Why Low-Impact Matters on the Fells

The British hills are remarkably fragile. A single footprint in sphagnum moss can last for years; a careless fire on peat can smoulder underground through a dry summer. As fell walkers and wild campers, we’re guests in a living landscape. Low-impact camping isn’t about denying ourselves a night under the stars – it’s about making sure that night leaves no trace. Whether you’re on a Scottish Munro, a Lake District fell, or a quiet corner of the Pennines, the principles are the same: tread lightly, leave nothing but gratitude.

In Scotland, wild camping is a right under the Land Reform Act, provided you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. In England and Wales, it’s often only with the landowner’s permission, and some areas – parts of Dartmoor, for example – have their own rules. Always check before you go. Wherever you pitch, the ethic of low impact is your best guide.

Choose a Discreet Pitch

Where wild camping is permitted or tolerated, the pitch you choose makes the biggest difference. Look for ground that is already bare or has short, resilient grass. Avoid anything that looks like a wildflower meadow, a bog, or a patch of fragile heather. A good pitch is one that no one would notice if you weren’t there.

• Stay 30 metres from water – tarns, streams, and gills are wildlife corridors. Camp well back from the bank.
• Use an existing pitch – if there’s a clear, flattened spot that’s been used before, use it. Don’t create a new one.
• Avoid historical features – never pitch on or beside cairns, old walls, or archaeological remains.
• Keep out of sight – tuck your tent behind a hummock or rock so it doesn’t intrude on the view for others.
• Check the ground – after heavy rain, soft boggy ground is easily scarred. In winter or wet conditions, consider a bothy or a low-level campsite instead.

Arrive Late, Leave Early

This simple habit reduces your impact and your visibility. Arriving late means you’re less likely to disturb livestock, ground-nesting birds, or other people. Leaving early means you’re away before the day’s heat and traffic. Park considerately – never block a gate, passing place, or access track. Walk in quietly, and avoid using torches unnecessarily. If you’re in a group, keep voices low. The hills are for everyone, but a wild camp should be felt, not heard.

If you’re walking in from a car park, aim to set off as dusk falls and be packed up by first light. Use a red light on your headtorch to preserve your night vision – and to avoid flashing a beam across a distant farmhouse. Leave gates as you find them, and don’t linger in the morning. A quick brew, a quiet pack-up, and you’re gone.

Carry Out All Your Rubbish

There’s no bin on the fell. Everything you bring, you take home. That includes the obvious – wrappers, bottles, and packaging – but also the things people forget. Take a dedicated rubbish bag; a dry bag works well. Double-bag anything smelly.

• Food waste – orange peel, apple cores, and tea bags can take years to break down and attract scavengers. Bag them and carry them out. Never bury rubbish – animals dig it up.
• Human waste – if there’s no toilet, dig a hole 15–20 cm deep, at least 30 metres from water, and cover it well. Better still, carry it out in a sealed bag. Never leave toilet paper on the surface.
• Wet wipes – even “biodegradable” ones don’t belong in the hills. Pack them out.
• Washing – don’t rinse pots or wash yourself in a tarn. Use a small bowl, carry water away from the source, and use no soap (or a tiny amount of biodegradable soap, well away from water).

Protect Fragile Moorland Vegetation

Moorland plants are tough, but they’re slow-growing. A patch of heather or bilberry can take decades to recover from a tent pitched in the same spot night after night. Stick to durable surfaces: bare ground, short grass, or gravel. Avoid walking on moss, lichen, or any plant that looks cushiony or rare. Use established paths to reach your pitch, and walk in single file to avoid widening them.

Don’t cut turf, don’t move rocks to make a pitch, and don’t dig drainage ditches. If you’re on peat, be extra careful – it’s a precious carbon store and easily damaged. And please, no fires. A stove is safe, fast, and leaves no scar. Campfires in the British hills are almost always a bad idea: they sterilise the soil, kill insects, and can start wildfires that burn for days. If you’re in a popular area, consider going elsewhere – dispersal is better than concentration.

Leave No Trace, Enjoy the Hills

Low-impact wild camping is a skill, and like any skill it improves with practice. Start with one night, one discreet pitch, and one bag of rubbish carried out. Notice how the hills feel when you leave them exactly as you found them. Share the ethic with your friends, and gently remind others if you see a problem. The British hills are a gift – wild, weather-beaten, and wonderfully fragile. Treat them with care, and they’ll keep giving us those quiet, star-filled nights for generations to come.