Wild camping UK essentials: 30 must-have items guide

Whether you’re planning to sleep in your campervan or take a sleeping bag up a mountain, the first and most important rule when deciding your must-haves for wild camping in the UK is: pack light.

Following this principle will – obviously – make things much easier if you’re getting to your overnight spot by foot, but also ease up any stresses in a van: the less stuff you have, the easier it is to find/unpack/pack.

Our 20 must-haves for wild camping – plus our top 10 more luxurious items – are below. But first:

What to wear for a wild camping trip

Another handy rule: wear it rather than pack it. Unless you’re hiking to a wild camping spot in the height of summer, these items should see you right:

• Waterproof trousers

• Two thermal tops – base layer and mid-layer

• Waterproof jacket

• Thick socks

• Hiking boots

• Rucksack – 35-40L rucksack should be more than enough for a couple of nights.

What to pack for a wild camping trip – the essentials

1. Tent

Buy a tent that’s as lightweight but robust as you can afford: this isn’t the time or place for a cheap festival-style number. If you’re wild camping alone, a tent weighing 2 kg or under is a good bet. Brands like Berghaus do decent one-man tents for around £70, but budget-conscious wild campers can pick up something like a Gelert Solo or Yellowstone Matterhorn for £35-40

To really rough it, dispatch with the tent and add a bivvy bag to keep your sleeping bag warm and waterproof – or swap for a tarp to sleep under to guarantee shelter if it rains.

2. Sleeping bag

Obviously you want something light here too, but it’ll ruin your trip to bring a light sleeping bag on a winter trip. Aim to have two sleeping bags – one for warm weather and one for cold – if you plan to wild camp all year round. Don’t forget to buy/pack light.

3. Sleeping mat

A must-have for a truly comfortable night’s sleep. Sleeping mats range from simple roll-ups you can pack on top of your rucksack, to luxury inflatable mattresses that pack away into a tiny bag. As with tents and sleeping bags, go for something as lightweight –but effective and durable – as you can.

4. Inflatable pillow

Luxury item – or essential for a decent night’s sleep? We think the latter. Inflatable rather than travel pillows are best as they take up less space ; if you don’t want to buy one but still want to save room, bring an empty pillowcase and stuff it each night with spare clothes.

5. Dry bag – or two

Keep different bits of kit separate and dry in your rucksack by using an inner dry bag. We favour having at least two – one main bag to line your rucksack, and one or more for extra clothes, electronics and anything else that should be kept dry.

6. Extra clothes

Always have at least one spare pair of trousers , a spare top/jumper and one extra pair of socks even if only wild camping overnight – you’ll need a change of clothes if there’s a downpour while you’re hiking for the day.

7. Beanie hat, gloves and neck warmer/snood

Yes, even in summer!

8. Cooking kit and food

You could dispense with this if you’re only camping out overnight (but even then nothing beats freshly brewed hot coffee made just after you crawl out of your tent). A small camping stove and fuel are the minimum if you want to cook or boil water on your trip; you’ll also need one pan per person and a Spork each. Bring dehydrated food, packet soups etc to save on weight.

9. Fire starter

Use matches, a lighter or a custom campfire starter like a fire steel tool – but bring spares, and then more.

10. Water

The simplest way to access water while wild camping is to use a stream or other natural water source , but you should bring one or two litres with you anyway.

Tip: store some of your water in a sturdy aluminium bottle , then fill it with boiling water to make a bedtime hot water bottle (wrap it in a cloth/jumper before use).

11. Water filters or water purification tablets

You should boil all water you take from a stream , but it’s best to have an alternative source of purifying collected water in case of stove/fuel problems. Water purification tablets have the edge over water filters as the former removes viral as well as bacterial matter.

12. Knife

A multi tool or Swiss army knife is the preferred choice of many campers – again, look for something as sturdy as possible for your budget.

13. Head torch

Essential for cooking or finding bits of kit after dark as well as looking for toilet spots.

14. First-aid kit/medical items

This can be as basic or extensive as you like, but at a minimum should include plasters, antiseptic gel/cream, insect repellent, suncream and a tick removing tool.

15. Washing/hygiene essentials

You could manage with wet wipes for a one-night trip, but if you prefer not to, pack a washbag with miniatures of shower gel, shampoo, face cleansing wipes, comb/brush, toothpaste and toothbrush, tampons if you use them, moisturiser/body cream and lip balm. (Those latter two may seem like luxury items, but not if you’re camping on a mountain in high wind.) If you have long hair, bring extra clips/hair ties.

16. Microfibre travel towel

These pack up tiny and are easily dried.

17. Smartphone

Your camera, e-reader, movie player, extra torch and GPS all in one. But also bring the next item, a power bank!

18. Power bank

Again this might seem a luxury item, but you don’t want your phone to run out of charge when rough camping, particularly if camping alone.

19. Paper map and compass

Don’t rely solely on your phone.

20. Trowel

For burying waste. (Don’t bury used toilet roll)

What to pack for a wild camping trip – the nice-to-haves

So, those are the essentials to add to your wild camping packing list. What about the less-essentials and the luxury items? Here are our Top 10 picks:

1. Hammock

2. Windbreak – for around your camping stove

3. Plastic/ziplock bags – always useful

4. Whistle and signal mirror – for attracting attention if needed

5. Camping lantern

6. Extra pans/cast-iron cooking pot

7. Spices and condiments

8. Proper coffee and a Handpresso / Aeropress

9. Folding sit mat

10. Hip flask (filled)

Plan your wild camping trip today

Wild camping and… campervanning? Absolutely! Combining the two is the best way to get out into nature: keep a rough camping kit rucksack ready packed in your van and decide each day whether to sleep in the van or outdoors under canvas.

There are a few different ways to try campervan wild camping in the UK:

• “Free camp” by stopping overnight and putting up a tent at a place of your choosing

• As above, find a place you like the look of, park up for the night… and use a sleeping bag to sleep under the stars

• Drive your van close to a remote but inaccessible-by-vehicle spot, then hiking to a wild camping spot with your designated kit.

Or try book a motorhome pitch in one of Britain’s national parks, to enjoy a wild or “nearly wild” experience among nature but conveniently close to campsite facilities. The Lake District’s Bowness on Windermere campsite run by the Camping and Caravanning Club, for example, is a peaceful haven sitting on the shores of Lake Windermere.

Need some more info about free camping in the UK? No problem – check our blogs about:

• Wild camping in England

• Wild camping in Scotland

• Wild camping in Wales

• Wild camping in Northern Ireland

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