[Henrietta]

Following on from this post, can anybody kindly clarify the 'rules' according to setting a tent up?

Plans are afoot to be camping in the summer with my son - I'd be happier setting up away from the maddening crowds and not on an 'official' site - but what are my rights regarding this?

Can I literally just walk across land which has a public right of way - or that which is deemed 'Access Land', such as around Howden Reservoir - and set up for the night wherever it takes my fancy?

.

[Hecate]

This is a useful web site. The following is taken from the section on 'wild camping':

In England and Wales you have no general right to camp and if you do so you may be trespassing, unless you use an official site or first obtain the landowner’s permission. In practice responsible “wild” camping may be tolerated in upland areas, particularly when you are a long way from alternative accommodation, though strictly speaking you are still trespassing and could be moved on. Some upland areas have particular sites where camping is informally tolerated. The best approach is to enquire locally or contact information sources such as national park authorities in advance.

[Ivor&Mel]

responsible “wild” camping may be tolerated in upland areas

I think that encapsulates my attitude toward this. I always go for an official site, just for the "comfort". But, if you are, or in the company of, an experienced camper, then wild pitching is often a sensible option. The emphasis is on "responsible"! If you do it, no-one (except other walkers, perhaps) should be aware that you are there or that anyone has ever been there.

When we did the Pennine Way, we used a mixture of official and wild pitches: wild up Great Crowden Brook, on Stoodley Pike (a big mistake!), along the Tees, a lay-by near Housesteads (got moved on, but the guy said we should just go to the pub, come back later and be gone early in the morning!), and finally at Chew Green. I think that, if you are going to do it, arrive late, leave early, and leave no traces.

The last time I pitched wild was at the bottom of Jagger's Clough. We intended getting to Edale, but it was just too late and we were too "tired" (aka too long in the Yorkshire Bridge!). Ah… I should add, if you are going to do it, don't have a big tent! Otherwise your choices of suitable sites will be somewhat limited…

[Henrietta]

Originally Posted by Ivor&Mel

..on Stoodley Pike (a big mistake!)

..Whyso?

To be honest, 'wild' is the best way IMO although I am sure I might be carrying rose tinted memories of bivvying and 'wild' camping on the sides of hills in the Lakes over ten years ago All that should remain of your visit is some flattened grass - saying that I was annoyed to be collecting other people's rubbish whilst walking up at Millstone Edge way today

But yes, there is a lot to be said for plumbed toilets, hot running water and showering facilities I'm no young 'un these days

e.g, if we were to 'quietly' set up a 2 man tent at Slippery Stones early one evening is anybody likely to find us and be p*ssed off about it..?

.

[Albert T Smith]

Originally Posted by Henrietta

Following on from this post, can anybody kindly clarify the 'rules' according to setting a tent up?

Plans are afoot to be camping in the summer with my son - I'd be happier setting up away from the maddening crowds and not on an 'official' site - but what are my rights regarding this?

Can I literally just walk across land which has a public right of way - or that which is deemed 'Access Land', such as around Howden Reservoir - and set up for the night wherever it takes my fancy?

.

Forget the romantic idea of camping in isolation, Those are the times that I enjoyed but unfortunately now, even in the North of Scotland, they are gone.
I would ask any farmer if you can camp for a few days on his land, he will either say Yes or No. Toilet facilities will be the main problem.

[Halibut]

I'd love to do a bit of 'unofficial' or wild camping this summer in the peaks - any other suggestions for likely spots gratefully received!

[hennypenny]

Originally Posted by Henrietta

e.g, if we were to 'quietly' set up a 2 man tent at Slippery Stones early one evening is anybody likely to find us and be p*ssed off about it..?

.

There are rangers who go out early in the Peak district specifically to find and move on wild campers. If they find you have done damage or left a mess they will prosecute. My son was moved on at 5am when he and his friends camped near Stanage Edge a few weeks ago and warned that they could have been prosecuted, but he said he wouldn't bother as they had not left any mess.

[Henrietta]

Originally Posted by hennypenny

My son was moved on at 5am

Whoa!

.

[Phanerothyme]

Originally Posted by Halibut

I'd love to do a bit of 'unofficial' or wild camping this summer in the peaks - any other suggestions for likely spots gratefully received!

If you're just going for a night, don't bother with a tent - it's less obvious to others and you're less restricted in your choice of site. Less is more.

Take a bivvy bag in case the weather turns, but obviously pick your night carefully for good weather and reasonable temperatures. Make sure your sleeping bag is up to the job too. Heather makes a good mattress, and take plenty of water - more than you think you need.


In my motherland there is a constitutional right of access to the land and no law of trespass. It basically means you can walk and camp anywhere with or without the landowners permission.

But then it's three times the size of the UK with a population no bigger than London, so it works. The UK is too densely populated for a total right to roam I think.

[Ivor&Mel]

Originally Posted by Henrietta

..Whyso?

It was hellish! Loads of sheep up there, so had to clean a suitable pitching area. By the time we'd done that, the wind got up and never stopped all night - really ferocious, blowing up the hillside and across from the Pike. Had to get up in the night twice to check and secure the tent. And in the morning, woken by sheep trying to find a way inside the tent…

I just hate Stoodley Pike! You can see it from miles away, but it never seems to get any closer! It's evil

[Albert T Smith]

Originally Posted by Phanerothyme

If you're just going for a night, don't bother with a tent - it's less obvious to others and you're less restricted in your choice of site. Less is more.

Take a bivvy bag in case the weather turns, but obviously pick your night carefully for good weather and reasonable temperatures. Make sure your sleeping bag is up to the job too. Heather makes a good mattress, and take plenty of water - more than you think you need.


In my motherland there is a constitutional right of access to the land and no law of trespass. It basically means you can walk and camp anywhere with or without the landowners permission.

But then it's three times the size of the UK with a population no bigger than London, so it works. The UK is too densely populated for a total right to roam I think.

The big problem with the ' bivvy bag ' that I experienced was that it almost cost me my life. A friend and I after completing a all night hike rolled out the bag and got in. Whilst asleep, I curled up and the top of the ' bivvy bag ' almost made a air tight enclosure with us inside. Had I not for some reason waken up, my friend and I would now no longer be here because we would have suffocated.
If you want to camp do it correctly and just ask the Farmer he can only say either ' yes or no '.

[Phanerothyme]

Originally Posted by ALBERT T SMITH

The big problem with the ' bivvy bag ' that I experienced was that it almost cost me my life. A friend and I after completing a all night hike rolled out the bag and got in. Whilst asleep, I curled up and the top of the ' bivvy bag ' almost made a air tight enclosure with us inside. Had I not for some reason waken up, my friend and I would now no longer be here because we would have suffocated.
If you want to camp do it correctly and just ask the Farmer he can only say either ' yes or no '.

I think it goes without saying that if you are going to use a bivvy bag, you should choose a model with a low suffocation risk.

[tom3t0]

Originally Posted by Phanerothyme

If you're just going for a night, don't bother with a tent - it's less obvious to others and you're less restricted in your choice of site. Less is more.

Take a bivvy bag in case the weather turns, but obviously pick your night carefully for good weather and reasonable temperatures. Make sure your sleeping bag is up to the job too. Heather makes a good mattress, and take plenty of water - more than you think you need.


In my motherland there is a constitutional right of access to the land and no law of trespass. It basically means you can walk and camp anywhere with or without the landowners permission.

But then it's three times the size of the UK with a population no bigger than London, so it works. The UK is too densely populated for a total right to roam I think.

Im probably going with a bivvy bag next myself, i collect and dispoe of my waste, but would be interested to know legal rights when out and about.
Also are they laws for disposing of animal waste do you know as i encountered a "still born" lamb and was wondering whether it should be moved or buried or maybe used for something.

I also want to know how your supposed to dispose of livestock which youve purchased to eat, do you bury the remains anywhere specific and how best to approach to buy livestock of a farmer?

[Phanerothyme]

Originally Posted by tom3t0

Also are they laws for disposing of animal waste do you know as i encountered a "still born" lamb and was wondering whether it should be moved or buried or maybe used for something.

I also want to know how your supposed to dispose of livestock which youve purchased to eat, do you bury the remains anywhere specific and how best to approach to buy livestock of a farmer?

Hmm, I don't usually bring any livestock with me. Maybe a sandwich. I think if you want to buy livestock, head for a cattle market.

The alternative to a bivvy bag, if the weather turns nasty, is of course packing up and going home. Walking through a howling rainstorm is infinitely preferable to lying in it.

[hennypenny]

Originally Posted by tom3t0

Also are they laws for disposing of animal waste do you know as i encountered a "still born" lamb and was wondering whether it should be moved or buried or maybe used for something.

I should leave it for the farmer to find, otherwise they may think that one of their lambs has been stolen, they usually keep a close eye on the sheep at lambing time, and know how many lambs are expected.

I also want to know how your supposed to dispose of livestock which youve purchased to eat, do you bury the remains anywhere specific and how best to approach to buy livestock of a farmer?

What sort of livestock did you have in mind If you buy any live animal with eating it in mind aren't there laws about it having to be humanely slaughtered at an abbatoir?

[Albert T Smith]

Originally Posted by Phanerothyme

I think it goes without saying that if you are going to use a bivvy bag, you should choose a model with a low suffocation risk.

Why take the risk?. These days One man tents are made which include collapsible poles, vents and groundsheet and can be folded to fit in one pocket. In my camping days they were not available. The nearest light weight tent which compares with todays was a Good Companion made by Black of Greenock using Tyrolean. Light weight material similar to silk, I understand that the first two tents that Blacks made went up Mount Everest with Hunt, Hillary and Tensing in 1952-3. But above 25000ft they failed the wind situation. The one which I bought is still usable though I haven't tried it for years. It cost me a bomb (£45-£50) to buy. I was paid about six or eight pound a week then.
But back to the thread: If you want to camp anywhere always ask the farmer or land owner, all he can say is ' Yes or No'.

[Henrietta]

What on earth is that 'livestock' question If you mean leftover bones from a meal - surely not going to happen a great deal if cooking a meal whilst wild camping, unless you've bagged a rabbit but sense would say either bag the bones and take them home or if need be bury them... And dead lambs, either pitch your tent elsewhere or sling it further down the field

.

[beckelina]

I would also take a great deal of care in using fire - the PDNPA have recently suspended Open Access rights for the Peak District due to the severe fire risk (this might have been amended now - I will check!).
Especially on moorland, where a fire that appears out may smoulder in the peat and cause massive devastation...

After a quick check the open access rights are now back in force - hurrah! But please still take care of ground-nesting birds and fire hazards!

[Albert T Smith]

Originally Posted by beckelina

I would also take a great deal of care in using fire - the PDNPA have recently suspended Open Access rights for the Peak District due to the severe fire risk (this might have been amended now - I will check!).
Especially on moorland, where a fire that appears out may smoulder in the peat and cause massive devastation...

After a quick check the open access rights are now back in force - hurrah! But please still take care of ground-nesting birds and fire hazards!

One of the great dangers in wild camping is shown here.
quote ' Especially on moorland, where a fire that appears out may smoulder in the peat and cause massive devastation '.

In the 50s & 60s I've camped up Westend Clough, often around Cut Gate, Sir William Clough and Slippery Stones. All that we did was ask either the farmer or gamekeeper who, if my memory serves me right, was called Mr Townsend and lived next to the Snake Inn.

Why is it that until 1960/70 people camped safely and left the area as they found it but today people can not be trusted to do the same? Is it because now people know about their ' Rights '. But forget that with, ' These Rights ', Responsibilities come which are equally important.

[carpetviper]

Argos have some great 1 and 2 man tents for under £20