The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) gives the following advice on wild camping:
- Be considerate – keep groups small, quiet and well away from buildings and roads. If it’s busy, go elsewhere.
- Do not camp in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals.
- Take away all your belongings and litter – leave no trace.
- Use a camping stove, never light open fires, BBQs or fire bowls during dry periods, or near forests, farmland, buildings or historic sites at any time.
- Never cut down or damage trees.
- Follow all local advice to prevent fires at high risk times and places. Report any fires on 999 immediately.
- Use public toilets where available. If not, go at least 30 metres from open water – carry a trowel and bury your poo.
In particular, we have heard that walkers – often at the end of Day 1 if starting from Milngavie – are using the field between Gartness Road and the A811 just before Drymen as a wild camping spot. Although it may not be obvious, it is an enclosed field containing both sheep and cattle at varying times of the year and so should not be used for camping. Unfortunately the farmer has reported incidents of human waste, littering, fires and disturbance to farm animals and tent numbers of 15 or more on busy weekends.
For clarity, ‘No camping’ signs will shortly be put in at either end of this field. If you are wild camping anywhere else along the West Highland Way, please follow the SOAC advice above and leave no trace.
Camping byelaws are in effect annually from March 1st until September 30th in some parts of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. You can find more information on the Camping Management Zone and advice on wild camping on the National Park website.