The Law and wildcamping help please!

yorkslass said:
we stopped off near york last night, parked out of sight of houses and the road. we have used this place before without problem but this morning a guy from the council stopped by and said he had had a complaint. dont know if this is true or if he was been a jobsworth because he was there to empty a dog bin. there are no signs up. really like this place so dont know wether to go back or not.
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Oh No!!! The World is being taken over by Dog Bin Emptiers !!!!! :lol-053: As you say yorkslass - perhaps he was just being a 'jobsworth' but, there again, he might simply have been trying to strike up a conversation about his 'complaint' which (given his occupation), would probably have been Distemper. If he approaches you the next time that you park there then keep him at bay with a long pointy stick and watch out for signs of rolling eyes and frothing at the mouth!!

:lol-049:
 
been wild camping on and of since the 70s and never been moved on or threatend with prosicution yet .dont think anybody can define the law realy so my advice is google ,whats the legal stance on wild camping in the uk ,if you can understand whats there then good on you .but my advice is ,use your common sence and you will be ok .
 
There's loads of bits of law covering it:

Public Health Act of 1936, Access Act 1949 (National Parks I think), Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 to name a few. Plus other bits and local byelaws etc

Just Google them to find links. And it's all different for Scotland. The statutes and laws are extremely boring and it's not all in one place. Good luck!!
 
kath22 said:
we regularly camp down Barry Knapp with no problem at all

Having BBQ's sitting out enjoying the view etc

The council now actually talk to us down there :)
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spent many a happy few days there .i had heared there had been some trouble there but must have been a misunderstanding as it seems ok
 
tulsehillboys said:
Has anyone got a link to the actual laws on this subject???
Or am I off to the library???
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In addition to the statutes that have been referred to above, remember that there is no law prohibiting sleeping in a parked vehicle so therfore there is no law to refer you to - just an absence of law - but, as has been stated above, some local authorities may pass local by-laws and for those you have to contact each local authority individually. On the other hand, as Mandrake says, use common sense, don't annoy anyone and you will be ok
 
I am really grateful for all the helpful advice.
I am a keen advocate over the year I have had as a motorhomer. I am particularlly intrested in the detail of the law. It is nice to see the original text and not someone'e interpretation. Clearly any law has to be interpreted and many of the laws I am sure are aimed at traveller communities setting up "camp". These laws are then interpreted by the major clubs (who have a financial interest in people using their sites) to "ban" wild camping.

I have never been convinced by this argument and clearly many others are not too!

I do intend to do a bit more digging about the real legalities involved and in the meantime will continue to enjoy responsible wildcamping and would encourage others also!
 
mandrake said:
spent many a happy few days there .i had heared there had been some trouble there but must have been a misunderstanding as it seems ok
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Think the trick is to keep the council and police on side - when they do their rounds now we get a 'hello' off them :)

Its a lovely spot to camp :)
 
i travelled and lived in vans in europe and maroc with kids and had very few problems that weren't caused by my own naivety,stayed in maybe 4 or 5 campsites in all those years ,but rarely felt nervous. here though i never feel really comfortable,though it doesn't stop me wild camping. when travelling in my youth in foreign countries with the family camp sites just weren't affordable,so i never got into the habit and i don't see why i should change now.i think the difference here is that i feel i'm looked at as as some kind of indefinable threat,weird
 
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