Wild camping

Wild camping can damage historic sites and archaeological remains. Some historic sites are protected by law as scheduled monuments. Damaging a scheduled monument can lead to fines of up to £50,000. This page sets out how you can make sure you avoid camping on scheduled monuments and the other ways you can help us protect them.

Wild camping is a type of camping which is lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 established access rights which extend to wild camping. You can camp in this way wherever access rights apply. Access rights must be exercised responsibly.

You can help to avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by not camping in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals, and by keeping well away from buildings, roads or historic structures.

Scheduled monuments are nationally important archaeological sites. They are protected by law under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. There are over 8000 scheduled monuments in Scotland, ranging from 8,000 year old sites of Scotland’s earliest settlers to 20th-century military defences.

Some monuments are visible above ground but others may leave no trace on the surface or are only visible from the air. Almost all scheduled monuments are likely to include below-ground archaeology. This often extends further than the visible features.

You can check the location and extent of scheduled monuments on the PastMap website.

Find out more about scheduled monuments

Camping and associated activities can cause damage to fragile archaeological remains. This includes setting up tents, campfires, digging holes and vehicle tracks. Camping and staying overnight is not allowed at Historic Scotland properties and you should avoid all scheduled monuments.

All works on a scheduled monument need scheduled monument consent. This includes setting up tents and making fires. Consent is not normally granted for camping due to the damage it may cause. Damaging a scheduled monument is an offence which can lead to fines of up to £50,000.

If you are planning on wild camping, check the location of nearby scheduled monuments and avoid setting up at historic sites, take litter home, do not disturb wildlife and respect the local communities in these amazing places.

Heritage crime can lose pieces of our past forever. It causes damage that can never be repaired, and forces us to spend less time and money on important conservation work. We need you to help us protect our unique and irreplaceable history.

If you see someone damaging a scheduled monument, contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you want to report a heritage crime that has already taken place, you can contact Historic Environment Scotland at hmenquiries@hes.scot.

If you are an owner, occupier or land manager of a scheduled monument and concerned by damage caused by wild camping or fires, please get in touch with Historic Environment Scotland. They will visit to assess any damage and can provide free signage to help protect your monument.