Wild camping in the UK is one of those experiences that sounds idyllic in theory – waking up beside a mountain tarn, watching sunrise paint the Scottish Highlands, falling asleep to the sound of wind through Welsh valleys. The reality? Well, let’s just say it doesn’t always go to plan.
Here’s the thing about wild camping mistakes: we’ve all made them. Every single person who’s spent nights under canvas in the British wilderness has stories of things going spectacularly wrong. The good news is that most wild camping disasters make brilliant pub stories later, and they’re rarely dangerous if you keep your head and have the right gear.
This guide covers the most common wild camping cock-ups that beginners make, complete with real stories from the hills. Because sometimes the best way to learn is from other people’s mishaps – and trust me, I’ve made most of these mistakes myself.
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The 12 Most Common Wild Camping Mistakes
From broken tent poles in howling gales to forgotten gas canisters and midge invasions, here are the mistakes that catch out nearly every wild camping beginner. Don’t worry – we’ve all been there, and most of these disasters make brilliant stories later on.
1. Ignoring the Weather Forecast (Or Massively Underestimating It)
The Mistake: Checking the weather once and assuming “light winds” means gentle breezes rather than tent-destroying gales.
A few years back, a mate and I decided to tackle Snowdon for a wild camping adventure. The forecast showed “moderate winds” and we thought we’d beaten the crowds by heading up in the evening. What the forecast didn’t mention was that “moderate” at sea level becomes “absolutely mental” at 600 metres.
We’d just finished setting up camp and were trying to light our stove when a gust hit us like a freight train, complete with marble-sized hailstones. My trusty old tent – the one that had survived countless trips – gave up the ghost with an almighty crack as its pole snapped. Within minutes, all our gear was soaked through.
The scramble down in Snowdon in the dark with a broken tent and soggy kit wasn’t exactly the mountain experience we’d planned. By 11 pm, we were sitting in a Premier Inn eating Chinese takeaway with our gear hung around the room. Not quite the wilderness adventure we’d imagined, but definitely memorable.
How to avoid it: Check multiple weather sources and pay attention to altitude. Mountain weather can be completely different from what’s happening in the valleys. The Met Office Mountain Weather Information Service is your friend – use it.
2. Choosing Terrible Campsites (Usually in the Dark)
The Mistake: Arriving late and setting up camp in the first vaguely flat spot you find.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived late and had to scout out a spot in the dark. I’ve normally found a decent enough space, but it’s incredibly annoying to wake the next day and spot the perfect campsite nearby.
How to avoid it: Start looking for your campsite at least an hour before sunset. If you must set up in darkness, take time to assess the ground with your headtorch properly. Look for natural drainage, check for rocks that’ll dig into your back, and avoid obvious dips or channels.
3. Forgetting Essential Gear (Like the Bit That Makes Everything Work)
The Mistake: Packing your stove but leaving the gas canister at home, or bringing the tent but forgetting the poles.
Forgetting equipment is annoying. I’ve packed up my stove but then forgotten the gas more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve always been fine without it as I always pack plenty of snacks, but I do miss the warm cup of coffee first thing when I wake. It makes packing up camp a little less enticing.
How to avoid it: Create a checklist and actually use it. Pack your kit the night before, and do a final check before leaving. Group related items together – stove, gas, lighter, matches should all live in the same stuff sack.
4. Getting the Legal Stuff Wrong
The Mistake: Assuming wild camping is legal everywhere in the UK, or thinking “just one night” makes trespassing okay.
This is a tricky one. The laws around wild camping in Britain are more complicated than they should be. In Scotland, you’ve got the right to roam under the Land Reform Act – brilliant. England and Wales? Not so much. Wild camping is only legal in specific areas like parts of Dartmoor, and even that’s been complicated by recent legal challenges.
However, although not technically legal in most parts of England and Wales, it is generally tolerated in more places as long as you follow the golden rules of Leave No Trace (more on this in point 7). Getting moved on by landowners in the middle of the night is never pleasant. Even if they’re polite about it (and they’re not always), packing up camp at midnight and finding somewhere else to go is nobody’s idea of fun.
How to avoid it: Do your homework before heading out. In England and Wales, get landowner permission or stick to designated areas. In Scotland, follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. When in doubt, ask – most landowners are reasonable if you approach them properly.
5. Picking Fights with British Weather (And Losing)
The Mistake: Dressing for the forecast rather than preparing for reality.
British weather has a sense of humour, and it’s not always kind. Cotton kills in wet conditions – it holds moisture, loses all insulation when wet, and takes forever to dry. In British conditions, this can quickly become dangerous.
How to avoid it: Layer properly with moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and waterproof outer layers. Avoid cotton clothing entirely. Pack for the worst conditions you might reasonably encounter, not just the forecast.
6. Bringing the Wrong Tent for the Job
The Mistake: Using festival tents for mountain conditions, or bringing expedition gear for summer car camping.
Not all tents are created equal, and using the wrong one for conditions is a recipe for misery. Those cheap festival pop-up tents last about five minutes in exposed hillside conditions before turning inside out.
On the flip side, dragging a four-season expedition tent up a hill in summer because it was on sale isn’t much fun either. You’ll be carrying extra weight for features you don’t need, and you’ll cook inside it on warm nights.
How to avoid it: Match your shelter to the conditions. Three-season tents handle most UK wild camping perfectly. Save four-season tents for winter conditions or very exposed locations. Check wind resistance ratings – they matter in British hills.
7. Ignoring Basic Leave No Trace Principles
The Mistake: Thinking “it’s just one night” or “no one will see” makes it okay to cut corners on environmental responsibility.
This isn’t just about being a good person (though that matters) – it’s about keeping access open for everyone. Poor behaviour by a few people leads to restrictions for all of us. Buried toilet paper can take years to break down in British conditions and often gets dug up by animals.
How to avoid it: Follow Leave No Trace principles religiously:
• Pack out all waste – Everything you bring in should come back out with you • Bury human waste properly – 15cm deep and 50 metres from water sources, paths, and campsites
• Pack out toilet paper – It doesn’t decompose quickly in UK conditions and gets dug up by animals • Avoid fires unless specifically permitted – Use a lightweight stove instead • Camp on durable surfaces – Avoid fragile vegetation and boggy ground • Leave what you find – Don’t move rocks or build structures • Respect wildlife – Keep noise down and don’t feed animals
Use a trowel for waste disposal – it’s not glamorous but it’s necessary.
8. Underestimating How Much Water You’ll Need
The Mistake: Assuming you’ll find water sources along the way, or that all natural water is safe to drink.
Water is heavy, so there’s always temptation to carry less and rely on finding sources. This backfires when springs dry up, streams are contaminated, or you simply can’t find water where your map suggests it should be.
Even clear mountain streams can harbour nasty bugs, especially where sheep graze upstream. Giardia and cryptosporidium don’t care how pristine the landscape looks.
How to avoid it: Carry enough water for your needs, know where reliable sources exist along your route, and always treat natural water. Boiling, filtering, or purification tablets are all effective. I pack a Water-to-Go water filter bottle, which removes 99.9% of contaminants from any freshwater source.
9. Camping Too Close to Paths, Roads, or Other People
The Mistake: Pitching beside popular walking routes or in obvious beauty spots where you’ll be disturbed.
There’s nothing quite like being woken at 6am by a group of early morning hikers walking past your tent door. Or worse, having people stop to chat when you’re trying to have a quiet evening meal.
Privacy isn’t just about comfort – it’s about safety too. Camping in obvious locations can attract unwanted attention, especially near roads or car parks.
How to avoid it: Look for discrete spots away from obvious paths but still accessible for emergencies. The “golden hour” – that sweet spot where you’re private but not completely isolated – takes practice to find.
10. Overpacking (Or Underpacking) Food
The Mistake: Either bringing enough food for a week-long expedition or surviving on energy bars and regret.
Food planning for wild camping is an art form. Bring too much and you’ll be cursing every extra gram on the uphill sections. Bring too little and you’ll be hangry and miserable by morning. Finding the right balance takes practice.
How to avoid it: Plan meals properly, considering weight versus nutrition. One-pot meals work well and reduce washing up. Pack a bit extra for emergencies, but don’t go overboard. Test meal ideas at home first.
11. Ignoring Midges and Other Flying Menaces
The Mistake: Heading to Scotland in summer without midge protection and wondering why locals are smirking at you.
I hate midges. They can seriously ruin a camping trip if you’re not prepared. If you’ve never experienced Scottish midges in full force, you’re not ready for how utterly miserable these tiny vampires can make your life. They’re worst from May to September, particularly in still, humid conditions around dawn and dusk.
You end up hiding away in your tent and missing out on the great scenery, and god forbid you left your tent open and allowed them inside already. They can turn what should be a peaceful evening meal into a frantic affair of waving arms and swearing.
How to avoid it: Pack midge nets, insect repellent (DEET works best), and time your activities around peak midge hours. Windy locations and higher elevations typically have fewer problems. Keep your tent zipped up religiously – once they’re inside, you’re in for a miserable night.
12. Solo Camping Without Proper Preparation
The Mistake: Assuming solo wild camping is just like group camping but quieter.
Solo wild camping requires different planning and mental preparation. When things go wrong, you can’t send someone for help or rely on others to make decisions. Even minor problems become more serious when you’re alone.
The psychological aspect catches many people off guard too. Unfamiliar sounds at night, the feeling of isolation, and taking full responsibility for your safety can be overwhelming initially.
How to avoid it: Build up to solo camping gradually. Start with easier locations before attempting remote areas. Tell someone your exact plans and stick to them. Consider carrying emergency communication devices in remote areas. Pack a more comprehensive first aid kit and know how to use it.
What to Do When It All Goes Wrong
Here’s the truth about wild camping mistakes: they happen to everyone, and they’re rarely the end of the world. The key is staying calm and having backup plans.
If your tent breaks: Modern repair tapes work miracles for small tears. For major failures like broken poles, improvise with trekking poles or walking sticks. In extreme cases, retreat to safety rather than trying to tough it out.
If you get lost: Stop, assess your situation calmly, and use a map and a compass to establish your position. Don’t keep moving if you’re unsure where you are. In the UK, call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue if you need help.
If the weather turns nasty: Don’t be a hero. There’s no shame in retreating to safety when conditions deteriorate. Premier Inn rooms are available, and Chinese takeaways taste brilliant when you’re cold and wet.
The Bottom Line
Wild camping mistakes are part of the learning process. Every experienced wild camper has stories of things going wrong, and these experiences teach you more than any guide ever could. The important thing is learning from mistakes and staying safe while you figure things out.
Most wild camping “disasters” make excellent stories later and rarely ruin the experience entirely. Some of my best memories come from trips that didn’t go according to plan – there’s something about problem-solving in the outdoors that brings out the best in people.
Start with easier trips in good weather to build your skills and confidence. Gradually work up to more challenging conditions and remote locations. Don’t be afraid to turn back or change plans when conditions warrant it – good judgement is the most important skill you can develop.
And remember: every expert was once a beginner who made all these wild camping mistakes. The difference is they kept going, learned from each experience, and eventually figured out how to wake up in Britain’s wild places without everything going spectacularly wrong.
Well, most of the time anyway.
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Learn More
Like this review? Well, you’re in luck as I’ve got a bunch of other great resources for you to explore here…
- UK Camping Guide: Wild Camping, Gear & Safety Tips
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- Best Places for Wild Camping Wales, Scotland and The Lake District
About the Author
Steve Cleverdon is an outdoor adventure specialist with 15+ years of hiking, camping, and paddle boarding experience. He has conquered Europe’s toughest trails including the GR20 in Corsica, walked 3,000km solo across New Zealand, and worked professionally in the outdoors industry. Steve’s gear reviews and recommendations are based on real-world testing across four continents, from coastal waters to mountain peaks. Learn more about Steve or get in touch.
