Leave no trace: seven habits for camper travellers that keep places open

Leave No Trace is a set of seven principles developed for hikers and backcountry campers, and it is used by park services such as the US National Park Service. They were not written for motorhomes, but they fit remarkably well. A vehicle carries more water, more waste and more convenience than a rucksack, which means the potential for a visible mess is greater.

There is also a practical reason to care. Bans on overnight parking rarely appear without a cause. They usually follow a season of litter, noise and waste water left in the same lay-by, after which the barrier or the sign goes up for everybody. The habits below keep that from happening.

Plan ahead and prepare

Most problems start with poor planning: arriving late in an unfamiliar place without knowing where waste can be emptied, whether overnight parking is allowed, or whether a fire ban is in force. Before setting out, note where the next dump station, fresh water point and bin are, and carry enough capacity to reach them. A full grey tank at 22:00 is how water ends up on the ground. Check local rules, as described in our overview of free camping, and have a second option ready if a place turns out to be closed.

Stay on durable ground

The second principle is to travel and camp on durable surfaces. For a vehicle this means gravel, tarmac and established pitches, not meadow, dune grass or the soft verge of a track. A van that sinks into wet ground leaves ruts for years, and a wheel off the marked route can damage plants that take a long time to recover. If the surface is soft, do not drive onto it; park at the edge and walk.

Dispose of waste properly

This principle is the most important for campers. The official guidance is pack it in, pack it out: inspect the pitch and the cooking area for litter and spilled food before leaving. For human waste in the wild, the US guidance describes catholes 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) deep, at least 200 feet (about 60 m) from water, camps and trails, and asks visitors to carry out toilet paper and hygiene products. A camper with a cassette or fixed toilet should not need a cathole at all. Cassette contents belong in the designated emptying point of a campsite, aire or service station, and nowhere else.

Grey water is the grey area. Even biodegradable detergent can harm streams and soil, and in many countries pouring waste water on the ground is an offence. The simplest habit is to use the vehicle’s tank and empty it where drainage exists. Wash dishes with little water, wipe greasy pans with paper first and put the paper in the bin.

Leave what you find

Stones, shells, flowers, antlers and old objects belong to the place. Taking small items one at a time is how a beach or a viewpoint loses its character. The same applies to damage: do not cut branches for shade or drive into vegetation to turn the van. Photograph rather than collect.

Minimise fire impact

Campfires cause lasting damage, and the official guidance recommends lightweight stoves instead. A camper already has a gas hob. Where fires are permitted, using an established fire ring or a fire pan and only dead and down wood that can be broken by hand is the standard advice, and any fire should be burned down to ash and put out completely. In dry summers many regions in southern Europe prohibit open fires altogether, so a local ban takes priority over any general principle. Barbecues are fires too.

Respect wildlife

Observe animals from a distance and never feed them. Feeding damages their health, changes their behaviour and makes them used to people. In practice this means closing bins, keeping food in the vehicle at night, and not leaving leftover scraps for birds or foxes. Dogs belong on a lead in most nature reserves, especially in the breeding season, and at coastal and mountain sites local rules should be read on the sign.

Be considerate of other visitors

Noise is the complaint residents mention most. At a quiet pitch the generator stays off, doors close gently, music stops early and headlights are not left on. Park so that neighbours keep their view and access, and do not occupy several spaces. A vehicle that arrives quietly and leaves the same way is rarely noticed by anyone, and that is the aim.

Small habits for every day

Keep a dedicated bag for waste in the cab and empty it at every stop. Carry a small shovel or bag for dog waste and use it. Do a last walk around the pitch before leaving, looking at the ground rather than at the vehicle. Pick up one piece of litter that is not yours: it costs a few seconds and shows the next visitor, and the municipality, that campers are not the problem. Places that stay clean tend to stay open.

Sources

• Leave No Trace: The Seven Principles (National Park Service)
• Camping (Scottish Outdoor Access Code)
• Caravans and motorhomes in nature (Naturvårdsverket)