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Camping & Caravanning UK — Sites, Rules & Equipment Guide

Camping & Caravanning UK — Sites, Rules & Equipment Guide

Everything you need for camping and caravanning in the UK: where to find sites, wild camping rules, essential equipment with waterproof ratings, campervan hire, and the Countryside Code.

⛺ Finding Campsites

Resource Coverage Best For
Camping and Caravanning Club 1,000+ certificated sites + 100+ Club Sites Well-maintained, inspected sites with clean facilities. Members get 30% off site fees. campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Caravan and Motorhome Club 2,700+ sites Largest UK network. Many sites have swimming pools and family facilities. Non-members pay extra. caravanclub.co.uk
Pitchup.com 4,500+ UK campsites Largest campsite booking platform. Easy filtering by facility, reviews, availability. Book instantly online.
Cool Camping Curated selection of unique/glamping sites Boutique camping — yurts, shepherd’s huts, treehouses, vineyard camping. Higher prices but special locations. coolcamping.com
Park4Night User-submitted spots for motorhomes & wild camping Free and paid overnight parking spots, wild camping locations. Essential for motorhome road trips. Free app.
Almost Wild Camping Back-to-basics wild-style camping Small, secluded pop-up campsites on farms and private land. No facilities — just a tap and a field. almostwildcamping.co.uk

🏕️ Wild Camping — Where Is It Legal?

✅ Scotland — Legal (with Conditions)

Wild camping is legal in Scotland under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. This gives you the right to camp on most unenclosed land as long as you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code:

  • Camp in small numbers, for 2–3 nights maximum in one spot.
  • Camp away from roads, buildings, and historic sites.
  • Carry out all litter. Bury human waste at least 30m from water sources.
  • Use a stove rather than open fires (fires damage the ground and are often banned).
  • Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park: Byelaws restrict wild camping in certain zones March–September — you need a permit (£4/night per tent). Book via the Park Authority website.

⚠️ England — Mostly Illegal Without Permission

Wild camping is generally not permitted in England and Wales without the landowner’s permission. There is one significant exception:

  • Dartmoor National Park: Wild camping (backpacking, 1–2 nights) is permitted in designated areas on open moorland under a High Court ruling affirmed in 2023. You must carry all equipment on foot and camp at least 100m from any road. No fires. Camping in vehicles (campervans, car-based camping) is NOT included in this right.
  • Elsewhere: You can ask the landowner’s permission. Many farmers are open to campers (a polite knock, £5–10 offered). The Almost Wild Camping and Wild With Consent networks connect campers with permission-granted spots.

✅ Wales — Landowner Permission Required

Similar to England. Some areas of Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons have a tradition of tolerant wild camping, but it’s not a legal right. Always ask if in doubt.

✅ Northern Ireland

Wild camping is not a statutory right. Landowner permission is required. Some Forestry Service sites permit informal camping.

🎒 Essential Camping Equipment

Item What to Look For Budget Range
Tent Waterproof rating: minimum 3,000mm HH (hydrostatic head). UK camping needs 3,000mm+ — 5,000mm for year-round use. Taped seams, good ventilation. Berghaus, Vango, and Coleman are reliable mid-range brands. MSR and Hilleberg for premium. £50–100 (festival/occasional), £150–300 (regular use), £300–600 (expedition quality)
Sleeping bag Look at the comfort rating, not the extreme rating. 2-season: comfort to 0°C (summer). 3-season: comfort to -5°C (spring/autumn/northern Scotland). 4-season: comfort to -10°C+ (winter/mountains). Down: warmer, lighter, more expensive, useless when wet. Synthetic: heavier, bulkier, insulates when damp, cheaper. £30–70 (2-season), £70–150 (3-season), £150–300 (4-season down)
Sleeping mat / airbed R-value is the insulation rating: 1–2 = summer only, 2–4 = spring/autumn, 4+ = winter/cold ground. Therm-a-Rest for premium self-inflating mats. SIM (self-inflating mat) for car camping. CCF (closed-cell foam) for ultralight/hiking (£15–30). £15–30 (foam), £30–80 (self-inflating), £80–150 (insulated air mat)
Camping stove Gas canister stoves (e.g., Campingaz, Coleman) — £15–25. Gas canisters £3–7 each (last 3–5 days of cooking). Jetboil for rapid boiling (£90–120). Trangia spirit burner for traditionalists (£60–80). £15–120 depending on type
Head torch Essential for hands-free movement at night. Look for 100+ lumens, red light mode (preserves night vision), and USB rechargeable. Petzl, Black Diamond. £15–50
Cool box Passive cool box (ice packs) — fine for weekends (£20–40). Electric cool box (12V car socket) — keeps food cold for days (£60–150). Fridge/freezer units for serious caravan/campervan use (£300–600). £20–600 depending on type
Camping chairs & table Foldable camping chairs — look for ones with cup holders and a high back (£15–30 each). Roll-top aluminium table (£25–50). £15–30 per chair
Water carrier Collapsible water container 10–20L. Essential for campsites where the tap isn’t next to your pitch. £10–20. £10–20

🚐 Campervan & Motorhome Hire

Company From Notes
Goboony £60/day Peer-to-peer campervan rental — private owners rent out their vans. Wide variety from classic VW campers to modern motorhomes. goboony.co.uk
Indie Campers £90/day Professional fleet, depots across UK and Europe. Insurance included. One-way rentals available. indiecampers.co.uk
Camplify £55/day Peer-to-peer, similar to Goboony. Larger presence in Scotland. camplify.co.uk
Quirky Campers £90/day Beautifully converted handcrafted campers — more expensive but unique. quirkycampers.com

Before you book: Check if you need a C1 licence for larger motorhomes (over 3,500kg) — most standard B-category licences only cover up to 3,500kg MAM. Check insurance: many standard car insurance policies don’t cover hired campervans — the hire company provides insurance, but check the excess (often £1,000–2,000). Excess insurance from a third party (e.g., iCarhireinsurance) costs ~£3/day.

🌿 The Countryside Code

The Countryside Code applies everywhere in the UK — whether wild camping or at a campsite:

  1. Leave no trace: Take all litter home. If you packed it in, pack it out.
  2. Keep dogs under control: On leads near livestock and ground-nesting birds (March–July). Always clean up dog waste.
  3. Close gates: If you open a gate, close it behind you. Farmers’ livestock depend on it.
  4. No fires unless permitted: Many campsites allow contained BBQ/fire pits. Wild camping: use a camping stove — open fires scar the ground, kill wildlife, and risk wildfires. In Scotland, follow the Outdoor Access Code regarding fires.
  5. Park only in designated areas: Do not block field entrances, passing places on single-track roads, or emergency access points.
  6. Respect wildlife: Don’t disturb nesting birds, seals, or other animals. Keep noise to a minimum — sound carries far in the countryside.
  7. Plan ahead: Know where you’re allowed to camp. Check weather forecasts. Bring appropriate equipment.

📞 Contacts & Links

Last updated: June 2026. Wild camping laws and campsite availability change. Always check local regulations and landowner permissions before camping.