If off-roading is a passion of yours, being at one with some of the world’s most remote destinations is certainly a perk of the pastime. There is now a name for using your 4×4 and other off-road camping supplies to stay in and enjoy these isolated locations a little longer.
Wild camping is a top trend within the 4×4 and camping worlds respectively. In this blog post, we explore the wild camping movement and the 4×4 upgrades that could help you enjoy this exciting activity as your new hobby.
An introduction to wild camping
Put simply, wild camping is an outdoor camping activity that sees you use your 4×4 and other camping gear to spend the night under the stars in the lowest impact way possible.
With a spot of wild camping, you can be at one with nature and truly live in the moment, with wild camping hotspots within the UK and the rest of the world needing no permits or registration to make use of. Wild camping is all about discretion, with your presence able to go unnoticed or undetected with the right spot and limited supplies or equipment.
Wild camping has become popular in recent years. Outdoor enthusiasts are keener than ever to escape the hustle and bustle, enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet, and do so without incurring too much cost, making wild camping the ideal way to experience the wilderness.
Wild camping vs stealth camping
Wild camping is often mentioned in the same breath as stealth camping – another popular outdoor pastime – but the two shouldn’t be confused.
Stealth campers generally use vans with no external windows in the living area and few/no visible, external signs of it being a camper. Wild camping on the other hand refers to minimalist camping with limited equipment. This can be as simple as sleeping under a tree with just a tarpaulin and some food, using a swag tent, or upping the luxury with a roof top tent addition.
The legalities of wild camping
Due to differing laws from country to country, conducting your own wild camping excursion may not necessarily be legal! Pitching up on any patch of private land, no matter how remote or uninhabited it appears, without permission from the landowner is illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The rules are different in Scotland however making it a wild camper’s paradise as Woodland Trust explains:
“For the most part, wild camping is permitted anywhere in Scotland in accordance with the access rights established by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. There are of course exceptions to this ‘anywhere’ rule – we wouldn’t for example want to pitch up on someone’s front garden or generally make a nuisance of ourselves.”
As in the US, ‘no camping’ or ‘no parking’ signs must still be adhered to if they are present. You should also leave no trace of your visit on the environment or overstay your welcome.
Our top tips and upgrades for wild campers
Choose your location wisely. Venturing off the beaten track means you should consider the accessibility of your overnight location. The elevation, gradient and density of your camping spot could also mean the difference between an enjoyable experience and a difficult one.
Make sure you are prepared and fully equipped to camp anywhere with our top camping upgrades. From rooftop tents, awnings and more discreet swag tents to roof racks and other storage solutions that make the transport of supplies as simple and straightforward as it should be, what you pack is important.
With the right supplies, you can truly keep yourself to yourself, and enjoy all the perks of this discreet outdoor activity.
Shop our camping range today to discover all you need to become a fully-fledged, ultra-discreet wild camper.
