Wild Camping in Eskdale

I am stone deaf with British Sign Language and a very experienced fell walker for 45 years all over UK.

I am now moving on to first time wild camping just for one night or two in the Lakes to start with. Having read all your questions and answers about wild camping, I am still not clear. How do I know which land belong to landowner?

I saw people pitching their tents on road side along the Hardknott Pass road near the Roman Fort, how about that? It is legal?

Can I pitch my small mountain tent near River Esk and near the place called Brotherilkeld? Who own that land? What if landowners are not in their house and where do I ask?

I hope you will answer the questions. Thanks, Ian

Ian Funnell, Preston

A. Just because you see other people doing something does not mean it is legal - though you might ask them if they have permission to wild camp.

We cannot comment on whether you may or may not wild camp in any particular location other than reiterate the advice given below.

Hope this helps

Mike (Editor)

A. Hi, My son wanted to go up Scafell Pike this summer, so rather than go with the hoardes from Wasdale or Borrowdale etc we walked up the Esk and camped overnight by Sampson's Stones, before continuing to the top the following morning. Much more of an expedition feel to it. There was one other tent pitched in the area. I don't think anyone is going to object to 'wild' camping in this type of location providing you move on after a day or two and leave no sign of your passing. I have always had a trust (hopefully not misplaced) that camping gear should be safe in such a location. Ours was certainly untouched upon our return from the Pike. When we have had doubts we have secreted our gear into a bin liner and stached it behind a convenient boulder. The upper reaches of Eskdale are a stunning place - it has an almost scottish feel to it. The lonely summit of Pen above Little Narrowcove is a superb vantage point, much more peaceful than its loftier and well known nighbour. Go and enjoy ! Peter

Peter Atkinson, Whitehaven

A. Wild Camping and The Law in England, Scotland and Wales.

Tents cannot be pitched just anywhere because every piece of Britain is owned by some individual or some organisation and according to the strict letter of the law permission must be obtained prior to pitching tent and camping.

In practice however, this is often impractical and wild camping is usually tolerated in the more remote areas - typically, more than half a day's walk from an official campsite or other accommodation providing you:

Keep groups small
Camp as unobtrusively as possible
Leave camp as you found it
Remove all litter (even other people's)
Carry out everything you carried in
Carry out tampons and sanitary towels (burying them doesn't work as animals dig them up again)
Choose a dry pitch rather than digging drainage ditches around a tent or moving boulders
Toilet duties should be performed 30m (100ft) from water and the results buried using a trowel
At all time, help preserve the environment
And if you are in any doubt about what you're doing, find out more

In Scotland, the current access legislation (which came into effect in early 2005) is explicit about your right to wild camp on hill land. However, there are exceptions. Since March 2011 you are not permitted to wild camp between Dryman and Rowardennan on the shore of Loch Lomond. See Loch Lomond Wild Camping Ban for more information.

There appears to be an exception to this with respect to camping in Dartmoor National Park where the right to wild camping is actually enshrined in the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 amendment Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985 - see Wild Camping in the UK for more details.

For the definitive answer with respect to wild camping in Scotland see the answer supplied by the Scottish Natural Heritage

For a few (tongue in cheek) tips on wild camping see Some Wild Camping Tips.

NB. go4awalk.com cannot offer any advice on suitable locations for wild camping - but click here for walks from exisiting campsites.

Hope this helps

Mike (Editor)

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