Nearly Wild Camping in the UK

We've all been confined to our homes this spring, in what must be one of the strangest experiences most of us have ever had. And if there’s one thing about being told to stay inside – it’s that it makes you want to go outside like never before. The city dwellers amongst us, in particular, have been craving countryside, wilderness, open space. We’re also seeing some of the immediate environmental benefits of reduced travel and industrial activity – the skies are clearer, the air is cleaner, and wildlife is thriving. It’s unclear right now what kind of travel plans we’re going to be able to make this summer, but if we are able to get away, one highly appealing option is to find a remote spot and pitch a tent.

Actual wild camping – away from campsites – is technically illegal in most of the UK, unless you have permission from the landowner. But there are some amazing campsites which provide the experience of being immersed in nature, alongside off-grid facilities, and the security of knowing that you’re allowed to be there.

The remote camping places we’ve discovered do their utmost to tread lightly on the planet – working actively to conserve the local environment and wildlife whilst also giving people the opportunity to sleep under the stars at night and wander through forests, or take to the water, by day.

LIVING-ROOM TREEHOUSES, MACHYNLLETH, WALES

As if seeping under canvas wasn’t enticing enough, how about sleeping in a tree? These are real treehouses, built high in the forest canopy, on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park – remote from each other, and from the outside world. The location is close to the Centre for Alternative Technology – one of the world’s foremost centres for research into environmental issues, and the team who set up the treehouses used to work there – so their envornmental credentials are impeccable. The treehouses themselves are created by local artisans and designers, from local, sustainable wood. They have solarpowered facilities, including fridges and hot showers, as well as running water from purified local springs. The site is in an ancient woodland which is a haven for flora and fauna, and it’s actively managed by the treehouse team, who have added 10 acres of wildflower meadows to the area. “We aim to offer guests the opportunity to live deep in the heart of the natural environment, high in the trees, in a space that is both inspiring and far from the norm,” says Mark Bond, one of the team who set up the site. living-room.co

ALDERFEN MARSHES, NORFOLK

Alderfen Marshes consists of just four pitches in the Norfolk Broads. Located in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the place is first and foremost managed as a conservation area – with the camping provision being very much secondary to that.

Each pitch is on its own marsh, away from others, surrounded by reeds, willows, waterways and wildlife, and the four pitches are never all occupied simultaneously – which allows them to recover between visitors. Campers can book a canoe alongside their pitch and use it to explore the remote, tidal waterways of the marshes.

Campers are also supplied with a fire bowl, a supply of drinking water, a wood-fired stove and a clean, off-grid, private toilet. Stephen Ferrey, who runs the site, says, “Our goal has been to manage Alderfen Marshes as an area of wilderness in which paths disappear enticingly into the marshes, creating the feeling that around every corner is a surprise.” go-moco.co.uk

RUBERSLAW, HAWICK

RUBERSLAW CAMPSITE, HAWICK

In the centre of the Teviotdale Special Landscape Area in the Scottish Borders, Ruberslaw offers remote pitches in pine woods, far from civilisation. They also have woodlandsited two-bedroom safari tents –for campers wanting peace and quiet, but with a few more comforts. The business has been designed using sustainable principles, with measures in place to minimise the use of electricity and water, compost waste, and minimise the site’s impact on the beautiful local environment. They also grow their own plants and vegetables, so campers can buy home-grown produce. ruberslaw.co.uk

CYNEFIN, CARMARTHENSHIRE

Cynefin is a Welsh word that means 'habitat' or 'wild place' – and these 10 pitches set amongst woodland glades and wild meadows certainly fit the bill. As well as conventional pitches, the site includes two bell tents, a tipi, and a shepherd’s hut made from sustainable, locally sourced and recycled timber. “Probably the most special thing about our location,” says owner Kay Griffiths, “is the abundant wildlife, and our natural wildlife habitats. With no campers at the moment, the wildlife is taking over.” Regular visitors to the site include hares, buzzards, pied wagtails and red kites, and Kay and Judith work hard to encourage the wildlife and improve biodiversity at Cynefin, with bird boxes, dormouse boxes, insect homes, and a hedgehog house in the woods. cynefinecocamping.com

PEGS AND PITCHES, SUSSEX

BELL TENT IN THE WOODS OF PEGS AND PITCHES, SUSSEX BEECH ESTATE

Pegs and Pitches run two ecologicallyfocused, off-grid campsites in Sussex. Beech Estate consists of eight ‘wild glamping’ bell tents and 22 pitches, near Battle; and Wild Boar Wood is a site with just nine bell tents, near Haywards Heath. Both campsites are in woodland settings, in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Beech Estate is located on a 2,100 acre private estate, where grass tracks crisscross the woodland, and bluebells cover the campsite in spring. Wild Boar Wood, meanwhile, is host to 22 different species of tree, 26 different types of birds and a huge variety of animal and plant life. “We place the environment at the heart of our campsites,” says Hugh Sandie, of Pegs and Pitches. “Our campsites are based on a philosophy of living lightly on the land, in harmony with nature. We believe the conservation of trees offers overwhelming benefits to our landscape and lives.” Both campsites are off-grid and use minimal, low-level lighting for facilities, to minimise the impact on the woodland wildlife and insects. pegsandpitches.co.uk

HOW TO CAMP SUSTAINABLY

ABOVE: HIDDEN SPRINGS CAMPSITE, EAST SUSSEX ©VISITBRITAIN/ JOANNA HENDERSON.

► Leave no trace: Take everything with you when you go – it should look as though you’ve never been there.

► Stay close to home: You don’t need to travel a long way to immerse yourself in nature. Choose a location that’s not too far from where you live – without a long journey to contend with your trip will be more relaxing too.

► Ditch the car: If you choose a site in an amazing natural location, make the most of it – explore your immediate environment on foot (or by canoe) rather than driving to attractions further afield.

► Borrow a tent: If you’re not already a seasoned camper, borrow a tent and equipment from a friend rather than buying new. Or book into a glamping site, where the tent and everything else you need will be provided.

Words|Helen Holmes