What Is Wild Camping – the Beginner’s Guide

If you’re new to the camping game, you may have heard the term “wild camping” floating around – but what is it? Wild camping is where you ditch the man-made campsites in favor of what Mother Nature has to offer. It’s all about exploring the natural world without putting a strain on the wildlife or the ecosystems that live there. Although it could be easy to assume that “wild” means “no rules” that just isn’t the case. It’s important to prepare and follow these basic tips.

Plan Ahead

While much of the excitement about wild camping is that it allows explorers to venture off the beaten track, it’s essential that you plan ahead. This means that you have to check on the weather before you travel to your camping destination, you have to ensure that the route you want to take is actually passable, and you have to have a rough estimate of how long your trip will take. When you have this information, pick out two or three camping spots that could work for you.

Check The Rules

In many countries, wild camping really is as wild as it gets. This means that you can park your tent anywhere and enjoy the experience. However, this isn’t the case everywhere. In other countries, you can only camp where the local council or government has permitted you to. The last thing you want is to camp on someone’s private land.

Pack The Right Equipment

Because free camping really does leave you to your own devices, you need to ensure that you have packed the right equipment. Without any camp managers, members of staff, or facilities to help you out, you need everything in your backpack instead. This includes equipment such as a torch, first-aid kit, penknife, cooking fuel, waterproof tent, insect repellent, and more.

Wild camping is an epic adventure if you do it right, so check the rules before you go.