WILDEST DREAMS: The right to roam

camping spot. The islands remain a popular destination for people who enjoy waking up to watch the sunrise. The beaches and sandy dunes are also particularly pleasant during the summer.

Scotland

Under the Land Reform Act 2003, wild camping in Scotland is permitted almost anywhere with very few restrictions. For this reason, Scotland is one of the best places in Europe to wild camp according to Euronews Travel. A great reason to try wild camping is to immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of barren desolation. This is why a trip to the Ardnish Peninsula is a must according to Jim Butler of RedBull.

He says: “Dramatic landscapes combine rough mountains and desolate glens with shimmering beaches and beautiful bays. This is wild camping at its most adventurous.”

GORP recommends:

The public’s right to roam – freedom to explore natural landscapes on foot – has become a hot topic after a controversial High Court decision ruled that landowner’s permission is now needed to wild camp on the Dartmoor Commons. This is an upland area in the south of Devon and the last remaining area in the UK where it was legal to wild camp. Only 8% of England is free to roam under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, and only one-fifth of Wales is mapped with land accessible to the public on foot, according to Natural Resources Wales.

A spokesman for The Stars are for Everyone, a newly formed protest group, says a lot of work still has to be done to support the cause. The group recently appealed for public donations to keep pressure on landowners.

Environmental campaigner and poet Guy Shrubsole says he remains hopeful for the future of Right to Roam laws in the UK after opposition parties publicly expressed concern: both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour party have pledged to amend the current Right to Roam rules if elected.

With many national parks including Dartmoor having to settle for a permissive system of wild camping where the landowner’s permission is needed before settling, GORP roams around Europe to find some of the best places to wild camp.

Switzerland

There’s no surprise that Switzerland has made it here. Best known for its magnificent mountains and landscapes, it’s the perfect attraction for skiers and winter retreaters. Contrary to popular belief, Switzerland remains a very popular destination for summer holiday-makers – especially those who enjoy wild camping.

Be that as it may, before heading off into the mountains, there are some restrictions to consider. Although the notion of camping freely is widely accepted, it does not apply to every region. Despite the general permission, wild camping is prohibited in national parks, hunting grounds, various natural reserves, and wild rest zones (during protection periods). It’s also important to respect mountain huts along your trail.

GORP recommends: Nufenenpass. Located in the Swiss Alps, it is one the tallest mountain passes in the country. A charter bus takes you straight to the summit, where you are free to camp surrounded by panoramic views of the Swiss mountains.

Norway

Well-maintained hiking trails, beautiful coastal lines and unbelievable mountain views – it’s simply impossible not to include Norway on our list. Perhaps the country’s greatest asset is its accessibility to all forms of nature from major cities – you could book a holiday to the town of Bergen and still enjoy a few days away in the mountains camping.

There are some limitations such as the extra cost of pitching more than one tent and staying over the one-night cut-off, but this only applies to a minority of locations.

Keep in mind, the golden rule is that you respect your surroundings and keep your area clean and tidy. As is the trend in most Scandinavian countries, if you respect these unwritten rules, you are free to enjoy nature as you wish.

GORP recommends:

Lofoten Islands. Located inside the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten islands are the perfect summer

Peanmeanach Beach, Ardnish. Beautiful and outstanding landscapes are best found on the west coast of the Highlands with fabulous walking trails and views to complement the furrowed aesthetic.

Sweden

Although pitching in a single area is limited to only two days, Sweden offers some of the best areas in the world for wild camping. Allemansrätten – the people’s right to roam – is so important to Sweden that it’s written in their constitution, one of only four of the grand laws.Understandably, wild camping in a foreign country may be overwhelming. But once you’ve spent the night under the Northern Lights, a warm summer’s day walking along the Baltic coast, or a weekend hiking up Sörmland mountain, this Scandinavian oasis will leave you with a lifelong impression of solitude and euphoria.

GORP recommends: Skuleskogen National Park. Located on the Baltic Sea coast in northern Sweden, the park has one of the few remaining old forests as well as high mountains, rocky terrains, beautiful woodlands and freshwater rivers. Several buses and trains are available to take you to one of the two entrance points.

Finland

In Finnish culture, wild camping is known as Jokamiehenoikeudet, which means “everyman’s right.” Known as the land of a thousand lakes –it’s actually nearer two thousand – Finland is the perfect destination for a back-to-nature camping trip, in the opinion of Scandinavian travel guide Routes North. Like the UK, Finland offers highend camping – or glamping as it’s best known. The Finns embrace their natural landscapes with ease and tranquility; since there are more saunas than people, the majority of sites will have access to steaming hot saunas.

Alternatively, if you’d rather rustle up your tent and take to the wilderness, you are completely free to do so. It’s also legal to fish and pick berries, wildflowers and wild mushrooms for your consumption.

GORP recommends:

Martinselkosen Eräkeskus. Have you ever considered bear watching? Finland’s wilderness centre in Kainuu is one of the best places to try it. This fantastic woodland site stretches for miles with options to rent cottages or camp freely. Free wifi is available across the site.