UK WILD CAMPING KIT LIST AND RULEBOOK

Sometimes, you've got to take a walk on the wild side - and camp there, too. For plenty of adventurers, wild camping is the ultimate escape into the outdoors, surrounded by nothing but the UK's most rugged landscapes. Here's what you need to pack for a night of wild camping, and the golden rules you need to follow.

Wild camping is pitching your tent (or, for the die-hards among us, sleeping in your bivvy bag) outside of an official/authorised campsite - the more remote, the better. To get a taste for wild camping, we recommend starting local and venturing further as you gain experience.

Camping in the wild is widely welcomed in Scotland, but discouraged and technically illegal in England and Wales. That said, wild campers are usually tolerated so long as you respect the hills and local people - it's all about being considerate. 

Your wild camping gear is about striking the balance between weight and comfort. You'll probably be hiking quite a dstance before you set up camp, but skimping on the essentials will stop you having a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Here's our list of essentials for getting it right:

A comfortable night's sleep in the wild doesn't require as much gear as you'd think. You just need to nail these basics:

• An ultralight tent, bivvy bag or waterproof and breathable shelter
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping mat (either a roll mat, air-filled mat or self-inflating mat)
• Head torch and spare batteries

Choose a comfortable pack with a waterproof cover and enough space for your essential kit, and you'll be on your way. For multi-day treks, make sure there's enough room for food supplies.

You don't need your whole kitchen for a few days. Pack smart and you'll have everything you need with minimal weight: 

• Compact and reliable cooking stove with pot
• Fork, knife and spoon
• Bowl and mug
• Matches and lighter
• Water bottle or hydration bladder
• Purification tablets or water filter (water collected from natural flowing sources like rivers and streams must always be purified)

You'll need tough walking boots with plenty of ankle support for navigating challenging terrain. Don't forget to visit us in-store for your expert boot fitting - trust us, you don't want to be stuck out there with badly-fitting boots.

Mastering your environment is all about having the right technical layers for any weather: the more remote you go, the more unpredictable the conditions. 

• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Mid-layer for insulation
• Technical base layer to wick away sweat
• Technical walking socks to minimise blisters
• Woolly hat for in-camp warmth

It's just manners to ask permission for wild camping when you can, but it's not always easy to find out who owns the land. The laws aren't consistent across the UK, either, so here's a quick guide. Always check before you travel, though - it's better than being caught out.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code means that you can camp almost anywhere in Scotland. However, an exception to this rule is the East Loch Lomond Restriction Zone, which doesn’t permit wild camping in peak season to ease human impact on the area. 

Dartmoor is England's only National Park which provides designated wild camping spots, while the Brecon Beacons has two official wild camping areas, Melte and Llech Llia. The Lake District, Snowdonia and Exmoor National Park all welcome remote one-night stops, but the Peak District, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales all discourage unpermitted camping or bivvying.

Although the laws differ throughout the UK, there are some golden rules to follow wherever you set up camp.

• Camp in a small tent which blends into the landscape
• Keep your group as small as possible
• Camp on flat, dry land and never on top of crops or fauna
• Never disturb rocks, vegetation, or wildlife to make your pitch
• Camp at least 100m away from trails, roads, and residential areas
• Camp high where you’re out of sight from houses and buildings
• Pitch your tent late and leave early the next morning
• Don’t stay for more than one night (unless the National Park says otherwise)

• Never start campfires and make sure you protect the ground when using your cooking stove
• Search your site after you pack up your equipment to make sure that you haven’t left anything behind 
• Keep in mind this tip from long-distance walker and wild camper Chris Townsend: “always leave an area as pristine as possible so that no-one passing by will know it’s been used. If anyone ever camps there again, they too can have the joy of a real wild site and that feeling of being in untouched nature.”