Regulations United Kingdom Lake District National Park
Drigg Dunes Nature Reserve
Camping & bivouac
Regulations on 30 October 2026
Signs at the site and later resolutions prevail; check the source.
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Permit required
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
The Lake District National Park Authority in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by sections 20, 21(4) and 106 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and in accordance with section 236 of the Local Government Act 1972 hereby make the following Byelaws for the protection of the Nature Reserve at Drigg Dunes, Near Ravenglass in the County of Cumbria:
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2 Within the Reserve the following acts are hereby prohibited, except insofar as they may be authorised in accordance with Byelaw 3, or except insofar as they may be necessary to the proper execution of his duty by an officer of the Authority, or by any person, employed by or authorised by the Authority:
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- k) erecting, occupying or using any tent, shed, caravan or other structure;
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3 (1) The Authority may by the issue of permits or erection of notices authorise any person or persons to do any act or class of acts within the Reserve or any part thereof which would otherwise be unlawful under these Byelaws and subject to any condition specified in the said permit or notice.
Published by Lake District National Park Authority, 23 Jan 1998 · Byelaws for Drigg Dunes Nature Reserve
In Lake District National Park
Regulated zone
Lake District National Park
These hold everywhere inside the boundary, whether or not a site is marked.
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Permit required
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Wild camping
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Camping away from an organised campsite is called wild camping. Legally wherever you camp you must have the permission of a landowner to camp on their land, though there is a tradition of wild camping in the Lake District.
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Camping in car parks or on roadside verges is not allowed.
As the National Park Authority we do not have the power to allow camping on private land and we do not permit camping on the land that we own.
Wherever you pitch, please remember that the landowners or their representatives have the legal right to order you to break camp and move on.
Published by Lake District National Park Authority · Lake District National Park - Wild camping
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Byelaws for Car Parking
made under section 90 sub-section (1) and (5) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by the Lake District National Park Authority with respect to lands owned or occupied as parking places.
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CAMPING
No person shall on the land, without the consent of the Authority, erect a tent or use any vehicle, including a caravan, or any other structure for the purpose of camping, except on any area which may be set apart and indicated by notice as a place where camping is permitted.
Published by Lake District National Park Authority, 16 Jul 1998 · Lake District National Park Authority Byelaws for Car Parking
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
If you do decide wild camping is for you...
Stay out of sight and for only one night
A wild camp pitch must be above the highest fell wall (approximately 400m or 1200 feet high) and shouldn't be noticed by anybody else. This means staying away from any buildings or other wild campers. Don't camp next to streams or springs to avoid contaminating the water. Arrive late in the day (dusk) and move on at dawn.
Keep your group small and be prepared to change your plans
Wild camping locations are well away from towns, villages and lakeshores and are completely inconspicuous. If there are two tents already in your spot, you'll need to move on – these special places cannot sustain large numbers of campers.
Wild camp, don't fly camp
If your planned pitch is not above the highest fell wall this is fly camping - not wild camping. The only places you can camp in valleys, by lakeshores or in lowland areas are on official campsites.
Published by National Trust · Wild camping in the Lake District