wild camping with DCs

[pimmsgalore]

We are thinking of wild camping with the DCs this summer, walk about 10 miles a day then set up camp for the night. We have done lots of camping previously, some wild but that was in the US, and as there are 6 of us we can carry a lot.

Has anyone done this? Where are the best places to wild camp in the UK?

Our only other idea would be to walk Hadrians wall with them taking our camping stuff and stopping at campsites along the way but as you can't wild camp it means that we would have to make certain distances each day which could be an issue if we are wanting a short day

How about Dartmoor? It's beautiful, really wild, but there are some great towns and villages too in case you want a break from the wildery. And it's more southerer than hadrian so might be a degree or two warmer! (or might just rain all the time) And you can go to the sea for a day or two as well.

Wow! I'm impressed. How old are your kids by the way. It is not legal to wild camp in the uk but there are some places that are more lenient, Dartmoor and The Lake District (above a certain height) are two areas I know of. Good luck!

Oops sorry should have said not legal in England, the rules in Scotland are much different.

DCs are 11,9,8 & 5 but have done a lot of walking. Youngest DD walked up snowdon via Watkin path when she was 3 and we walk the dog everyday it's a collie x so needs plenty of exercise. I know areas of dartmoor are ok about wild camping and I thought the rules were you could in national parks as long as you are 100m from road, out of sight and get landowners permission etc. I do know you can't in the peak district due to wildfire concerns.

What about the West Highland Way. Starting at Fort William and ending at Aviemore. There are bothys along the way in case you have bad weather.

Pimmsgalore, where does it say that you're allowed to wild camp, under the conditions you cite?

We too are interested in wildcamping but are completely put off by having to use campsites (we like seclusion and peace and wildlife only). I'd like to find out more about whether or not there really might be pssoibilities for this in the rest of the UK?

Also, how can you contact the local landowner, if you're not even sure whose land you're on - or would you need to plan in advance where you intend to set up camp?

www.nationalparks.gov.uk/visiting/camping.htm

This site is quite helpful. Wild camping is not generally allowed in the UK, there probably are other places outside of National Parks which may allow it, but bear in mind that all land is pretty much privately owned.
I'd have a look at the below website too, my DP is a climber and has wild camped a few times when climbing.

www.ukclimbing.com/

this website gives a lot of useful information on the rules. But I am too thinking that unless you go to one of the designated areas on Dartmoor or Scotland then it may actually be too hard, generally people say you can wild camp as long as you pitch late and leave early which may be hard with the DCs. We are used to the US where you just get a back country permit park your car in a designated back country car park and off you go.

West Highland Way is from Milngavie to Fort William deste.

But, Aviemore would be a great starting point for a few days of walking/camping - there are lots of trails going into/over/around the Cairngorms and you could come up with a pretty nice route. For example, you could do Aviemore to Blair Atholl via any number of through routes. Or you could do Dalwhinnie to Corrour. Both options have stations at the start/finish points so can be done by train.

I walked across dartmoor and camped with a few friends. Didn't realise we weren't allowed to. We left no trace

This sets out the guidelines for wild camping in Scotland.

bronze, I think you can in Dartmoor on the National Park website is a large purple area that you are allowed to wild camp in. Did you have a car? If so where did you park it?

Wherever we go we will need to take a car as there are 6 of us and the train tickets from where we are to either Dartmoor or Scotland would be equivalent to a small mortgage

Piff we have previously done a lot of camping in that area, we ski there most years when we are in the UK and have summered there several years (relatives all come from the area around Aviemore) But where we live now it is a good 9 hour journey in car and would cost nearly £700 on the train for the whole family (ridiculously expensive)

We just thought that as we had wild camped in the US no problems we should do the same in the UK and see some of our own country with the DCs

We got the train down it was about 14 years ago and we were the boring teens who didn't go to Newquay. Another lad plotted the route so he may have known about the area but I have to admit I didn't come across it. Obviously we didn't have kids with us as we were technically kids ourselves. I guess if I was going to drive (and if it's in the are) I would park in Princeton and walk out past wistmans wood. Being careful to avoid the ranges

ah DH has a map of that area, he plays on the ranges himself occasionally