Camping at airfields?

I can suggest EKEL. Not far away form the Netherland. Camping equipment is mandatory for this island. Lot of bicycles to rent at the airfield. Small shower at the airfield or use the shower in the marina in the early morning so they are clean ( about 10 min with the bicycle).

For La Fleche don’t forget there are also 4 microwaves and a fridge all for use, free for aviators. But don’t forget your earplugs if you are a light sleeper. The club really is trying to regenerate, if you can please support it. Its a really nice area and Chateaux, walks and vineyards to see and visit.

I’m not a member at La Fleche so please treat my words as more of a review than an advert.

kwlf wrote:

My experience is that I wanted a shower every few days

Once a day for me, thanks… and that is where my solar shower comes handy… unless forgotten home…

Wild camping is legal in much of Scotland, and a real pleasure.

My experience is that I wanted a shower every few days, whether I needed one or not, so used to occasionally book into a proper campsite.

Peter wrote:

As usual I would be amazed if this was the whole story even in Sweden because the right to set up a tent will quickly trash the countryside if you get sufficient numbers. This was a really big problem here during covid

There is no such right in Ireland. Yet during covid we had similar problems. But I think that was very specific to COVID.

During Covid, pubs were closed, and socialising was very restricted. So young people bought themselves a cheap tent and sleeping bags, and lots of alcohol, and went off to meet one another in the woods and hills. The next morning, they just abandoned their cheap gear and rubbish and went home. It gave wild camping a really bad name.

But that all seems to have died off again once the normal places to socialise reopened.

I think the reasons that it isn’t a problem is because:

- For most people, camping is a hardship. They have no interest in sleeping in a tent on a flimsy mattress in a poor performing sleeping bag.
- In an urban environment, there will be too much noise to sleep, and you’re too likely to get hassle, and it might not be safe
- For a rural environment, it’s too much like hard work unless you genuinely enjoy camping (in which case you’re more likely to be responsible). As most people, if they want to strap 15-20kg onto their back (plus their very heavy cans of alcohol), hike up a mountain or off into the woods, simply so that they can drink that alcohol, and most will just prefer to go to the pub and get a taxi home. (And much more likely to meet girls in the pub!)
- If you want to camp with some degree of comfort, you need to spend a reasonable amount of money on good gear. At least if you want to be able to get away from your vehicle. (Which most who live in an urban environment will need to).

So I don’t think in practice (outside covid times) that the problems really exist. Those willing to camp then to be a self selecting group who appreciate the privilege. Of course there will always be a few bad apples, but they aren’t enough to cause widespread problems.

Peter wrote:

Does this mean there is an automatic right of camping on airfields in Sweden?

That’s an interesting question. If we’re not talking about a licensed airport which is fenced and you are keeping well away from movement areas and buildings, probably yes. But that was never the question in this discussion. What hanski wrote was “And if camping is not allowed somewhere, in Finland (perhaps in Sweden, too??) you are allowed to put your tent almost anywhere as long as you don’t disturb anyone – so simply walk some 100 meters out from the field and put your tent below trees there. Fully legal.” So the question was if you could walk 100 m away from the airfield and pitch your tent.

Does this mean there is an automatic right of camping on airfields in Sweden?

Peter wrote:

As usual I would be amazed if this was the whole story even in Sweden

I omitted some details which are not relevant for the discussion, such that authorities can limit the right to pitch a tent e.g. in a national park. Otherwise it is the whole story. The Right of Public Access has its roots in traditions from medieval times, was first formalised in the 1940s and is today mentioned in the Swedish constitution. Polls show that almost 100% of Swedes support this right. Even the few landowners that are opposed acknowledge that this what the law says.

because the right to set up a tent will quickly trash the countryside if you get sufficient numbers. This was a really big problem here during covid where e.g. Cornwall became a huge campsite, with wild camping (which most people don’t know how to do) leaving toilet paper, excrement and domestic garbage all over the countryside. If camping was allowed everywhere, the nicer parts of the country would turn into trash sites. In the UK you have Dartmoor and Scotland but they manage OK due to relative remoteness and in the case of Scotland a lot of crap wx.

So I bet that it works until you get a bit too much of it..

I have no idea what happens in the UK but it does not happen in Sweden. One reason can be that everyone are aware both of the rights and responsibilities that comes with the Right of Public Access – this is something which is taught already in primary school – and I would expect that Swedes generally spend more time hiking than Britons so they are more used to it. Also, Sweden is much less densely populated than the UK.

Jujupilote wrote:

La Fleche LFAL for example has set up a free bike lent and camping facility with shower and toilet
link
A cute little town.

Very good idea – I hope this catches on. Toilets and showers are pretty important for campers. Whoever is responsible for that website seems to be having fun with it!