Sssnake Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Greetings to you all. I wonder if somebody can advise me please? Is there such a thing as a Wild Camping Publication for MH's that covers the UK? I've looked at vicariousbooks which is where I thought I'd find one but...no luck. Tried wildcamping.co.uk but no luck. Both my in-laws and ourselves would use such a publication if one exists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 The problem then would be that everyone descends on the place reeking havoc for the local residents. They are mostly a big white mass and can be very intrusive. (I have one) I would never advertise where or what I do regarding overnight stops, one M/H can be regarded as 'someone overnighting' perhaps. Two and more can become a bigger issue. Until the 'Aire' system is adopted in the UK my views are to spread apart as much as possible when wild camping. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sssnake Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 Thanks Libby. Good advice. Mrs Sssnake and I are mor einclined towards CL's but the in-laws squeak when they walk and don't have internet access so are struggling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Grumpy Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I have sent you a pm re wild camping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 There are a few wildcamping databases available if you have a look on Motorhomefacts web site. There is also a fairly new website, worldofwildcamping.com that has a few on, although they are mostly outside the UK. Try typing wildcamping in Britain into Google, that usually finds a few. Now just sit back and wait for the abuse to flow in your direction! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porky Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I think it depends on what you mean by wild camping. If you want a sea view, or views over the rolling countryside not really possible generally unless you stumble on it by accident. Then enjoy it but don`t tell anyone else. This is the essence of exploration. I live in the centre of a city and sometimes vans park up for one night down a side street and no one seems to mind. Providing the road is wide enough for it not to be an obstruction and for one night only. Roy Fuller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Is this an alternative? http://www.motorhomestopover.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallii Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Or here http://wildcamping.co.uk/ Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Geoff did you read the OP they had tried that site. If you think about it if there was a real good wild camping guide it would be called site guide and cl's. Everybody has a favourite place but when posted on forums they get abused annoy the locals and become rubbish dumps. Wild camping spots are easy to find just don’t post or abuse your stay Alf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallii Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 I missed that bit Alf, yes it has already been mentioned. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sssnake Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 Thank you. Sound advice from all and now I've reflected upon it, common sense. By the way if anyone wants any advice for Worcester City, PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Hi, Do not know why people are so reluctant to say where they wild camp, it is well publicised on the internet, try here, www.wildcamping.co.uk. I never do it except when completely stuck for somewhere but see many who do. If you go to the North of Scotland you will see a lot vans from all over Europe camped in fantastic places, many right on the coast. Stay away from houses and leave no rubbish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 rupert123 - 2009-08-17 6:02 PM Hi, Do not know why people are so reluctant to say where they wild camp, it is well publicised on the internet, try here, www.wildcamping.co.uk. I never do it except when completely stuck for somewhere but see many who do. If you go to the North of Scotland you will see a lot vans from all over Europe camped in fantastic places, many right on the coast. Stay away from houses and leave no rubbish. Henry, As always you are so well known for jumping in feet first! did you not read the OP? You may mean well but if every body posted Wildcamping spots on forums they by virtue would then become sites, there is enough bother with wild camping at present in Scotland without such as you encouraging it Alf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyg3nwl Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 As I understand it, Camping "wild" is not permitted in england and wales, only on licenced sites, CLs CS's etc run by commercial licenced site operators, clubs that hold exemption certificates, and similar arrangements. Wild camping is breaking the law, and examples which upset the authorities include the "Travelling community" who generally leave such a mess behind etc, have unlicensed and uninsured vehicles etc. For those who want to get away from it all, there are legal licenced sites, cl's cs's Rallies etc which surely give a wide range of possibilities, albeit at some expense (club membership fees etc) so why , in the absence of an "aires" system , do motorhomers want to go "Wild" and break the law. By all means press for the equivalent of Aires, but you must remember that even they are licensed, and not "free", usually charging a small fee for the facilities. Alternatively, the equivalent of "France Passion" would be a good idea. No OBLIGATION to spend anthing. Where do the true "wild Campers" dump their black water, grey water, rubbish etc, probably if they are not of "traveller status", they most likely check in at a licensed site or public toilet facility. I beleive that in Scotland, wild camping is permitted provided the landowners permission is sought and given beforehand, but for example the residents on the western Isles are not always welcoming to excessive numbers of vans camping together. What is the real reason for the urge to go "Wild", I suspect largely a misers approach, something for nothing ! tonyg3nwl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 We have our own 'special' places where we stay overnight 'offsite' in various parts of the country but we only ever use them for one night at a time and of course never a trace is left. We selfishly never publicise these places because knowing how Professor Sodde's Law works, some oik would only come along and bugger it up - both for us and for the locals! Some are new, some we lose and some we have had for many years. Some places we have 'unofficial permission' in as much as some of the locals know us and we chat if we see them when morning dog walking - indeed we have even learnt of other places in the area by such socialising - and some we actually have the land owner's consent. Toilet emptying and water refills are done by using a site, or rally or THS, every few days for one or two nights night and grey water either ends up down a roadside drain or a suitably sloping lay by so it runs away from the road - NOT directly into a watercourse - and NEVER by an open tap along the road which inconsiderate and selfish practise by the few only serves to get us all an unjustified bad name. Wild camping can be done considerately and without impact and it is far more a question of using the van's ability to be self reliant and the freedom of not being herded into a designated field than it is of cost. The site lovers amongst us who do not like this form of travel knock it by persistently calling us 'stingy' whereas those of us who do not enjoy site life do not knock those who do - neither do we feel the need to justify our camping style - and this is simply to clarify and not to justify! Just enjoy! C'est la vie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 alf - 2009-08-17 6:26 PM rupert123 - 2009-08-17 6:02 PM Hi, Do not know why people are so reluctant to say where they wild camp, it is well publicised on the internet, try here, www.wildcamping.co.uk. I never do it except when completely stuck for somewhere but see many who do. If you go to the North of Scotland you will see a lot vans from all over Europe camped in fantastic places, many right on the coast. Stay away from houses and leave no rubbish. Henry, As always you are so well known for jumping in feet first! did you not read the OP? You may mean well but if every body posted Wildcamping spots on forums they by virtue would then become sites, there is enough bother with wild camping at present in Scotland without such as you encouraging it Alf Certainly did but as their is no publication that I know of simply stating a fact that it is well publicized. It is public so why the big problem, personally as I have said I rarely do it. I also do not stay on aires or stellplatz unless their is no alternative. As to wild camping in Scotland causing problems, where exactly, I spend as much time touring in Scotland as most and have never heard of a problem, in fact on some of the islands it is positivly encouraged. Incidently why do they call it wild camping when it is nothing of the sort, it is simply someone to mean or hard up that sleeps in a lay-by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Rupert Can we park on lay-bys read the following Parking at night 248 You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space. [Laws CUR reg 101 & RVLR reg 24] 249 All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h). [Law RVLR reg 24] 250 Cars, goods vehicles not exceeding 1525 kg unladen weight, invalid carriages, motorcycles and pedal cycles may be parked without lights on a road (or lay-by) with a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) or less if they are · at least 10 metres (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow · in a recognised parking place or lay-by Other vehicles and trailers, and all vehicles with projecting loads, MUST NOT be left on a road at night without lights. [Laws RVLR reg 24 & CUR reg 82(7)] these are from the Highway Code Parking and Waiting regulations see the following linl http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069860 Alf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 We never use lay bys as they are too noisy and may well be unsafe. There are plenty of quiet spots to be found without the need to use lay bys. If you are tired on a long haul and it is late in the evening Industrial Estates on the edges of most towns can provide a quiet corner to park up for a kip - especially with so many empty units in the current economic climate - but again, do use your loaf and if it looks badly neglected with signs of vandalism, abandoned cars, graffiti and broken glass etc don't stop - and don't park where you could obstruct the workers or deliveries in the early morning. This is obviously not for camping as such but it does allow you to break a long haul without messing about driving miles off course to both find a site and any deal with any late arrival issues. It's not about cost it's about convenience Henry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Alf I care less about the rules regarding parking in laybys as I never do it, I suspect the police care less as well. Rich, for once I agree with you. If I was tired and on a journey I would park up at a convenient spot that looked OK, have said this in the past. What I was talking about here is the great secret, on this forum, at the skinflint parking spots when they are posted on other forums and you only have to ask to get one pretty well anywhere, so why do people like Alf have a problem with this? Incidently nice slanging match with Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I wild camped at the weekend in Weymouth -parked on a residential street where everyone had large gardens and driveways (with hedges and fences so no one could see into their properties). I was the only vehicle parked in the street. My rubbish went home and part was recylced, the waste water went into a drain and the cassette toilet contents went home with us. It's the way it should be - leave no mess! In the meantime I had spent about ten quid in various carparks in Weymouth and Portland all day and had no intention of using a campsite overnight as we had to be up early to go somewhere. Wild camping should be about leaving no mess and not being a pest to the locals. It is convenient though if you are late somewhere or want/need to be out a campsite before the camp guards open the gates in the morning. Not all of us have the luxury of wanting to spend £20 a night for a campsite we have to book three months ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Thanks Henry - what I can't understand is why anyone ever has a problem with anything that anyone else does? There are many things that I don't like but I respect the right of anyone else to enjoy whatever they do like that I don't so I don't knock it! There does seem to be the 'Henry Ford' syndrome sometimes - 'You can have any view that you like as long as it is acceptable to me'! Now I enjoy a good argument as much as you do Henry (and Peter!) - so long may the banter continue - but without the need to insult the sender as that tends to spoil the entertainment for other voyeurs! I promise to continue to post ideas that I do not necessarily always agree with in order to just put another side to a story or to encourage debate - or just simply to be provocative! An ex boss of mine once said to me - 'Rich you have hundreds of ideas every week and most of them are crap! BUT don't ever stop because every now and then one of them is a real gem!' So I didn't ever learn to stop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Wild camping guide!. Its the daftest suggest out yet. Why on earth would I (or anybody else) want to make those secret secluded haunts we have found and cherish known to all!!! Come on! Go and find your own. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJH Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 A couple of postings have mentioned disposing of grey water down a roadside drain. Worth bearing in mind that most roadside drains are designed to take surface water only so are not linked to foul sewers. That means that it is illegal to dispose of grey water down them (so there is a possibility of prosecution if spotted doing it) plus the grey water goes down the sewer into a watercourse. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayeastanglia Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Me and my wife to be go wild camping in our old bedford cf motorhome nearly everyweek.mainly go wild as i have noticed if we go to proper sites we tend to get looked down as we are in a old van even though we have everything the new ones have..our waste water goes into the on board waste tank toilet goes into the lower tank rubbish goes into bags and is thrown either into next bin we see or is taken home.We empty our tanks mainly at home as its easy to do...And yes we have some great places to stop at but as its been said so far they are our secret places which We found by exploring the countryside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedsit driver Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 It may be worth knowing that there have always been signs on Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch roads, laybys and car parks saying, 'No overnight sleeping.' As far back as the 1960s this was a thorny issue aired in the local paper when the Bournemouth Council responded that it was a by-law put in place to protect the local hotel trade. This outraged many! For this reason they refused to allow new camp sites beyond the long established one near Throop, on the edge of the town. These days you often see motorhomes parked on the clifftop roads overnight, minding their own business and seemingly ignored by the police, while the huge boating communities in Christchurch and Poole have the odd 'van parked up in their car parks near the slip ways. They pay the parking fees, if there are any, so how else can sailors, for example tend to their boats? If they are quiet, clean and discreet long may it continue. If you intend to do this, be aware that certain car parks are frequented by less reputable elements at night and these get frequent police checks to move them on or arrest them. Turning up innocently at such a place is a greater danger here than wild camping in the majority of car parks and roads. There is nothing to point them out, obviously, and during daylight they are used by tourists going to the beach, so you would never know. Beware of boy racers and shifty looking people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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