Lake District fury as ‘fly camping’ leaves beauty spot trashed

A much-loved Lake District beauty spot, once an inspiration for poet William Wordsworth, is being spoiled by illegal campers who leave rubbish, broken gear and even human waste behind, locals have warned.

Every summer weekend, up to 20 illegal camps are appearing around Ullswater Lake and Glencoyne Bay in Cumbria. Residents say those under 30 are the worst offenders.

Unlike true wild campers who respect the rules, these “fly campers” are leaving tents, rubbish and scorching the grass with disposable barbecues.

Locals claim the damage doesn’t stop there. Some campers have chopped down trees for firewood, blasted loud music from speakers, smoked drugs and disturbed wildlife.

In one shocking case, a resident even found a large 12-inch zombie knife dumped at a site.

Photo © Karl and Ali (cc-by-sa/2.0)

People living nearby say the past two months have seen an “epidemic” of fly camping, with a sharp rise in illegal set-ups as hot summer weather has drawn crowds.

Wild camping is banned around Ullswater’s shores, but the National Trust runs seven proper campsites nearby, some only a short walk from the lake.

The Lake District National Park Authority makes clear that wild camping is only allowed if strict rules are followed. It must not be close to towns, villages or lakeshores, and all rubbish, tents and gear must be taken away when leaving.

Local resident Clive Rowlandson, 54, who has lived in the area all his life, described the issue as an “eyesore”.

He said: “The community is heartbroken. We’re seeing constant antisocial behaviour, littering and total disregard for this beautiful place.”

He added: “It’s normal now to find rubbish on the shoreline and abandoned campsites left behind for locals to clear up.

Numbers have doubled over the last year because of the hot, calm weather. They bring nothing but mess.”

Clive also said the fly campers are spoiling the area for genuine visitors. “They’re staying in one of the most stunning spots in the country, yet they’re ruining it for others. Many people come here to enjoy the scenery and history, not to see piles of rubbish left everywhere. It’s very sad.”

The keen walker said he and his neighbours are “worried” things will only get worse. They feel “frustrated” that the council and National Trust aren’t stepping in to stop it.

He explained: “We don’t want word to spread among those who have already camped here that nothing happens if you break the rules. Nobody is challenging them, taking their details, or asking them to move on – and that’s why the problem keeps growing.”

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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