Hi lin, we do a bit of everything - we walk, use public transport if possible and also take the motorhome out.
It really depends on the type of holiday we are on - if we are stopping near London we park up and don't move the van again but use public transport to get into the city, if we are on the Isle of arran then we walk, canoe and use the motor home.
This is the beauty of it - its so flexible we use whatever is available on each trip. We do not take cycles - I prefer my bike with an engine on and thus it is too heavy to put on the back of my camper! (see my gallery!)
I usually leave the van on site.We like to walk (ashamed to say I need the exercise).Most of the sites I have been at have good Public transport (so far so good).And in towns or cities,saves the hassle of looking for somewhere to park (height & length restrictions).I occasionally take the bike,as there are some great cycle routes. I have used the van rarely.But surely the aim is to RELAX & CHILL!
Like the other people who have replied we walk,use public transport,cycle or take the van out.
We usually research the site we are visiting and try and find somewhere that has a village or pub within walking distance and some good walks from the site.
We also check out public transport and where the nearest bus stops or train stations are.
We have occasionally taken the Motorhome out but in all fairness if we just go out for the weekend (which we do all year round) then we tend to leave it on site.
I think the key to it is choose a site that suits what you would like to do,we don't mind walking a mile or two to the nearest pub but some people do not want to walk that far.
It has never been a problem to us but if you did want to take the Motorhome out it does not take very long to get it ready for a spin,just unplug the hook up,put the steadies up if you use them,make sure your cuboards and doors are secure and nothing is going to fly about whilst you are moving and your off!
Hi we also do a combination of walking/biking (be it cheating as we have power bikes) and as Val said is easy also to take the MH out, in Portugal we took the MH to the beach up the mountains, stocked up at the supermarket etc and it really is that simple, Before we had the MH I wouldn't have believed how easy and quick it was just to unplug and go.
You can if you want get sign to pop out if you are returning to the same pitch and some caravan club sites actually ask you to do that.
------------- 'A motorhome is for life, not just for Summer'
We too do a combination of all the above and even though ours is quite a large vehicle we usually find somewhere handy to park. A good tip we have found is to ring the local tourist information office or the local council (car park dept) of the area you intend to visit and then ask them if and where there is anywhere suitable to park your MH and 9 times out of 10 they will very kindly give you directions to a car park or nearby spot that can accomodate you. Tesco is usually very kind to we MH'ers and if you find a store near to the town centre you are usually ok there for a couple of hours but I would always check first just to be on the safe side! However, I think Tesco realise that we MH'ers are likely to spend money in their stores due to their big parking spaces, so they are quite happy to allow us to park there!
Many places allow you to park in the coach parks but again always check first as if it isn't permitted, you can be stung by a hefty parking violation fine! I take my laptop with us wherever we go and use a Three USB dongle for mobile internet and very often I look up the telephone numbers of the local authorities and give them a ring and we find they are usually very helpful and willing to assist you and so I think you will soon discover that parking doesn't have to be the nightmare problem that so many people seem to think it must be.
By the way, we sometimes tow our Smart car behind ours if we know we are going to be staying in the same place for a few days but that is not something everyone fancies so it is not a solution for everyone but it is another option to consider if the idea appeals to you.
Another thing we do If we fancy a night out to a nearby town or village where it may be a tad too far to walk is to get a taxi there and back just like you would do at home if you were going out for a meal or a drink and the reception at most campsites usually have a list of local taxi numbers.!
I hope this helps to answer your question?
Happy travels
Sue
------------- The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.
I think most of the options have been covered here, and I'm sure you'll soon find that a motorhome liberates rather than restricts your choice of options in getting out and about.
We travel with our Border Collie, so bikes are out of the question until I can train her to ride one. So our usual routine is to park at or near the place we want to visit (Sue has given you some good advice) then use shanks' pony to get around. Never been unable to find somewhere to park yet, touch wood, and there's a really useful website at www.motorhomeparking.co.uk which gives chapter and verse on parking around the UK.
We think towing a car would restrict our ability to stop and look around if somewhere takes our fancy between sites, and buses and taxis remain an option, as do Park & Ride schemes for the bigger cities.
To us, motorhoming is all about the freedom to come and go as you please and I'm sure you'll soon find that parking isn't half as much a problem as you might expect.
Just love the freedom we get with a motorhome & would find being restricted to a car for getting about in when on our jollies so boring now & would miss having everything we need with us when ever we want it. we never find parking a big problem & we often walk for miles so life with a motorhome is just perfick for us oh & we love cycling too.Nursie
We have a tiny motorhome so it is just a matter of unhooking electric and casting off!
Loads of times I ask the OH if he has remembered 'such and such' but of course it is all with us, camera, lunch, drink, dry clothes, and RAINPROOF CLOTHES of course.
Very often we stop somewhere for a quick snack and out come the chairs - never, I hasten to say, on a layby or roundabout like some I have seen!!!!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: getting out and about
