Leave No Trace Principles

Every wild camp in the UK starts with clear information about access, wild camping laws and local guidance. A responsible camper checks national park guidance, landowner rules and local fire warnings before packing a rucksack.

Key planning checks include:

• Legal position on wild camping in the area, including any local codes.
• Fire bans, drought alerts and seasonal restrictions for moorland, forests and heath.
• Deer stalking seasons, lambing periods and bird nesting seasons that affect access choices

Route choice affects how much pressure a group puts on paths, vegetation and sensitive areas. Group size affects noise, ground impact and how easy it is to move quietly through wildlife habitat.

Low-impact planning for routes and groups includes:

• Picking established paths for popular areas, especially on soft or wet ground.
• Keeping groups small for wild camping and splitting large groups across multiple sites.
• Planning alternative routes or backup campsites in case preferred spots are already in use or unsuitable.

A Leave No Trace kit list focuses on reusable gear, efficient systems and safe backups. A good packing list lowers the chances of litter, fire issues and damage caused by improvising with the landscape.

Useful low-impact packing choices include:

• Reusable food containers, flasks and cutlery instead of single‑use plastics.
• A reliable stove and fuel to avoid reliance on ground fires.
• Tough rubbish bags for packing out all waste and micro rubbish.
• A trowel or human waste system that suits local rules and soil conditions.

Examples of durable surfaces for travel include:

• Built paths, stone steps and boardwalks.
• Exposed rock and gravel, especially on ridges and summits.
• Short, well-established grass that already shows signs of regular use.

Fragile surfaces include:

• Boggy ground, peat hags and waterlogged soil.
• Heather, bilberry and low shrubs that are easily crushed.
• Moss-covered rock and woodland floor with seedlings and fungi.

A good low-impact campsite is small, discreet and based on a surface that recovers quickly after you leave. A good wild camp spot has firm, level ground, natural screening from the wind and enough space for your tents without flattening thick vegetation.

For wild camping, look for:

• Existing small pitches that show light use but not heavy scarring.
• Dry, resilient grass or bare soil rather than deep moss, heather or reeds.
• Sites at a sensible distance from paths, water sources, roads and buildings, in line with local guidance.

Movement around camp can cause as much ground damage as the tent footprint itself. A group that constantly wanders across wet ground or through fragile vegetation will leave clear tracks even after one night.

The "pack it in, pack it out" rule means that every single item you bring into the hills must go home with you. This practice applies to everything except the water you drink and very small amounts of biodegradable soap, where local rules allow. A true low-impact approach also accounts for micro-rubbish, such as tea bag tags, bottle lids, snack wrappers, and small off-cuts of cord.

Establishing a consistent waste routine is the best way to ensure no litter is left behind by accident. Each group should carry at least one strong rubbish bag, ideally with a backup in case of leaks or tears. Keeping all food wrappers inside a single, dedicated dry bag or container prevents light plastics from being blown away by the wind while you are cooking.

Food waste can attract wildlife, change animal behaviour and leave a visible mess that takes time to break down. Food waste can also contaminate water sources when scraps or dishwater are dumped too close to streams, rivers or lochs.

Human waste is one of the most sensitive Leave No Trace topics because poor disposal causes health risks and disgust for other visitors. The right approach depends on local rules, soil type and how busy the area is.

Common approaches for human waste include:

• Using established toilets at car parks, huts and campsites whenever possible.
• Using catholes in suitable soil, dug 15–20 cm deep at least 60 m from water, paths and camps, where local guidance still allows burial.
• Packing out human waste in specialist bags in sensitive or popular areas where burial is not appropriate.

Toilet paper and hygiene products should always be packed out in a sealed bag, because these items persist for a long time and are highly visible. Many campers now carry a dedicated small dry bag for toilet paper and wipes to keep things simple and contained.

Rocks, plants, antlers, shells and old bottles can all feel tempting as souvenirs, but each object plays a role in the local environment or story. Historic walls, bothies and ruins also deserve respect as part of the cultural landscape.

Low impact behaviour includes:

• Taking photographs rather than physical objects from wild places.
• Leaving wildflowers, interesting stones and bones where they lie, especially in popular areas.
• Avoiding scratching names or symbols on rock, wood or buildings.

Many campers are tempted to move rocks, cut branches or build chairs and tables around camp. These structures look temporary to the builder, but repeated use quickly changes a site beyond recognition.

A campfire is a bad idea when legal restrictions, dry conditions or local guidance highlight a high fire risk. A campfire is also a bad idea when fuel would come from live trees, fences, deadwood that wildlife depends on or fragile peat and turf.

Good low-impact habits include:

• Choosing a stove as the primary cooking method for all camping and wild camping trips.
• Treating campfires as rare, location-specific options that require clear permission and good judgment.
• Being ready to skip a planned fire when conditions change, or the site looks fragile.

Where local rules allow fires and conditions are safe, campers can further reduce impact by using existing fire structures and careful techniques. Established fire rings and fire pans help keep heat away from the soil and prevent fresh scars.

Lower impact fire habits include:

• Using existing fire rings instead of building new rings or fireplaces.
• Keeping fires small and using only small pieces of dead and down wood from the ground.
• Burning wood to fine ash, dousing with plenty of water and checking the area is cold before leaving.

Campers should never burn rubbish, foil, plastic or food scraps, because these create pollution, smells and half-burned waste that stays in the ash. A clean fire area looks like bare mineral soil or stone, not a mixture of charcoal, metal and half-burned packaging.

Many campers enjoy seeing deer, birds of prey and smaller animals during a trip. A respectful approach lets people enjoy sightings without pushing animals out of safe distances or into stressful behaviour.

Low-impact wildlife watching includes:

• Using binoculars or a camera zoom instead of walking closer for a better view
• Avoiding sudden changes in movement or noise when animals are nearby.
• Keeping to paths in known sensitive habitats, especially during nesting seasons.

Feeding wildlife or leaving accessible food waste can quickly change animal behaviour around campsites and bothies. Animals that learn to associate people with food may become persistent, bold or aggressive.

Responsible campers:

• Store food securely in bags or containers, especially in known rodent or bird hotspots.
• Keep a clean cooking and eating area that does not leave crumbs and scraps on the ground.
• Never deliberately feed birds or animals at camp or on the hill.

Many people go into the hills for quiet and a sense of space. Loud music, shouting and bright lights can travel far across still air and open terrain.

Low impact behaviour includes:

• Keeping voices and music low, especially at night and early morning.
• Using headlamps on low settings and avoiding sweeping beams across other tents or bothies.
• Choosing discreet campsites that do not block paths, viewpoints or bothy access.

A single small tent that leaves no trace the next morning is unlikely to upset other visitors. Large camping groups, visible rubbish and fire scars are more likely to draw complaints and negative attention from landowners.

Consider low-impact choices include:

• Keeping groups small on wild camps and using booked sites for large meetups.
• Breaking up bright colours with natural features so that camps blend into the landscape more effectively.
• Leaving before peak daytime hours so that few people ever know a camp existed.

The seven principles are: Plan Ahead and Prepare; Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces; Dispose of Waste Properly; Leave What You Find; Minimise Campfire Impacts; Respect Wildlife; and Be Considerate of Others

Wild camping is generally legal in Scotland under the Land Reform Act, but in England and Wales, you usually need the landowner's permission except for parts of Dartmoor.

No, you must pack out all rubbish, including "biodegradable" items like orange peels and banana skins, as they take years to decompose in cold climates.

Stoves are always preferred. Only have a fire if it is legally permitted, the ground is not peat or thin soil, and you can use an existing fire ring.

No, even biodegradable soap requires soil to break down safely. Always wash yourself or your dishes at least 60 metres away from water sources.

Grey water is the leftover water from washing dishes or yourself. It should be strained for food scraps and then scattered widely over soil.

Building structures disturbs the micro-habitats of insects and plants and signals a "permanent" campsite to others, leading to over-use.

Aim to camp at least 60 metres (about 70 adult steps) away from lakes, rivers, and streams to protect water quality and wildlife access.

Observe animals from a distance, never feed them, and store your food securely to avoid changing their natural behaviour.