Answer

By Trail magazine

In the Lake District, while you are required to have the permission of a landowner to camp, there is a tradition of wild camping above the highest fell wall (so away from towns and villages), as long as campers leave no litter, do not light fires, stay for only one night and do not cause damage or serious nuisance.

The locations where a tolerance of wild camping exists are not specific and the ‘discretion’ that allows wild camping to take place, could be changed as the landowner chooses.

Specific sites for wild camping are not highlighted by the Lake District National Park authority as this may cause localised issues. Indeed, according to the authority, “this type of activity should be regarded as an adventure that involves a degree of self-discovery, one that includes exercising good planning and behaviour and demonstrates a responsible attitude towards access rights within the area”.

A quick look at the map suggests that there is a wide variety of opportunities only a day’s walk from Keswick in just about any direction, but as already stated it is not in the spirit of the activity to suggest that some may be more acceptable than others.

The best places to wild camp tend to be in remote corners of the mountains, well above the valley and as far from roads, footpaths and people as possible. Then look for level ground and a water supply from a stream. Look for these sort of locations on the map and I am sure that you can find plenty of opportunities to wild camp. Indeed finding great wild camping locations that no one knows about is all part of the adventure of wild camping and to give specific locations might just turn the adventure into not-so-wild camping.