To be fair these kinds or laws are set up to prevent travellers from up and calling the national parks their home, I rekon as long as you follow LNT nobody's gonna bother kicking up much of a fuss. (In my experience in wales anyway...)
@@christinestjohn1911 that shouldn't be necessary though. In the USA the national *parks* often have strict camping rules (the busier the park the more strick the rules typically) while the national *forests* are usually totally open for wild camping (within reason. You can't just setup camp in one spot and live there. Well, your not supposed to anyway!). I believe its simply another advantage of being a fairly young country. We had way more space than we had people so unlike the UK people hadn't had time to slap their flag down everywhere and call it theirs. We also go lucky with having a few strong conservationists in the government. The entire world would be worse off if those people hadn't protected Yosemite, Yellowstone, and in my case my backyard, the smoky mountains.
I was wild camping last night in my Fjallraven Abisko lite 1 last night in the Peak District in an area I have never been before. I did not check the map. After a beautiful successful night camping with most extraordinary views; I got up early as I had an hours hike to the car, and had work in the day. As I was waking up, I could clearly hear shouts (farmers) and lots of sheep making a racket and moving. As I packed the camp up I saw a female on the horizon with a sheepdog watching me (another farmer). She approached me with a very loud good morning and I returned the courtesy. We started talking about how wonderful the morning is. She explained she and the other farmers were moving the sheep to a lower enclosed field to move them no doubt to the market. In the conversation I made the assumption that the land I was on was controlled by the National Trust. To my surprize she made clear this was private land and not in control of the National Trust. I immediately apologized for basically trespassing on her land without permission (no doubt there were rights of way, but rights of way do not include camping). She clearly could see I had left no trace, and that I had a sincere respect of the land and of her right to control who was on her land. She smiled and said it was ok and that she had no problem with me as a person camping. What she did have issues with were ignorant people who leave rubbish lying around and have fires. So this goes to show, that when told land is privately owned, don't go on the defensive but show you respect the rights of the owner and try to make them like you by respecting their wishes. You never know you might get permission to use their land to camp in future.
You summarised it all there. Most folk don't mind, i.e. low, quiet presence, ask permission, a bit of respect, and don't turn the place into a music and fire festival. Simple really.
In Denmark EVERYTHING is illegal. So I choose to ignore it. In the last 45 years, I havent been found or spottet once !!! Now I'm training my youngest kid in keeping low profile and leaving no trace and bringing home trash we find.
Same in Germany. I do wildcamping since 1978 constantly without any problems. Leave no trace obviously and I never have a fire. In the summer I go stoveless anyway. Along popular hiking routes it is not legal but usual accepted if you set your tent beside of a shelter you will always find along hiking trails. If I don't find a shelter, I set my tent on any acceptable spot directly beneath the trail. Never had any problems. Usually I don't use the shelters due to rodent problems.
This is not strictly true I'm a Brit living in Denmark and there are many free camping areas known as "shelters" plus the ministry of Environment and Food does allow camping in some woodland areas eng.naturstyrelsen.dk/experience-nature/sleeping-outside-in-nature/ . Sweden is the place to go for wild camping :)
"Don't ask for permission, beg for forgiveness"....providing as you mentioned leave no trace, stay away from people, pitch late and leave early then this is what I go by!
If you leave no trace then you can just deny you camped, if they find you with a tent up just say you didn't camp in it, you just pitched it to eat your sandwich in
I'm from Norway, so it's a strange concept to me that you wouldn't be allowed to camp in the wild. Very happy to live in Scotland! The laws in Scotland seem to be exactly the same as in Norway, which are all based around common sense.
@@jeffbanks9955 untrue. We don't take kindly to the hordes of campervans that descend on our roads and pack in passing places making it impossible for locals to go about their day. Also campervans usually bring everything with them and this contribute nothing to local communitys. I have never heard of anyone in Scotland who would care about a tent on the side of a hill or on top of one of our many mountains. Leave no trace. If there are livestock leave them be and close all the gates you cross. Simple.
Its not a strange concept, just go around the parks where you live and more often than not you will at least find a few pieces of litter. Me and you would probably never do that, but for a couple of frat boys who would decide to go out to drink and camp in a beautiful wild remote part of a country, the chance of leaving litter behind is much bigger. This is also the reason countries decided to make it illegal. In Slovenia for example you could wild camp legally anywhere around the 1980's, nowadays its all forbidden for this exact reason.
Isn’t it crazy ‘all the land is privately owned’ At some point in time someone just decided to claim the land and put some deeds on paper that made it theirs. What a farce.
The Enclosures, in the 18th and 19th centuries the ruling classes (the rich basically) passed laws in parliament which stole the common land from the people - rendering us powerless to refuse subjugation, by dependency on their employment. www.univoxmarketing.co.uk/tag/enclosure-acts/
@Jordan M hey Jordan M, yeah even white racists lives matter. Shame they're too stupid to see we're all the same human beings and racism is simply colour-based class hatred that gets us fighting eachother instead of fighting the rich who keep us all down to make money out of us.
When I wild camp I take my challenger tank with me. When I get caught out, Which I often do because I am easy to track! I get obstropolous. Which is why I take the tank. They always back down. It’s a small price to pay for my otherwise ultralight camping. The only other extra I have to take is a lightweight military tank cover.
NANGSTAGRAM TV law. Camping is about time away from home in a temporary one. Laws are enforced social rules. Rules amongst a group goes way back. I’d rather the freedom though myself so I’ll probably nip to Scotland.
@Paul Messner - Sure is! We’ve got a heavy artillery range in Dorset that looks perfect for wild camping. May just pass following your well considered advice. 🤙
@@shen7256 - I'm guessing you're talking about the Lulworth ranges - some friends of mine tried it, had their tents up for about 20 minutes before the MPs turned up to turf them off. They tried being as stealthy as possible and had no idea how they managed to be seen, so it's a fairly safe assumption that any access to the ranges is very carefully monitored
@K Man - Former Bootneck here mate - they were a few DFL mates of mine and I had no idea what they were planning - and to be fair they didn't either - they'd just spotted what looked like some decent wild camping / fishing spots on google maps and decided to go for it - had I known what they were planning, I might have saved the Mps the effort and slotted them myself :-)
In the UK you do not need an activity to be legally sanctioned in order to partake. Just because something is not legal, does not make it illegal. Freedom (as distinct from right) of access can be presumed unless otherwise clearly signed/stated as restricted. You don't need permission to walk up someone's drive and post a letter, it's a presumed freedom. Trespass is not a crime.
@@cropking7808 Trespass is not a criminal offence in the UK but it is a Tort ( or Civil Wrong ) against the land owner. It is possible to be taken to County Court by the land owner but the remedy is restricted to paying the land owner for actual damages caused which is usually little or nothing. In such cases courts have always been unwilling to award legal costs to the land owner because they greatly outweigh the actual losses complained about.( Disproportional costs. ) So the land owner either wastes his own time taking you to court for next to no compensation or worse still pays a solicitor to do so and doesn't get that back in court. Of course sometimes court cases are started as a bluff demanding modest sums to settle out of court but this really is just a scare tactic which usually results in the trespasser paying up when there was really no need to. "Trespassers will be prosecuted" signs are a bluff. I learned that on my 1st day as a trainee gamekeeper many years ago. Trespass with a firearm is a criminal matter as is aggravated trespass which is where you've been told to go but refuse to. Hope this helps. John
@@cropking7808 All they can do is to ask you to leave - if they can find you. Illegal migrants/homeless people camp on the streets in many towns in UK permanently with no permission or expulsion!
The restrictions are a denial of a basic human right in the UK. There is a 'not in my back yard' atmosphere generally speaking but really people should be allowed to RESPONSIBLY camp, and responsibility is key. Take only photos, leave only footprints. Thanks for this video, it needs saying.
The problem is people can't be trusted. I've seen plenty of "stealth" camper on UA-cam claiming they don't leave a trace but will cut down trees and don't cover up their fires when they are done.
I wildcamp around N.I and haven't been caught yet.... Scotland leading the way again.... I don't ask anyone where to camp, I camp where I like and leave no Trace...I'm a wildcamp Ninja..!
@@PaulMessner My caustic sense of humour. I took to boaty camping,it's harder for the government slave enforcement agencies to regulate you. Try it,not as far from your budget as you may think.Small sailboat,£300 with everything inc. Maritime laws are much better.
Yeah Scotland is great for this. When my kids get a bit older want to take them a walkabout across Scotland for a week or two. Just walk and camp where we feel.
"In Norway, a central right has been established in the form of the public right that guarantees residents access to nature, even though the land is owned by private landowners." - Google translate In short it means you can camp pretty much everywhere* as long as its uncultivated. On cultivated land you need permission. From my calculations you can camp without permission on about 88,5% of the area of Norway (not counted Svalbard, Jan Mayen etc.). The rest is made of: 1,7% built up area (residential, industrial etc.) 3,5% farmland 6,2% freshwater (not much suitable for camping is it?). *150 meter from inhabited huts and houses. *Can camp for up to 2 days. Longer if very remote (for example high mountains).
I'm from Norway and live in Scotland. The rules are extremely similar and based around common sense and respect for nature. Very happy be living in this part of the UK, although I really miss wild camping in Norway.
I have done John O'Groats to Land's End (via Cape Wrath trail), and the Pembrokeshire Coastpath, and although it is technically only legal in Scotland, it isn't like it is illegal either in England or Wales. I have only had one situation where someone has questioned us being pitched somewhere, but it was in a reasonably built up area near Barnstaple, and it was a police officer. All he did was ask what we were doing there and he let us stay there as long as we moved on in the morning. My own backpacking rules are: 1. Take into consideration the situation. How far have you walked? Is a farmer's field the only place you can camp for some miles? 2. Pitch late, leave early, and don't leave anything behind. 3. Be completely respectful, if someone wants you off their land, explain your situation, and be reasonable. The land owner has a right to be concerned. 4. Think about who might take offence to you pitching in that space - any landowners, farms, etc nearby? 5. Try and conceal yourself - near woodland, bushes, or a dip in the ground.
Would love to know more of that route you did from lands end to John o'groats via Cape wrath trail ect. As I'm just looking into doibg lands end to John o'Groats in the next couple of years.
I tried to research what I was allowed to do in terms of wild campaign back when I lived in the UK but the ambiguity put me off. This is by far the best way for me to recharge mentally so the restrictions were quite depressing. I wish I knew someone this knowledgable about the topic back then. Thanks for the informative video!
Planned my first "long distance trail" for later this week and was wondering about the wild camping laws and didn't fully understand what the websites were saying and luckily I stumbled upon this video! Thank you for clarifying and explaining in more understandable detail. This has given me more peace of mind for completing the hike! Thank you for the perfect timing of uploading your video! Hike on from N.I ⛰️
I'll just generally camp wherever the hell I want within reason. Make no mess, leave no trace and play dumb if ever caught out but be polite and move if they really want you too.
I wild camped coming back through German with two friends. We were well off the beaten track. A forestry worker came through early in the morning, about 15 mins later the armed police turned up…. PASSPORT! While they checked us via the radio we packed up. Only the grass was flat to show we had been there. Big smile from the senior office, in perfect English, remember in Germany we work on Saturday’s. Off we went
In a nutshell wild camping is permissible to those keeping a low profile and practicing a LNT policy. Unfortunately it's the idiots pitching 8 man tents,lighting huge fires and making a general racket that ruin it for the genuine campers. Nice video Paul should be an interesting series.
They’re part of the romanticised, primitive aesthetic that many have in their head when it comes to camping. They’re also enchanting when you’re just sitting down and relaxing after a full day’s walk. I see the appeal and tbh I don’t see a problem with it if you source your wood properly (deadfall) and make sure it won’t spread, shame is that most people don’t know how to do either.
@@__8168 what is the point in camping if your not going to do it properly. Build your own fire and cook your food on it. None off this gas stove ballshit. Be responsible with the fire and make sure it’s out when your finished with it. Clean up your mess and just keep the place how it was when you turned up. Simple
Rule number one when camping in England, "Stay Off The Moors" as stated in a well known documentary An American Werewolf in London (1981). Happy Camping everyone!
Lmao I've camped on moors before it's not that bad 😂 if you camp in a valley your out of way of pretty much everything and have shelter from most winds
I was glued to this very informative vid, the information about the OS maps was excellent. I have the map for Dartmoor and have wild camped in remote locations and as you said leave no trace of your stay. Thank you Paul.
I am from the UK. I am going with my friend on our 1st wild camp at the end of the month. I found the video very informative & im looking forwards to the rest of the series. Put alot of things into perspective for me. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Agree with you. ..Acts and Statutes are man made laws. ......Law of the sea .Needs your consent. ....Common law is the ONLY law of the land. Good people practise their rights to go camping. No offence intended.
"Good people disobey bad laws. " Good people get rid of bad governments who make bad laws. Unfortunately democracy doesn't get rid of bad governments; it merely gives then a license to continue!
@@captainheinie6355 As long as you're happy to have people camping without permission on YOUR property too. Maybe drive your car, if they don't damage it or make a mess. Thanks, nice of you to allow any of us to come round. You don't mind if I watch your TV, have a shower and sleep in your bed too?
@@svmwasthesheet1971 Hi there wonderful people. Thank you for your reply. I have practiced law for over 39 years, Here in the UK. we are still a common law country. The powers that be, are trying very hard to steer everyone away form common law. but. I still win cases using common law method. Greetings from us . and a hug.
I hike mostly in Sweden and Norway, both of these countries allow wild camping almost everywhere. Exceptions is within sight of buildings and in some national parks and nature preservation areas. This is based on what is easiest described as a "leave no trace policy". There is some exceptions, you are allowed to pick mushrooms and berries in both countries, you can make fires under the right circumstances (a little different rules between the countries) and a few other things, but for anyone who follow the leave no trace philosophy, they will always be well within the boundary of what is allowed.
Hi Daniel, out of interest what are the 'right circumstances' you refer to regarding making fires? I'm curious as to why its so forbidden in the UK. Thanks
@@matthewvalorsa3460 Sorry for a late answer, I've just been away on a trip in the mountains with no cell phone reception! 😊 "The right circumstances" is varying. There is generally allowed to make fires at public land, but that can be prohibited locally or countrywide during dry periods. Local rules often apply to national parks and nature preserve areas, some allow fires, some allow it only in special camp areas and some don't allow it at all, in those areas there is also often only allowed to use brought in firewood or firewood supplied by the local municipality in the camp cites. It is up to each individual to check out which rules apply to each area and if there is a prohibition to fires due to dry woods where fire can spread.
Every video I watch from you Paul informs, and is really genuine, but in every video it’s your enthusiasm for everything camping that I love. Keep it up pal and thanks
Very useful info. I live in Norfolk & I took about 4 summers to complete the trails, wild camping after work from Friday & finish the hike on Saturday. I only once met up with an owner who advised where I should sleep for the night. So from just off the route to beaches I’ve had ton of fun. 2015 a mate & I decided to hike to London from Norwich. 143 miles 9 walking days18days in total.We legally camped until we got to outskirts of London. We slept in a park in the Romford area & by the time we reached Trafalgar Square which was too late, there was genuinely no room at any inn. We wild camped in the St James park.
That was very informative Paul. Nothing like various rules and regulations to make what could be a really pleasant camping excursion into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Similar to Australia - no surprise given our UK heritage. Camping is only allowed in National Parks or designated camping grounds where you usually pay a fee. Some towns have a lot of “Do not camp” signs near popular beaches such as Byron Bay or Bondi. Still a lot of backpackers ignore these rules. Car camping is promoted to reduce people dying from tiredness so you will see cars parked along the road and people sleeping in the front or back seats.
Great explanation Paul and absolutely factually correct. I’m 53 and I’ve wild camped since I was a teenager and I’ve only once been told to move on, which I did. The first thing a landowner has to do in a case of trespass is ask you to leave and he can only ever prosecute you for the cost of putting right any damage caused, that’s it.
I do believe Dartmoor is the only National Park within England & Wales that both promotes wild camping and is legally allowed in the areas of the majority of both North & South parts of the Moor. As on the DNPA website they have a wild camping map of where you can camp legally. Of course always check out the MOD range times first.
Enjoyable video and informative Paul. I just got back from Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains and had a dispute with a gamekeeper about Open Access land. I wanted to get to a source of a river and he said it wasn't open access. But it was. I was polite mind you. In fact if I'm wild camping I bear in mind exactly what you just said about tress-pass law. My brother and I would say, 'where do you want us.' That's right there is no need to panic. But yeah keep it clean and stealthy. Well, I enjoyed that - well presented. Mark
Cheers for that Paul . After many years of site camping I now want to wild camp . I've got the time (just retired) Got the kit .(a couple of serviceable tents) Now with your help I have some wild camping knowledge. Thanks Lee
What a great video! I've been wild camping for a while now and have always just hoped that noone would find me (successfully so far) but it's great to know what the actually prosecution is if someone did find me and kicked up a fuss. Cheers Paul, keep up the good work!
Best video so far, thanks for speaking honestly and not trying to pretend it's all about getting permissions and being the goody two shoes! Good genuine advice, cheers
Thank you Paul, being from the US I assumed backpackers in the UK had similar backpacking opportunities to wilderness. I still want to come over some day and head to the lakes district or Scotland but won’t be bringing my orange tent.
Great tips mate, I live in Scotland so I wondered how it would work when I go south of the border. So glad I don't have to worry about where I can camp or wander normally!
Hi Paul.... I recently did my first solo wild camp.... and have been put off by the legality side of things.... but thanks to this video I now feel I can go ahead and get some more under my belt...... Thanks so much for sharing 👍👍👍
Excellent advice. I had one farmer in north Yorkshire came over to the corner of the field i was in. It was about 8pm. He asked my name and i gave him my address. He seen i was knackered and was well hidden. He was happy that i wasn't going to cause a problem. I said i would be gone early. He said as long as you are gone by 10am lad thats when people start moving. I was gone by 9. Apart from flattened grass no trace. Im from the north of Scotland and love the freedom of the hills.
Clear and concise. The most direct and honest video ive seen regarding wild camping in the UK. I've been trying to get my head around the laws and so. Thank you for clearing that up for me Thank you.
A couple of important things about Scotland in the Highlands please kit out with proper gear, I would advise always you take wet weather gear and at least one heavy jumper, the weather can change very quickly and also leave your routes with someone you trust along with your expected time of return.
Over here in France, you can 'bivouac' (sleep overnight but you have to move on at first light) but 'camping' (staying in a particular spot for more than one night or during the day) is frowned upon as well. Most times you can get away with it if you say that you are simply sleeping overnight as it's too dark and dangerous to continue to hike during the hours of darkness
It's very sad that a year later we are on the brink of this being turned into a Police matter and not civil with the potential for arrest and large fines. Let's hope the Police crime bill doesn't get passed.
@@SnowyAspenHills yes can't have people livivng in anything other than a house, can we, I mean how else can we keep tabs on our citizens. The traveller community aren't going to be happy, it's there way of life, and has been for generations, very sad indeed.
God bless you Paul, I've been looking for a hobby to get out of the city, to enjoy the peace and quiet. Your guides are invaluable to me as a hiking novice😅
I live in wales and normally camp in wales done it everywhere around me even farmers fields or on council land I never ask i try to keep away from the road and out of sight when i set up its last thing at night and i'm gone early last thing i put up is the tent and first thing down is the tent good places i find are where the old railway lines used to go the owners of the land are the railway. who don't maintain them but over time the farmers have stolen the land from the railway but kinda leaves them in limbo as they don't own the land and they also don't want to draw attention to this the old railway lines also tend to be flat away from houses and have bushes each side to provide cover and the rails are gone (very important to only go where there are no railway lines ) so normally as long as your only there for a night they wont do anything i did once have a farmer ask me what i was doing I told him id twisted my foot and I was just having something to eat then ill be on my way in a hour he just said dont let me see you here in the morning but he was on a quad and you could hear it for miles I packed the tent away and moved 200 meters out of sight and bivouac the night in case he came back never saw him again best camp place i ever found was in the middle of a river I discovered the two farmers only owned to the river banks and a small island about 5 meters wide and 20 meters long had formed in the middle of the river i used to camp there a lot when i was a teenager it was great could even make a fire on that small island normally in wales if you can get a place a few fields away from the road or houses your sorted and have a story like your lost or hurt as a back up if your caught
very nicely done and informative videos no wandering off topic , no digressing into rambling stories , just plain English educationally presented informative uploads , nicely edited too ...thanks alot for your hard work .
@@PaulMessner I think the spirit of the law is that they just don't want people making a mess of the wilderness. So the law stands to dissuade bad behaviour and gives land owners an opportunity to seek damages. They don't ever expect to have to do that though and will 99.99% of the time turn a blind eye to respectful campers
Wild amping weather it be in a tent or van is 90 % confidence and that only comes from doing it it gets easier each time . Instinct and gut feeling is the key . Look for a place about 10 mins before it goes dark so you can memorise the area . Then pitch in dark if possible practice putting up tent in dark if not using Bivi . No fires no cooking do that before use a flask for morning drink then leave first light . Use red head torch if needed as it’s does not shine as bright as white . Good video Paul
Ha! This would have been perfect a couple months ago, as backpack camping/ hostel's is what i am doing right now, i had a great time in Scotland and now working my through the UK. I had gone through new forest and was given no trouble, even in places I probably shouldn't have been. Love the videos and looking forward to seeing more of this series.
The whole buzz about camping off grid is not asking anyone for permission to do anything because I was born here and if I feel like I want to camp outdoors I will, as long as you’re responsible and keep tidy...the world has gone totally mad...common sense does not apply anywhere these days...
You're exactly the type of person the laws are aimed at. The ones that think they can do what they want, when they want. Of course, when somebody does what they want with YOUR property, you would go mad... because that is somehow different. If you found a stranger had been in your living room whilst you were out, would you accept it if they hadn't made a mess? Morally, why is that any different to camping on someone else's land?
A Nother You obviously don’t have enough intelligence to understand my point, your exactly the sort of person who needs to be spoon fed information on anything you do in life, nobody owns the land, it’s mine and yours to use, obviously if you leave a mess then obviously that is different, I don’t follow the leader , common sense is key so I suggest u stay indoors..
@@another3997 I think that's a bit of a straw man argument - you really can't argue logically that pitching a tent on someone's land, possibly miles away from where they actually reside, is the same as breaking into somebody's home. Morally they are not the same thing at all. Actually breaking and entering is entirely different from camping on somebody's land, surely you see that?
I used to live in Scotland (Newcastle now). When living in Scotland I did a lot of bushcraft and wild camping. I’m Scotland there is the freedom to roam act. You can basically go wherever you like, but are not allowed to approach any private buildings on land such as a barn or farm house. Some of the areas in Scotland are absolutely incredible.
The wild camping laws in this country, are very restrictive and very frustrating, they do make sense though. I wouldn’t want people trespassing on my private land. It’s just one of the drawbacks, of living on a small island.
I agree to an extent. I think it depends on where abouts. If it's a farmers field right next to his house, it's very different to 800m high up in the fells.
I'm embarassed to say I've been hiking for 20 years and only just found out about the colour system for open access land, thank you for the info I mean its probably in the key on the many o/s maps I own, but just never really noticed it before
I live up in Scotland and it is great. The stretch of Loch Lomond that you were mentioning that isn’t allowed, is pretty much around 2miles of it. After ptarmigan lodge any is allowed, it’s only a wee slice that isn’t. Also you have to be careful of lambing season. So around that time in may for example conic hill by Loch lomond is also off. But these things you just check up before you go, as there is shooting on some of the hills in the early spring too
Went camping for the first time (after a lifetime caravanning) last summer, and loved it. I now have a small tent, rucksack, mat and sleeping bag, and this spring, hope to wild camp for the first time. Did you manage it yourself? How did it go?
there's a good film on bbc iplayer just now about the right to roam act in scotland. you called it lucky, others would call it a birth right. it was hard won, took over a century, was only achieved by the scottish parliament and wouldn't have happened in a thousand years through westminster as the landowning interests continually blocked it in the house of lords. pretty ironic that the first 'landowner' to erode the law was loch lomond national park which was one of the 2 national parks set up at the same time. there's a right of way that goes right by the queens back door in balmoral. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09tt537/the-battle-for-scotlands-countryside
I just watched that program. Very interesting. My view is that nobody needs to own thousands of acres of land just because they can because of old fashioned laws, things change. The man that wants wolves, I like his thinking but I think he's using it as a way to shut off access unless you pay and that's wrong.
To be fair to Loch Lomond, if people aren’t respecting the land then something needs to be done about it. If that requires more staff to patrol and ensure the land is protected, I’m happy to pay to use it. I’d rather that cost is covered by general taxation but I know a lot of people don’t want that.
@K Man www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/2/contents The law was passed in Scottish Parliament in 2003, which as you probably realise is after 1999. Can you name and link any of these laws which limited people's right to roam in Scotland? Because if you don't I'm gonna assume you're talking utter nonsense.
@K Man Actually you can dictate what people do in nature when it's a national park, when it's protected land that has to be kept in a fit state to preserve it for future generations to experience. That's not a god complex, that's a common belief that is shared all over the world. I'm not saying anything about what nature does, I'm saying that policing people who're wrecking nature is a costly thing because it requires workers who're working round the clock to clean up people's litter and refuse and that paying a fee for that is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
Back in the oldy days when camping was the pursuit of the upper and middle class wild camping was no problem. Then when people with less status started the activity it was then that the laws were introduced. Very well written informative script btw :)
@@PaulMessner Sadly they do :( We have long lists of places we can't go into - the biggest being private land. More and more of our State and National Parks are also being closed off and camping permitted only in certain areas. Too many morons screwing it up for everyone :(
Great video.I look forward to the rest of the series. I live on dartmoor and i love it dearly. But over the last couple of years the amount of litter i encounter is ridiculous. Yet another example of the few ruining it for the many i think. Anyway rant over,loved the video.Big thumbs up.
Most of the "camp sites" are to be avoided. Unless you want to be kept up all night by idiots that is. The other thing worth knowing is that several of the Mountain Rescue Teams run hostels. Most of the people that use them are focused on walking/mountaineering so virtually no noise.
in new zealand we have the queens chain, which is 22 yards from a river, but you dont argue your right to be there with a farmer as he normally has access to a gun and a digger
l used to wild camping long ago but l am getting old but it doesnt stop me l go hiking trekking travelling and work holidaying etc love your research video keep it up big thumbs up and big smile take care
Thanks for sharing Paul,these videos are really useful for a newbie wild camper like myself, some very interesting info looking forward to future episodes
Very well thought out video, and very informative. This is going to help with a lot of people's questions. I can see that this series is going to be very helpful for myself and many other people. Thank you for taking the time and effort in doing this.👍
This Video is perfect timing! I'm actually going wild camping in Buttermere and the surrounding over this Bank holiday weekend! Your a life Saver Paul!
Come to Australia and bring your pack! There are large areas of National Park, State Forest and some pastoral leases that will allow hiking and low impact camping. There are fewer car camping places than in past years because two many people just stuff it up: big parties, noise, cutting down trees for bonfires etc. However Australians generally don't like being too far from their eskies or car fridges, so wild camping areas are usually quiet. Do some research, it will be worth it. Well done as always Paul.
Yep been camping in Australia for years, as a general rule if you are causing trouble you invite trouble. If you practice good low impact or leave no trace camping most people will leave you alone. Rangers rarely leave the paths or roads anyway so I doubt they will find you, Australian nations parks are usually very large areas.
Great video thanks Paul. When you do your tent video could you include a budget 3 man tent as I am trying to get my young children interested in wild camping.
Just came home from a camping holiday near Bordeaux that included 5 days of almost continuous rain😩😂😂 We used a three man £50 3 second pop up tent from Decathlon and it worked brilliantly. Sure there are a thousand and one “better, more expensive, longer lasting. etc.etc” tents. If it is easy and quick to pitch and it keeps me dry.....meets my requirements.
No such law exists. However if you are causing damage to crops or livestock ( damage might be distress) then you could be in the wrong! I camp in fields with sheep and cattle often.
There is a proposed change to the law that all walkers should consider resisting. The law will make trespass a criminal offence. Important to find out more and to write to one’s MP. This change could affect people accessing the outdoors, engaging with nature and the countryside. Great videos and channel Paul. Thank you :-)
There isn't really anything to repeal. There are no specific laws against wild camping in Britain and entering private land without permission is not a crime in and of itself either (with the exception of sensitive places like power stations, military bases, civil/government properties etc). Trespass only comes in to play if the landowner discovers your presence and asks you to leave, and even then you are not commiting any criminal offence, even if you flat out refuse to leave (though really you shouldn't do that out of common decency). That which is not forbidden is lawful, that is one of the foundational principles of English Common Law. Too few people seem to understand this, they think something can only be legal if there is a written law stating "you have the right to do this", but that is not the case.
@@JacksonNomad Except that squatting IS illegal, and there is no minimum amount of time one intends to dwell on a property before it becomes defined as squatting.
@@JacksonNomad Oh Love your words . Excellent. information. So correct. I try to get this over to others as much as I can. As you can read from my comments to others. Love it.
One way to check if something is illegal in UK is to ask yourself is it fun? If the answer is yes then it's illegal
Usually the case
So true lol
To be fair these kinds or laws are set up to prevent travellers from up and calling the national parks their home, I rekon as long as you follow LNT nobody's gonna bother kicking up much of a fuss. (In my experience in wales anyway...)
@@christinestjohn1911 that shouldn't be necessary though. In the USA the national *parks* often have strict camping rules (the busier the park the more strick the rules typically) while the national *forests* are usually totally open for wild camping (within reason. You can't just setup camp in one spot and live there. Well, your not supposed to anyway!).
I believe its simply another advantage of being a fairly young country. We had way more space than we had people so unlike the UK people hadn't had time to slap their flag down everywhere and call it theirs. We also go lucky with having a few strong conservationists in the government. The entire world would be worse off if those people hadn't protected Yosemite, Yellowstone, and in my case my backyard, the smoky mountains.
😂
I was wild camping last night in my Fjallraven Abisko lite 1 last night in the Peak District in an area I have never been before. I did not check the map. After a beautiful successful night camping with most extraordinary views; I got up early as I had an hours hike to the car, and had work in the day. As I was waking up, I could clearly hear shouts (farmers) and lots of sheep making a racket and moving. As I packed the camp up I saw a female on the horizon with a sheepdog watching me (another farmer). She approached me with a very loud good morning and I returned the courtesy. We started talking about how wonderful the morning is. She explained she and the other farmers were moving the sheep to a lower enclosed field to move them no doubt to the market. In the conversation I made the assumption that the land I was on was controlled by the National Trust. To my surprize she made clear this was private land and not in control of the National Trust. I immediately apologized for basically trespassing on her land without permission (no doubt there were rights of way, but rights of way do not include camping). She clearly could see I had left no trace, and that I had a sincere respect of the land and of her right to control who was on her land. She smiled and said it was ok and that she had no problem with me as a person camping. What she did have issues with were ignorant people who leave rubbish lying around and have fires. So this goes to show, that when told land is privately owned, don't go on the defensive but show you respect the rights of the owner and try to make them like you by respecting their wishes. You never know you might get permission to use their land to camp in future.
Thanks for sharing! Wholesome story.
You summarised it all there. Most folk don't mind, i.e. low, quiet presence, ask permission, a bit of respect, and don't turn the place into a music and fire festival. Simple really.
In Denmark EVERYTHING is illegal.
So I choose to ignore it.
In the last 45 years, I havent been found or spottet once !!!
Now I'm training my youngest kid in keeping low profile and leaving no trace and bringing home trash we find.
Same in Germany. I do wildcamping since 1978 constantly without any problems. Leave no trace obviously and I never have a fire. In the summer I go stoveless anyway. Along popular hiking routes it is not legal but usual accepted if you set your tent beside of a shelter you will always find along hiking trails. If I don't find a shelter, I set my tent on any acceptable spot directly beneath the trail. Never had any problems. Usually
I don't use the shelters due to rodent problems.
I think if you're respectful and discreet there's no problem at all
Jep,easy to wild camp in Denmark !!!!
I do wildcamping in Belgium,its a lot harder because of the density of people living around,
It's becoming a sport for me
This is not strictly true I'm a Brit living in Denmark and there are many free camping areas known as "shelters" plus the ministry of Environment and Food does allow camping in some woodland areas eng.naturstyrelsen.dk/experience-nature/sleeping-outside-in-nature/ . Sweden is the place to go for wild camping :)
"Don't ask for permission, beg for forgiveness"....providing as you mentioned leave no trace, stay away from people, pitch late and leave early then this is what I go by!
If you leave no trace then you can just deny you camped, if they find you with a tent up just say you didn't camp in it, you just pitched it to eat your sandwich in
I'm from Norway, so it's a strange concept to me that you wouldn't be allowed to camp in the wild. Very happy to live in Scotland! The laws in Scotland seem to be exactly the same as in Norway, which are all based around common sense.
Amen.
@@jeffbanks9955 untrue. We don't take kindly to the hordes of campervans that descend on our roads and pack in passing places making it impossible for locals to go about their day. Also campervans usually bring everything with them and this contribute nothing to local communitys. I have never heard of anyone in Scotland who would care about a tent on the side of a hill or on top of one of our many mountains. Leave no trace. If there are livestock leave them be and close all the gates you cross.
Simple.
Its not a strange concept, just go around the parks where you live and more often than not you will at least find a few pieces of litter. Me and you would probably never do that, but for a couple of frat boys who would decide to go out to drink and camp in a beautiful wild remote part of a country, the chance of leaving litter behind is much bigger. This is also the reason countries decided to make it illegal. In Slovenia for example you could wild camp legally anywhere around the 1980's, nowadays its all forbidden for this exact reason.
Isn’t it crazy ‘all the land is privately owned’
At some point in time someone just decided to claim the land and put some deeds on paper that made it theirs.
What a farce.
The Enclosures, in the 18th and 19th centuries the ruling classes (the rich basically) passed laws in parliament which stole the common land from the people - rendering us powerless to refuse subjugation, by dependency on their employment. www.univoxmarketing.co.uk/tag/enclosure-acts/
@Gospodin Nobody (Black Lives definitely Matter ❤)
There's a good documentary on yt called "who's Britain is it anyway" which explains exactly who owns what.. go check it out.
@Jordan M hey Jordan M, yeah even white racists lives matter. Shame they're too stupid to see we're all the same human beings and racism is simply colour-based class hatred that gets us fighting eachother instead of fighting the rich who keep us all down to make money out of us.
It was stolen off the common man by the enclosures act by the wealthy and powerful. Nothing has changed.
When I wild camp I take my challenger tank with me. When I get caught out, Which I often do because I am easy to track! I get obstropolous. Which is why I take the tank. They always back down. It’s a small price to pay for my otherwise ultralight camping. The only other extra I have to take is a lightweight military tank cover.
😂🤣😂😆
What came first?
Camping or the law? 🏕
NANGSTAGRAM TV law. Camping is about time away from home in a temporary one. Laws are enforced social rules. Rules amongst a group goes way back.
I’d rather the freedom though myself so I’ll probably nip to Scotland.
Camping. The law is a harmful artificial human concept.
Laws are for the good of all.
@@Creed-lp4wj it's not harmful, it literally prevents people from harming you
@@thomaslowdon5510 eff off Boris.
“Make sure you don’t pitch your tent in the middle of a shooting range”... noted!👍
Sound advice isn't it 😂
@Paul Messner - Sure is! We’ve got a heavy artillery range in Dorset that looks perfect for wild camping. May just pass following your well considered advice. 🤙
Baldrick, that is a military map. It's unlikely to denote interesting flora and fauna.
@@shen7256 - I'm guessing you're talking about the Lulworth ranges - some friends of mine tried it, had their tents up for about 20 minutes before the MPs turned up to turf them off.
They tried being as stealthy as possible and had no idea how they managed to be seen, so it's a fairly safe assumption that any access to the ranges is very carefully monitored
@K Man - Former Bootneck here mate - they were a few DFL mates of mine and I had no idea what they were planning - and to be fair they didn't either - they'd just spotted what looked like some decent wild camping / fishing spots on google maps and decided to go for it - had I known what they were planning, I might have saved the Mps the effort and slotted them myself :-)
In the UK you do not need an activity to be legally sanctioned in order to partake.
Just because something is not legal, does not make it illegal.
Freedom (as distinct from right) of access can be presumed unless otherwise clearly signed/stated as restricted.
You don't need permission to walk up someone's drive and post a letter, it's a presumed freedom. Trespass is not a crime.
Good info there. Thanks for sharing and watching.
pinkskud1 spot on ... love it 👍🏻
Yep no such crime as trespassing
@@cropking7808 Trespass is not a criminal offence in the UK but it is a Tort ( or Civil Wrong ) against the land owner. It is possible to be taken to County Court by the land owner but the remedy is restricted to paying the land owner for actual damages caused which is usually little or nothing. In such cases courts have always been unwilling to award legal costs to the land owner because they greatly outweigh the actual losses complained about.( Disproportional costs. ) So the land owner either wastes his own time taking you to court for next to no compensation or worse still pays a solicitor to do so and doesn't get that back in court. Of course sometimes court cases are started as a bluff demanding modest sums to settle out of court but this really is just a scare tactic which usually results in the trespasser paying up when there was really no need to. "Trespassers will be prosecuted" signs are a bluff. I learned that on my 1st day as a trainee gamekeeper many years ago. Trespass with a firearm is a criminal matter as is aggravated trespass which is where you've been told to go but refuse to. Hope this helps. John
@@cropking7808 All they can do is to ask you to leave - if they can find you. Illegal migrants/homeless people camp on the streets in many towns in UK permanently with no permission or expulsion!
Yep, "covert camping" pitch late strike early, leave no trace, camo tent color LOL!
Or even more stealthy: bivi bag!
@@Johnnymagnet92 LOL, too right!
The restrictions are a denial of a basic human right in the UK. There is a 'not in my back yard' atmosphere generally speaking but really people should be allowed to RESPONSIBLY camp, and responsibility is key. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
Thanks for this video, it needs saying.
The problem is people can't be trusted. I've seen plenty of "stealth" camper on UA-cam claiming they don't leave a trace but will cut down trees and don't cover up their fires when they are done.
You've got to have boundaries otherwise someone could just set up camp in your garden.
I wildcamp around N.I and haven't been caught yet.... Scotland leading the way again.... I don't ask anyone where to camp, I camp where I like and leave no Trace...I'm a wildcamp Ninja..!
You should work and pay tax,anything else should be illegal, unless you have a wealthy bloodline.
Good info there. Thanks for sharing and watching.
@@PaulMessner My caustic sense of humour. I took to boaty camping,it's harder for the government slave enforcement agencies to regulate you. Try it,not as far from your budget as you may think.Small sailboat,£300 with everything inc. Maritime laws are much better.
@@Horriblebastad what do you mean..?
Yeah Scotland is great for this. When my kids get a bit older want to take them a walkabout across Scotland for a week or two. Just walk and camp where we feel.
"In Norway, a central right has been established in the form of the public right that guarantees residents access to nature, even though the land is owned by private landowners." - Google translate
In short it means you can camp pretty much everywhere* as long as its uncultivated. On cultivated land you need permission.
From my calculations you can camp without permission on about 88,5% of the area of Norway (not counted Svalbard, Jan Mayen etc.).
The rest is made of:
1,7% built up area (residential, industrial etc.)
3,5% farmland
6,2% freshwater (not much suitable for camping is it?).
*150 meter from inhabited huts and houses.
*Can camp for up to 2 days. Longer if very remote (for example high mountains).
I think Scotland has similar
james tomlinson it does.
Freshwater is OK for camping in the winter. When frozen...
I'm from Norway and live in Scotland. The rules are extremely similar and based around common sense and respect for nature. Very happy be living in this part of the UK, although I really miss wild camping in Norway.
Camping in south west Ireland!!! No one comes near you....if they do it's to say hello!
I have done John O'Groats to Land's End (via Cape Wrath trail), and the Pembrokeshire Coastpath, and although it is technically only legal in Scotland, it isn't like it is illegal either in England or Wales. I have only had one situation where someone has questioned us being pitched somewhere, but it was in a reasonably built up area near Barnstaple, and it was a police officer. All he did was ask what we were doing there and he let us stay there as long as we moved on in the morning.
My own backpacking rules are:
1. Take into consideration the situation. How far have you walked? Is a farmer's field the only place you can camp for some miles?
2. Pitch late, leave early, and don't leave anything behind.
3. Be completely respectful, if someone wants you off their land, explain your situation, and be reasonable. The land owner has a right to be concerned.
4. Think about who might take offence to you pitching in that space - any landowners, farms, etc nearby?
5. Try and conceal yourself - near woodland, bushes, or a dip in the ground.
That's a good set of rules and good advice for anyone wild camping
Would love to know more of that route you did from lands end to John o'groats via Cape wrath trail ect. As I'm just looking into doibg lands end to John o'Groats in the next couple of years.
@@RoadToFreedom29 Hiya mate, if you'd like to know, pop me an email at BenHazeldenFilms@gmail.com - I'll give you a overview of what we did! :D
@@RoadToFreedom29 Hi :-) I recently found a channel you might enjoy (has the Cape Wrath trail) as well as many others it's the- Hounds of Howgate :-)
@@spectralwalrus8766 perfect buddy I will pop a email over to you tomorrow 👌
Oi m8 you got a loicence for dat tent?!
lmao
Lol
You got a permit to breath this air
😂😂
@Cill Blinton Go spunk on a dress good sir.
I tried to research what I was allowed to do in terms of wild campaign back when I lived in the UK but the ambiguity put me off. This is by far the best way for me to recharge mentally so the restrictions were quite depressing. I wish I knew someone this knowledgable about the topic back then. Thanks for the informative video!
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video
Planned my first "long distance trail" for later this week and was wondering about the wild camping laws and didn't fully understand what the websites were saying and luckily I stumbled upon this video! Thank you for clarifying and explaining in more understandable detail. This has given me more peace of mind for completing the hike! Thank you for the perfect timing of uploading your video! Hike on from N.I ⛰️
I'll just generally camp wherever the hell I want within reason. Make no mess, leave no trace and play dumb if ever caught out but be polite and move if they really want you too.
That's always the way to go! Politeness works wonders, more people should try it but their super sized egos won't let them.
@@dodibenabba1378 yep amazing where a bit of charisma can take you
Thankyou so much for puting us straight.Wild camping must be protected.Their are so many laws today one feels that your always doing something wrong.
I wild camped coming back through German with two friends. We were well off the beaten track. A forestry worker came through early in the morning, about 15 mins later the armed police turned up…. PASSPORT! While they checked us via the radio we packed up. Only the grass was flat to show we had been there.
Big smile from the senior office, in perfect English, remember in Germany we work on Saturday’s. Off we went
In a nutshell wild camping is permissible to those keeping a low profile and practicing a LNT policy. Unfortunately it's the idiots pitching 8 man tents,lighting huge fires and making a general racket that ruin it for the genuine campers. Nice video Paul should be an interesting series.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. Thanks for watching.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. Thanks for watching.
yep, what's the obsession with lighting fires in virtually all newb camping videos?
They’re part of the romanticised, primitive aesthetic that many have in their head when it comes to camping. They’re also enchanting when you’re just sitting down and relaxing after a full day’s walk. I see the appeal and tbh I don’t see a problem with it if you source your wood properly (deadfall) and make sure it won’t spread, shame is that most people don’t know how to do either.
@@__8168 what is the point in camping if your not going to do it properly. Build your own fire and cook your food on it. None off this gas stove ballshit. Be responsible with the fire and make sure it’s out when your finished with it. Clean up your mess and just keep the place how it was when you turned up. Simple
Rule number one when camping in England, "Stay Off The Moors" as stated in a well known documentary An American Werewolf in London (1981). Happy Camping everyone!
Stay on the roads
Keep clear of the moors
And don’t got into a pub called the slauered lamb
Puffff bring a bible
Lmao I've camped on moors before it's not that bad 😂 if you camp in a valley your out of way of pretty much everything and have shelter from most winds
I was glued to this very informative vid, the information about the OS maps was excellent. I have the map for Dartmoor and have wild camped in remote locations and as you said leave no trace of your stay. Thank you Paul.
I am from the UK. I am going with my friend on our 1st wild camp at the end of the month.
I found the video very informative & im looking forwards to the rest of the series. Put alot of things into perspective for me. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
"To obey an unjust law is to give credence to its oppressive power"
Good people disobey bad laws.
Agree with you. ..Acts and Statutes are man made laws. ......Law of the sea .Needs your consent. ....Common law is the ONLY law of the land. Good people practise their rights to go camping. No offence intended.
"Good people disobey bad laws.
"
Good people get rid of bad governments who make bad laws. Unfortunately democracy doesn't get rid of bad governments; it merely gives then a license to continue!
@@captainheinie6355 As long as you're happy to have people camping without permission on YOUR property too. Maybe drive your car, if they don't damage it or make a mess. Thanks, nice of you to allow any of us to come round. You don't mind if I watch your TV, have a shower and sleep in your bed too?
@StonkingDave care to elaborate?
@@svmwasthesheet1971 Hi there wonderful people. Thank you for your reply. I have practiced law for over 39 years, Here in the UK. we are still a common law country. The powers that be, are trying very hard to steer everyone away form common law. but.
I still win cases using common law method. Greetings from us . and a hug.
I hike mostly in Sweden and Norway, both of these countries allow wild camping almost everywhere.
Exceptions is within sight of buildings and in some national parks and nature preservation areas.
This is based on what is easiest described as a "leave no trace policy".
There is some exceptions, you are allowed to pick mushrooms and berries in both countries, you can make fires under the right circumstances (a little different rules between the countries) and a few other things, but for anyone who follow the leave no trace philosophy, they will always be well within the boundary of what is allowed.
Hi Daniel, out of interest what are the 'right circumstances' you refer to regarding making fires? I'm curious as to why its so forbidden in the UK. Thanks
@@matthewvalorsa3460
Sorry for a late answer, I've just been away on a trip in the mountains with no cell phone reception! 😊
"The right circumstances" is varying.
There is generally allowed to make fires at public land, but that can be prohibited locally or countrywide during dry periods.
Local rules often apply to national parks and nature preserve areas, some allow fires, some allow it only in special camp areas and some don't allow it at all, in those areas there is also often only allowed to use brought in firewood or firewood supplied by the local municipality in the camp cites.
It is up to each individual to check out which rules apply to each area and if there is a prohibition to fires due to dry woods where fire can spread.
Sorry sir, I’m not camping. I’m sheltering from the weather.
Tent? It's merely a large poncho with a lightweight frame that I've tethered to the ground here temporarily, Sir.
Treehouse officer?
This is just an elevated wildlife observation station with a long drop toilet and cooking/bunking features..
Good summary Paul! It's a complicated subject, riddled with ambiguity, and you've covered it really well.
Thank you David glad you enjoyed it
Every video I watch from you Paul informs, and is really genuine, but in every video it’s your enthusiasm for everything camping that I love. Keep it up pal and thanks
Top info to all wild campers. Well presented as ever. Thanks for taking the time to share. All the best Pete
Cheers Pete thank you for watching
Very useful info. I live in Norfolk & I took about 4 summers to complete the trails, wild camping after work from Friday & finish the hike on Saturday. I only once met up with an owner who advised where I should sleep for the night. So from just off the route to beaches I’ve had ton of fun. 2015 a mate & I decided to hike to London from Norwich. 143 miles 9 walking days18days in total.We legally camped until we got to outskirts of London. We slept in a park in the Romford area & by the time we reached Trafalgar Square which was too late, there was genuinely no room at any inn. We wild camped in the St James park.
That was very informative Paul. Nothing like various rules and regulations to make what could be a really pleasant camping excursion into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Similar to Australia - no surprise given our UK heritage. Camping is only allowed in National Parks or designated camping grounds where you usually pay a fee. Some towns have a lot of “Do not camp” signs near popular beaches such as Byron Bay or Bondi. Still a lot of backpackers ignore these rules. Car camping is promoted to reduce people dying from tiredness so you will see cars parked along the road and people sleeping in the front or back seats.
Great explanation Paul and absolutely factually correct. I’m 53 and I’ve wild camped since I was a teenager and I’ve only once been told to move on, which I did. The first thing a landowner has to do in a case of trespass is ask you to leave and he can only ever prosecute you for the cost of putting right any damage caused, that’s it.
Thanks Michael and glad that you enjoyed it
I do believe Dartmoor is the only National Park within England & Wales that both promotes wild camping and is legally allowed in the areas of the majority of both North & South parts of the Moor. As on the DNPA website they have a wild camping map of where you can camp legally. Of course always check out the MOD range times first.
Enjoyable video and informative Paul. I just got back from Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains and had a dispute with a gamekeeper about Open Access land. I wanted to get to a source of a river and he said it wasn't open access. But it was. I was polite mind you. In fact if I'm wild camping I bear in mind exactly what you just said about tress-pass law. My brother and I would say, 'where do you want us.' That's right there is no need to panic. But yeah keep it clean and stealthy. Well, I enjoyed that - well presented. Mark
Cheers mate. Thanks for watching
Cheers for that Paul .
After many years of site camping I now want to wild camp .
I've got the time (just retired)
Got the kit .(a couple of serviceable tents)
Now with your help I have some wild camping knowledge.
Thanks
Lee
What a great video! I've been wild camping for a while now and have always just hoped that noone would find me (successfully so far) but it's great to know what the actually prosecution is if someone did find me and kicked up a fuss. Cheers Paul, keep up the good work!
Thanks Eden. Glad you liked it
Best video so far, thanks for speaking honestly and not trying to pretend it's all about getting permissions and being the goody two shoes! Good genuine advice, cheers
Thank you for the kind words Charlie and you liked it
Thank you Paul, being from the US I assumed backpackers in the UK had similar backpacking opportunities to wilderness.
I still want to come over some day and head to the lakes district or Scotland but won’t be bringing my orange tent.
They do in Scotland
Great tips mate, I live in Scotland so I wondered how it would work when I go south of the border. So glad I don't have to worry about where I can camp or wander normally!
Hi Paul.... I recently did my first solo wild camp.... and have been put off by the legality side of things.... but thanks to this video I now feel I can go ahead and get some more under my belt...... Thanks so much for sharing 👍👍👍
Excellent advice. I had one farmer in north Yorkshire came over to the corner of the field i was in. It was about 8pm. He asked my name and i gave him my address. He seen i was knackered and was well hidden. He was happy that i wasn't going to cause a problem. I said i would be gone early. He said as long as you are gone by 10am lad thats when people start moving. I was gone by 9. Apart from flattened grass no trace. Im from the north of Scotland and love the freedom of the hills.
I think as long as you're polite and are being well behaved most will be open to the idea
Another great video I could literally watch your channel all day. Spot on
Thanks for th4 kind words
@@PaulMessner welcome bud, I've recently got into wild camping need to get out on the hills more. Your videos are a great inspiration.
Clear and concise. The most direct and honest video ive seen regarding wild camping in the UK. I've been trying to get my head around the laws and so. Thank you for clearing that up for me Thank you.
This is fantastic, great way to encourage walkers on where they can go and advise people on the rules.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching
A couple of important things about Scotland in the Highlands please kit out with proper gear, I would advise always you take wet weather gear and at least one heavy jumper, the weather can change very quickly and also leave your routes with someone you trust along with your expected time of return.
This video is one of the most relaxing on UA-cam, your voice is bloody amazing mate
Over here in France, you can 'bivouac' (sleep overnight but you have to move on at first light) but 'camping' (staying in a particular spot for more than one night or during the day) is frowned upon as well. Most times you can get away with it if you say that you are simply sleeping overnight as it's too dark and dangerous to continue to hike during the hours of darkness
It's very sad that a year later we are on the brink of this being turned into a Police matter and not civil with the potential for arrest and large fines.
Let's hope the Police crime bill doesn't get passed.
It's here now ,it can now be a criminal affence, unfortunately....
@@fynnandfynner Yes indeed another step in the removal of our freedom in this country.
@@SnowyAspenHills yes can't have people livivng in anything other than a house, can we, I mean how else can we keep tabs on our citizens.
The traveller community aren't going to be happy, it's there way of life, and has been for generations, very sad indeed.
God bless you Paul, I've been looking for a hobby to get out of the city, to enjoy the peace and quiet. Your guides are invaluable to me as a hiking novice😅
In summary, don’t get caught. If you do get caught, pass the personality test.
ua-cam.com/video/g2qdzpy_S9U/v-deo.html
Private video Loki...
I live in wales and normally camp in wales
done it everywhere around me even farmers fields or on council land I never ask
i try to keep away from the road and out of sight when i set up its last thing at night and i'm gone early last thing i put up is the tent and first thing down is the tent
good places i find are where the old railway lines used to go the owners of the land are the railway. who don't maintain them
but over time the farmers have stolen the land from the railway but kinda leaves them in limbo as they don't own the land and they also don't want to draw attention to this
the old railway lines also tend to be flat away from houses and have bushes each side to provide cover and the rails are gone (very important to only go where there are no railway lines )
so normally as long as your only there for a night they wont do anything
i did once have a farmer ask me what i was doing I told him id twisted my foot and I was just having something to eat then ill be on my way in a hour he just said dont let me see you here in the morning but he was on a quad and you could hear it for miles I packed the tent away and moved 200 meters out of sight and bivouac the night in case he came back never saw him again
best camp place i ever found was in the middle of a river I discovered the two farmers only owned to the river banks and a small island about 5 meters wide and 20 meters long had formed in the middle of the river i used to camp there a lot when i was a teenager it was great could even make a fire on that small island
normally in wales if you can get a place a few fields away from the road or houses your sorted and have a story like your lost or hurt as a back up if your caught
Along canal banks are usually great places too... just not next to any moored barges. :-)
Thanks or this. Very informative. I’m looking at starting out as a lone/wild camper and this is some good advice, got to start getting lit together.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. Thanks for watching.
Paul Messner which would you recommend oex phoxx ii or the banshee 200 pro?
@@robcunliffe3252 🙄 You're not cut out for this mate.
very nicely done and informative videos no wandering off topic , no digressing into rambling stories , just plain English educationally presented informative uploads , nicely edited too ...thanks alot for your hard work .
Brother I’ve been camping all over London in green spaces and parks God knows how many laws are broken lol😂
So the law says you can't camp virtually anywhere...but in reality you can get away with camping almost anywhere if you're discreet
@@PaulMessner I think the spirit of the law is that they just don't want people making a mess of the wilderness. So the law stands to dissuade bad behaviour and gives land owners an opportunity to seek damages. They don't ever expect to have to do that though and will 99.99% of the time turn a blind eye to respectful campers
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@AbdulAbulbulAmir your teeth fall out.
Thanks for watching
Wild amping weather it be in a tent or van is 90 % confidence and that only comes from doing it it gets easier each time . Instinct and gut feeling is the key . Look for a place about 10 mins before it goes dark so you can memorise the area . Then pitch in dark if possible practice putting up tent in dark if not using Bivi . No fires no cooking do that before use a flask for morning drink then leave first light . Use red head torch if needed as it’s does not shine as bright as white . Good video Paul
Come to Sweden.
Amazingly generous land access laws here!
Great vid as always!
Sweden is very much on my wishlist
"Amazingly generous land access laws here!" Yeah, that's what I hear.... too generous.
Ha! This would have been perfect a couple months ago, as backpack camping/ hostel's is what i am doing right now, i had a great time in Scotland and now working my through the UK. I had gone through new forest and was given no trouble, even in places I probably shouldn't have been. Love the videos and looking forward to seeing more of this series.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the series thanks for watching
I think I need a smaller tent. My current one is 7m long and is an 8 man tent. It's also bloody heavy.
Not the best for carrying on your back then. 😂
bivvy/basha
if you wild camp with this tent you will also do some bodybuilding
Great stuff Paul. This is very helpful. One of a kind material covering all aspects of wild camping.
Brilliant video.
I'm sort of in the process of learning to wild camp in the UK and this is very useful.
Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching
Unquestionably this is the clearest explanation of the do's and don'ts of wild camping in the UK, I wish I could like it twice.
The whole buzz about camping off grid is not asking anyone for permission to do anything because I was born here and if I feel like I want to camp outdoors I will, as long as you’re responsible and keep tidy...the world has gone totally mad...common sense does not apply anywhere these days...
You're exactly the type of person the laws are aimed at. The ones that think they can do what they want, when they want. Of course, when somebody does what they want with YOUR property, you would go mad... because that is somehow different. If you found a stranger had been in your living room whilst you were out, would you accept it if they hadn't made a mess? Morally, why is that any different to camping on someone else's land?
A Nother You obviously don’t have enough intelligence to understand my point, your exactly the sort of person who needs to be spoon fed information on anything you do in life, nobody owns the land, it’s mine and yours to use, obviously if you leave a mess then obviously that is different, I don’t follow the leader , common sense is key so I suggest u stay indoors..
A Nother idiot for sure
@@another3997 I think that's a bit of a straw man argument - you really can't argue logically that pitching a tent on someone's land, possibly miles away from where they actually reside, is the same as breaking into somebody's home. Morally they are not the same thing at all. Actually breaking and entering is entirely different from camping on somebody's land, surely you see that?
That was a massive help and great knowledge of landscapes detailed on maps ( never shown that in the army) I look forward to the next episode
Glad you liked it Christopher
I used to live in Scotland (Newcastle now). When living in Scotland I did a lot of bushcraft and wild camping. I’m Scotland there is the freedom to roam act. You can basically go wherever you like, but are not allowed to approach any private buildings on land such as a barn or farm house. Some of the areas in Scotland are absolutely incredible.
this might be a silly question, but are you allowed to wild camp in the parts of scotland where nobody lives? like right up in the sticks
The wild camping laws in this country, are very restrictive and very frustrating, they do make sense though. I wouldn’t want people trespassing on my private land. It’s just one of the drawbacks, of living on a small island.
I agree to an extent. I think it depends on where abouts. If it's a farmers field right next to his house, it's very different to 800m high up in the fells.
i want to know where everybody got all this private land from?
@@weaversarms Most of it passed down via robber barons etc, so be discreet if you want to camp
on it and leave no trace!
weaversarms stolen from the people by the tribal chiefs. Passed down the generations via trusts to avoid inheritance tax.
Paul...youre a true gent mate. Just watched this vid. Answered lots of questions i had. Thank you so much for taking the time n trouble Dave
I'm embarassed to say I've been hiking for 20 years and only just found out about the colour system for open access land, thank you for the info
I mean its probably in the key on the many o/s maps I own, but just never really noticed it before
I live up in Scotland and it is great. The stretch of Loch Lomond that you were mentioning that isn’t allowed, is pretty much around 2miles of it. After ptarmigan lodge any is allowed, it’s only a wee slice that isn’t. Also you have to be careful of lambing season. So around that time in may for example conic hill by Loch lomond is also off. But these things you just check up before you go, as there is shooting on some of the hills in the early spring too
Good presentation and very informative. Looking forward to the next one.
Glad you found it useful
Did I find this video useful? No. I found it inspiring.. I'm on it! Fantastic. This is what my life needs. TYSM
Went camping for the first time (after a lifetime caravanning) last summer, and loved it. I now have a small tent, rucksack, mat and sleeping bag, and this spring, hope to wild camp for the first time.
Did you manage it yourself? How did it go?
there's a good film on bbc iplayer just now about the right to roam act in scotland. you called it lucky, others would call it a birth right. it was hard won, took over a century, was only achieved by the scottish parliament and wouldn't have happened in a thousand years through westminster as the landowning interests continually blocked it in the house of lords. pretty ironic that the first 'landowner' to erode the law was loch lomond national park which was one of the 2 national parks set up at the same time. there's a right of way that goes right by the queens back door in balmoral.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09tt537/the-battle-for-scotlands-countryside
Good info there. Thanks for sharing and watching.
I just watched that program. Very interesting. My view is that nobody needs to own thousands of acres of land just because they can because of old fashioned laws, things change. The man that wants wolves, I like his thinking but I think he's using it as a way to shut off access unless you pay and that's wrong.
To be fair to Loch Lomond, if people aren’t respecting the land then something needs to be done about it. If that requires more staff to patrol and ensure the land is protected, I’m happy to pay to use it. I’d rather that cost is covered by general taxation but I know a lot of people don’t want that.
@K Man www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/2/contents
The law was passed in Scottish Parliament in 2003, which as you probably realise is after 1999. Can you name and link any of these laws which limited people's right to roam in Scotland? Because if you don't I'm gonna assume you're talking utter nonsense.
@K Man Actually you can dictate what people do in nature when it's a national park, when it's protected land that has to be kept in a fit state to preserve it for future generations to experience. That's not a god complex, that's a common belief that is shared all over the world.
I'm not saying anything about what nature does, I'm saying that policing people who're wrecking nature is a costly thing because it requires workers who're working round the clock to clean up people's litter and refuse and that paying a fee for that is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
Back in the oldy days when camping was the pursuit of the upper and middle class wild camping was no problem. Then when people with less status started the activity it was then that the laws were introduced. Very well written informative script btw :)
Currently 3:11am in Australia, was about to head to bed when I noticed a new vid up.... looks like I won’t be going to bed anytime soon 😁
The laws don't bother you so much in Australia though 😂
Paul Messner 😂 you have a point. Will be doing some Lake District Hikes next year
@@PaulMessner Sadly they do :( We have long lists of places we can't go into - the biggest being private land. More and more of our State and National Parks are also being closed off and camping permitted only in certain areas. Too many morons screwing it up for everyone :(
@@PaulMessner the spiders and snakes do
Great video.I look forward to the rest of the series. I live on dartmoor and i love it dearly. But over the last couple of years the amount of litter i encounter is ridiculous. Yet another example of the few ruining it for the many i think. Anyway rant over,loved the video.Big thumbs up.
Its very much legal in Scotland. Rights of access 2003.
I discuss the land reform act in the video. Cheers
thats what he said in the Video
@@justinrobertsendoftheage I'm guessing the comment was made without watching the video.
On my bucket list to camp in the UK. Thanks for letting us know the "do's and don'ts". Good video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching
Most of the "camp sites" are to be avoided. Unless you want to be kept up all night by idiots that is. The other thing worth knowing is that several of the Mountain Rescue Teams run hostels. Most of the people that use them are focused on walking/mountaineering so virtually no noise.
in new zealand we have the queens chain, which is 22 yards from a river, but you dont argue your right to be there with a farmer as he normally has access to a gun and a digger
Good info there. Thanks for sharing and watching.
l used to wild camping long ago but l am getting old but it doesnt stop me l go hiking trekking travelling and work holidaying etc love your research video keep it up big thumbs up and big smile take care
There’s a panda car coming up that hill. And over yonder that looks like a SWAT team.
Thanks for sharing Paul,these videos are really useful for a newbie wild camper like myself, some very interesting info looking forward to future episodes
Hope you like the series. Thanks for watching
In Scotland we go anywhere and camp everywhere (nearly). Its great!
Them midges though... funny how they are never mentioned in any Scottish Tourism pamphlets.
The right to roam in Scotland is the best.
There are a few nice legal stretches of woodland off of the moors too, great for hammocks if you fancy a change.
I look forward to your review of the lanshan 1
Shouldn't be too many weeks away
@@PaulMessner Hi :-) I hope the Lanshan is going to be as much fun as I hope it will be.I just bought mine 5 hours ago :-)
I have one and I like it, but definitely looking towards Paul‘s video. Especially if he has tips on pitching it.
Very well thought out video, and very informative.
This is going to help with a lot of people's questions.
I can see that this series is going to be very helpful for myself and many other people.
Thank you for taking the time and effort in doing this.👍
This Video is perfect timing! I'm actually going wild camping in Buttermere and the surrounding over this Bank holiday weekend! Your a life Saver Paul!
Buttermere is beautiful you will love it there
Come to Australia and bring your pack! There are large areas of National Park, State Forest and some pastoral leases that will allow hiking and low impact camping. There are fewer car camping places than in past years because two many people just stuff it up: big parties, noise, cutting down trees for bonfires etc. However Australians generally don't like being too far from their eskies or car fridges, so wild camping areas are usually quiet. Do some research, it will be worth it. Well done as always Paul.
Yep been camping in Australia for years, as a general rule if you are causing trouble you invite trouble.
If you practice good low impact or leave no trace camping most people will leave you alone. Rangers rarely leave the paths or roads anyway so I doubt they will find you, Australian nations parks are usually very large areas.
Great video thanks Paul. When you do your tent video could you include a budget 3 man tent as I am trying to get my young children interested in wild camping.
I'll see what I can do but to be honest it's more aimed at backpacking tents
Just came home from a camping holiday near Bordeaux that included 5 days of almost continuous rain😩😂😂 We used a three man £50 3 second pop up tent from Decathlon and it worked brilliantly. Sure there are a thousand and one “better, more expensive, longer lasting. etc.etc” tents. If it is easy and quick to pitch and it keeps me dry.....meets my requirements.
Very informative/useful - and at 14:16 you very nearly smiled....... but then it slipped away again 🤣
Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.
And I think in Scotland you also can't camp in fenced land with livestock in.
or as @hazeoutdoors would say, "leave only braincells"
No such law exists. However if you are causing damage to crops or livestock ( damage might be distress) then you could be in the wrong! I camp in fields with sheep and cattle often.
There is a proposed change to the law that all walkers should consider resisting. The law will make trespass a criminal offence. Important to find out more and to write to one’s MP.
This change could affect people accessing the outdoors, engaging with nature and the countryside.
Great videos and channel Paul. Thank you :-)
Great video Paul, super useful, especially the bit about decoding the OS Explorer maps!
What is the time of pitching late like what time do you pitch and the next day when should you move on? Thank you!
Usually about an hour before sunset and about 7am next day for me. It's not so important if you're in a very remote place
Paul Messner ok thank you
Thanks Paul. As a newbie to wild camping, this was a great informative video - answered all the questions I had!
Glad you found it useful Andrew
Why haven’t your outdoor industries lobbied for repealing all these rules/laws, all that public land, and it can’t be legally used.
There isn't really anything to repeal. There are no specific laws against wild camping in Britain and entering private land without permission is not a crime in and of itself either (with the exception of sensitive places like power stations, military bases, civil/government properties etc). Trespass only comes in to play if the landowner discovers your presence and asks you to leave, and even then you are not commiting any criminal offence, even if you flat out refuse to leave (though really you shouldn't do that out of common decency).
That which is not forbidden is lawful, that is one of the foundational principles of English Common Law. Too few people seem to understand this, they think something can only be legal if there is a written law stating "you have the right to do this", but that is not the case.
Ave Evropa thxs!
@@JacksonNomad Except that squatting IS illegal, and there is no minimum amount of time one intends to dwell on a property before it becomes defined as squatting.
@@Kizron_Kizronson It's only illegal to squat in residential buildings. The law doesn't apply to non-residential buildings or land.
@@JacksonNomad Oh Love your words . Excellent. information. So correct. I try to get this over to others as much as I can. As you can read from my comments to others. Love it.
I'd love if we had something similar to this in Ireland, wildcamping is fairly hard here.