Define wild camp?

[Moped]

The thread about is it legal etc doesn’t actually make it clear what is defined by “wild camp” as applied to a motorised box on a minimum of 4 wheels. Does it simply mean park up in a location 24/7 for no fee?

If a clear definition could be offered up then it might make it easier to establish how legal it is.

And I would include the process of obtaining fresh water and disposing of grey water, black water and general waste in this definition. If the assumption is that for true wild camping this should all be free then at what point in regard to any of these practical matters could it be considered going beyond the point where theft or a civil or criminal offence has been committed?

For example, when we park up in an official free motorhome parking space in France which has a service point for which a small charge is made for its use, is this considered to be a “wild camp”?

Or is it the act of pulling over on a roadside parking area or piece of land on a whim, and stopping overnight or maybe even for a few days until the point at which you move on to the next stop?

And how does this definition vary from country to country?

The definition for the U.K. (or England shall we say) may be somewhat different to that for France or Spain. What I personally consider to be a wild camp in France or Spain is virtually impossible to replicate in England.

 

[TJBi]

I would suggest that "wild camp" is a totally inappropriate term in this context.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

It's just the name of this forum really, in a van, we got there by road, we'll get back by road, there are no wild animals that will harm you normally unless you park up in a zoo or a camp site.

Off grid is nearer the mark but not very far off as you need the grid to enable it in the first place.

 

[marchie]

The thread about is it legal etc doesn’t actually make it clear what is defined by “wild camp” as applied to a motorised box on a minimum of 4 wheels. Does it simply mean park up in a location 24/7 for no fee?

If a clear definition could be offered up then it might make it easier to establish how legal it is.

And I would include the process of obtaining fresh water and disposing of grey water, black water and general waste in this definition. If the assumption is that for true wild camping this should all be free then at what point in regard to any of these practical matters could it be considered going beyond the point where theft or a civil or criminal offence has been committed?

For example, when we park up in an official free motorhome parking space in France which has a service point for which a small charge is made for its use, is this considered to be a “wild camp”?

Or is it the act of pulling over on a roadside parking area or piece of land on a whim, and stopping overnight or maybe even for a few days until the point at which you move on to the next stop?

And how does this definition vary from country to country?

The definition for the U.K. (or England shall we say) may be somewhat different to that for France or Spain. What I personally consider to be a wild camp in France or Spain is virtually impossible to replicate in England.

Impossible task, not least because you are trying to compare different legal systems for at least 4 different countries, not to mention the designation of spaces in France as Aires. And if we want to define 'Aires' we ought to include Grace's, unless, of course, she's still wearing them ...

Steve

 

[r4dent]

This is my personal definition, but in my experience most people with have their own and we may disagree about specifics
To me wild camping is overnighting in an area not designated for overnight parking or for overnight stays.
i..e. Sites / Aires / CLs etc are not wild camping.

If I stop for an hour to make a brew and a butty I am not wild camping, I am parking.

If I stay overnight I am wild camping. This is true irrespective of taking liquids on board or discharging them.

I will not wild camp on private land without permission from the land owner or their authorised agent.
e.g I only overnight in pub car parks after checking with the manager / landlord.

I will not wild camp anyway that is a potential nuisance to locals
e.g. I will not overnight on a residential street or a public (or private) car park unless there is a notice permitting it.

I will overnight on a public road (or layby) where parking is allowed and where I am not causing an obstruction.

These are my personal standards for the UK and others will have different ones.
Different counties have different rules. I stayed in a town in Spain that stated cooking; sleeping and overnighting in the van were parking and allowed, but opening a window was camping and prohibited (it said it in 4 languages and pictures!)

 

[mark61]

The only people that need to know my definition of wild camping are those I go camping with.

 

[Obanboy666]

Personally I believe wild camping is in a tent backpacking away from civilisation, not in an all singing and dancing motorhome with all the facilities most of us have onboard.

 

[campervanannie]

I term it wild parking with similar rules to r4dent and in 45+ years I have never been fined or caused a nuisance only once been moved on and that was a local campsite putting pressure on the council and that again was caused by long term stayers with chairs and tables and bbqs out turning the area into a campsite.

 

[n brown]

''That which is not forbidden is permitted ''

 

[Scotia]

Ask Rob Mac he has the scars to prove it.

 

[RSD7a]

This will run and run

 

[trevskoda]

You are not camping wild or other wise if you park up anywhere with out signs saying no which must be legal, you can at any time sleep if you are too tired to drive, HC 91, but if you start having Barbies and deck chairs etc then yes you have set up camp, van/tent or otherwise.
But in many cases places where others seem to do so should be ok until someone says otherwise either by legal force or a by law correctly signed and in clear site.

 

[rugbyken]

i believe a legal definition used to challenge the tent thing ie if you are camping on a site in a tent are you wildcamping the judgement went it’s the lack of facilities that defined wildcamping not the sleeping arrangements,

 

[maingate]

Define wild camping?

Something you were able to do before everybody and his dog bought a motorhome/campervan

 

[n brown]

sad but true . when i started doing it , people in ''proper'' campers stayed in campsites , while self builders , most of their vans looking quite ropey, parked wherever they wanted . i miss it in the same way i miss being 20

 

[jagmanx]

You can wild camping for us means no facilities in a nice place,
If sensible for 2 nights
So you then have to deal with the waste somewhere else.
Then of course there is free overnighting.
Over the pond they call it boondocking.
Down under Freedom camping.
The nuances mean not exactly the same.
What is in a name anyway.
How about "Stingy camping"

 

[caledonia]

Why define wild camping? We all know it has nothing to do with parking overnight in a van. It’s the name of our Forum!
Just keep on keeping on and do what we do without drawing to much attention to ourselves and worrying about it being legal or defined.

 

[Glandwr]

You can't define "wild camp" just like we can't talk about "fight club" it's the first rule.

 

[marchie]

You can wild camping for us means no facilities in a nice place,
If sensible for 2 nights
So you then have to deal with the waste somewhere else.
Then of course there is free overnighting.
Over the pond they call it boondocking.
Down under Freedom camping.
The nuances mean not exactly the same.
What is in a name anyway.
How about "Stingy camping"

That's not defining, Phil, it's interpreting ['for us']. Even the Parking Ticket Case against Worthing Borough Council didn't define wild camping, the Adjudicator looked at the legislation and found that the banning of Motor Caravans in isolation breached the Rules. Legal definitions take skilled drafters a long time to get right, and sadly, the number of pieces of legislation and the variety of topics that pass through Parliament now, mean that there is insufficient time to craft the definitive legal text before the next crateload arrives to be drafted.

As an example, the Companies Act 1948 stood the test of time with few omissions or problems, until a shorter, updating Companies Act was introduced in 1967. Then the next Companies Act was introduced in 1976, followed by the 1980, 1981 and 1985 Acts [I haven't looked at Company Law since the 1985 Act. so there will have been others since then]

Steve

 

[Moped]

Define wild camping?

Something you were able to do before everybody and his dog bought a motorhome/campervan

Very true. Unfortunately the massive surge in demand focused the minds of those whose minds I prefer to be unfocused.

For us it didn’t help moving to a longer van (8.2m plus scooter rack at rear) but then we do virtually all our off grid parking in France and Spain.

Still occasionally park up off grid in England but normally on tarmac surfaces where permitted.

It must be nice having a VW sized camper with a loo but for full time living less so.