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.
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 Camping14 Apr 2026 · 12 min
Wild Camping in Scotland: What the Access Code Actually Means
Wild camping is legal in Scotland under the 2003 Access Code — but 'legal' doesn't mean 'anywhere'. Here's what the law actually says, where the exceptions are, and how to camp responsibly.
Read → - Wild Camping14 Apr 2026 · 24 min
The Essential Wild Camping Gear List for Scotland
Scottish wild camping is cheap once you own the kit — but the kit has to be right. Tents that shed midges and Atlantic rain, sleeping bags that work wet, stoves that run in wind, plus the 10 small items that separate a comfortable night from a miserable one.
Read → - Wild Camping14 Apr 2026 · 10 min
Scottish Midge Survival Guide: When, Where and How to Beat Them
Scottish midges are the biggest unforced error in west-coast outdoor planning. Here's the biology, the season, the weather thresholds and the kit that actually works.
Read → - Wild Camping14 Apr 2026 · 18 min
Scottish Bothies for Beginners: What to Expect & Where to Start
Bothies are Scotland's free mountain shelters — simple stone buildings, no booking, no electricity, open to anyone who walks in. Here's what they actually are, the Bothy Code that keeps them working, and ten of the easiest to reach for a first-time visit.
Read → - Wild Camping14 Apr 2026 · 15 min
Loch Lomond Camping Permits & Management Zones Explained
Since 2017, parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park have required a £4.50/night permit for wild camping. Here's exactly where the zones are, how to book, what the rules are, and where you can still camp free in the same area.
Read → - Wild Camping14 Apr 2026 · 21 min
25 Best Wild Camping Spots in Scotland by Region
Scotland's best free wild camping spots mapped by region — Trossachs, Cairngorms, Glencoe, the north-west and the islands. Each pitch with access notes, the legal framework and the honest caveats no tourism blog mentions.
Read →
Plan with these
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.