Off-grid camping in the UK
Off-grid camping means no electric hookup, no shower block, and often no other campers in sight — just a pitch, water you carry or collect, and whatever you brought with you. Every off-grid spot on live 1 life sits on private land with the owner's permission, so it's legal, and someone knows you're there.
What off-grid actually means here
Hosts use the term loosely, so it's worth being specific. On live 1 life an off-grid pitch typically has no mains electricity, no permanent shower block, and limited or no mobile signal. Water may come from a standpipe, a stream you filter, or a jerrycan you bring. Toilets are usually a compost loo, occasionally a dig-your-own arrangement with a spade provided.
What you get in exchange is space and silence: single-pitch fields, woodland clearings and hill-edge paddocks where you're the only booking that night.
What to bring
Plan as if nothing is supplied. Carry more water than you think you need (around 3–5 litres per person per day including cooking), a stove and fuel, a head torch with spare batteries, a power bank, a trowel and bags for waste, and warm layers — open ground is several degrees colder overnight than a serviced site.
Confirm the host's fire policy before you travel. Many off-grid hosts allow a fire only in a supplied pit or a raised fire bowl, and some ban open fires entirely during dry spells.
Off-grid without breaking the law
Camping off-grid on land you don't have permission for is trespass in most of England and Wales, whatever the pitch looks like from the road. Booking a private off-grid pitch gives you the same experience legally. Our UK wild camping guide sets out exactly where permission is and isn't required.
Before you book: a quick checklist
- Water. Ask whether drinking water is on site or must be carried in.
- Toilet. Compost loo, chemical loo, or nothing at all — plan accordingly.
- Fires. Check whether open fires, fire pits or stoves only are permitted.
- Access. Some pitches need a walk-in from parking; confirm the distance and terrain.
Frequently asked questions
- Is off-grid camping legal in the UK?
- Yes, when you have the landowner's permission. Camping without permission is trespass in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with limited exceptions on Dartmoor Commons; Scotland's access rights are broader. Booking a private pitch removes the question entirely.
- What's the difference between off-grid and wild camping?
- Off-grid describes the facilities — no hookup, no services. Wild camping describes the permission — pitching on open land rather than a booked site. A private off-grid pitch feels wild but is booked and legal.
- Will I have mobile signal?
- Often not, and that's usually the point. If you need to stay contactable, check the listing description or message the host, and tell someone your plans before you travel.
- How do I book off grid camping on live 1 life?
- Search off grid camping uk on live 1 life, open a listing, pick your dates on the availability calendar and choose how to book. You can pay a 25% deposit to lock the dates immediately, or send the host a free request to book and wait for them to confirm. Either way you get a confirmation page with your booking reference and the dates that are now held.
- Do I pay the full amount up front for off grid camping?
- No. live 1 life takes a 25% deposit at checkout to secure the dates; the balance is settled with the host. A 5% booking fee is added to eligible bookings and paid by the guest on top of the host's nightly rate; hosts do not pay it.
- Can I book off grid camping for a single night?
- Often yes. Minimum stays are set by each host — many accept one night midweek and ask for two nights at weekends or bank holidays. The calendar on the listing shows the minimum stay before you reach checkout.
- What happens after I send a booking request?
- The host is notified straight away by email and can approve or decline from their dashboard. When they approve, you receive a booking confirmation email with the locked dates, the pitch address and directions, plus your booking reference.
Keep exploring
Thinking about wild camping instead?
The rules differ across Scotland, Dartmoor, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our guide explains where you can pitch legally, where you need the landowner's permission, and how to camp responsibly.