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Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:27 pm
by Duggie12
Hi folks

Recently I took my wee boat in from Kinloch Hourn and camped at Barrisdale. I set up camp down at the shore rather than the designated area the estate have up by the bothy - the shore is much nicer spot/less midge and handier for the boat/gear

Had a slightly tetchy conversation with a chap from the estate who suggested I shouldn't have camped where I did as they want to keep campers in the same place up by the bothy and also because the sheep graze where we were camped. I love Knoydart and the shore is a great place to camp and I want to camp there again, but I want to know if I'd be out of order to do so?

I thought with right to roam/camping responsibly i'd be fine down by the shore but perhaps not.

Thanks

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 9:01 pm
by The Rodmiester
I seem to remember the estate has a notice up somewhere near Barrisdale Bay requesting that tents be sited near the Bothy so I have always camped there with no problems when I have walked in from Loch Hourn.

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:00 pm
by NickyRannoch
Short answer is you can camp where you want whether the estate would prefer you to camp elsewhere or not.

I tend to comply with reasonable requests though.

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:37 pm
by Alteknacker
How could you be so irresponsible??? Think of all the damage you did to the economy of the estate...

These folk tend to forget that they only own what they own courtesy of the general population... Things were sorted out in bloodier fashion only a few centuries ago...

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 3:59 pm
by Giant Stoneater

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 4:18 pm
by malky_c
The estate usually say that if you are camping in the vicinity of Barrisdale you should use the campsite. If you want to camp elsewhere, you should be out of site of the bay and house.

I don't know whether they are correct to say that - there is obviously a grey area around private residences where you aren't quite in their garden, but perhaps not far enough away to be 'wild' camping as such.

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:17 pm
by Duggie12
Thanks for the replies

Should have mentioned that it's about a 5 minute walk from the shore up to the campsite area

I think I'll just continue to camp down by the shore as it's well away from the houses and I can't see that I'm doing any harm

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:24 pm
by Skyelines
To my mind it is not unreasonable for an estate to wish to restrict camping to a specific area if the area becomes popular and people camp relatively close to a house and especially one that is remotely set.

If this is the case the land owner has the right under the access code to approach the local authority for some agreed arrangement.

Having responsible access includes taking other peoples interests and concerns into consideration.

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:26 am
by Sunset tripper
Duggie12 wrote:Thanks for the replies

Should have mentioned that it's about a 5 minute walk from the shore up to the campsite area

I think I'll just continue to camp down by the shore as it's well away from the houses and I can't see that I'm doing any harm


I don't think you are doing any harm either, maybe it's a pollution problem the estate is worried about and want folk in the bay area to camp next to the toilet. There are a lot of greyish areas in the access rights and maybe if they have lots of folk using the same camping spots it might cause problems.
Wild camping for me is camping far away from houses and roads but I prefer it that way. Knoydart is a great place for a wild camp though. :D
P1010002 (640x527).jpg

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 7:52 pm
by Scraggygoat
It's not strictly true that you can camp 'where you want'; a few abridged snippets from the access code

> WILD CAMPING
Access rights extend to wild camping. This type of camping is lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place. You can camp in this way wherever access rights apply but 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. Take extra care to avoid disturbing deer stalking or grouse shooting. If you wish to camp close to a house or building, seek the owner’s permission.

Also applicable is the general advice
Respect people's privacy and peace of mind. Which includes:
• taking care not to act in ways which might annoy or alarm people living in a house

So to your Knoydart pitch, and I think I know where you camped, it is a grand spot, and I have thought of camping there myself. Probably within both the wording and spirit of the 'act', but also possibly a grey area should your tent be overlooked by the big house which would potentially affect the privacy and enjoyment of the occupants, and as mentioned above possibly cause 'annoyance' to them. It could be outwith the act in the spring should the estate use the area to gather thier flock for lambing. Or in winter if they feed the deer there (and they do). Note that for the act an 'enclosed area' doesn't have to be fenced as crofters and farmers have historically used natural barriers such as rivers or coast line to hold stock. It could also be temporarily out with should the estate wish to shoot waterfowl in the area. As an aside if camping in an area with rough grazing stock it is good practice to ensure that you're presence doesn't get in the way of the stock accessing thier normal watering points (obviously not appropriate here).

Why haven't I camped there, well my own personal interpretation is that not only should a wild camp be away from buildings, but personally I also endeavour to be out of sight of them as well. It would feel to some degree like camping on thier front lawn, and I can see given regular use particularly where overlooked by the house would possibly cause annoyance. Given that there are plenty of other spots not far away, I use them instead.

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 11:32 pm
by Duggie12
Cheers scraggy

I think what the views illustrate is that there is no definitive right or wrong. I can see the argument for saying it's OK to camp there, equally I can see the argument for saying you should camp elsewhere.

It's certainly not like camping in someone's front lawn though as it's a fair distance away from any buildings, it's very much like wild camping

The grass at the front of the photo is where we camped and the nearest house is in amongst the trees (middle left)

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:23 am
by mrssanta
We camped in roughly the same spot after walking off Ladhar Bheinn last year. We saw the sign on the way out next morning. Having seen nesting sandpipers we did worry about having disturbed them and felt bad. Another time we'll camp in the field provided by the estate.

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:04 pm
by orion
Hi Duggie,

What hp is your outboard and how long did it take you to boat in ? Quite fancy this one myself :D

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:26 pm
by Duggie12
Hi Orion, it's a 9.8hp 2 stroke, took 25 minutes or so from kinloch hourn

Re: Knoydart wild camp

PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:24 pm
by orion
Duggie12 wrote:Hi Orion, it's a 9.8hp 2 stroke, took 25 minutes or so from kinloch hourn


Thanks. Mines is a 4hp 2 stroke but my boat is bit bigger than yours. I`ll never do it in 25 minutes :lol: