Camping on land, on public footpath area. No "No Camping" signs

Question

ok. im in a bit of an argument with my parents about camping.

about 30 of my friends are goin to go campin in a field. my mum ses i cant because its private land.

This land has got a public path running though it. people always walk around the place with their dogs and such. and have a nice day.

There are no. "No Camping" signs anywhere.

So. if i camp there. am i breaching any laws? there are no signs. there is a public path through it. and he doesnt stop anyone from walking around the land or anything...

Please answer :D. i reallly want to go camping!

Answer 1

What you're proposing to do is generally considered trespassing, vagrancy, a public nuisance, and other similar anti-social actions.

In a nutshell, that public path you're writing about is probably an "easement" over someone's privately owned land.  In essence, you have no rights to leave that path.  The owner probably is a nice guy who doesn't mind reasonable enjoyment of the surroundng land.

If 30 teenage friends all set up camp, it's reasonable to expect the owner to call in the cops.  

If a person or corporation doesn't own the surrounding land, it's owned by some local, state, or national entity (and called a public land), you still have no right to camp where you see fit.  There's likely to be laws prohibiting that for a LOT of good reasons.

My experience is in the U.S., I know Canadian laws are similar.  

Lastly, I've a hill on my land that the local kids and environmentalists feel is thiers to use as they see fit.  Overall, really don't like people up there as I can be found liable if they get hurt.  Some of the neibor's kids play up there,I know who they are, I've spoken with the folks and quite honestly, it's a great experience for them.  

Since my kids play up there, I really don't like strangers up there for a greater reason....the visitors tend to pee and p**p and that's nasty to find in what is MY backyard, besides that, teens leave trash and broken bottles behind.  Lastly, my niebors and I have caught people lighting camp fires up there.  In my region...a blanking incredibly stupid thing to do.

Answer 2

I think the term "within reason" applies to this situation. While a couple of guys passing through and setting up camp for one night on private land may be frowned upon but tolerated by the majority of land owners in the UK, a group of 30 doing the same would be asking to be driven off by angry land-owners backed up by police, and rightly so. Your group, by its sheer size alone, would inevitably be noisy, messy and likely cost the owner effort and money for clean-up, all of which you have no right to inflict upon another human being.

Answer 3

if the land is private property you need to get permission from the owner to camp.......just because there are not any no camping signs does not mean it is ok to camp........just because there is a path going through it that everybody uses does not mean it's ok to camp.....you risk getting arrested if you camp without permission.....land owners are not required to post their land but just because they don't post it does not give you the ok to camp......the land owner is being nice letting people walk through his land......if you camp without his ok you will put the use of the path at risk.....be responsible and get permission.......if you don't know who owns it go to the nearest town and ask someone in the local government......I am sure they can tell you

Answer 4

Real hikers and campers have folks like you to thank for all the no trespassing signs.  You figure that because this property owner allows people to use his land as a path, you are free to treat the land as yours.  Sure, go right ahead and camp.  Heck, cut down his trees for a nice big bonfire.  I'll bet he doesn't have signs saying you can't race cars on the land, so why not set up a little track?  Bring plenty of beer, and a really good sound system.  Bring shotguns too, and shoot some skeet.  He hasn't got no shooting sign does he?  Buddy, you KNOW you're wrong.  You just want to do it anyway.  EDIT  EDIT.  OK.  You might not plan for any of the stupid things I mentioned.  BUT, if you squat on this person's land, as part of a group of about thirty young people, you KNOW somebody will build fires.  After all, somebody will want to cook marshmallows.  Somebody will have hot dogs. There will be music, and things will get loud and boisterous.  And do you honestly believe that there won't be alcohol?  Somebody will have some booze.  Probably at least some of the campers will have marijuana, or other drugs.  Do you truly believe that thirty young folks can camp, play around, and not leave a bunch of junk behind after you leave?   While you personally might not do things to be obnoxious, things WILL happen.  And, as part of the group, you WILL share responsibility.