British wild campers, we’ve got news that’ll get you strapping camping gear onto your backpack and itching to pitch up. A new scheme is being launched that will allow wild-camping on land across the UK that was previously off-limits.
The initiative comes from CampWild (a camping booking platform) and Rewilding Britain (a rewilding charity), which are partnering to give wild campers access to nature restoration projects that previously didn’t allow overnight stays. The scheme is also designed to help get campers educated and involved in rewilding and conservation.
The scheme is open to members of CampWild – a tool that enables campers to plan and book wild camping pitches. CampWild works with trusts, custodians and landowners to create a network of over 200 places you can legally pitch-up. Membership costs £25 a year, and camping spots start from £15 per night.
The platform’s partnership with Rewilding Britain will initially open up 15 new locations to wild campers, though apparently more are planned. Each site will have an interactive map with a bunch of conservation activities concerning local species and biodiversity.
Speaking with the Guardian, CampWild co-founder Tom Backhouse said: ‘This exciting initiative gives wild campers exclusive access to wild spaces where no one has been allowed to camp before.
‘These are some of the most ecologically rich places in the UK, where ecosystems are being restored, landscapes are healing and biodiversity is returning – and those staying can contribute to these efforts.’
You can find out more on the CampWild website here.
Wild camping in the UK with Time Out
Planning on going wild camping? In England, Wales and Northern Ireland is only legal with the landowner’s permission (without that permission, it’s considered trespassing). Dartmoor National Park is currently the exception, though a landowner is currently trying to make wild camping in the area more difficult. In Scotland wild camping is legal on most land, so long as you follow ‘best practice’ (eg camping in only small groups, no more than three nights in any one place, leaving no trace). Find a full list of places you can wild-camp in the UK here.
Organised camping more your sort of thing? Here are the best campsites in the UK and the Welsh site named ‘campsite of the year’ for 2024.
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