Open Country and Wild Camping

There are no fees, permits or registrations necessary to explore or camp in the wilds of Lake District National Park.

Plan Around Open Country and Wild Camping

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to trip View park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

Open Country and Wild Camping Details

What might be called backcountry or "wild" land in some countries is variously known in the UK as open country, open fell, or moorland. Such land in the Lake District National Park is called open fell and while most is grazed by sheep and cattle, it is still wild land and you can find yourself isolated, exposed and a long walk to civilization. Camping on the open fell away from an organised campsite is called wild camping. Legally wherever you camp you must have the permission of a landowner to camp on their land, though there is a tradition of wild camping in the Lake District. In the past, camping has often been tolerated as long as people: - camp above the highest fell wall, well away from towns and villages - leave no litter - this includes not burying any litter and removing other people's - don't light any fires, even if there is evidence that fires might have been lit before - stay for only one night - keep groups very small - only one or two tents - camp as unobtrusively as possible with inconspicuous tents which blend in - leave the campsite as you would want to find it - carry out everything you carried in - carry out tampons and sanitary towels. Burying them doesn't work as animals dig them up again - choose a dry pitch rather than digging drainage ditches around a tent or moving boulders - perform toilet duties at least 30 metres - 100 feet - from water and bury human waste with a trowel - at all times, help protect the environment Sometimes groups, such as young people on awards schemes, have arranged permission for camping in advance. However this does not mean these sites are open to everyone. Please check. Camping in car parks or on roadside verges is not allowed. Wherever you pitch, please remember that the landowners or their representatives have the legal right to order you to break camp and move on. There are no fees, permits or registrations necessary to explore or camp in the wilds of the Lake District National Park.

Difficulty

Open

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

N/A

Region

Basic Information