good morning, good people. after spending a few hours reading your topics, i am very impressed with the responses to the threads, all most helpful. so i have regestered and hello.
my question is how simple is it to tour around uk and europe and park where you like, off site. i am just about to buy a m/h and have spoken to many people who tour about and there is a wide opinion as to what you can or cant do. understand the need of a site every so often, but apart from that???
I find it very simple. We do go for out of the way places though. Sometimes we pass so many inviting potential sites, we don't have time to try them all. Look at my profile pics for some examples. Opinions of others are varied as to advisability / legality of this but we have never had any problems at all.
Well it basically comes down to which type and size of vehicle you buy.
A micro camper will go anywhere. A hightop van conversion will go anywhere except carparks with height barriers. Longer coach builts may be restricted to out of town or coach parks. We've got a short wheelbase hightop van conversion and it just fits into a standard car bay. Only restriction is height barriers.
Or are you refering to 'wildcamping' where you stop overnight at places that aren't official campsites? I've never done this myself and opinion does vary as to safety/legality etc.
good morning, good people. after spending a few hours reading your topics, i am very impressed with the responses to the threads, all most helpful. so i have regestered and hello.
my question is how simple is it to tour around uk and europe and park where you like, off site. i am just about to buy a m/h and have spoken to many people who tour about and there is a wide opinion as to what you can or cant do. understand the need of a site every so often, but apart from that???
all comments appricated
hi, welcome to UKCS.
you will find that europe is great for parking overnight, most places welcome it.
england is very poor for m/h overnight parking, if your out of the way you should find it ok, but thats up to you. its about time england sorted things out.
I actually lived in a 4 berth coachbuilt campervan about 6 years ago, for 18 months. I never had any problems and used to move the vehicle every night so people would not notice. I always stayed in reasonably upper class housing disticts well away from shops and pubs.
Have 'wild camped' over England/SpainFrance/Belgium and only been motorhoming since May.
France/Spain
Always have a good look around and keep clear of city/town centres.
Get to your evening stop at least an hour before parking up and check for obvious signs of trouble i.e. graffiti covered walls/litter/gangs of youths etc.
Try to go where other campervans are parked if possible.
Park in lit area.
If you have problems finding a place look for the local police station and park near there.
Make sure you move on early in the morning if you are in a very public place as it may become a street market at 8 a.m. !!
Observe any local parking restrictions.
In the U.K.
Just make sure that you follow the parking restrictions of the particular place that you intend staying. Taking care not to upset residents and again be selective with your spot.
Your campervan is your home and as long as you are not parked illegally or for too long then you have the right to privacy.
If you have had a drink make sure that the keys are well out of your possession and that should prevent any over zealous official making a claim that you are intending to drive whilst under the influence etc. Nobody has the right to move you on provided you are not breaking any by-laws or are on private or restricted parking areas.
Brenda
The problem in the UK is that every last little bit of land is owned by someone, even the "Commons." The owners have the right to move you, and can sue if you damage their land (ie tyre treads in soft ground).
The highway, is for passing to and fro. Nobody has any "right" to stop on it! Consequently there is no place on the highway (except perhaps lay by's provided for travellers to rest) where you can legally park. The fact that we do park and the authorities ban or restrict parking in some places does not alter this fact.
Car parks vary, public ones probably will allow you to stay overnight, although some seaside ones expressly ban camping.
Private ones such as at Supermarkets will not be enthusiastic, although if you are away in the morning before the staff arrive, no one will know.
I guess that most wild campers avoid confrontation by arriving in quiet streets or remote areas late in the evening and leaving early.
However, where I live in Gower, the local authority has been known to hire an aircraft to spot illegal camping, and oddly enough, its the land owners that get fined for allowing it!, even if they were unaware. that's why wild campers are unwelcome here.
Mikekillay
A friend once told me that with a motorhome, unless there is something other than the 4 wheels of the vehicle on the ground, i.e. waste tanks, generators etc., then the vehicle is not camping, merely parked. He claims to have eaten outside some of the best hotels in London. That was some time ago, and the law may have changed, but he successfully argued the point with local police.
------------- Steve
----------------------
I like the odd drink. Five is odd, seven is odd, nine is odd...........
I guess the most important thing to consider (cue: Phil & Kirsty) is... location, location, location.
At least two thirds of all our nights away in Henry the Hymer have been wild-camps.
Our golden rules are:- Always avoid being in view of any private residences if at all possible. Always pick a spot off a minor B-road rather than a major A-road. Avoid any 'no overnight parking' zones, though we have used them on a rare occasion and can always use the 'taking a rest for reasons of road safety' argument if neccesary. And finally, though only possible some of the time, try to pick a spot that's screened from the road by trees/bushes e.t.c.
We've just got back today from three nights in the glorious Lake District (hardy any snow though ) and wild-camped in three different locations without any problems as usual, though night 2 was a bit strange, I think the area was haunted! I felt a sensation of being watched and could swear something touched the back of my head. That hooting bloody owl didn't help either...lol... there's something very creepy about hooting owls.
Get out there and 'wild' it
Phil
------------- Our motorhome loves Rock'n'Roll... it rolls all day and rocks all night ;0)
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: parking off site
) and wild-camped in three different locations without any problems as usual, though night 2 was a bit strange, I think the area was haunted! I felt a sensation of being watched and could swear something touched the back of my head. That hooting bloody owl didn't help either...lol... there's something very creepy about hooting owls.
