Last reviewed June 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Wild camping rules and local byelaws change, so always check the current rules for the specific area before you go.
Wild camping — pitching a small tent for a night on open country, away from any campsite — sits in very different legal territory depending on where in the UK you are. In one country it is a clear right; almost everywhere else it needs the landowner’s permission, with one notable exception. Here is how it actually works, nation by nation.
The short version
| Where | Wild camp without permission? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Yes | A legal right under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Outdoor Access Code — small groups, two to three nights, leave no trace. A permit is needed in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs management zones from March to September. |
| Dartmoor | Yes | The only place in England or Wales with a public right to wild camp, confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2025. Follow the National Park Authority’s byelaws and camping map. |
| Rest of England | No | Trespass without the landowner’s permission — a civil matter, not a crime. Responsible camping high on the fells is widely tolerated. |
| Wales | No | The same as England; upland areas are sometimes tolerated, but there is no legal right. |
| Northern Ireland | No | The landowner’s permission is required. |
Scotland: a legal right
Scotland is the only part of the UK with a general right to wild camp. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the accompanying Scottish Outdoor Access Code give the public the right to camp on most unenclosed land — mountains, moorland and forest — provided you do it responsibly: keep to small groups, stay no more than two or three nights in one spot, and leave no trace. For more on the terrain, see our guide to hiking in Scotland.
The one big caveat is Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, where camping-management byelaws require a permit to camp in certain zones between March and September. If your route passes through there — the West Highland Way does — check the permit areas before you rely on pitching.
England and Wales: permission needed
In England and Wales there is no general right to wild camp. The right to roam created by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 covers walking across open-access land, but it does not extend to camping. Pitching a tent without the landowner’s permission is trespass — and trespass is a civil matter, not a criminal one. In practice that means you can be asked to leave, but you cannot be arrested simply for camping.
Dartmoor: the one exception
Dartmoor is the single exception in England and Wales. After a long legal battle, the Supreme Court ruled in May 2025 that the public right of access to the Dartmoor Commons for “open-air recreation” includes wild camping — overturning a landowner’s challenge and confirming a right that goes back to the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. It remains the only place in England or Wales where you can legally wild camp without asking permission, though you still need to follow the National Park Authority’s byelaws and stick to the areas shown on its camping map.
The high fells: tolerated, not a right
On the high ground of the Lake District and Eryri (Snowdonia), wild camping has long been quietly tolerated even though there is no legal right to it. The unwritten convention is to camp high — above the intake walls and away from farmland, houses and roads — arrive late, leave early, keep groups small and leave absolutely no trace. Done that way it rarely causes problems; done carelessly, near valleys or in large groups, it is exactly what gets access withdrawn. See our guides to hiking in the Lake District and hiking in Snowdonia.
How to wild camp responsibly
Wherever you are, the same principles keep wild camping welcome: pitch on durable ground high on the hill, not on farmland or beside roads; arrive at dusk and leave early; keep to one or two tents; never light fires; carry out everything you bring in; and deal with human waste well away from any water. The golden rule is that no one should be able to tell you were ever there.
Quick answers
Is wild camping legal in the UK?
It is a legal right only in Scotland, and a confirmed public right on Dartmoor since the 2025 Supreme Court ruling. Everywhere else in England, Wales and Northern Ireland you need the landowner’s permission.
Can you wild camp in the Lake District or Snowdonia?
There is no legal right, but responsible wild camping high on the fells — above the intake walls, late to pitch and early to leave, leaving no trace — is widely tolerated.
Can you be arrested for wild camping in England?
No. Without permission it is trespass, which is a civil matter — you can be asked to leave, but not arrested simply for pitching a tent.
Do you need a permit to wild camp in Scotland?
Generally no, but parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park require a permit to camp in the management zones from March to September.
Planning a longer route? See our guides to walking the National Trails car-free and the best time of year to walk each one.
Where to camp — spots on the map
Looking for somewhere to pitch? Our camping hub is filling up, including wild camping on Dartmoor (the one place in England with a legal right to wild camp), Glen Coe, Wasdale, Llyn Gwynant, the New Forest and Sandwood Bay — each with directions and access notes.
