Touring Scotland, do we have to book?

Completely full, it’s a very popular spot. However, just along the road in Burghead you can happily (and legally) stay here…. now that’s close to what I’d call wild camping.

Scotland has a separate legal system and has it's own rules regarding wild camping which relates to tents only. There are areas were tenting in the wild isn't allowed either, but the rules are set out in the right to roam legislation and countryside acts.

The reason Scotland is now setting up more facilities.  from what I understand, is because of the growing local  residents backlash of the NC500 and some of those using it not caring for the environment or others 

Loch Lomond is an area that because of inconsiderate "wild camping" now has a system in place in an attempt to regulate it

Some areas have just become too accessible and too popular hence the need for management. Still lovely places to visit though, so hope people enjoy their Scottish holidays.

Passed one this morning, blinds all closed, parked up in a parking spot, just off a B road in Sherwood Forest. There are no signs to say you can’t. Not sure that means you can. Hopefully they will be respectful of the environment. 

I saw two examples of wild camping while away. One was a motorhome parked up on Newland's pass. I was there being dropped off very early for a walk (I posted a pic). It appeared to have been there all night as it was early and the blinds were all down. 

The other example was my daughter's OH who on the wet weekend walked from above Threlkeld to the top of Clough Head and across all the summits to Helvellyn then down to Glenridding for supplies, then up to Angle Tarn where he spent the night in his tent before walking across High Street to Pooley Bridge.

I know which I call wild camping.

I’d expect to see that regularly here, particularly Friday nights in summer when you’ll see just as many caravans parked up in lay-bys as MH. I’m not sure how ‘wild’ that is? The Police occasionally have a crackdown including tactics like 2am calls for worst offenders. Truckers habitually do it, so why not others?

Found this on my the BBC covid update just now:

Pop-up campsite rules 'harming communities'
Rules making it easier for pop-up campsites to open during the Covid pandemic in Wales have led to a "free-for-all", harming rural communities, residents have warned. Landowners can open campsites for up to 56 days without planning permission, after rules were relaxed. While owners say the sites are boosting tourism, some residents claim their communities have been damaged after campsites "sprang up overnight"

PS I'm not making any right or wrong statement here, just posting for information.

If you read the 'Access to the countryside Code' for Scotland you will see it does refer to camping in the wild and clearly states that it is for hill walkers with a small tent.

It advises where to pick a suitable safe place to pitch a tent, how to dig a toilet and dispose of human waste and all manner of useful tips. The main one being that land owners permission should be sort first.

The laws in Scotland are different and in lots of places they are more tolerant but that is changing especially around the NC500.