Wild Camping in England and Wales - should this be allowed?

There are currently (February 2008) two petitions requesting that current legislation on wild camping in England and Wales be changed to match more closely the situation in Scotland.

Wild Camping in England and Wales is currently not permitted. The CRoW (Countryside and Rights of Way) Act 2000 forbids camping unless you have the express permission of the land owner.

In contrast, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (1 July 2004) does permit wild camping as long as this is not close to roads, houses or in other circumstances that could be considered an invasion of privacy. The Scottish code says:

"Access rights extend to wild camping. This type of camping is lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place.

You can camp in this way wherever access rights apply but help to avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by not camping in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals and by keeping well away from buildings, roads or historic structures. Take extra care to avoid disturbing deer stalking or grouse shooting. If you wish to camp close to a house or building, seek the owner's permission.

Leave no trace by, taking away all your litter, removing all traces of your tent pitch and of any open fire (follow the guidance for lighting fires), not causing any pollution."

At first sight, it may appear that the initiatives to make wild camping legal in England and Wales should be supported particularly as the introduction of the Scottish code does not appear to have resulted in wide-spread abuse of the rights it supports.

However, the situation in Scotland is different - distances between conurbations and prime walking areas are greater plus the terrain and conditions generally are more challenging. So it's possible that the greater freedom to wild-camp is of advantage only to more frequent walkers or climbers who are likely to be more aware of 'best practice'.

If changes are made in England and Wales - and these changes are communicated in the less responsible press as a license to 'camp where-ever you like' - there's surely a risk that we find ourselves in a far worse position than we are now.

Imagine a situation where wide-spread abuse of new rights (eg people choosing to camp on road verges or just next to car-parking areas) leads to the current, often accommodating attitude of English and Welsh land-owners to the current low levels of responsible wild camping being hardened.

Or shouldn't the responsible people who are currently deterred from experiencing the freedom of wild-camping in England and Wales be given some encouragement?

Let us know what you think.

If you'd like to get involved and support the petitions, you can find them here:

For more information on CRoW (The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) in England and Wales, see here

For more information on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, see here

“If you want to wild camp you could apply for a yearly pass (from countryside council?) where you agree to a code of behavior and to OK areas. This would stop the opportunist campers.”

Wendy Fells, Chester

“it would be great if a bill allowing wild camping could be "whispered in" into Engalnd and wales but like the contributor says "less responsible press" could have a field day, i dont wish to sound snobbish but i think anyone reading this would understand my reservasions.”

Mike Leigh, Manchester

“I am not in favour of any changes in the law. When I wild camp, I am very careful and do so with other, responsible people. Whatever the terminology of a new law, it would be wide open to misinterpretation, and popular routes would risk becoming marked by large 'wild' camping areas. And when there are several groups, who is the landowner or other authority going to hold to account when a fire is started and not controlled?”

James Keen, Loughborough

“When I was young my family holidayed in a small camper van and we used to find great places to camp overnight, carefully leaving no trace the next day. Nowadays that's not allowed and I regret I can't share that adventure with my child. However given the appalling lack of consideration for the environment/countryside/others that I have witnessed on the part of campers in recent visits to campsites, sadly I think that if it were, a minority of them would spoil it for the responsible ones.”

Linda , Kingston

“hi all, i would like to shed a light on this matter, myself and my 2 freinds are very responible young adults and love to camp out, i have wildcamped in every corner of snowdonia (my back garden) and will continue to do so. we leave in the morning with no trace of us ever being there. personaly i cannot come to terms with asking for permission to sleep out on the land that our fathers lived to conserve. i surpose there is a certain aire of selfishness to this but why should some welsh born, welsh speaking and eco-minded youths seek permission from an office in england ? will not happen in my case.”

Simon Davies, Caernarfon

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