Angling and the Camping Byelaws
If you like to fish and camp, you may be affected by new camping byelaws to protect some of the most cherished lochshores within the National Park, which came into effect on 1st March 2017.
What are the byelaws?
The new byelaws do not affect where or when you can fish, but if you want to camp or stay in a motorhome or campervan overnight in certain places you need book into a campsite, or get a motorhome/campervan permit.
The byelaws are in place from March to September. Camping from October to February is unaffected.
Camping Management Zones
The byelaws create Camping Management Zones covering less than 4% of the National Park. Camping outside of these areas is unaffected.
Within these Zones, from March to September, camping is only allowed in specific areas by booking a campsite place or by obtaining a camping permit. This allows the National Park Authority to manage the volume of people staying overnight in these locations, helping to prevent overuse and damage to these popular lochshore areas.
Motorhomes
Within Camping Management Zones there are a number of campsites that take motorhomes and campervans.
The National Park also provides permit areas specifically for motorhomes and campervans at Three Lochs Forest Drive, Inveruglas and Firkin Point. These are designed for informal, short stays of a maximum of three nights. Permits cost £3 per motorhome per night.
People with campervans and motorhomes can still use laybys to stop and rest (including sleeping overnight if necessary), but encampment on a road (including laybys) is an offence under road traffic legislation and will be managed by Police Scotland accordingly, in cooperation with land owners.
Permit areas
The camping permit areas cover a number of lochshore areas that are popular fishing spots. With a camping permit you are given a specific area to stay overnight in. This may not be exactly the same place you are fishing, as not all the fishing areas are covered by camping permit areas.
The cost of camping permits are £3 per night per tent or motorhome. The cost of camping on campsites varies depending on the level of facilities on offer at a specific location.
Camping permits do not cover fishing. You still need to have a valid fishing permit.
Fires
If you have a fire when you are fishing it should be small, under control, not cause any damage and you should bring your own firewood.
Day visits
You can still visit during the day and fish, as long as you have a fishing permit. Even if you are not staying overnight, you still need to have a camping permit to put up a tent, wigwam or bivouac.
For more detailed information about camping in the National Park and a list of campsites.
You’ll find some useful questions and answers about camping and angling.
You can read more about the new camping byelaws.