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Does Wild Camping Have a Future?

The Geordie Wildcamper

2,168 views

Wild camping has been a huge part of my life for years. I’ve made hundreds of videos about it, built a community around it, and always believed that if we camp responsibly, respect the landscape and Leave No Trace, then we’re doing things properly.

But recently I’ve started to question whether that’s actually enough.
As wild camping continues to grow, and more of us share these experiences through YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, do we have a responsibility to do more than simply leave nothing behind?
In this video I head into the Cheviots for a solo wild camp and start a conversation I think we need to have.

Are we putting more pressure on the places we love?
Is Leave No Trace enough?
And what could the wild camping community actually give back?
I’d genuinely love to hear what you think in the comments. This isn't about pointing fingers or telling people they shouldn't wild camp. It's about asking how those of us who love these places can play a bigger part in protecting them for the future.

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If you enjoyed the video, please give it a 👍 and consider subscribing for more wild camping, hiking, gear and outdoor adventures.

But more importantly, let me know what you think below:
Is Leave No Trace enough?
Should those of us who wild camp be doing more to actively look after the places we use?

I’m genuinely interested to hear where people stand on this one.

#WildCamping #WildCampingUK #LeaveNoTrace #Camping #Cheviots #OutdoorAdventure #INIU

17 Comments

@thegeordiewildcamper Creator 20 hours ago Pinned

So… is Leave No Trace actually enough?

This video isn’t about having a go at wild campers — I’m one of them, and I’ve spent years encouraging people to get outdoors.

But with more of us heading into these places, I think we have to ask whether simply leaving nothing behind is still enough. Should we be doing more — supporting conservation, helping with clean-ups, educating newcomers, giving something back?

I’d genuinely like to hear what you think. 👇

What does responsible wild camping look like to you — and where should we draw the line?

@thewanderingforester 13 minutes ago

One thing that irks me just a little bit is the way so many just point at their pitch and say "Leave no trace" as though that's all that is needed. It not, it's about how you act from planning right to going home.

@chrishomer 6 hours ago

I hate the “Leave No Trace” ethos mate. Hate it with a passion. I’ll struggle to put it into words in a YouTube comment but feel it treats humans as some kind of toxic anomaly. Treating the hills as a sterile museum that we’re only allowed to enter as ghosts with the permission of wild camping “communities” online. F that BS. By far the most important thing here is the human, and our experience with this amazing world that has been given to have dominion over. Share it far and wide, all 8 billion can enjoy it. Flatten some grass. Break some twigs. Leave some ash. Throw some bread for the birds. Skim some rocks. Etc.
And the whole “communities” thing, hate that too. Community this, community that, everything’s a bloody community these days. It’s not. Wild camping community? What? Makes no sense.
So anyway, to answer your question, is leave no trace enough? No. It’s a BS virtue signalling statement people like to rabbit on about while they worship the earth and tip toe through it like they’re anxiously trespassing through life.

@WalkWithWallace 7 hours ago

The term wild camping is too broad now, the van-lifers use it for sleeping in a van off-site, and the informal campers use it for being off-site too. What we essentially do is weekend backpacking over the moors and mountains. Which results in an overnighter in a tent or bothy. People don’t adhere to the bothy code and leave rubbish behind. Scotland is covered by the outdoor access code, whereas in England and Wales it’s a bit more sketchy being technically illegal. As a fellow YouTuber myself I just try and be a good ambassador and show best practice of LNT. Maybe we should move away from putting wild camping in the titles of our videos? Anyways you’re a good lad mate and you know the score. ⛺️

@DaveGoodman1959 5 hours ago

First watch, subbed and very interesting conversation, I wish you the best going forward. 👍😊

@SteOutdoors 19 hours ago

Great video. That sky was just 👌🏼

This will always be an ongoing topic, you always set a good example to others mate. It’s great more people enjoying the outdoors, they are for everyone to enjoy. Unfortunately some people are just not educated in the area and yes there are a few who just don’t have any respect regardless and likely treat everywhere they go the same. But it’s the few who spoil it for the majority and I find myself leaving with rubbish that’s not mine on many camps and hikes.
I do think people should be learning about the places they go and watching people like yourself and others to educate themselves. That’s how I got into it. We can only do what we do, treat it with the upmost respect it deserves and promote others to do the same. Really enjoying the new content style and structure mate well in 👍🏼

@Moffatmountainadventures 8 hours ago

Class video bud.

It’s a hard one to answer. In my area I’m happy to encourage folk onto the hills as we don’t get the volume of campers that other areas do. In the flip side though, I’ve done a few videos at St Mary’s loch so I should take some level of responsibility for amount of campers that show up there now.

@stigfloberghagenphotography 19 hours ago (edited)

Great video and fantastic sky. Here in Norway the discussion is a bit different. Its more talk of removing certain parking places and restricting cycling. This is mainly in areas with wildlife as reindeer. Not a lot of talk of camping as such. 🙂

@scottduncan88 16 hours ago

Great video, the sky looks unbelievable!

@stuwallace 16 hours ago

Cracking video mate,99% of wild campers know the score and leave no trace is enough.the tik tok influencer brigade are the ones who spoil it.

@steverobbo770 21 hours ago (edited)

Brilliant again Steve. What a morning sky. 😊👍 And, some genuine, thoughtful words. I agree with everything you said. Nice one.

@AndreUK-1970 17 hours ago

Always good to hear your calming voice, your videos are very good...

@PaulBrownlee-k4m 19 hours ago

I think it goes beyond where people pitch it’s : Solo vs groups - lots of cars or car sharing - respect for and understanding rural communities and ways of making a living - the basic countryside code - demand on MRT (and maybe promoting making donations via YouTube links). I still do not encounter many others when out and about ( although did last night it was fine) - ultimately it will be the impact on local communities and the views and actions landowners that will decide the future of camping in the NNP.

@hedleythorne 19 hours ago

One possibility would be the ability for wild campers to be able to feed information back to land owners; reporting fly tipping, reporting deceased livestock or damaged trees. That way wild campers become the eyes and ears of the people who manage the land. Oh and great sunset by the way!

@garethlittlewood7129 20 hours ago (edited)

Steve I agree with all what you’re saying. I even think about the flora and fauna in the places I camp as some areas have rare orchids etc.

There’s definitely two types of wild camper and thankfully we’re the responsible ones.

I’m against any type of fire being lit in the wilds, leaving crap or making loads of noise as being out wild camping isn’t a lads piss up party place for groups to use and abuse.

For a number of your videos I’ve noticed you being very conscious about your promotion of wild camping and whether it’s been a positive thing. You only ever promote it in a positive way and are a massive advocate for this community.

We can’t be made to feel responsible for those that spoil it but I guess it impacts us all as those that look at campers in a negative way can’t differentiate from good or bad.

Happen we should wear a badge or emblem to show were the good guys

There’s the bothy association, what about the wild camping association?

@supertrader7791 4 hours ago (edited)

Lol. Of course making videos about good spots would draw in the crowds and places like Woolpacks and Catbells are now in between the public toilets and local Tesco. The cat is out of the bag so to speak. And then it's a numbers game as 5% of knobs are significant if extra 1000 people turn up.

@paulmortal7611 21 hours ago

Unfortunately yes. Historically, apart from a couple of spots, Northumberland has been a no-go for wild camping. We always headed to above the tree line in the lakes. There’s some numpties out there camping in the cheviots and Simonside. And they’re definitely Leaving A Trace. A big wild fire near Simonside on 20/9/26 and a halted fire near Lordenshaws this week didn’t help. Hopefully they won’t spoil proper wild camping for the rest of us.