Whether you’re camping or hiking, we all love the outdoors. It’s this love of the countryside that makes us follow the 7 important leave no trace principles. Some of these seem obvious and others are a little more complex… but by sticking to them all we can ensure future generations can explore these great areas of the country.
Every beginner hiker should take note, it’s your responsibility to abide by these rules and share them with others.
- Prepare for you adventure – Before stepping into the outdoors, research the rules of the campsite you will be staying at. Stick to visiting in smaller groups and check the weather forecast to ensure your journey will be safe to travel.
- Keep to the trails – unless you’re wild camping, in which case you should be pretty knowledge on these rules already, you will want to stick to established trails which are safe. Not only camping spots previously used safe, but they also protect nature from being harmed by visitors.
- Dispose of rubbish correctly – When getting rid of waste, find the appropriate bins on your campsite. Take everything with you that you bring – including items like orange peels which are not native to the surroundings and could harm animals
- Be cautious when starting campfires – where possible use pre-existing campfire pits or use a cooking stove. This is particularly important during dry season.
- Leave what you find – Keep nature the way it is, avoiding taking home rocks and flowers to preserve nature.
- Treat others they way you want to be treated – We all love this hobby, so let’s make sure we all can enjoy it by being kind to others and follow trial etiquette. Being considerate when playing music is particularly important.
- Respect nature and wildlife – Keep your dog on a lead where needed to avoid them interactive with wildlife, also avoid getting too close to animals when on your hikes whilst camping.
Know you’re all set for your adventure – good luck and remember to have fun! Let us know how you get on in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wandelenoutdoor