Why the uplands ask more of you

Remote moorland is not like a lowland campsite. The ground beneath your boots may be centuries-old heather, fragile moss, or deep peat that took thousands of years to form. A single carelessly placed tent peg can scar a bog for decades. Add wind, rain, midges and a short growing season, and the uplands recover slowly — if at all. That is why the old wild camping adage matters more here than anywhere else: arrive unseen, leave no trace.

You do not need to be an expert to camp responsibly. You need a few habits, practised every time, whether you are bivvying in the Cairngorms or pitching a tarp in the Pennines.

Pitch late, leave early

The best wild camps are short camps. Arrive as the light fades, leave soon after sunrise. This is not just about avoiding attention. Deer, ground-nesting birds such as curlew and golden plover, and nocturnal mammals are most active at dawn and dusk. A tent that appears at 8pm and vanishes by 7am is far less disruptive than one that sits all afternoon.

Pitch on durable ground when you can: short dry grass, gravel, or rock. Avoid hollows where water collects, and never camp on rare mosses, lichen mats, or fresh heather. If you are in a group, spread out. And if you move a rock to level your pitch, put it back exactly as you found it.

Pack out everything — even the apple core

Pack out means everything you bring in. That includes banana skins, orange peel, tea bags, and the crumbs at the bottom of your rucksack. These do not decompose quickly in cold upland conditions; they look like litter and can harm wildlife. A plastic bag inside a dry bag works well for rubbish. Line it with a second bag if you are carrying food waste.

Human waste needs planning. In many remote upland areas, the best practice is to carry it out in a sealed bag — a “poo pot” — because deep peat and thin soil do not break waste down. If you must bury, go at least 30 metres from water, streams and paths, dig a hole 15–20 cm deep, and carry out the paper. Never leave toilet paper on the surface, even under a rock. It blows away.

• Carry a small trowel and a sealable bag for waste.
• Use biodegradable soap? Still pack it out — it pollutes water.
• Do not burn rubbish. It does not disappear.

Fires belong in your stove, not on the peat

Open fires in the uplands are almost always a bad idea. Peat, dry heather, and pine needles catch easily, and a fire scar can last for years. Even a “safe” fire ring leaves blackened stones and ash. Use a gas or alcohol stove instead. They are lighter, faster, and leave nothing behind.

If you absolutely must have a fire (and local rules allow it), use an existing fire ring, keep it small, and burn only dead wood that is already on the ground. Never cut standing trees or pull branches from live ones. Douse the fire with water until it is cold to the touch, then scatter the ashes and dismantle the ring. But honestly? In a remote upland area, your stove is the kinder choice.

Tread lightly on fragile ground

Every step matters on moorland. Stay on established paths where they exist, even if they are muddy. Widening a path by walking beside it causes erosion that takes decades to heal. If you are crossing a bog, step on the tussocks or use a boardwalk. Do not kick up stones or build cairns; they disturb wildlife and look unnatural.

Keep your camp small and quiet. Avoid shouting, bright lights, and drones. Do not feed or approach animals. And when you leave, look behind you: the only sign of your visit should be flattened grass that will spring back by the afternoon.

Habits that keep the wild wild

Good wild camping is a set of small, repeatable actions. Before you go, check local bylaws and landowner permission — wild camping is legal in much of Scotland but not in England and Wales without permission. Plan your route to avoid sensitive nesting areas in spring and early summer. Carry a spare bag for rubbish you find (yes, it is fair to pick up others’ litter).

Finally, share the ethic. If you see a friend about to leave a tea bag or build a fire on peat, speak up kindly. The uplands do not need more rules; they need more people who know how to leave no trace. Pitch late, pack out all rubbish, skip the fire — and every campsite remains as wild and clean as you found it.