No Trace Camping: How To Respect The Great Outdoors On Holiday
22/02/2022
Are you going to Scarborough Fair? From people to birds, remember to respect the ones who also live there.
Mastered by Simon & Garfunkel, the concept of unrequited love put forward in the old English folk song melodically describes the Yorkshire coast. When visiting these coastal towns, you’ll be transported to a place of rich heritage steeped in tradition.
North Yorkshire — including destinations like Filey, Whitby, and Scarborough — is the second most popular holiday destination in the United Kingdom, behind only London (check out the latest stats here). But that is not to say the Yorkshire coast is a playground for tourists. After all, this stunning region is home to a myriad of wonderful wildlife, including birds of prey, deer, and adventurous whales.
Moreover, various conservation projects are supporting national parks and listed buildings, making this place far more than a seaside attraction. So how can visitors to Crows Nest Caravan Park care for the local area while on holiday? The answer: no trace camping.
No trace camping directs people to minimise their impact on the local environment, leaving the campsite exactly how they found it. In this article, we explore how to practice these outdoor ethics by accounting for three key principles: respect wildlife, take the road most travelled, and dispose of waste properly. Read on.
Marvel at North Yorkshire wildlife from a safe distance
North Yorkshire is famous for its stunning birdlife. In fact, Bempton Cliffs — an RSPB nature reserve — sits just a stone's throw away from Filey. Here you can see lots of iconic species including, puffin, gannet, and barn owl.
It can often be tempting to leave the beaten path on the hunt for adventure, but Bempton Cliffs, among a long list of protected reserves, is the best place to see a variety of Yorkshire wildlife from a safe distance. Why? Because the welfare of the native species comes first.
That said, a birder is nothing without their binoculars. If you’re on the hunt for a new pair, it’s recommended you opt for 10x magnification. This is because these lenses give a narrow field of view ideal for long distances viewing out to sea and across the moors. RSPB is a great place to get them (visit the website here). The bird charity specialises in birding binoculars, plus your money goes towards protecting wildlife on the reserves. Dispose of waste before leaving the caravan park
Watch where you walk (take the path most travelled)
There are few better ways to explore the grandeur of North Yorkshire than taking a long country walk. After all, the North Yorkshire Moors alone comprises 1,400 miles of public footpaths — that’s a lot of steps.
Much like the wildlife, however, these same public footpaths require protection. Path and coastal erosion is a problem across the county, leading to a loss of biodiversity. This has most recently been seen on the Cleveland Way footpath (between Whitby and Saltwick) where a large section of the fell eroded into the sea, forcing a closure in January.
So, when enjoying your next walk across our beautiful county, be mindful about where you place your boots. It’s important to remain on established paths to help prevent erosion.
Properly dispose of waste on the campsite
Cleaning up as you go is an essential rule of camping. Our campsite is enjoyed by many visitors, so it’s important to consider other people. You should protect the environment and refrain from making a mess, both for current visitors and those hoping to enjoy the North Yorkshire coast in the future.
Some top tips for keeping a clean campsite include repackaging leftover food, routinely putting rubbish in the onsite bins, and bringing a stash of extra bin bags (just in case). This keeps the place tidy, helping everyone enjoy their time at Crows Nest Caravan Park.
The North Yorkshire coast is a fantastic place to spend your holiday, in return, we ask you to keep the environment at the heart of your visit. From marvelling at the wildlife and watching where you walk to properly disposing of waste — this is how to respect the great outdoors through no trace camping.