Tent Camping in Scotland: Safety Issues, Risks, and the Right Gear (Especially in Winter)

Scotland is one of the best places in the UK to camp in a tent — and one of the easiest places to get into trouble if you treat it like a summer campsite with better views. Remote terrain, fast-changing weather, limited phone signal, and long winter nights mean small mistakes can escalate quickly.

Mountain Rescue teams see the consequences up close. In 2024, Scottish Mountain Rescue recorded 636 incidents and a record 1,000 call-outs (including multi-day “continuations”), with volunteers giving 29,986 hours on call-outs and assisting 740 people.

This guide covers the main safety concerns, how to plan properly, what to carry, and how to reduce the chance of needing help.

The biggest risks (and what Mountain Rescue stats tell us)

A lot of people assume mountain rescue is mostly dramatic blizzards and cliff-hanging epics. Reality is more basic — and more preventable.

Scottish Mountain Rescue’s top contributing factors in mountaineering incidents include: slips/trips (95), lost persons (49), and navigation errors (36).

That’s a clear message: the common problems are footing, route-finding, and navigation — all of which get harder when it’s cold, wet, windy, dark, or you’re tired.

A few other details from 2024 that matter for campers:

• 57 incidents occurred during hours of darkness (headtorch + spare is not optional).

• Many incidents happened on paths (113) — so “we’ll stick to the path” is not a safety guarantee.

• A big chunk of injuries involved ankles (a common trip-ending injury).

(For wider UK context, Mountain Rescue England & Wales reported 3,784 call-outs resulting in 3,093 deployments in 2024, with 23% linked to slips/trips and 16% missing-person searches — again showing how often incidents start with simple issues. )

Scotland-specific hazards for tent campers

1) Weather that changes fast (and wind that destroys tents)

Scotland’s wind is the tent killer. A campsite that feels fine at 6pm can become a wind tunnel at midnight. Wind-driven rain can also soak gear through tiny mistakes (unzipped vents, poor pitch angle, weak guying).

Mountaineering Scotland’s winter camping guidance is blunt: your tent should be able to stand up to severe gales and heavy, wind-driven rain/snow.

What to do

• Choose sheltered ground (terrain breaks wind; “views” often equal “exposure”).

• Pitch with the narrow end into the wind, use all guy lines, and reinforce pegs.

• Have a realistic “bail to safety” plan (car, bothy, staffed site, lower ground).

2) Cold injury:

happens earlier than people think

Hypothermia isn’t just a snowstorm problem — it’s often a wet + wind + fatigue problem. Once you’re chilled, judgement drops and mistakes multiply (navigation, slips, campsite errors).

What to do

• Treat staying dry as the main objective.

• Eat regularly (fuel) and drink (dehydration makes you colder).

• Bring a proper insulated sleeping system (details below).

3) Darkness and navigation errors

Short winter days mean you can easily end up pitching, collecting water, or re-finding a route in the dark — and SMR recorded dozens of incidents in darkness.

What to do

• Plan to finish major movement well before dusk.

• Carry a headtorch and a backup (or spare batteries).

• Don’t rely on phone signal; assume it will fail at the worst time.

4) Remoteness: slower self-rescue, slower external rescue

If something goes wrong (injury, tent failure, medical issue), you may be hours from help — and rescue is always harder in poor weather. Mountain rescue teams are volunteer-led and already operating under high demand.

Tell people where you’re going (properly)

This is one of the simplest, highest-impact safety habits.

Before you leave, share:

• Your route / intended area (and start point)

• Where you plan to camp (as specific as possible)

• Who’s with you

• Your “back by” time (or check-in time)

• What they should do if they don’t hear from you (e.g., try calling, then contact authorities)

If plans change, update your contact.

The right gear for tent camping in Scotland

Scottish Mountain Rescue explicitly lists essentials such as a whistle, head torch (with spares), survival bag, group shelter, first aid kit, and mobile phone, and suggests considering a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) if solo.

Here’s a practical breakdown for campers.

Shelter (your “life support system”)

• A genuinely wind-capable tent (strong poles, full guying, solid pegging options)

• Spare guylines/pegs + repair sleeve/tape

• Groundsheet/footprint (protects tent floor in saturated ground)

Sleeping system (where many people under-pack)

• Sleeping bag appropriate for conditions (comfort rating matters more than “season” labels)

• Insulated sleeping mat (cold ground drains heat fast; consider two mats in winter)

• Dry sleep clothes and dry socks reserved only for bed

• Optional but great: lightweight bivvy/survival bag for emergencies

Clothing (think “wet + wind”, not just “cold”)

• Waterproof jacket and trousers that can handle hours of rain

• Warm mid-layer(s) and a spare insulating layer (down/synthetic)

• Gloves (bring a spare pair) + warm hat

• Footwear with grip; consider gaiters for bog/snow conditions

Cooking and safety

• Stove + enough fuel (expect longer boil times in cold/wind)

• Lighter + backup ignition (matches/fire steel)

• Hot drink setup (morale and warmth)

• Fire safety: follow local guidance; Scotland’s access guidance strongly encourages responsible, low-impact behaviour and often recommends stoves over fires.

Navigation and comms

• Map + compass (and ability to use them)

• Phone with offline maps downloaded, plus power bank

• Headtorch + backup

• Whistle (simple, loud, works when you’re exhausted)

• Consider a PLB if you’re solo or in very remote areas

Camp choice and legal/etiquette considerations

Scotland’s Outdoor Access Code supports responsible “lightweight” camping, but it expects you to camp away from buildings/roads, be discreet, and leave no trace.

Also be aware some high-pressure areas have seasonal management rules. For example, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs uses Camping Management Zones that typically require permits March–September, while outside that season permits may not be required.

Practical safety angle: don’t just camp where it’s legal — camp where it’s safe: sheltered, not flood-prone, not under unstable slopes/trees, and with a clear exit route if weather turns.

A simple pre-trip safety checklist

24–48 hours before

• Check MWIS / Met Office mountain forecasts (not just town weather)

• Choose conservative routes and a sheltered camping plan

• Decide turn-back rules (wind strength, visibility, time cut-offs)

On the day

• Tell a trusted person your plan + check-in time

• Download offline maps; charge everything; pack spare batteries

• Pack emergency kit (whistle, shelter/survival bag, first aid)

At camp

• Reassess the site before committing (wind direction, drainage, exposure)

• Eat and hydrate early

• Secure everything (wind turns loose kit into a problem fast)

  

If things go wrong: when and how to call for help

If it’s an emergency, call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue (this is the instruction SMR displays prominently).

Call earlier rather than later if:

• Someone is showing signs of hypothermia and you can’t rewarm them

• There’s a serious injury (especially head/spinal or an immobilising leg injury)

• You’re lost in worsening conditions and can’t safely navigate out

• Your shelter has failed and you can’t get to safety

When you call, be ready with:

• Your location (grid reference if possible)

• What happened, how many people, injuries/condition

• What kit you have and what the weather is doing where you are