If you’ve read up on the legalities to wild camping in the UK, then you’ll know that in most parts of the UK, it’s illegal without prior consent from the landowners. This excludes Scotland where they have the Right to Roam but this still doesn’t mean you can wild camp wherever you like. Wild camping, as long as you do it responsibly and respectfully, is often allowed. Therefore, it’s important that if you go wild camping, to always follow the Leave No Trace principle. This will ensure we can enjoy wild camping for many years to come.

What is the Leave No Trace principle

The Leave No Trace principle is a set of ethics designed to promote the conservation of the outdoors. It originally came from the United States in the 1960s as a response to increasing environmental damage from outdoor activities such as wild camping. Wild camping has really taken off in the UK and unfortunately, this has resulted in our beautiful outdoors being trashed, destroyed and treated in the most unforgiving ways. Just take a look at this article from the BBC to see how bad it has been lately;

Unfortunately, this isn’t an unusual occurrence with people littering, cutting down trees and leaving all their equipment, assuming others will tidy up after them. Rangers in our National Parks are not paid to tidy this mess up and this type of camping doesn’t follow the clear guidelines around wild camping. 

The Leave No Trace principles are simple; wherever you go, there should be no trace that you have been there.

How does the Leave No Trace principle apply to wild camping?

Unlike in some countries, where wild camping is more regulated, many parts of the UK operate on a trust-based system. This assumes campers will act responsibly. By leaving no trace, we can help maintain the balance between enjoying the freedom of the outdoors and preserving nature. After spending a night out in the wild, there should be no sign you were ever there which means;

1. Taking all your rubbish and equipment home with you. Don’t leave wrappers, leftover food or peels, toilet roll, or your tent that didn’t withstand the rain. Take it ALL home with you. 
2. Human waste – don’t leave it for everyone to see. Either dig a deep hole and bury it or better yet, pack it out with you in a sealable tube. Toilet roll should either be burned or packed out with you. If you bury it, animals will dig it up. You may think it sounds disgusting packing it out or burying it BUT, imagine how you would feel if you stepped in another human’s waste. 
3. No fires on the ground – don’t leave behind scorch marks or ash
4. Arrive late and leave early
5. Keep noise down
6. Don’t disturb the natural environment. No cutting down trees. Don’t camp in areas of flowers or try pulling up shrubs or moving rocks to make way for your tent
7. If you are asked to move on by the landowner or someone representing them, then move on without fuss.

Leaving no trace is so important to allow us to enjoy wild camping long into the future. If you have any tips of your own for how to “Leave No Trace” then share them in the comments below for others to read.