’s value asking at pubs and eating places for those who can park your car close by and keep the night time. We’ve got completed this a couple of instances ourselves and persons are typically very good about it. Simply make sure that to ask prematurely.
On an analogous be aware, asking locals can also be an effective way to search out the proper tenting spot. This manner, you could find locations that aren’t even talked about in guidebooks and on-line databases. A pleasant howdy may take you to a hidden gem or two!
7. Purchase the Brit Stops e book
This one is a very cool idea. You purchase a bodily Brit Stops e book for the 12 months (it’s launched on a yearly foundation) which is able to 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 free of charge.
It was impressed by the corporate Harvest Hosts within the USA (which we additionally love), so that is just like the UK model. The listing options plenty of distinctive spots, from nation pubs, wineries, and fruit farms to vacationer sights, vintage centres, and extra.
The e book itself prices £32 and offers you the possibility to remain in some actually cool places. You can too buy some native goodies if you’d like while visiting.
What’s extra, they now provide a model new app with the acquisition that you need to use 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 go away any mess (Go away 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. In consequence, most of the finest wild tenting spots have began to shut down and now have limitations, indicators and police patrols to cease the observe. Be part of the answer, not the issue.
The Scottish Outside Entry Code encourages campers to keep away from inflicting issues for native individuals and animals, therefore the “go away no hint” coverage.
This consists of issues like:
- Eradicating all of your litter
- Preserving fires small and placing them out utterly afterwards
- Not inflicting any type of air pollution
- Travelling and tenting on sturdy floor, reminiscent of rock, gravel, dry grasses and snow
- Not damaging what you discover (flowers, crops, outdated archaeological constructions, and so forth)
Basically, attempt to minimise any lasting impression on the grounds!
9. Be respectful in different methods
Along with cleansing up after your individual mess, it’s additionally good to be respectful in different methods. That is related irrespective of the place you’re wild tenting, and being thoughtful whereas tenting out in nature or public locations goes a good 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 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 suggest shopping for domestically at any time when attainable. Whether or not meaning going to native pubs and eating places or buying from native shops, you’ll be serving to increase the native financial system whereas being extra supportive to the observe of untamed tenting.
Additionally, don’t go organising such as you’re at a campsite. This actually winds individuals up, particularly if it seems such as you intend to remain in the identical spot for a lot of days! As a rule of thumb, I’d say that staying for under an evening or two is finest.
10. Keep away from consuming alcohol
If you’re 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 underneath the affect. So, it’s at all times finest to keep away from consuming, particularly once you’re transferring to a brand new metropolis or space.
We personally haven’t had this downside, however have heard horror tales of this taking place to individuals in Scotland and different nations. If you’re in your car 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. When you plan on having a couple 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
Right here’s the factor about Scottish climate: it’s nearly solely unpredictable, and you may’t depend on forecasts. This dramatic local weather and shifting climate is, partially, what has helped make Scotland so wild, rugged and delightful.
The local weather additionally varies between areas, nevertheless it’s typically fairly changeable. For instance, the West will get twice as a lot rainfall because the East.
As you would possibly anticipate, summer season is one of the best time for wild tenting in Scotland by way of climate, although the site visitors might get intense. Regardless of the sunshine, you must nonetheless put together for cloud, wind, and rain all in the identical day! In addition to midges, that are famously horrendous to cope with so you will have bug spray for those who 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 for those who’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 sort of far north and the hours of daylight may be fairly an excessive throughout peak winter and summer season months.
You’ll be able to stand up to 18 hours of daylight in June within the Northern Highlands, which is loads of alternative to discover the wilderness! However 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 car (or tent) tremendous darkish. Oh, and don’t neglect plenty of sunscreen too!
Alternatively, 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 exterior. In any other case, you’ll simply be caught inside your van all day, which isn’t an thrilling option to camp.
Whereas it’s in all probability not one of the best time for wild tenting, the snowy panorama of the winter months does have its personal appeal…
13. …what in regards to the rest room state of affairs?
Probably the most frequent issues individuals have when wild tenting is the lavatory state of affairs. This shouldn’t be an issue once you’re staying near civilization. And in case your car has a rest room, it’s all a matter of accountable waste disposal. If not… Effectively, time to study the artwork of doing your enterprise outside.
Within the wilderness, it’s sometimes okay to decide on any spot that’s nicely away from trails. Keep away from 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 beneficial to do it on a rock floor.
Now, when doing quantity two, you ought to be extra cautious. Stroll a minimum of 200 toes away from a path or water supply, then dig a gap of round 6 to eight inches deep. This can be a good depth that can nonetheless decompose the waste whereas stopping others from stepping on it.
As soon as completed, you must cowl the outlet with the unique grime. When you use any bathroom paper, make sure that to convey it again with you and get rid of it correctly!
14. In busy season, plan forward
Lots of the finest wild tenting spots in Scotland will refill very early on, particularly within the busy summer season months of June, July and August. In some instances, 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.
Higher but, think about visiting through 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. Attempt The two:1 Rule
Intimidated by the concept of untamed tenting for the whole thing of your journey? There’s no cause you’ll be able to’t method it slowly. For lots of first-timers, it’s an ideal thought to interrupt up the journey with extra snug campsites.
You’ll be wild tenting for 2 nights and staying on a campsite for one night time. This can be a good option 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 actually among the best methods to expertise Scotland. You’ll be able to cease wherever and don’t should depend on registered campsites, so in a approach it’s rather more liberating.
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.
When you bear in mind just one factor from this huge listing, it’s to be respectful and thoughtful in all places you go!
