What are Camping Management Zones?
West Highland Way Guide
In Scotland you can wild camp pretty much anywhere, so long as you are not literally in someone’s garden.
Unless, that is, you are trying to pitch up in a Camping Management Zone (CMZ).
If you’ve reading this article then you’ve heard of them, but you don’t really understand what, where, when and why they are, are, apply and exist.
I’m here to help you out.
There are a number of CMZs throughout Scotland, designed to limit wild camping in areas where an abundance of it may cause issues in terms of the environmental impact.
The above map shows the location of the CMZs in the Loch Lomond national park.
Dates and Permits
They apply between March and September, and do not mean that camping is banned within their areas.
Instead, what you need to do is book a permit, which costs a mere £4, and entitles you to a wild camping pitch in specified zones within the larger zone.
There are a limited amount of these, which can be purchased here
These can be purchased no earlier than one month in advance of your visit, so book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
Other Campsites
It should also be noted that these are not the only places to camp within the CMZs.
There are a number of regular campsites which can be booked, so if you are doing the West Highland Way, you won’t have to trek your way through the entire CMZ to find a wild camping spot if all of the permits are taken.
We only realised that there were no permits left a few days before we started the walk, and found a glorious campsite by the banks of Loch Lomond which facilitated some of the best stone skimming conditions I have ever experienced along with a lovely refreshing swim.
I’m not joking about the stone skimming by the way. The only place that comes close is a random beach we stopped at during a wine tour in Croatia where multiple groups of strangers applauded my efforts, but thats a story for another time.
Useful Info
For now, I’ll summarise what we’ve learned about Camping Management Zones:
- They are in effect from March 1st to September 30th
- Permits cost £4 and are for specific wild camping sites within the larger zones
- There are plenty of campsites within the CMZs if there are no permits left
Happy camping!
