Camping at a campsite has a certain element of comfort. While campers are sleeping in the great outdoors, there are usually some basic facilities that make a camping holiday a little bit easier.
Wild camping, however, has none of the facilities and comfort of official campsites.
Heading out into the great British outdoors and pitching in a remote natural spot is attracting a lot of Britons for the sense of freedom and challenge it gives them.
While wild camping is illegal in most places in England and Wales, it is legal in Scotland.
Dave Riley, a wild camper based in Scotland, believed the challenge was part of the attraction of wild camping.
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Dave said: “From my perspective, yes the campsites are easier, as they have more facilities.
“But people who wild camp aren’t looking for easy.”
Dave’s wild camping adventures are all about immersing himself in nature.
But that’s not all he enjoys.
“A big part of my camping is cooking.”
He explained: “I love cooking outdoors.
“By cooking I don’t mean your standard sausages and hot dogs.
“A lot of people are now trying to cook nice meals outdoors.
“And it can be as simple as a steak or it can be Thai curry or kebabs…”
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Food plays a big part in Dave’s wild camping.
And he loved that it wasn’t easy.
He said: “I think part of the enjoyment is the challenge [of cooking outside].
“It’s also about being prepared.
“When I’m going wild camping, I know what I’m going to cook. Then obviously I prepare as much as I can beforehand.
“Part of the enjoyment is going out there and literally cooking in the wild.
“A big part of wild camping is the challenge.”
A lack of facilities may be what attracts many Britons to wild camping but it doesn’t just come naturally.
Dave said: “There’s tons of resources and videos and information out there to help you learn.”
He also believed in the community aspect of wild camping, and encouraged “people who are interested” to contact him via Instagram.
“It’s a great community where everyone gets involved and helps people out.”
