15 Prime Suggestions for Wild Tenting in Scotland

For those who’re planning to wild camp in Scotland, Bradley of “Dream Huge, Journey Far” shares his 15 prime suggestions and methods to make your expertise safer and extra nice. They’ve been driving around the globe since 2020 and have knowledgeable suggestions for wild tenting in Scotland and past.

Methods to Wild Camp in Scotland

Since changing our van (who known as Helen), we’ve pushed to dozens of nations throughout Europe, in addition to to North America & South America. Nonetheless, Scotland stays very near our hearts as we spent greater than 4 months there, residing in our van and driving round this spectacular nation.

It’s hands-down certainly one of our private favorite locations to go to wherever on this planet. Notably for vanlifers, as a result of many superb 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 car. With out additional ado, let’s get proper into it!

1. Perceive what wild tenting is

However first… what is wild tenting?

Often known as free tenting or boondocking, it’s basically tenting in a single day outdoors of registered campsites, or at a location the place you don’t must pay for.

Wild tenting isn’t the identical as tenting basically. Whereas 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 discipline, close to a lake, or in a public automobile park.

Because the latter is what we’re finest accustomed with, our solutions immediately are for vehicle-based wild tenting. Nonetheless, lots of the factors truly apply to the opposite type of wild tenting, equivalent to in a tent. Take a look at a Scotland street journey at: North Coast 500 – The Final Journey Information to Scotland’s Epic Drive

2. Select the proper motorhome or campervan

The very first thing it’s best to 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 essential to select one of the best one in your wants. Some options to consider embrace:

• Measurement – Are you travelling alone or with another person? Just be sure you can confidently drive your chosen car. Whereas a bigger motorhome could also be extra comfy to reside in, they’re more durable to navigate tough terrains and off-the-beaten monitor. That is crucially essential to recollect, as most roads in Scotland are very slender; even alongside the NC500 and notably in cities.
• Variety of beds – Likewise, take note of the variety of berths or passengers {that a} car can accommodate.
• Finances – Don’t overlook to find out your price range, which can 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 when you’re renting from a dependable rental firm, however essential when you’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, keep in mind that it’ll not solely be a car, but in addition the place you’ll sleep, cook dinner, eat, and calm down all through your journey.

We noticed every kind of campers throughout Scotland. Some travellers had been even in giant transformed 4×4 ex-military automobiles that may be pushed onto seashores. You possibly can lease all kinds of automobiles from giant rental corporations like McRent.

And even from native Scottish folks by way of websites like Outdoorsy. It actually does rely in your private desire; although I’d advocate the smaller the higher in case you are unfamiliar driving within the UK, and on smaller slender roads.

3. Know the wild tenting legal guidelines in Scotland

Be sure 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 think about parking in a single day in a motorhome as wild tenting. Whereas it’s positively 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 may or can not park, it’s usually fairly straightforward to get permission.

The Scottish Out of doors Entry Code

The Scottish Out of doors Entry Code grants you accountable entry to the Scottish open air. This contains forests, hills, seashores, rivers, lochs, parks, and a few farmlands.

Respect others, look after the surroundings, and be liable for your actions. Principally, present widespread sense and decency whilst you’re wild tenting. Extra on Scotland Journey at: 7 Loopy Adventures in Scotland

Whereas this regulation provides entry to all unenclosed land and inland waters in Scotland, it doesn’t truly embrace vehicular entry. It does, nonetheless, enable wild tenting so long as it’s “light-weight and performed in small numbers”.

Highway Visitors Act of 1988

The Highway Visitors Act of 1988 acknowledges most roads as non-public land, which suggests it’s crucial that you simply ask for permission earlier than parking your car wherever.

Loch Lomond Byelaws

Wild tenting is usually potential in most locations throughout the nation, apart from one: the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Nationwide Park. Between March and September, tenting is barely allowed on official campsites or in case you have a tenting allow.

This byelaw goals to guard the Nationwide Park from environmental injury, which is sensible as a result of Loch Lomond is among 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 wise, you need to be effective.

We’ll cowl extra ideas under that it’s best to observe 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 seek out wild tenting spots all throughout Scotland (and Europe). It’s a free cell app out there on each iPhone and Android that reveals you all of the spots the place you may 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 critically such a helpful app that may make your journey much less worrying. 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 at all times updating on daily basis. Plus, you may share private experiences and ideas a couple of spot, and studying updates from different customers provides you with 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 seek out new areas

One other useful gizmo for locating new areas is Google Satellite tv for pc. You should utilize the satellite tv for pc view on Google Maps to seek out giant open automobile parks or areas the place you possibly can doubtlessly keep the night time. 

Or just search “parking” in any space of the map, which can then listing parking spots and you’ll zoom in to test if it’s viable.

Alternatively, if you have already got a particular spot in thoughts, that is nonetheless an effective way to scout the world and see what it seems like. 

Whenever you’re wild tenting in Scotland or wherever else, at all times attempt to be as ready as potential. This contains having an concept of what the location you’re planning to sleep in seems like.

6. Ask at pubs & eating places when you can keep there

For instances once you’re wanting to remain close to the town, it’s price asking at pubs and eating places when you can park your car close by and keep the night time. Now we have performed this just a few instances ourselves and individuals are typically very good about it. Simply make certain to ask prematurely.

On an identical notice, asking locals can also be an effective way to seek out the right tenting spot. This fashion, yow will discover 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 guide 

This one is a extremely cool idea. You purchase a bodily Brit Stops guide for the 12 months (it’s launched on a yearly foundation) which can then provide you with entry to over 1000 wild tenting spots throughout the UK, together with Scotland, the place you may keep at without cost. 

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 numerous distinctive spots, from nation pubs, wineries, and fruit farms to vacationer sights, vintage centres, and extra. 

The guide itself prices £32 and provides you the prospect to remain in some actually cool areas. 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 should use to satisfy native hosts. It’s positively an effective way to satisfy new folks 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. Because of this, lots 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 Out of doors Entry Code encourages campers to keep away from inflicting issues for native folks and animals, therefore the “go away no hint” coverage.

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 regardless 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 could 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 advocate shopping for regionally every time potential. Whether or not meaning going to native pubs and eating places or buying from native shops, you’ll be serving to increase the native economic system whereas being extra supportive to the apply of untamed tenting.

Additionally, don’t go establishing such as you’re at a campsite. This actually winds folks 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

In case you are requested to maneuver on by police and you might be over the alcohol restrict, there’s a likelihood you’ll get fined and prosecuted for driving beneath the affect. So, it’s at all times finest to keep away from consuming, particularly once you’re shifting to a brand new metropolis or space.

We personally haven’t had this drawback, however have heard horror tales of this occurring to folks in Scotland and different international locations. In case you are 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. For those who plan on having just a few 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 totally unpredictable, and you’ll’t depend on forecasts. This dramatic local weather and shifting climate is, partly, what has helped make Scotland so wild, rugged and exquisite. 

The local weather additionally varies between areas, however it’s usually 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 could get intense. Regardless of the sunshine, it’s best to nonetheless put together for cloud, wind, and rain all in the identical day! In addition to midges, that are famously horrendous to take care of so you will have 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 might be fairly an excessive throughout peak winter and summer season months. 

You possibly can stand up to 18 hours of daylight in June within the Northern Highlands, which is lots of alternative to discover the wilderness! However that additionally means sleeping could be 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 overlook numerous sunscreen too!

However, you would possibly get daylight solely from 9am to 3pm in December. Pack sufficient headlamps and flashlights so you may nonetheless do stuff outdoors. In any other case, you’ll simply be caught inside your van all day, which isn’t an thrilling technique 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 concerning the rest room scenario?

Probably the most widespread issues folks have when wild tenting is the toilet scenario. 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… Properly, time to study the artwork of doing your corporation open air.

Within the wilderness, it’s sometimes okay to decide on any spot that’s effectively away from trails. Keep away from waterways and sapling bushes, although bigger established bushes and bushes are okay. Don’t go instantly in small our bodies of water, however greater lakes or rivers can dilute any urine. In alpine areas, it’s really useful to do it on a rock floor.

Now, when doing quantity two, you need 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 may nonetheless decompose the waste whereas stopping others from stepping on it.

As soon as performed, it’s best to cowl the opening with the unique grime. For those who use any rest room paper, make certain to deliver it again with you and get rid of it correctly!

14. In busy season, plan forward

Most of the finest wild tenting spots in Scotland will replenish very early on, particularly within the busy summer season months of June, July and August. In some circumstances, you might need to arrive at your location by round 2 or 3pm to have a greater likelihood of securing a spot to arrange in a single day.

Higher but, think about visiting throughout the off season! We did North Coast 500, a 500-mile journey across the Highland space of Scotland, again in November 2020. It was improbable 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 lot of your journey? There’s no cause you may’t method it slowly. For lots of first-timers, it’s an excellent 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 can be a good 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, scorching bathe, stocking up on necessities, and extra.

All in all, wild tenting is actually among the finest methods to expertise Scotland. You possibly can cease wherever and don’t must depend on registered campsites, so in a approach it’s rather more releasing.

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.

For those who keep in mind just one factor from this huge listing, it’s to be respectful and thoughtful all over the place you go!