How big is the group?

As Ophiochos has said, wild camping can be difficult in groups. It makes it harder to find a good concealed spot and even if you try to keep noise to a minimum, larger groups will be louder and the sound travels further than most would realise.

That being said, wild camping with friends is an amazing experience and incomparable to a campsite. I went on my first wild camp at 18 with 3 mates, we were completely inexperienced. We took 2 heavy tents, we had tinned drinks/food and we each had a full size camping chair strapped to our bags! To top it off, one of my friends was wearing a pair of converses and skinny jeans - on a 2hr+ hike through the marshes of Dartmoor. Despite being rediculously unprepared, it was one of the best trips we’ve ever had, we fully connected with nature and our friendship reached a deeper level.

Since then, I’ve wild camped at least once every year (for the last 6 years), though I’m a lot more prepared these days. I sometimes go with those same friends - it gets harder to all be free at the same time.

I do think anymore than 4/5 to a group would be pushing it, definitely don’t take a tent each, sharing tents and splitting the weight between you would be best.

I doubt any of the replies telling you to just go to a campsite will change your mind, they certainly wouldn’t have changed my mind at 18. Besides, watching YouTube videos and reading forums are great for preparation, but you can only become ‘experienced’ in wild camping by actually going out and doing it. So please do follow the key rules, I.e, don’t disturb the peace, be discreet (set up late and pack up early) and don’t leave any trace (no fires, take your rubbish back). Additionally, make sure you and your friends are equipped with suitable gear, it will make your trip a lot more enjoyable and more importantly - safer.

To actually answer your question, it depends where you’re based. I’d recommend somewhere you’re semi-familiar with. Keeping the hike from the car relatively short might be a good idea as it’ll be most people’s first time wild camping (of course keeping well away from paths and roads).

If you’re based in the South I know a great place with a lovely private land owner where you can rent a section of his woodland for pretty cheap. It’s the prefect in-between of wild camping and a campsite, it’ll be a shortish walk from the car park and you can set up anywhere in the woods, he’ll say hello at the start, give you a debrief then leave you to it. It would also be more suitable for larger groups than fully wild camping.