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Wild camping in Norhtern Europe and Scandinavia. Wild camping in Norhtern Europe and Scandinavia.
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  #1  
Old 30 May 2008
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Question Wild camping in Norhtern Europe and Scandinavia.
Hope to ride my XR from the Uk back to my new home in Tallinn. However, I'm on a budget at the moment.

In order to save a bit of cash I hope to camp where I can. So what are the laws governing camping in places like Germany, Denmark., Sweden and Finland?

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Old 30 May 2008
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In Germany this is prohibited. I guess in Denmark the same. Still, I prefer to camp in the wild now & then - just for the love of being in nature all on my own. Should somebody spot you, the worst to happen is that you might be chased away. Nothing really serious.

Scandinavia has the "Allemans regt" (hope I spellt it right), meaning you may stay overnight and carry on. In some areas this is restricted already, because some people cannot otherwise, but behave like morons. Still, if you would like to camp on private property, you should always ask for permission.


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Old 30 May 2008
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Scandanavians are quite accustomed to the idea of wild camping, it is a pastime for them.
I have never had a problem, when i have pitched up behind boathouses on the fjords, during bad weather, you may get a visit from a local, wondering what you are doing, but a smile and a polite " Do you mind if i stay here please, i will behave" has always turned out fine.
When camped local to some houses, A request is unlikely to be refused.
I can't remember the exact law, but you aren't allowed to camp within 100m (i think) of occupied houses in Norway, but apart from that, wherever you park your bike is home.

In Germany, I recce a site during daylight, , visit the local hostelry, use the facilities, and return after dusk, keeping light to a minimum, and have not had much bother. I have never been asked to move on. Mainly because I keep my head down, and don't light fires.

In the Czech republic, 2 border guards with submachine guns, walked a mile into the forest to check me out (no pun intended), they were fine after inspecting my papers. There main concern was about my intentions, That I didn't burn their forest down, and that I didn't freeze to death.
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Old 30 May 2008
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Camp late , leave early. Don't camp in rest areas as there have been some thefts from tents. Knifed open and gear gone. Personally I'd use municipal town cites until I got into Denmark. Once in Scandinavia you're pretty safe I'd say. If you work on an average of £10 a night for a proper campsite and 5 or 6 days to get to Tallin, That's only £60 for camping. If you find a few nice free camping spots on the way that's a bonus. It's the fuel costs that'll kill you.
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Old 30 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor View Post
It's the fuel costs that'll kill you.
Ain't that the truth. As stated above, Finland had the everymans law. You are allowed to camp, pick berries and other vegetation off of government property and even private property as long as it is within reason. And 100-150m away from any building.
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Old 30 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor View Post
It's the fuel costs that'll kill you.
Hopefully less so with an Xr 400... First long trip I've done since I've bought it, so no idea how it fares on the open road...
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Old 30 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wile e View Post
Ain't that the truth. As stated above, Finland had the everymans law. You are allowed to camp, pick berries and other vegetation off of government property and even private property as long as it is within reason. And 100-150m away from any building.

Thats the truth, but making fire is forbidden with out proprty owners permisson.
But in Finland there is also many public campfire palaces where you can make fire if isn’t prohibited by fire brigade that you can find out asking some body. You can also camp those places.

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Old 1 Jun 2008
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Wild camping in denmark IS allowed, although this is rather new rule.

The problem is to find anything "wild" in Denmark (-:

Many stateowned forests allow you to pitch a tent, but I cant find a map showing them, here and now, so.
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