IRRESPONSIBLE wild camp-ers are ruining a popular dale walk, leaving human excrement, soiled nappies and rubbish behind, it is claimed.
Middleton-in-Teesdale resident Denise Charlton, who has created a series of heritage trails in and around her village, said visitors she had directed to King’s Walk had raised the issue with her after their dog had rolled in the undergrowth and been covered in human excrement.
Ms Charlton, who also works in the village’s tourist information office, made councillors aware of the situation at the parish annual meeting on Tuesday, May 8.
She said: “King’s Walk is getting ruined. People are leaving all sorts of rubbish there including human waste and toilet paper.
“I’ve been up a number of times when I have been researching the walks and the area has been soiled with nappies, rubbish strewn about and it’s getting ruined by the people who are going there to camp.”
She said it wasn’t travellers making on their way to Appleby horse fair who were responsible as the issue was happening year round.
She added: “It’s disgusting and it is not just happening at one time of the year, it’s all year round. It is not the traveller community but irresponsible wild campers who are pitching up there.”
Wild camping is illegal in most places in England unless permission of the landowner has been given.
But there are numerous websites promoting this form of camping with users sharing ideal locations. Most of these websites also tell users to act responsibly and remove any and all rubbish upon leaving.
Andy Mitchell, chairman of Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin Parish Council, said he would investigate. He said: “It is difficult as the land owner is not the council but we will get back to you.”
He added there had been a “no camping” sign at the entrance to King’s Walk some years ago and it would be worth considering a new
one.
Duncan Peake, chief executive of landowner Raby Estates, said he was aware there had been an issue.
He said over the past couple of years staff had spent a great deal of time clearing away rubbish at King’s Walk on several occasions.
Mr Peake added: “We are keen to resolve this issue and will be speaking with the parish council to see what we can do.”
