Bivvy up.....................

[Jonah]

Myself and two mates are having a long weekend in Scotland at the begining of April. The last time we came up we basically bashered up in woods(ex squaddies, can you tell !!!!) in the eve and carried on our way the next day. Everywhere was clean and no litter of mess left. Are we ok doing this ?
I ask this because this time we will have sons with us and therefore will be using small two man tents. Bearing in mind you have the right to roam etc, will possible authorities land owners be ok with this???
Dont want to offend anyone by setting up for the eve, when we shouldnt really be doing so. We are trying to make it a bit of an adventure for the boys, castles , mountains , monuments and sleeping out.
Will we be ok?

 

[G.C.]

I think there has been a change in the law regarding this in the last few years. I have lifted this from the SNH website.

Wild camping. Access rights extend to wild camping (this type of camping is lightweight and transitory). You can avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by camping only on unenclosed land, in small numbers, well away from any building, road or historic structure, and for one or two nights only in any one place. If you wish to camp close to a house, ask the owner if this is alright. Take extra care to avoid disturbing deer stalking or grouse shooting (see above and annex 2).

I do know that wild camping is permitted in Glen Etive, it was disgusting the last time I had a wee run through there, but it is not permitted in Glencoe/ Clachaig area. Plenty of remote areas that would not come to anyone's notice Why not split between wild camping and camp sites with decent facilities, that way the kids might want to come with you again

 

[G.C.]

Here it is.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, 5 years already !
Perhaps someone more familiar with this act can summarise it for you.
I stand by my first reply. If you are in my neck of woods (wee pun there, did you notice ) I can point you in the direction of a couple of remote glens that I have never been challenged in. Drop me a pm if you want more info, I'm a bit guarded posting tis type of info on a public forum.

 

[Jonah]

bivvy up..........

.....................sensible custom made campsites!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why that would bo monecodeling this young generation evan more I thought ye scotsman were made of sterner stuff

Seriously tho the boys love camping out with us dads, and have been doing so since they were tiny................ our kids are fortunate in that they just love being out an about with their dads.

 

[Tartan Terror]

I think most of the Glenlivet estate is open to wild camping, see link below.

http://www.glenlivetestate.co.uk/camping.html

 

[G.C.]

More up to date link here
Hope the weather is good for you all.

 

[Phil Clarke]

There is an ongoing debate between SNH, various councils, land owning bodies and various other agencies as to whether 'Wild camping' as defined by the outdoor access code applies to road side camping. This debate is a result of the various sites around Scotland where car loads of neds pitch up, get wasted on buckfast, pish (and worse) all over the place, threaten the locals, burn the local tree population and genereally cause chaos. the inevitable reaction to this is to try and ban it and various elitist worthies are suggesting that road side camping is not wild camping - yada yada yada.....

Basically if you park legally and don't block gates etc. and you leave no trace of your passing then your fine (in other words use common sense - what a novel concept). Fires cause a bit more controversy but if you follow Ray Mears guidance on fires you'll be fine. You may get a frosty reception from some land owners but this is generally very much the exception.

To avoid any possible ned encounters stay clear of Loch lomond side, Loch earn, loch tay and loch rannoch (although some bits are ok). I have a few spots I go back too regularly.