Wild camping?

Yes but no Malcolm!  There are laws for everthing, so check them out before heading over the Scottish Borders!

Write your comments its illegal to park up on the roadside in a layby, they are only there for quick stays, not a nights sleep or holidaying inMalcolm.

It's only illegal if there is a local TRO restricting usage of the lay-by. See http://www.motorhomeparking.co.uk/roads.htm

Graham

I have heard it said the wild camping is permitted in Scotland. 

Not quite so simple I believe...

Under Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 there is a right of responsible non-motorised access, for recreational and other purposes, to land and inland water throughout Scotland with few exceptions. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code sets out where access rights apply and what you can do within access rights. It also describes where you cannot go in exercising access rights, such as fields of crops or the gardens of houses.

You are not entitled to drive a motor vehicle onto private land. Therefore it follows that you can not drive onto private land to wild camp. I know of at least one landowner who drives around the pubic roads that cross his land and charges any one in a motorhome or campervan who has driven off the public road onto his land to camp.

You must remember that many roads in the Highlands are unfenced and the land adjacent to the road is actually private.

Public land is a different matter.

However always be mindful of what others may think of your activities. Just a few days ago there were people legally wild camping in a tent near to our village and the mess and rubbish that they left behind is a disgrace (I am going to clear it up myself this weekend). Local people often do not differentiate between people camping in a tent or a motorhome so please go out of your way to be polite and reasonable or you (like the idiots in the tent that I have mentioned) may unintentionally spoil things for others.

Also  - shop local. Is it any wonder that some people complain of visitors coming up into the Highlands in motorhomes (in increasingly large numbers) clogging up the roads and parking in beauty spots and then NOT spending any money locally.

Don't be one of them, please come and enjoy our beautiful countryside, but remember that a bit of pay-back into the local community goes a long way. " src="http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" alt=":)" />

Oddly enough I often hear people complain that there are not many campsites up here. Well, why would you open one when some people seem to expect to visit the area and camp for free anywhere they please?

KH

To echo the previous post, always more interesting to read facts rather than opinions

On private land the law is the same throughout the UK - the 1960 Act.

Yes we have considered pub stops and Britstops thank you. Currently looking for somewhere safe, reasonably quiet off the A17, between Newark and Long Sutton, preferably just past Sleaford. There is a huge big ox bow layby, set well off the A17, but we just
can't remember where it is, and if it is safe from HGV piling into the back of a dozing MH! Will take a look on Pub stops first Inthink and see what we can find. No option but to leave after 9.30pm.

Britstops is great and we use them a lot. However, I think you will find that in these difficult times, almost any pub would be happy to let a motorhome park in their car park if you were going to buy a few drinks or east a meal. We have never been refused.
Might be a problem if you have one of these American monstrosities but we are only 6m long.