How To Camp Responsibly

Camping And The Environment

This section isn’t about being preachy; it’s just a gentle nudge to be mindful of others as we’re incredibly lucky to have access to some seriously beautiful countryside. With millions of us over the course of a year heading out to enjoy sights like dramatic Cornish clifftops, winding tranquil rivers of the Norfolk Fens, or the bleak but beautiful hills of Northumberland, it takes all of us to do our bit to keep these landscapes looking awesome. Even campsites need to be looked after. Sure, some of them are huge resort like sites but think of it this way: you wouldn’t trash your mate’s tidy flat after you visit, right? Same applies with any outdoors location.

Leave No Trace: Sounds Serious, Actually Pretty Simple

What’s It All About?

We’ve all seen those travel blogs that have stock photos with the “inspirational” text overlayed that says “Leave Only Footprints” or “Take Only Memories”. Leave No Trace is basically that, without the pretentious Instagram filter. The idea is simple, wherever you go, make sure you leave it the way you found it. (Actually, leave them better if someone before you dropped litter.)

This means don’t leave campsites full of rubbish, stray off paths and trample bushes when out walking, or chuck food into the bushes thinking it will decompose (it doesn’t as quickly as you might think and wildlife really shouldn’t be eating your leftover crisps!). Don’t be that person. Make sure these outdoor places are left natural for the next person (or wild creature) to enjoy them as well

Why Bother?

Here’s the thing, most people think “It’s just me, what difference does it make?” But they don’t seem to understand that this small impact adds up fast when thousands of people have the same thought. Case in point: 250,000 tents are abandoned every year, that’s not a typo, a quarter of a million perfectly usable tents just… left behind! (This is the reason we started Earthrise Camping in the first place, more on that nightmare on our homepage).

The result of this collective mentality? Campsites are being hammered to clear up after others, paths are being eroded as people walk beside them “to avoid a bit of mud”, and wildlife is put under stress by unnecessary disturbances. But if we all made a bit more of an effort then these places stay brilliant for everyone.

Worth keeping this way, right?

Dramatic coastal clifftops with purple heather overlooking turquoise sea
Peaceful woodland stream with moss-covered path alongside

How To Do This

The “Leave No Trace” Basics For Camping

Pitch where you’re told to pitch – Campsites allocate you a spot for a reason. That nicer looking patch you’ve spotted might not actually be part of the campsite or it could be a protected wildlife area. Just stick to where they tell you and you’ll have a good time.
Be smart with campfires – First, check if they’re even allowed. If they are, use the designated fire ring and keep it manageable. An out-of-control fire around tents is nobody’s idea of a good time and you definitely don’t want to be that group.
Deal with your rubbish properly– Most UK campsites have decent recycling facilities, so make sure to use them. Check that you’re separating the recyclables, composting left over food and leaving your pitch spotless for the next camper. If you’re out in the wilds make sure you walk out with all your waste packed (and we mean all waste).
Leave stuff where it is – That cool rock might be a home for a creature or insect. That flower that you’ve never seen before could be a protected species. Just leave things be as you’re not the only person who wants to enjoy the place. Taking photos works just as well and is far less damaging!
Give wildlife space – Always watch wildlife from a distance and never go out of your way to feed them (seriously, human food is terrible for wild animals, and some of it is terrible for humans too!). Make sure to stick to paths as some areas may have restrictions during bird nesting seasons, so keep an eye out for signs.
Be considerate crossing farmland – If your path crosses a field, don’t wander off it. You don’t know what’s growing or where livestock might be. During lambing season (March-May), be extra careful, especially with dogs as farmers will not hesitate to shoot dogs worrying livestock.

Wild Camping: The Rules That Actually Matter

Scotland’s Right to Roam

Scotland’s right to roam is bloody brilliant. There is nowhere else in the UK where you can walk out into the wildness and camp (almost) anywhere. With this freedom though, comes basic responsibilities.

Camp away from any buildings – Aim for at least 100 meters away from houses but also double check you haven’t accidentally wandered into someone’s garden. There are some quite large houses with some big gardens, so this happens more often than you’d think!
Don’t stay in one spot too long – Don’t stay for more than 3 nights max in one spot. This is to minimise the amount of disturbance to local wildlife and the environment as it helps to stop erosion. And honestly, the longer you stay, the more likely you are to accumulate rubbish accidentally.
Pack out everything– All waste should come with you. Apple cores, crisps packets, that torch that never worked in the first place, even human waste if you can’t dig a proper cathole (Basically a 6 inch deep hole, far from your tent and water sources, that is filled in after you’re done).
No fires – This one should be obvious, and it’s non-negotiable. In 2025 there were over 500 reported wildfires across the UK, with the vast majority of them caused by human activity. So don’t add to the stats.
In a group, 3 tents max – If you’re camping in a group, make sure you only setup a maximum of 3 tents in one location. Same reasons as above, prevent erosion, less disturbance of wildlife, less litter etc.

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

Wild camping is generally not permitted across the three other nations of the UK, with the exception of Dartmoor in Devon. Dartmoor allows limited wild camping in certain (but not all) areas. As long as you’re out of sight of buildings and follow the “leave no trace” rules above, you’ll be fine. The rest of the time you will need the landowners permission to pitch up, no matter where you are.

Alternatively, If you’re desperate and want to try “wild camping” but are avoiding peak Scottish midge season, you could try bothy camping instead. Bothies are free to use huts for shelter in remote areas across England, Wales and Scotland that usually have a sleeping area and place for a fire. Anyone can use them and some are extremely popular such as Warnscale Head in the Lake District. Remember if you do this, to follow the bothy code, which is basically the same as the leave no trace rule but includes; be welcoming of others, respect other people and respect the bothy.

Keep It Wild, Keep It Wonderful

This isn’t about being perfect or becoming some hardcore outdoor purist. It’s just about doing the basics: pack out what you pack in, stick to designated areas and leave places ready for the next person. Do that and you’ll have a great time without accidentally ruining things for everyone else. Plus, you’ll avoid that nagging guilt feeling when you see those “please respect our countryside” signs, because you’ll already be one of the people getting it right.

Now go enjoy yourself. You’ve got this sorted.

Leave No Trace Starts Before You Even Pack

Responsible camping includes what you do with gear after your trip. Hire from us and skip the “what do I do with this tent now?” problem entirely. No storage, no waste, no guilt.

Get Your Tent Sorted

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