Wild Camping
Right to roam, done properly.
Scotland is one of the only places in Europe where wild camping is legal. Here is how to do it without being a knob, without being eaten alive, and without being cold.
Where to start
The four things every Scottish wild camper needs: the law, the midge plan, a winter strategy and decent regional spots.
Outdoor Access Code
Scotland's right-to-roam law in plain English. What you can do, what you can't, and what 'leave no trace' actually means in practice.
25 Best Wild Camping Spots
Curated spots by region — Trossachs, Cairngorms, Glencoe, North-West Highlands, Islands. Each pitch with legal framework, access notes and caveats.
Midge Survival Guide
May to September, anywhere west of the A9, the midges will find you. Repellents that work, head nets, location choice and pitch timing.
Loch Lomond Permits
Since 2017, parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs need a £4.50/night permit from 1 March to 30 September. The full CMZ rules explained.
Scottish Bothies
Scotland's free mountain shelters. No booking, no key, no fee, strict etiquette. The Bothy Code plus 10 beginner-friendly MBA bothies to start with.
Full Gear List
Scotland-specific wild camping kit. Tents that shed midges and Atlantic rain, synthetic sleeping bags, stoves that run in wind. Budget to premium.
Month-by-Month Camping Guide
Every month offers different camping. Midges, daylight, temperature, ground conditions — the honest truth about which months are worth freezing for.
Camping on Scottish Islands
Harris, Skye, Mull, Rum, Jura, Arran — white sand beaches, extreme wind exposure, ferry logistics and the 8 best islands for camping.
Camping with Dogs
Your dog has the same access rights as you. Livestock rules, tick prevention, midge-proofing and the kit additions for four-legged companions.
The short version of the rules
- Pitch out of sight of roads and houses. The Code does not require you to be invisible, but it does require you not to impose on others. Use the landscape.
- Stay one or two nights, no more. Permanent encampments are not what right-to-roam covers.
- No fires unless you really know what you are doing. Stoves are fine. Bonfires are how peat gets set alight and how locals start hating campers.
- Take everything out. All food, all packaging, all toilet paper. Yes, all of it. Yes, the bit you buried as well.
- Avoid Loch Lomond camping management zones in season. Byelaws apply March to September around the loch shore — you need a paid permit or to camp outside those zones.
Latest wild camping articles
Spot guides, kit notes and trip reports.
- Wild Camping2 May 2026 · 8 min
Wild Camping in Scotland: The Law, Rights and Rules
Wild camping is legal in Scotland under the Land Reform Act 2003 — the only country in the UK where it is. Here's what the law actually says, where you can camp, and what responsible practice looks like.
Read → - Wild Camping2 May 2026 · 8 min
When Is Midge Season in Scotland? Month-by-Month Guide
Scottish midge season runs from late May to mid-September, peaking in July and August. Here's what to expect each month and how to plan around them.
Read → - Wild Camping2 May 2026 · 7 min
How to Avoid Midges in Scotland: 7 Methods That Actually Work
Practical, tested methods for avoiding and managing Scottish midges — from repellents and head nets to campsite choice and timing your walks.
Read → - Wild Camping24 Apr 2026 · 9 min
Wild Camping on Scottish Islands: The Ultimate Guide
White sand beaches, extreme wind, ferry logistics and the 8 best Scottish islands for wild camping. Harris, Skye, Mull, Rum and more.
Read → - Wild Camping24 Apr 2026 · 10 min
When to Go Wild Camping in Scotland: Month-by-Month Guide
Every month offers a different wild camping experience in Scotland. Midges, daylight, temperature, ground conditions and the honest truth about which months are worth freezing for.
Read → - Wild Camping24 Apr 2026 · 9 min
Wild Camping Meals: What to Cook When Camping Wild in Scotland
One-pot meals, calorie-per-gram maths and the food that works when you're cold, wet and 6 hours from a road. Practical, not Instagram.
Read →
Plan with these
Wild camping by region
Best spots, access notes, midge risk and permit information for Scotland's main wild camping regions.
- High midges
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
PermitScotland's most popular wild camping area — and the most regulated
- Moderate midges
Cairngorms National Park
Free accessThe UK's largest national park — vast, high and genuinely remote
- Very high midges
Isle of Skye
Free accessThe most dramatic island camping in Scotland — and the most overtouristed
- Very high midges
Northwest Highlands
Free accessScotland's most remote and rewarding wild camping — and its most midge-prone
- Low midges
Galloway
Free accessSouthern Scotland's overlooked wild camping — less dramatic, less busy, far fewer midges
Common questions
- Is wild camping actually legal in Scotland?
- Yes — Scotland has a statutory right of responsible access established by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. That includes wild camping on most unenclosed land, subject to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. There are exceptions: byelaws prohibit wild camping in parts of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park between March and September.
- What does 'leave no trace' mean in practice?
- Carry out everything you carry in (including human waste in fragile environments — bury it elsewhere, far from water). Pitch on durable ground, not vegetation. Don't dig drainage trenches. Use a stove rather than open fires where possible. Move on after one or two nights. Camp out of sight of roads, houses and obvious paths.
- What month is best for wild camping in Scotland?
- May before the midges appear (cold but stunning), September once midges fade (often the most stable weather of the year), or full winter if you have the kit and skills. June to August is brutal for midges away from breezy ridges and coastal spots.
- Do I need permission from a landowner?
- Generally no, under the Outdoor Access Code. There are sensible exceptions: gardens and curtilage of houses, working farmyards, sports pitches, areas with crops in the field, military land, some plantations. Common sense and the Code cover almost every situation.