My first wild camping experience in the Cairngorms

There aren’t many places in the world – even in the UK – where you can pitch your tent anywhere you like in nature 🌿.
But in Scotland, especially in the Cairngorms, it’s not just legal, it’s a free-spirited adventure anyone can experience 😎.

Here, Hasnaa shares her first wild camping experience in the Cairngorms, the largest national park in the UK, and calls for its protection for future generations ✨.

Leaving the city behind is a strange feeling after spending the past six months trapped there 🌆.

Aberdeen may not be the prettiest place in Scotland, but over time I grew to love it and looked forward to every semester 😌. Even after spending time in beautiful London, Aberdeen captured my heart and deepened my love for the north ❤️.

But the long weekend wasn’t about books, essays, or upcoming exams. It was about disconnecting from the outside world and carrying everything I needed on my back for the coming days, while freely exploring the Cairngorms 🏞️.

It’s early May now, which means spring is in full swing and slowly turning into summer ☀️. Technically, the weather should be warm and sunny, but if you know anything about Scotland, you know it’s rare to get what you expect here, especially when it comes to the seasons.

It’s currently raining and very windy, so the rain isn’t just falling from above—it’s being driven straight into our faces horizontally 💨.

When we got on the bus back in the city, it was sunny and almost warm enough to take off our jackets. Now, about an hour and a half later, it looks like a storm is rolling in.

Luckily, Aberdeen is usually so windy that any rain clouds are blown away just as quickly as they appear 🌬️.

Usually, that’s true, but today it looks like the rain might stick around for a while. We’d better embrace it and enjoy it 🌧️.

About the Cairngorms 🌄

Nestled in the heart of Scotland, the Cairngorms National Park is a playground for adventurers and peace-seekers alike 🌲.
Here, majestic mountains meet ancient forests, welcoming everyone from avid hikers to those who just enjoy a cup of tea with a view ☕.

Imagine yourself wandering through whispering pines, spotting wildlife during a tranquil canoe ride, or simply soaking in the beauty of a Scottish sunset from a cosy, fire-warmed pub 🔥.

The Cairngorms remind us that whether you’re scaling the peaks or admiring them from the comfort of a picnic blanket, the great outdoors is a place where the wild meets the whimsical, offering endless adventures for anyone willing to explore 🌄.

The Appeal of Wild Camping in Scotland 🏕️

The appeal of wild camping in Scotland 🏕️
Wild camping in Scotland is an adventure that embraces the rugged beauty of nature with a touch of Scottish freedom 🌿.

Thanks to the country’s right-to-roam laws, you can pitch your tent anywhere amid breathtaking landscapes, from misty lochs to rolling Highlands, as long as you follow the “leave no trace” principles 🏞️.

Imagine waking up to the sound of a babbling brook or seeing deer grazing nearby 🦌. Spend your days exploring ancient forests, climbing majestic peaks, or simply immersing yourself in the tranquility of untouched nature. Of course, with some unpredictable Scottish weather to accompany your adventure 🌦️.

As the sun sets, gather around a small campfire (where permitted) under a blanket of stars, sharing stories or enjoying the peaceful solitude 🌌.

Wild camping in Scotland isn’t just about finding a place to sleep; it’s about connecting with nature, respecting the environment, and experiencing a sense of freedom and adventure that’s hard to find anywhere else ✨.

Just remember to pack your midge repellent! The insects here definitely love anyone wandering into the woods 😅.

Entering the Cairngorms 🏔️

Fast forward 24 hours, and I’m walking through thick undergrowth, trailing along the shores of a small loch 🌿. The rain stopped last night just in time for us to set up our tents and sit under the stars until the mosquitoes became unbearable, and we retreated into our tiny popup tents ✨.

When you have to carry all of your supplies, you quickly forget about comfort and prioritize practicality 😌. Everything I packed had one purpose: it was light and absolutely necessary 🎒.

The night was quiet, although a bit spooky 😅. Of course, logic tells me that Scotland isn’t home to any dangerous animals, but the first night of wild camping in pitch darkness often takes some getting used to, especially if you haven’t done it in a while 🌌.

I found myself lying awake well past midnight before sleep finally came. Of course, I woke up with the sunrise, so now I’m not only exhausted from yesterday’s trek but also tired from lack of sleep 😴.

The thin camping mattress was more like a yoga mat and didn’t protect me from the uneven forest ground. I felt like I was sleeping on every rock, stick, and root imaginable 🌲.

Even my boots got wet, even though I splurged on the more expensive, waterproof kind, which I now regret. I would have been better off wearing my old, comfy Nike trainers, which are now sitting in my warm, dry bedroom 👟.

Yesterday’s rain left the forest damp, and every tree branch I brushed let a small trickle of rain run down my neck and into my jacket 💧.

Camping isn’t always fun and games, but despite the less-than-ideal conditions, I feel more alive than I have in a long time 🌿.

Being out in the forest does that to you.

Finding Our Way in the Wild 🧭

The bus dropped us off in Braemar, about 58 miles west of Aberdeen in the Highlands, and we hadn’t planned much of the trip beyond that point 🌄. One of my hiking companions had wild camped in the area before, so we roughly followed their lead as we ventured further into the forest 🌲.

At some point, we decided to leave the trails and find a more secluded spot to spend the night, away from fellow hikers and people walking their dogs in the early morning 🐾.

After a while, cell phone reception disappeared, and we had to rely on the offline maps we’d downloaded in advance, with only a rough idea of how accurate the little blue dot on the map actually was 📱.

In most other places in the world, this would have been quite worrying. But the part of the Cairngorms we were exploring isn’t actually that large, and coming across a town was fairly likely 👍.

Still, I wouldn’t recommend going on a trip like this without planning, so don’t take my optimism and naivety as a sign that you can just wander through Scotland’s forests without thinking about safety 🧭. Bring a map and a compass—and most importantly, know how to use them.

The lack of a plan made the trip feel like a real adventure, not just another hike with a clear start and end point 🏕️.

The goal of the trip wasn’t a destination, but a feeling that kept us going and chasing the sense of freedom we had all come here to find ✨.

My thoughts on wild camping in Scotland and the right to roam 🌿

Before this trip, I had only ever been wild camping in Australia, and as you might imagine, it was a completely different experience 🇦🇺.

In Australia, wild camping isn’t allowed, or at least not in the same way it is in Scotland. In fact, it’s quite frowned upon there 😬. You feel like you’re on the run, constantly being chased by someone trying to slap you with a hefty fine.

In Scotland, it feels more like returning home to nature, welcomed into a place you had always belonged to—you just didn’t know it before 🌲.

The deeper we ventured into the forest, the more I felt like I was meant to be there, becoming part of the landscape. It might sound strange—especially if you imagine us in neon Decathlon rain jackets, heavy hiking boots, and brightly coloured tents sticking out in the moody forest 🌧️. But it felt right, completely and undeniably.

Leaving the Woods Behind 🌳

After leaving the main trail, we didn’t come across anyone for the entire next day until we looped back and found ourselves near Braemar again 🌄.

I’d never felt happier than the moment I laid eyes on the town pub. The Farquharsons Bar and Kitchen wasn’t luxurious, but to us, it might as well have been a Michelin-star restaurant when we stumbled in with our muddy boots and rain-soaked jackets 🌧️.

We were the only patrons and immediately proceeded to order anything and everything from the menu 🍽️.

Over the past few days, we’d mostly eaten bread, cheese, granola bars, and apples, since we had no room in our packs for a gas stove or cooking utensils. The Sunday Roast that followed was one of the best meals I’ve ever had 😋. Of course, it was accompanied by a pint of Brewdog Punk IPA, the local craft beer of choice.

Exhausted but happy, we barely managed to catch the last bus back to civilisation in time 🚌. We’d only been gone for four days, but it felt like a lifetime 🌟.

On the way home, I found myself reflecting on how lucky I was to experience Scotland’s nature with such freedom 🌿.

No tourist crowds, no permits, no national park fees. It’s really as simple as stepping off a bus and wandering into the wild. I just hope we all take care of nature and help it stay that way ✨.

My first wild camping experience in the Cairngorms