Wild Camping: Where Do I Start?

At CampWild, everything we do revolves around one simple yet profound mission: to connect you with nature. We've seen firsthand how spending a night under the stars can be a powerful catalyst for deepening your relationship with the great outdoors. It's more than just a camping trip—it's a chance to reconnect with the world around us, breathe in the fresh air, and rediscover something that often gets lost in our busy lives.

But where do you begin? Planning a trip to spend a night under the stars and be self-sufficient can be overwhelming! Luckily, at CampWild, we live and breathe this. We want everyone to feel confident and comfortable setting out into a wild space to spend an evening under the stars. Here are our top tips on how to harness the power of the CampWild platform to start your wild camping journey.

Choosing Kit: Keep It Simple

If you haven't touched a tent, roll mat, or rucksack before, the sheer amount of gear available on the market can be intimidating. There’s a lot of jargon, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choices. But here’s the thing: it doesn't have to be! We are huge advocates for keeping things simple. That’s why we’ve partnered with Vango to create the Kit Grade system. Every wild space on our platform has its own Kit Grade, giving you a snapshot of the technical level of kit you need to get packed and head out. The higher the grade, the more helpful it is to have more technical and lightweight kit. So, if you are just dipping your toes into wild camping, look for Grade 1s and 2s to get started.

Planning your first wild camping trip doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy swanky new kit—in fact, we think the opposite. Beg, borrow, and make do with what you can! More often than not, friends and family will have a sleeping bag, tent, or rucksack lying around, and it's a great way to test different gear. If you can't find someone immediately, we’ve partnered with fantastic projects like Kit Up and Tent Share that offer kit rentals.

Getting Started: Find Your Wild Space

Wild camping is often associated with heading up into the mountains on a gnarly adventure and spending the night bunkered down on a summit! While we love these types of adventures (and we really do!), we started CampWild to make wild camping accessible for everyone. You’ll find our wild spaces predominantly in more accessible locations rather than on mountain peaks. Each and every wild space within our network is unique—the difficulty and 'wildness' vary massively!

The same goes for everyone's experience, ability, and needs when heading out for a night under the stars. That’s why we’ve created the Wild Grade system. This grading helps you choose a space that matches your experience and needs. It’s a quick way to find a space that’s right for you! Whether you’re taking your first step into the wild or seeking a deeper connection with more remote places, our Wild Grade system will guide you to the right space. It’s all about finding your rhythm—starting where you feel most comfortable and building from there.

Going Together: Shared Connections

Solo wild camping can offer an incredible sense of solitude and connection with the great outdoors (there really are some huge benefits!), but it's a particularly daunting way to start and requires a certain level of confidence. So, definitely start with a friend! Shared adventures not only feel safer but also create memories that can strengthen your bond with each other and the wild places you visit.

Using a wild space in the CampWild network means you have exclusive access to private land. Not only are our wild spaces secured behind fences and locked gates, but you’ll also have the space entirely to yourself, which can be a big confidence booster when stepping into the world of wild camping.

If you don’t have a camping partner, don’t worry—our CampWild Connect platform is here to help. We have a thriving community of like-minded adventurers who share a passion for the outdoors. The Connect platform allows you to connect with them (see why we called it that?) and plan adventures together.

Not Quite Ready? Wilder Campsites Are Your Gateway

If you’re not quite ready to dive into a completely wild space with no facilities, you’re not alone. Many campers prefer to ease into it, and that’s okay. That’s why we’ve created a guide to Wilder Campsites—these are some of the wildest campsites in the UK, offering truly incredible wild camping experiences with a few creature comforts thrown in: think compost loos, fire pits, and jungle showers!

Wilder Campsites are a great way to build confidence and offer a brilliant camping experience!

Your Wild Journey Begins Now

We are on a mission to connect the UK to nature through the adventure of wild camping, and we want you to join our community of over 3,000 kindred spirits who are on the same journey into the wild.