Have any questions? Get in touch. +44 7460 829 701 info@trackandtrail.uk
Have any questions? Get in touch. +44 7460 829 701 info@trackandtrail.uk
On Dartmoor and in Scotland, you could have the opportunity to experience wild camping, which is the practice of setting up camp in natural areas away from official campsites, often in remote countryside, forests, or mountains. It offers a sense of freedom and closeness to nature that is hard to find in everyday life. Without crowds, facilities, or noise, wild camping will allow you to slow down, enjoy quiet surroundings, and experience landscapes in a more personal way. It will also help you build confidence and self-reliance, as you must plan carefully and depend on your own skills.
Dartmoor National Park
Wild camping, also known as backpack camping, is an amazing experience. There is nothing like crawling into your lone tent or bivvy bag in the middle of nowhere, as the darkness falls, apart maybe from waking up at sunrise and seeing a glimpse of a dawn that is yours and yours alone. We have done plenty of wild camping on Dartmoor, both with groups and on our own. We have wild camped in all weathers and in many locations. We love it and it is because we love it so much that we want to share with you how to wild camp on Dartmoor in a way that sticks to National Park rules and protects this beautiful area’s natural environment.
The rules for wild camping on Dartmoor is a developing and controversial situation. The court of appeal has ruled in Dartmoor National Park’s favour regarding the legal proceedings and the right to backpack camp on Dartmoor commons. Below is a summary.
Where to Wild Camp on Dartmoor
As mentioned above, there are now quite a few areas of Dartmoor where you are not allowed to wild camp. Dartmoor National Park Authority has a wild camping map to help you find these, and their Visitor Centre staff are helpful and knowledgeable. Once you have selected a permitted camping area, the next requirement is that you choose a tent pitch that is at least 100 metres away from the road and is not visible from either the road or nearby dwellings.
You should also avoid archeological sites, farmland, moorland that is surrounded by walls and flood plains (Dartmoor’s rivers rise very quickly). Dartmoor has three army firing ranges and the times of live firing on these should always be checked. Look out for red flags during the day or red lights at night. Try to pitch your tent as night falls and move off as quickly as possible in the morning.
Dartmoor National Park Rules (Official)
Permitted Wild Camping Areas
Wild camping is permitted on some of Dartmoor’s commons as shown on the map above. Please remember if you are planning to wild camp you should check where you can and are encouraged to camp on the camping map above first and follow the Leave No Trace principles.
Backpack camping means carrying your own equipment as part of your walk and staying one or two nights max. You may camp overnight in certain areas highlighted on the map, provided you follow the Code of Conduct:
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No overnight stays in vehicles, campervans or motorhomes.
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No large tents or large groups camping.
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Leave no trace - don't light fires and take all rubbish home.
Ground nesting bird season 1 March - 31 July
Take extra care during this time and avoid the rare bird nesting sites. Check here: Dartmoor nesting sites
Dartmoor Live Firing
Please note that part of the camping map is within the area that the military use for training. The boundaries of these range danger areas are marked on the ground by a series of red and white posts with warning notices. The public has access to these moorland areas except when the ranges are in use for live firing. Check here:
Wild Camping in Scotland
Wild camping in Scotland is special because few places in the world combine true freedom, dramatic landscapes and legal access in the same way. From quiet loch shores and sweeping beaches to rugged mountains and empty glens, you can pitch your tent almost anywhere and wake up surrounded by nature rather than crowds. Scotland’s access laws encourage responsible exploration, meaning you’re not confined to campsites but can experience the land in a far more personal, peaceful way. Add in dark skies, fresh air, wildlife, and the sense of adventure that comes from carrying everything you need on your back, and wild camping becomes more than just a night outdoors - it’s a chance to slow down, disconnect, and feel properly immersed in one of Europe’s last great wildernesses.
Scotland is one of the best places in the world for wild camping - and for good reason. Thanks to progressive access laws, you have the legal right to pitch a tent on most unenclosed land, even if it’s privately owned, so long as you behave responsibly and follow a set of common-sense rules.
1. The Legal Basis - Where and When Camping Is Allowed
Wild camping in Scotland is grounded in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and implemented through the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. These give everyone the right to camp on most land and inland water without seeking permission first. As long as your activity is responsible you can generally camp on:
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Hills, mountains, moorland, woodland and unenclosed countryside
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Beaches, loch shores, riverbanks and other natural landscapes
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Most landowners’ estates (provided it’s not enclosed or obviously managed for farming)
Exceptions include:
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Enclosed land — fields with crops or livestock
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Close to buildings, roads or historic sites
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Specific managed areas with separate byelaws, especially certain zones in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, where you do need a permit between March and September.
There is no separate “wild camping law” for motorcycles or cars - access rights don’t apply to motorised vehicles. That means you cannot simply sleep in a campervan or car and call it wild camping.
2. Scottish Outdoor Access Code - What You Must Follow
The heart of responsible wild camping is the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC). This isn’t just a guide to etiquette - it’s a legal framework that informs you how to exercise your access rights without causing any harm.
Core Principles - The SOAC emphasise the three key behaviours needed to wild camp sensibly:
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Respect the interests of others
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Care for the environment
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Take responsibility for your own actions
Here’s how that translates in practice:
Where You Pitch Up
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Keep your campsite well away from people’s homes, farms, livestock, historic ruins, and busy paths.
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Avoid enclosed fields, gardens, and cultivated land.
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If a space is busy, move on - overcrowding leads to environmental damage.
Group Size & Stay Duration
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Camp in small groups, traditionally no more than a few tents.
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Stay in one spot for only 2-3 nights maximum and then move on.
Leave No Trace
“Leave no trace” isn’t just a motto - it’s the core rule. See below for more details of the low impact initiative.
Fires & Fuel
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Use a camping stove instead of an open fire wherever possible.
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If you do have a fire, keep it small, controlled and supervised, and never light a fire during prolonged dry periods or on sensitive ground like peat.
3. Special Local Rules & Permits
While Scotland’s access laws are broad, there are exceptions: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
To manage heavy visitor pressure, certain shorelines and zones require a wild camping permit in spring and summer. Pitching a tent without one in these areas can result in fines. Always check local signage and park authority guidance before you arrive.
Wild Camping on Private Land
This is going to be short and sweet. As long as you have the landowner's permission to do whatever it is you want to do, you can do whatever it is you want to do. Simple as that. The same priciples of Leave No Trace, and the Countryside Code still apply, of course. But if your very careful, you might even get invited back!
About Leave No Trace
Wild camping comes with responsibilities. We need to respect the environment by following principles such as leaving no trace, taking all rubbish home, and avoiding damage to plants or wildlife. It’s also important to understand local laws, as wild camping is allowed in some places but restricted or illegal in others. When done thoughtfully and respectfully, wild camping is a rewarding way to appreciate nature while helping to preserve it for others to enjoy in the future.
The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices that anyone can put into action. The principles can be applied anywhere - from remote wilderness areas to local parks and even in your own back garden:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose of Waste Properly 4. Leave What You Find 5. Minimise Campfire Impacts 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Considerate of Others.
Find Out More
If you’d like to find out more about our wild camping expeditions, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to learn about upcoming routes, dates, and what to expect on the day, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contacting us is the first step towards enjoying a trek through some of the most beautiful countryside on offer.
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