Camper van rights
Discussion
About the same as apply/don't apply to pikey's vans.
Official sites
pro's, hot showers, flushing toilets and leccy hook ups
con's, weird camp commandants, possibility of Margret becket as your neighbour.
Layby's/remote countryside
Pro's, stop where you like.
Con's, Traffic noise,Pikey's, being mistaken for a pikey. mad axe murderers calling in by
Official sites
pro's, hot showers, flushing toilets and leccy hook ups
con's, weird camp commandants, possibility of Margret becket as your neighbour.
Layby's/remote countryside
Pro's, stop where you like.
Con's, Traffic noise,Pikey's, being mistaken for a pikey. mad axe murderers calling in by
Depends how much you like being moved on at 2am. The authorities tend to be rigorous in enforcing the rules about this, esp in National Parks. Think about it, most modern caravans are pretty self contained, so if laybyes could be used in this way, why would anyone spend 20 quid a night on organised sites?
Couple of things really,
I drove a truck for some time years ago, and a night out away from home
was (if possible)
quiet road>
turn off that onto an even quieter side lane>
park out of the way disused gateway type thing
its not especially an aversion to all things CC, I'm sure they're full to the brim with interesting anecdotes on where they have been staying, I just don't want to hear it.
I was only thinking for the first few trips we might not find those small farm-based camp sites that everyone talks about, and have to rough it overnight
I drove a truck for some time years ago, and a night out away from home
was (if possible)
quiet road>
turn off that onto an even quieter side lane>
park out of the way disused gateway type thing
its not especially an aversion to all things CC, I'm sure they're full to the brim with interesting anecdotes on where they have been staying, I just don't want to hear it.
I was only thinking for the first few trips we might not find those small farm-based camp sites that everyone talks about, and have to rough it overnight
Jon C said:
Depends how much you like being moved on at 2am. The authorities tend to be rigorous in enforcing the rules about this, esp in National Parks. Think about it, most modern caravans are pretty self contained, so if laybyes could be used in this way, why would anyone spend 20 quid a night on organised sites?
Perhaps I'm harking back to my childhood, Parents took us on holidays in a caravan where we ended up on a farm somewhere.
The idea of now being corralled in rows with home-from-homes all lit up simultaneously by Eastender television fills me with horror, as I say, if its possible to still find the smaller camping fields without some godawful 'club' thats what we want to do.
I was just wondering how the law stood these days on impromptu parking
Jon C said:
Depends how much you like being moved on at 2am. The authorities tend to be rigorous in enforcing the rules about this, esp in National Parks. Think about it, most modern caravans are pretty self contained, so if laybyes could be used in this way, why would anyone spend 20 quid a night on organised sites?
Don't seem bothered by it in Cumbria. Summer (such as it is) brings loads of people parking caravans, motor homes and erecting tents in all sorts of odd places. They don't appear to to suffer moving on or similar hassle unless they are taking the piss. The Caravan Club and the Camping Club have certificated locations where five(?) caravans/motor vans or 25(?) tents can stop in a field for a pittance. You get a tap and a waste disposal point in some. Others are more sophisticated, including electrical hook-ups and showers.
When I had young kids I used to use CLs quite regularly. There was one in South Devon, the South Hams, where it was virtually wild. We had a field to ourselves (perhaps understandable if you knew my kids) in complete quiet, or at least as farm can be. We had small deer in the field of a morning.
We used to use them if travelling long distances, say to Cumbria or Wales, as it gave us all a rest and an opportunity to wash the vomit out of the car. The norm is that you get milk and bread delivered to your caravan in the morning. We've had one or two fields turn a bit muddy after rain but farmers have been only too happy to tow us out and there's no one coming around of an afternoon to see if you've taken up your groundsheet or parked your van too near your neighbour. Mostly you don't have a neighbour.
It was worth joining the CC just for the CLs.
When I had young kids I used to use CLs quite regularly. There was one in South Devon, the South Hams, where it was virtually wild. We had a field to ourselves (perhaps understandable if you knew my kids) in complete quiet, or at least as farm can be. We had small deer in the field of a morning.
We used to use them if travelling long distances, say to Cumbria or Wales, as it gave us all a rest and an opportunity to wash the vomit out of the car. The norm is that you get milk and bread delivered to your caravan in the morning. We've had one or two fields turn a bit muddy after rain but farmers have been only too happy to tow us out and there's no one coming around of an afternoon to see if you've taken up your groundsheet or parked your van too near your neighbour. Mostly you don't have a neighbour.
It was worth joining the CC just for the CLs.
Edited by Derek Smith on Sunday 2nd August 22:53
eldar said:
Jon C said:
Depends how much you like being moved on at 2am. The authorities tend to be rigorous in enforcing the rules about this, esp in National Parks. Think about it, most modern caravans are pretty self contained, so if laybyes could be used in this way, why would anyone spend 20 quid a night on organised sites?
Don't seem bothered by it in Cumbria. Summer (such as it is) brings loads of people parking caravans, motor homes and erecting tents in all sorts of odd places. They don't appear to to suffer moving on or similar hassle unless they are taking the piss. Eldar is right, there are lots of small lay-bys where you could stay - despite the Lake District National Park Authority web site trying to encourage everyone to park outside the lakes and come in by bus, train, boat or bike!
A word of warning to anyone considering such a course - DON'T get on a bus without an overdraft facility!
Encouraging answers good.
Some of you seem knowledgeable so next question;
On some TV 'move to the country genre program' recently, Two (homosexuals) opened a campsite somewhere like a Scottish island,
No hook-ups, no rows of of vans, something like a near wilderness loosely criss-crossed with footpaths.
When its wet.
Looked more appealing
Than some transit camp for the Combover Club
Some of you seem knowledgeable so next question;
On some TV 'move to the country genre program' recently, Two (homosexuals) opened a campsite somewhere like a Scottish island,
No hook-ups, no rows of of vans, something like a near wilderness loosely criss-crossed with footpaths.
When its wet.
Looked more appealing
Than some transit camp for the Combover Club
We've found many small camp sites (sub 50 sites) that no pretentious caravan club affiliation. They have clean showers, electric hook up and often cost around £11-12/night.
When touring about, we tend to stay in something like that one night to charge our leisure batteries and have a shower etc, then spend the next night down a quiet lane/field entrance.
Makes for a cheap and cheerful holiday, but I do suggest you don't drink if staying over in a lane as you will be seen as drunk in charge of a vehicle if the police tap on your window.
When touring about, we tend to stay in something like that one night to charge our leisure batteries and have a shower etc, then spend the next night down a quiet lane/field entrance.
Makes for a cheap and cheerful holiday, but I do suggest you don't drink if staying over in a lane as you will be seen as drunk in charge of a vehicle if the police tap on your window.
Fortunately I'm teetotal these days, although on the plus side my sexuality remains hetro'
I only cited. The gay campsite (sic) as they were gifted with a flair for flamboyant decoration, I don't mind the gayness of the host as long as they don't corner me in the shower block.
Like the last post on recharging etc
Also may have modified my choice of vehicle to a demountable pod' to go on back of my Navara as its a modern pick-up with A/C for the travelling,
don't hold out much hope of finding anyone with any experience of ownership here though?
I only cited. The gay campsite (sic) as they were gifted with a flair for flamboyant decoration, I don't mind the gayness of the host as long as they don't corner me in the shower block.
Like the last post on recharging etc
Also may have modified my choice of vehicle to a demountable pod' to go on back of my Navara as its a modern pick-up with A/C for the travelling,
don't hold out much hope of finding anyone with any experience of ownership here though?
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