I've recently accepted i should be using a mobility scooter to get out and about and am thoroughly enjoying the newly discovered ability to, well, actually get out and about and spend entire days out exploring.
So much so that i have bought a second hand ambulance (cause it has a handy scooter loading ramp) to let me explore much further afield.
Lots of my trips tend to be very last minute for a variety of reasons.
It's been a while since i have done much in the way of travelling and camping, but this never used to be a problem. I'd pick somewhere i wanted to go, find a nearby campsite, phone them and book a pitch and then go. Or maybe just book a local travelodge if i didn't want to mess around putting a tent up.
That doesn't work any more. For several reasons:
Campsites/travelodges etc are often fully booked. All of them.
The ambulance isn't bus sized, but it's also not car sized. I need to find car parks without height limits etc to park in.
I'm needing a bit more time to get ready / get sorted and home etc so one day trips have turned into three (out on day 1, trip day 2, day 3 go home).
I'm hoping the nice people here have been there and done that and might have some handy tips as to how i can make going away easier. ie:
How do i go about finding somewhere to park a 6m long, 3m high floresent yellow monster? Idelly overnight, but it's still relevant just for popping into the local town etc. (I do have a blue badger if that helps.)
How do i go about finding last minute overnight accomodation? Ideally, a cheap field with a power connection. But a pretty woodland clearing with nothing or some variation of travelodge will do. (*)
Are there any Wild Camping or Vanlife tips/tricks etc that might be relevant?
Thanks in advance for your help :D
(*) = The semi complicating factor here is whilst i can easily sleep/camp in the ambulance, i have to evict the scooter to make space to put a camp bed up to sleep. This isn't a problem at a campsite pitch, but does mean i can't just stop in a residental street overnight for example.
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At the moment, given Covid & folks holidaying in UK, sites do tend to get booked up. We used to just turn up after lunch & get into most sites, but not this year. But there are sites available - if you can plan at least a bit ahead. Some sites require advance booking for their track & trace.
As for quiet sites like a farmers field with EHU, you’d get these with the C&CC’s Certificated Sites or the CAMC’s CLs. But bigger fields with EHU are on the UKCS database.
There are plenty of free apps giving sites where you can park overnight for nothing. Would you leave your mobility scooter outside overnight in a car park? Probably not.
But I applaud you for wanting to get up & go.
It depends a lot on the car park, and my concern is at least as much it making it obvious i am overnighting in a random car park as security.(i presume there are usually bylaws against 'living' in random yellow vans)
Security isn't ideal, but it can be parked up on the tail lift with a cover over it and locked to the ambulance so it's only tempting fate a bit. A truck park or well lit council car park is certainly a valid option - if only because of the 'lack of anything better' thing.
It's one of the reasons things like travelodges are an option. But i'd really like not to be spending £60+/night for accomodation by preference.
I did see some mention of apps and things when i did some googling - but then i started trying to download random apps and stuff and realised it was probably better to just have a conversation about what people actually use & what works. No sense downloading something that only works in the states or whatever.
So, err, what apps do people use for finding parking spots/campsites/etc?
Or, for that matter, interesting places to go/see?(*)
(*) = because I'm interested in more than just 'how fun or pretty is it?'. Things like wheelchair access, toilets, shelter - all suddenly have become much more relevant now that i'm rather more broken. It suddenly occurs to me that there are probably apps like '101 things to do with kids in a pram' where there is probably significant crossover.
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Hello, I wish you luck with your search, which would be more forthcoming if you were to put in which county you live. Do not put your address.
We are helpful folk on here. If you give us an idea of where you are, people from that area will will be able to help with places not exactly local, but shorter distances that have the security, electric and showers that you need, just the same as we do.
You could always look on UK Campsite (at the top of the page, under Campsite search) at the area you would like to explore for any campsite that suits you.
we use a drive away awning for the scooter , we have a 1 ton van with camper stuff in it , I look at sea side towns with sites near by, SOME times a dear site in walking or riding distance of of town ends up cheaper as you do not have to drive in to town and pay parking fees,
You could always look on UK Campsite (at the top of the page, under Campsite search) at the area you would like to explore for any campsite that suits you.
The UK campsite listings are old friends from a while back. It's been a long time one way and other, but I've found some cracking sites there.
A couple of things have changed since i was last properly active tho.
One is just the recent effects of lockdown etc - places are just much busier so ringing round the sites last minuite doesn't work so well it seems.
The other is my usage. Prevously, i wanted to relax in a field by a campfire with friends and beer - the campsite was very much the objective itself.
Now however, i find myself interested in exploring random tourist trap towns and places. The campsite is a tool to do this in a relaxed, cost effective and pleasant way. This actually narrows selection more than it seems.
...And the campsite is now only half the problem. I also need to find parking once i get there.
I'm assuming that people do take their campervans for a day at the seaside or into town, so hopefully? i'm not the first person to run into 'but all the car parks have height barriers on them' issue.
Hello, I wish you luck with your search, which would be more forthcoming if you were to put in which county you live. Do not put your address.
I'm midlands based and have a wanderlust problem so i'm open to pretty much anywhere in mainland UK. One of the reasons for being a bit vauge is..well, my plans currently are rather vauge and undefined and i was hoping a chat here would help me get them into action.
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Quote: Originally posted by julia21 on 11/8/2021
we use a drive away awning for the scooter , we have a 1 ton van with camper stuff in it , I look at sea side towns with sites near by, SOME times a dear site in walking or riding distance of of town ends up cheaper as you do not have to drive in to town and pay parking fees,
One of the parts of the puzzle i am currently trying to fit together.
Once i have paid £20 for a campsite pitch & £20 for all day parking - how much more is a travelodge/premier inn with indoor plumbing and air con?
Or can i just get away with paying for 24hr parking, not using the campsite at all and kip in the van?
Otoh, what about a really nice campsite with loads of facilities and never actually leaving?
The world has changed since i was last really out and about and so have i. My needs and desires arn't what they were so i find myself asking 'how do i do this again?'
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The world does change.
We have been M.Home owners since 2003.
We have never wild camped and we have cycles. We always use sites and
site fees are not expensive if you look around. Dorset is expensive as is Devon, Cumbria etc. All sites have to be booked ahead. If you look around for a campsite near to you as a first time trial run out. You will be able to use your scooter, and sleep in your van. The scoot will remain outside over night. You need to charge it, so will need electric.
Even if you were to wild camp, the scooter would be outside. It would need charging. I suggest you find a site that will accept your van, and just go and give it a try. Your van, if not repainted from it's original purpose will be classed as a commercial and not many sites will accept that type of vehicle. I say go 'local' for now, see how you get on. Enjoy the van and use proper sites near to a small town or village.
The Midlands, (We are East Midlands) Your words, but not much help to us)covers a good many towns / counties...look on here for a site and tell them what you drive and that you have a scoot...just go if they say ok.....forget the cost. It may save a hefty fine for wild camping. I believe in planning, always do it. But you are imagining things that have not happened / will not happen if you use a site. Get out there. Sort a campsite, it matters not where, how far etc. Just sort it and go. If your vehicle is taxed and not in use, it is costing you money. You need facilities to wash, toilet and so on. They will be in with site fee not extras. I can not see your problem. Be off with you and just do it. It will be winter soon.
Good luck.
I am disabled and sometimes have to use a mobility scooter or wheelchair. I also have a Blue Badge. We have a 6m campervan.
We have done all sorts of camping from sites to wild to car parks where overnighting is allowed.
The main problem with ‘wild camping’ or as others call it ‘stealth camping’ with a mobility scooter or wheelchair is, as you say, overnight storage. One of the unwritten rules is that when not on a proper campsite you should not leave anything outside as you could be moved on or worse for illegal camping, which is not allowed in the UK. This also applies in car parks that allow overnighting. It’s also a huge security risk to leave anything outside.
We have stayed in car parks where overnighting is allowed and if I’ve been happy with the security with the mobility scooter/wheelchair secured and covered on a tow bar rack on the back of the van but the problem then is finding a parking space it will fit in. You have to do your homework.
You might be lucky and find true wild camping spots and there are a few websites that share these, Google ‘wild camping’ but once again the main problem is security for you scooter plus the terrain might be quite rough going and it might be harder for you to make a quick exit if ytrouble does occur.
Campsites would probably be your best bet and they don’t have to cost the earth. Some we stay on are as little as £10 pppn. Granted it can be harder to find sites with availability at weekends, bank holidays etc but there are plenty of smaller sites, some affiliated to the C&CC/ CMC but many private that have vacancies so long as you don’t want to be right on the coast or in a popular tourist town. One way of ‘singing it’ is to ring sites near your next chosen spot the night before to check availability and book if they have space. There is also a late availability search on this site and others.
Regarding the issue of parking, there’s a site called Parkopedia tihat lets you search for car parks all over the UK. It also gives you details of any height barriers. It also gives details of disabled parking available and any reductions in cost given to these. Don’t overlook on street disabled parking spaces . Some have time limits etc but most councils have details on their websites so with a bit of planning you can usually sort out enough for a decent visit.
Finally, when making you calculations about the costs of camping/parking and a cheap hotel do take into account that you will have to spend extra on meals in a hotel as you can most probably self cater a lot cheaper in your van.
Try some CL type campsites, you will be surprised how many have last minute availability. Some of them you will have to make the effort and ring to check due to lack of online booking systems. But with only 5 vans security is not such an issue.
we have just got a vauxhall vivaro camper in stead of the pop top camper .We have a drive away awning for the scooter at night, Plus extra space ,we carry a scooter that has a range feather than i walk [ 18 miles ] i comes in 5 parts so i can pick it up,
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: Last Minute Campervan Trip Tips Please
via mobile 05/8/2021 at 8:40pm
