Wild Camping in Wales

[ootini]

I understand you guys tend to go wild camping when out and about. So far I've only used proper campsites, but that's a bit of a pain. I was just wondering, has anyone ever pitched up a tarp or tent only for some land owner or country park official to come along and tell you to bugger off?
Now I've done my first trip I'm itching to do it again, but this time going off road. I'm thinking a one nighter from home to somewhere like Llyn Brenig or the Clocaenog forest would be nice, but when it comes to wild camping, I'm not really 100% exactly what I should (and shouldn't) be doing. I'd hate to get there, and get told to sod off by a land owner leaving me looking for a proper campsite.
So just a little info / advice would be useful. Thanks

[ianfitz]

never, not once. I think though the trick is to be tucked out of the way, or stop late and be gone early.

Even in the peak district the rangers don't mind it. it the car-camp-next-to-the-road-have-a-massive-bonfire-sub standard-everywhere-and-leave-loads-of-litter type of camping they don't like. If you have a small tent up high you are very unlikely to get any hassle.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Search the forum and you'll find some discussion on this. Stu might even have done an article (see "Reviews" section of the site).

In truth, get in late, leave early and it's unlikely to be an issue so long as you're relatively "sensible" about the spot you doss i.e. not in immediate site of people / supervision.

Follow "leave no trace" principles in terms of camp and generally respect the environment. There's plenty of advice about dumping away from watercourses plus pack out what you pack in. That way it's unlikely anyone in "authority" would even know you'd been there. If the eye-cannot-see-the-mind-isn't-troubled.

Camp fires are a matter of opinion / preference / sense.

My 2p.

[Bearbonesnorm]

As already said, it really is common sense.

Arrive late - leave early
Away from paths, roads, houses or generally farm buildings
Don't go lighting up the sky with 2000 lumens once it's dark
Don't make much noise
Leave no more than a patch of flattened grass ... used to know a girl who was superb at that.

Another point to bear in mind is how much more obvious a tent is, even compared to a tarp. People often see a tent and straight away think 'camping', they see a tarp or maybe just a bivvy bag and they think, 'weirdo' and give you a wide berth.

If you're in any doubt and worried, try and locate the land owner and ask ... however, generally you should be far enough away from said landowner that you wouldn't have a clue where to start looking.

[Ian]

Aim for woodland, then you'll be practically invisible. FC staff never go more than 30m of their van and they knock off at 4pm anyways

[fatbikephil]

Are you guys not allowed to wild camp in your open access areas?
So used to being able to camp more or less anywhere up in Scotland its odd listening to you guys having to adopt the stealth approach...

[Ray Young]

Are you guys not allowed to wild camp in your open access areas?
So used to being able to camp more or less anywhere up in Scotland its odd listening to you guys having to adopt the stealth approach...

We are lucky up here in Scotland, our access rights are so much more, ehmm....... civilised. The powers that be who passed the laws listened to the countryside users needs rather than the landowners wants. We still have to take the stalking season into account though and some areas around Loch Lomond have bylaws prohibiting wild camping because of abuse by the piss up and party brigade.