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TC



Member Since: 21 Nov 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 715

United Kingdom 
Unrestricted camping in the UK
Appreciate this is more camping than expedition - apologies in advance.

What are the legalities associated with camping out on common ground in the UK? Do people have direct experience?

Cheers
Post #62496 6th Mar 2011 4:50pm
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alanhid



Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: South Lanarkshire Scotland
Posts: 221

Scotland 2006 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Wild camping in Scotland is allowed as long as you follow the access code and be responsible, there`s some cracking places to go, especially up the west coast with its stunning mountains, beaches and remoteness. Any time I go wild camping its generally up into the hills with a backpack and never had any hassle.
Lots of people camp in the Glen Etive area during the summer months along the roadside next to the water and never seem to get into bother, though it does get quite busy.
We are heading up the west in June with our tent and are not going to make any set plans...just see where we end up. The good thing is there are lots of good campsites available if you want a bit of luxury.....or lots of remote space if you want peace and quite.

Enjoy and let us know how u get on. Thumbs Up Life is not a rehearsal!
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Post #62535 6th Mar 2011 8:27pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
Basically what do you mean by 'common ground'?

All land in the UK is owned by someone.

Common land normally have rights associated with which in general belong to local residents. Rights typically involve sheep/cattle grazing, peat digging etc The common land can be controlled by the local parish council and they can impose local bye laws.
For instance one local council in the Dales have imposed local bye laws prohibiting parking and camping. The neighbouring council has not. Reason being is that one bit of common land is just outside village the other bit is a few miles outside village.

So there is no one simple answer to your question as it would vary from location to location.

Wild camping is not particularly allowed or disallowed in England and Wales. For instance on access land in most national parks the national parks prohibit wild camping. However camp in an out of the way place, leave no mess, camp late and move off early the chances are you will not be bothered.

HTH


Brendan
Post #62541 6th Mar 2011 8:47pm
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markb110



Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2525

England 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
Alternativly turn up with an old un-taxed transit van or brand new Shogun with a canavan and family in tow and pitch where ever you please and when the police arrive say it is against your human rights to be moved on!!! Whistle
Post #62546 6th Mar 2011 9:24pm
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willy eckerslike



Member Since: 15 Jun 2009
Location: North yorks
Posts: 1789

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Keswick Green
Camp in my field anytime you want. Thumbs Up Original Member Pie n Pea Club.
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Post #62548 6th Mar 2011 9:30pm
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BigMike



Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

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leeds wrote:


So there is no one simple answer to your question as it would vary from location to location.

Wild camping is not particularly allowed or disallowed in England and Wales.


"Wild camping" is illegal in England and Wales. However, in places like the lakes as long as you are a decent distance from a road eg in the hills then the rangers turn a blind eye to it, though it remains illegal unless you have permission from the landowner.

Scotland of course, different story. However, byelaws have been brought in recently to cover loch lomond as too many morons from glasgow were showing up a nd leaving a total mess not to mention cutting down trees to burn on huge campfires so camping around there is now controlled. Sad but neccessary.
Post #62571 7th Mar 2011 1:32am
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wyvern



Member Since: 14 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2074

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
We free camp all over the UK (indeed the world) with no problem with the 110 and our bicycles. we tend to find an area, park up, cook dinner then as it gets dark pop up the tent/set up the beds in the waggon.
We do, however, park in out of the way areas, don't light fires and take down cavas first light.
As long as you abide by the 'take nothing but phots, leave nothing but footprints' phylisophiy then you shouldnt have much trouble.
if you are challanged, be polite, explain its for one night, and offer to move - smile!! Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126
Post #62581 7th Mar 2011 9:15am
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alanhid



Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: South Lanarkshire Scotland
Posts: 221

Scotland 2006 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
markb110 wrote:
Alternativly turn up with an old un-taxed transit van or brand new Shogun with a canavan and family in tow and pitch where ever you please and when the police arrive say it is against your human rights to be moved on!!! Whistle


Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter so feckin true! Life is not a rehearsal!
Def 90td5 CSW xs 2006
Post #62599 7th Mar 2011 12:14pm
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TC



Member Since: 21 Nov 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 715

United Kingdom 
Cheers for the observations chaps.

Essentially, free camping isn't legal under any circumstance unless permitted by the land owner (who ever that may be). Use common sense and don't be a hooligan.

Thumbs Up
Post #62658 7th Mar 2011 6:30pm
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double cab happy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2009
Location: merseyside
Posts: 573

England 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Java Black
there is one spot in north/mid wales that is common land and i have wild camped there when with a group, its by devils bridge and every time we have been there at least one other family have been there, great spot apart from the migies Evil or Very Mad what is cool about it is the 20 minutes of green lane (tame but still cool) you have to drive to get to it.

i'll try to get a location from a friend who was running memory maps last time we went up there, may take a couple of days.

p.s we have had an open fire every time we have been there, Cool
Post #62742 8th Mar 2011 10:15am
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BigMike



Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

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DCH, can I suggest that you dont post the exact location on the forum? In my experience when that happens the wrong kinds of people end up seeing it and causing problems. This is what happened on Loch Lomond - various otudoor forums talked about good spots, the city morons googled and found them, next thing they are causing so many issues that wild camping has now been restricted there. Very sad

I wild camp a lot, though never with a vehicle. Mainly in Scotland but sometimes in the Lakes and if there is a "good" spot which isn't that hard to get to, and it's talked about online, within a year there are multiple fire circles, branches from live trrees cut down and burnt, beer bottles all over, litter, you name it. Not suggesting anyone here would do that, but its a public forum viewable by anyone after all.
Post #62743 8th Mar 2011 10:20am
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apmoore1976



Member Since: 04 Jan 2011
Location: Glos.
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 SW Zambezi Silver
http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/visiting/vi...mp;zoom=50

check MOD firing times... Laughing Previous
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Post #62920 9th Mar 2011 11:59am
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double cab happy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2009
Location: merseyside
Posts: 573

England 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Java Black
very good point that big mike, when my mate gets me the location i shall pass it on to regulare members by pm if wanted, but all be warned the miggies are super heavy in mid summer there.
Post #62921 9th Mar 2011 12:01pm
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wyvern



Member Since: 14 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2074

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
apmoore1976 wrote:
http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/visiting/vi-maps?Geoset=DNPA-WEB&AddLayer=DNPA_CAMPING,DNPA_NOCAMP,DNPA_PERMISSION&zoom=50

check MOD firing times... Laughing


Brill!!!!
Thumbs Up
many thanks Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126
Post #62987 9th Mar 2011 8:26pm
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