 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Defender/wild (4x4)camping - off the beaten track...HELP!! |
 
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193   
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Hi all.
So.. a little while ago I heard that there is such a thing as 4x4 camping??  Where 'normal' cars cant get to  ... We like the sound of this as there shouldn't be so much hustle bustle of drunken townies getting rowdy  ...
This is something id like to give a go... We do a lot of camping and have been up & down the country, we have had several ground tents - that have all died in one way or another - and now have a tuff trek tt02 roof tent  .
My wife and I were thinking of doing the north coast 500 next (we have holiday coming up), which is still on the cards, however if we can have a similar experience slightly closer to home then that'll be better, as we have somewhat limited time off for our next annual leave from work due to other commitments (2 days lost), and being in the south of England it'll take a day just to drive to Scotland and home, so another 2 days gone... I don't fancy rushing the trip and would love to be able to take our time and relax whilst we are out and take in the scenery.   
Do any of you fine people know how I can find such sites or routes? (wife must have shower block with toilets, tried suggesting a portaloo/camping toilet and got a look of death!!  )
I did a google search but not had much luck - just comes up with camping sites. Perhaps I was using the wrong words.. I look forward to hearing any info you guys & girls can supply, I have a few weeks to prep any how, but best to get a head start on it I thought.. Warmest regards & thanks in advanced. Regards Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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20th Jul 2018 12:01pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240  
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I think you may be confusing two very different things, here. Wild camping, as the name suggests, is not on a campsite with toilets and shower blocks. It's out in the countryside, away from amenities and people.
In England and Wales, it's only legal to wild camp with the permission of the land owner, which does limit opportunities to a degree. The law is different in Scotland, where wild camping is legal on most unenclosed land. This site has some good background info: https://mpora.com/outdoors/camping/wild-camping-uk-guide/ I can't imagine any campsites in the South of England that can only be accessed by 4x4. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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20th Jul 2018 12:39pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Thanks Darren.
I get wild camping - but when I heard the term 4x4 camping I wernt sure whether these places would have facilities to be used.. Im fine with it, but the wife not so keen on the bush as a loo...  Regards
Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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20th Jul 2018 12:58pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240
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I've never heard it called 4x4 camping before but it's possible that this ^^ is what was meant.
Similarly, it's not something that's usually associated with the South of England or anywhere else in the UK for that matter. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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20th Jul 2018 2:19pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7873 
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I love the idea of there being campsites with facilities only accessible by 4x4's, however, this is something I've never heard of. Is it a thing in the UK?
 James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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20th Jul 2018 4:41pm |
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| Moneypit Member Since: 27 Feb 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 271 
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Never heard of 4x4 camping, is that even a thing? Exploring and finding hidden jems is my passion especially if I can take a kayak. Best yet is in Switzerland in Lauterbrunnen at Camp Jungfrau. So much to do within 10 miles of it. So good me n ex went 7 yrs in a row.
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20th Jul 2018 8:08pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 07 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1829 |
Just because it's come up a couple of times recently it's maybe worth mentioning.... Scotland's Outdoor Access Code, and its acceptance of 'wild camping' only applies to unpowered means of travel - foot, bike, canoe (possibly horses - not sure on that. It definitely doesn't allow unfettered vehicular access.
I heard a story recently about someone with a property in the Western Isles. They had a closed gate, but watched a guy in a camper van stop in the middle of the road, open their gate, drive in and camp up for the night. Fair play, they went out and spoke to the guy, who replied that he thought there was a 'right to roam' in Scotland. As I've said, there definitely isn't for vehicles. He let the campervan stay, went up the next morning and found a big bag of rubbish abandoned on his property. I'm not suggesting that there was any intention on behalf of the OP or others to sidestep the access code or behave so badly - just pointing out that the Scottish legal situation - which I fully support personally - does have its limitations, particularly where vehicles are concerned. Beyond that, I'd also say that any opportunities for wild camping around the NC500 would be even harder to find. Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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21st Jul 2018 2:21am |
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| wyvern Member Since: 14 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2068 
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My partner and I do a lot of touring an enjoy ‘free camping’ when ever we can ..
We had an interesting trip to tour Scotland once. We drove up from Cornwall ad then toured all over the eastern and central areas of Scotland taking in the sights and one night we were looking for some where to camp and found a nice un-gated track up the side of a small hill next to a wooded area. We drove up the lovely bumpy track and found a nice area to pull in and park for the night, no gates and no signs so we set up the awnings and I started to make a brew, while my partner goes exploring with her camera - returning a few mins later with a picture of the big house seen from the side of the track though the trees with some flags on and a nice lawn. I looked a the pictures and noticed the royal standard was one of the flags ... At that moment a police discovery with 2 armed offices drives down the track and pulls up next to us ... I politely ask if the house is a royal residence .. > yes sir, he politely replied, ... is anyone important staying there? asks I, yes sir was his reply ... then you don't want us camping here tonight do you? I said ... You can stay here if you so wish as that is your right, but my self and my colleagues will have to wake you every 30 mins to be sure you are ok and not having any one extra join you. Thats lovely ... where would you recommend we go to have an un-interupted sleep we asked and they pointed us down the track to another plot of trees about a mile away. They were total gents and extremely polite. We offered them a cuppa but they declined as they were on their rounds and patrolling the boundary. We moved to the area that they recommend and had a peaceful night in the trees and a giggle about nearly camping in the royal garden ! 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  |
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21st Jul 2018 8:30am |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2545 
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There is no right in Scotland to drive a motor vehicle off the public highway without the permission of the landowner. If you want to wild camp then you need to park at the road and walk/cycle in from there.
Just about every lay-by or remote car park in the Highlands this time of year is filled with c***s in campervans who are happy to spend thousands on their vehicle but then too tight to pay for a campsite. Many of them think nothing of driving on to private land to camp. They’re frankly a scourge to the area. I suspect as time goes on Scotland will become less ‘open’ with more restrictions and bylaws being applied due to the actions of these people. This has already happened at Loch Lomomd (not that it seems to have had much effect from what I’ve seen) and I expect it to spread further north in time. The only thing close to what you’re describing in terms of 4x4 camping that I know of is a self-catering holiday cottage on the south-west coast which is only accessible by 4x4 or on foot. |
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21st Jul 2018 9:06am |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Lol. Thanks for the info, my guess is you don't like wild campers?
Fair enough. I don't know about Scotland (we have been several times but can't remember the prices of sites) we went to Norfolk last month they were asking around £16 a night but in suffolk some sites were asking £26 a night to sleep on a field - which I think is way too much.. In terms of wildcamping when your tent is attached to your roof it's a bit hard to leave the car at the side of the road and walk to a spot in the field. Thanks for your input though. I'll bear that in mind when we do our trip, that I must ask permission, or steer clear of any car parks near you 😉 Regards Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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21st Jul 2018 8:33pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Thanks for your info buddy, nicely put, and easy to understand. I certainly wasn't planning on entering anyone's land as such, but as I have a roof tent will definitely be needing to find some campsites to stop at... My issue now is find as many as possible, as I won't know what mileage I'll be covering each day... That ks again. Regards Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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21st Jul 2018 8:41pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2545
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I have no issues with wild campers, so long as they leave places tidy. But camping with a vehicle is not wild camping. |
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21st Jul 2018 9:14pm |
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| stanley Member Since: 18 Sep 2009 Location: Dorset /hampshire Posts: 1026
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https://scotlandoverland.com
https://scotlandoverland.com/routes/ Not sure if these guys could give any advice |
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21st Jul 2018 9:21pm |
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| stanley Member Since: 18 Sep 2009 Location: Dorset /hampshire Posts: 1026
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https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot
Just found this too |
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21st Jul 2018 9:32pm |
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