People very often ask whether or not camping in Scotland is legal. The long and short answer to this question is, yes, camping in Scotland is legal; however, you need to follow certain guidelines to make sure you are on the safe side. The most common camping grounds that are prohibited in Scotland are open-air picnics, which means you may camp in any area with open areas to see, as well as wooded areas. If you decide to camp in a wooded area, you will have to follow the same safety precautions as you would anywhere else, especially if you have small children. Otherwise, you could end up breaking one of the laws that are in place to protect Scotland’s environment.
The second most popular camping ground in Scotland is wild camping, which is allowed in most parts of the country. It’s the only country within the UK where a blanket ban on wild camping has been in force for many years. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have similar laws to prevent camping; although, it is the only part of the UK that still has a blanket ban on wild camping. In Scotland, it is possible to camp in most other outdoor areas, although the restrictions will apply to particular areas such as open-air picnics or woodland areas. You will still have to follow the same safety precautions and get the permission of the landowner in order to stay overnight.
Most people who go camping in Scotland are often only concerned with having a few days away from home, as Scotland is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the whole of the United Kingdom. This is why a lot of the public do not feel it necessary to follow the law; and therefore, they will stay out and camp wherever they like. If you happen to go camping in Scotland, you will need to be aware of the safety rules of the country and follow them to make sure you stay out of trouble. If you don’t want to get into any problems, it would be better if you just stayed at a campsite outside of Scotland, where you can stay inside your vehicle and enjoy the sights and sounds of the area.
