You maybe sat there thinking of going camping for the weekend but don`t have any money to pay for a camp site. Have you ever thought of where can I go camping for free, take a look below.
There are two different types of camping for free, wild camping, where you can go out and pretty much camp anywhere, and truly free camping, where travellers and their vehicles park up without paying for a campsite or caravan site. But you can also do it the legal way (if you live in the UK) and pay £10 to £20 pounds per night to pitch your tent at a camp site. You may even get lucky on your travels and find a pub, that will let you pitch your tent in their garden over night.
There`s nothing quite like strapping on the rucksack or jumping in the van, and getting on the road and seeing the best of many beautiful and wild areas. Free camping and wild camping has many fans for many reasons, it means truly getting out into the countryside and having a truly wonderful camping experience, it gets you close to nature, it’s easy to do, and in some cases, it can be free. (Freecampsites.net)
Where Not To Camp
In reality, wild camping is tolerated in most places, as long as you ask permission of the landowner. If that is not possible, and as long as you’re discreet, you also practise the “leave no trace” principle, you should be ok.
Wild Camping Code Of Conduct
The wild camping code of conduct was put in place to ensure that hikers can practice wild camping in an efficient way that will cause minimal or no impact or damage to the natural landscape as well as the people and wildlife who call it there home.
The code of conduct supports the principle of leave no trace. This means that wild camping in locations, should be left exactly as campers found them, with no trace and no sign that you had ever been there.
There Are Several Practices Within The Code That You Should Follow
Campers should avoid staying in one location for too long (no longer than one to three days) and should keep their camping numbers small. This practice is in place in order to avoid causing damage to the land, within a specific camping spot.
Picking A Location
When it comes to picking a location, you must pick a spot that is out of sight of buildings, roads and any livestock. Campers within an area should be as unobtrusive as possible. In addition to picking a remote spot, you should use equipment that blends into the landscape for example, a dark camouflage brown or green tent would be better than a bright yellow one that would easily stand out.
Digging Ditches
Digging ditches ie, (drainage) or moving large rocks or stones is not acceptable in wild camping, so think about this when you choose a spot. You should also avoid picking a spot close to water sources, in order not to disturb animals that live next to, or visit that water source.
Going To The Toilet
You must bury all toilet waste at a minimum of 100 to 200 feet away from any water source, and this applies to urination as well. It is not acceptable to cover up toilet waste with vegetation or rocks. Bring a trowel with you which will make it easier to dig a hole for burying your waste.
While human waste should be buried, tampons and sanitary towels should never be buried, instead remove with the rest of your rubbish, otherwise animals will dig it up. Also remove any string or wire as this could harm wildlife.
Cleaning and Washing
It’s important not to use products such as shampoo, soap or detergents in local water sources like rivers, ponds and lakes. Instead, use alcohol gels and wipes and be sure to take away any wipes with you when you go. Think about taking water with you to wash with or clean yourself away from the water source.
When To Arrive And When To Leave
In terms of finding a camping spot, it is important to pitch a campsite late and leave early in the morning (consider late after 6pm and early before 8am). The later you can pitch and the earlier you can leave, the better.
Asking For Permission
If you can, you should ask the land owner for permission before setting up camp, if asked to leave you should do so, without making a fuss. Speaking to the landowner beforehand is a good opportunity to ask for advice on which locations are particularly good for wild camping and of course, always be respectful.
Cooking Facilities
It is always preferable to use a cooking stove or grill rather than making an open fire in order to avoid impacting the landscape ie: damaging the land. If you do want to make fires, you should first check that you are allowed to do so, as open fires are banned in certain locations.
Campers or Hikers who do make fires, should do so in a responsible manner, keep the fire small, ensure it is never left alone or unattended and making sure there is no trace of the fire when you leave. It is also very important that you do not damage trees and other vegetation when making a fire, only use wood gathered from around you, on the ground. Never cut down a healthy tree. Small twigs or branches that have naturally broken off from trees, or bring your own fuel.
Leave No Trace
Finally, you should never leave any rubbish or equipment behind and is good practice to remove any litter that has been left behind by other people, you will feel better for it. Also, be quiet and respectful of your surroundings.
Getting Permission From The Land Owner
There are specific rules that govern access to wild camping in the UK. The rules are generally split between Scotland and the rest of the country, with Scotland benefiting from open right-to-roam rules. Scotland is indeed the only area of the UK that effectively allows wild camping anywhere. There are websites you can join out there, so you can feel at ease when your camping.
UK Knife Law-A Guide for Campers and Hikers
A person found in possession of a bladed or pointed article in a public place is committing an offence in the UK under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The law doesn’t apply to non-locking folding blades measuring under 3 inches, if you have a good reason or lawful authority to be carrying the blade, you can contest your innocence. However, the burden of proof is on you, and the prosecution may try to pick holes in your argument.
Camping Equipment Check Prices
Conclusion
Always adhere to the rules and regulations under the National Trust and the Law. Don`t leave any rubbish and leave the area exactly how you found it.
