How to plan a multi-day border hike with public transport links and low-impact wild camping options

Planning a multi-day border hike that relies on public transport and low-impact wild camping is one of my favourite ways to explore Britain's edges. It combines the logistics of moving between towns and villages, the satisfaction of carrying only what you need, and the quiet reward of spending nights beneath big skies. Below I share the practical steps I use to turn an idea into a walkable itinerary, with tips on transport, wild camping ethics and kit so you can plan a trip that’s doable, responsible and actually enjoyable.

Choose a border route that suits transport links

Start with the geography. Coastlines and river valleys often have the best public transport access, while remote uplands may require longer walks to reach a bus stop. I look for routes that follow a natural corridor — a river, coastal path, or historic border track — and then check how towns and stations sit along that corridor.

Use these principles to shortlist routes:

Look for towns or villages every 8–15 miles where you can hop on a bus or train.

Prefer routes with two-way transport options so you can bail out or alter the plan.

Consider end-to-end public transport: trains often link larger towns while local buses serve smaller places.

Examples of good corridors: the Scottish Borders (fair rail links to Galashiels, Tweedbank), the Cumbrian coastal strip, and sections of the Northumberland Coast with regular buses in summer. If you’re crossing the England–Scotland border, remember ScotRail and CrossCountry services can be helpful anchors for your plan.

Research public transport in detail

Don’t rely on a single timetable website. I cross-check National Rail for trains, Traveline or local council sites for buses, and operator pages (Stagecoach, Arriva, ScotRail, etc.) for seasonal changes and disruption notices. Key checks:

Service frequency on weekdays vs weekends.

First and last departures — the last bus might be early in rural areas.

Load restrictions — some buses are small and may not take large rucksacks at busy times.

Ticketing — buy advance train tickets if possible; many local buses accept contactless or exact cash.

A small table I often build for myself shows each night’s planned camp location, nearest station/bus stop, and the earliest/latest achievable connection. This makes resupply and contingency planning much easier.

Day	Camp/Stretch	Nearest Transport
1	Coastal headland	Village bus stop (Stagecoach) — 09:30 & 16:45
2	Peatland edge	Small town station (Northern) — regular service

Wild camping — legality and low-impact choices

Wild camping laws differ across Britain. In Scotland, wild camping is generally permitted on most unenclosed land, provided you act responsibly. In England and Wales, it’s usually only legal with landowner permission except in certain areas (e.g. Dartmoor permits in the past). Always check local guidance — National Parks and AONBs often have clear pages.

My approach to low-impact wild camping:

Camp late, leave early: arrive with daylight to find a discreet pitch, and depart early to reduce visibility.

Pitch small: a one- or two-person tent or a bivvy is less intrusive than a larger shelter.

Use durable surfaces: avoid vegetation, soft peat and fragile soils — choose gravel, rock, or tussock-free grass.

Camp above the high tide line on coasts and away from paths and viewpoints.

Dispose of waste: pack out toilet paper and sanitary waste; bury human waste 15–20 cm deep and 30 m from water where appropriate, but in sensitive areas carry waste out.

Keep fires off: use a stove like an MSR PocketRocket or a small wood-gas stove where permitted; on peatlands and many coastal cliffs, open fires are harmful and banned.

Water, food and resupply strategy

Water is non-negotiable. I plan to carry at least 1–2 litres between reliable sources and carry a lightweight filter (Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree) or chemical treatment as a backup. Identify reliable water points on your map — springs, taps in villages and known stream crossings.

For food, balance weight and morale: dehydrated meals are light, but biscuits, cheese and cured meats make better day snacks. Plan resupply towns every 2–3 days when possible. Many small shops in rural Britain carry basics; larger towns provide supermarkets. Keep a small emergency food stash in a waterproof bag.

Navigation and planning tools

I use a paper map (OS Explorer or Landranger) and a compact compass even when I run GPS apps. My digital toolkit includes OS Maps app (offline maps), ViewRanger (or its successor, Outdooractive), and a route-planning app like Komoot for elevation profiles. Make sure you download offline maps and save waypoints for camps and water points.

Carry spare power: a 10,000–20,000 mAh power bank can charge a phone and GPS for several days.

Keep a printed cue sheet with key grid references and transport times — batteries fail, signals drop.

Choosing kit for low-impact multi-day hikes

Lightweight, durable and weatherproof are the priorities. I favour a backpack around 35–50L for multi-day hikes where resupply is possible. Essentials I rarely compromise on:

Light tent or tarp/bivy: Vango, MSR, and NEMO make robust lightweight tents; a simple tarp rig works well in fairer conditions.

Sleeping bag and mat rated for the season — down if you keep it dry, synthetic if you need wet-weather resilience.

Stove: Jetboil or MSR for fast boiling; consider a small canister system or an alcohol stove if weight and noise matter.

Water filter and a collapsible bottle (SmartWater bottles are common and cheap).

Multitool, headlamp with spare batteries, lightweight first-aid kit and a repair kit for your tent and stove.

Safety, contingencies and community etiquette

Tell someone your plan and check in at agreed points. I always carry a small personal locator (Garmin inReach Mini, SPOT) for remote sections. Weather can change fast on coasts and uplands; plan conservative daily distances and identify bail-out points with transport links.

Respect local communities: buy a coffee or sandwiches in village shops when you can, avoid noisy camps and keep dogs under control in grazing areas. Conservation is central — support peatland restoration projects, report pathology or pollution responsibly, and follow local signage when access is restricted for habitat protection.

Example short itinerary framework

Here’s a simple 4-day outline I’ve used as a template:

Day 1: Train to coastal town, walk 14 miles along cliffs, wild camp above high tide.

Day 2: 10–12 miles across farmland to village with stream and shop. Resupply and use town bus stop as contingency.

Day 3: Peatland crossing — shorter day to conserve energy and water; wild camp on durable surface.

Day 4: Descend to rail-linked market town for a final resupply and train home.

Each day has a transport contingency — if the weather or legs fail, there’s always a bus or train planned within a reasonable walk.

If you want, tell me your target border area (e.g. Northumberland, the Scottish Borders, Cumbria) and how many days you have, and I’ll sketch a tailor-made itinerary with likely transport links, sensible daily distances and low-impact camping options.