how easy is it to wild camp in UK - Page 3

scotchjock · 22-05-2008, 07:15 PM

If you wan't to be encouraged to wild camp, try the Shetland Islands or Orkney. There are signs saying caravans welcome, plenty of toilets for dumping waste, water is freely available, and if you're stuck for somewhere to pitch, just ask a local. The people are friendly, the roads are quiet, and the scenery is magnificent. We are currently parked at Wee Mea on the island of Hoy, with a panoramic view, blue sky, and a view that takes in Duncansby Head (near John o' Groats) and several of the Orkney Islands. There are no campsites on most of the islands.

GJH · 22-05-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

Graham

I take your point about there being numerous commercial camp sites provided for MH owners, but as the thread is about 'wild camping' i don't quite see much 'wild' about paying to park up on a commercial site.

I did make the point earlier in the thread that, in fact rather than legend(?), there is no such thing as "wild" camping when vehicles are used. The reason I mentioned camp sites was as an example of the different facilities available to HGV and MH drivers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

Graham
And as for, "It would be nice to see motorway services encouraging overnight stays but they might need an incentive because they are really in the business of making money from their shops etc."
What better incentive could they wish for than MH owners or car drivers travelling long distance parking up overnight? I've done it many times and the first thing i do is go to the Cafe and have a brew. And if they can manage to be open early morning i won't even bother cooking breakfast.....i will go to the services cafe...IF they are open. The problem with a lot of 24hr motorway service cafes is you are lucky to get much more than a tea or coffee after 10pm and most of that is overpriced boiled to death dishwater.

As commercial concerns the services operators need enough business to justify the costs of employing staff to provide decent catering at all times - simple market economics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

Graham
The sooner councils use a bit of plain common sense the better but i think there's more chance of hell freezing over. Whilst Government is busily taxing motorists off the roads altogether, Councils make potty prohibitions which drive motorists away from towns and shops.....and then wonder why so many small businesses are going to the wall.

As I said in my previous post:

Quote:

If facilities are to be provided then councils will first have to be convinced that they will be an advantage to the local area and that they will not be abused. The way to encourage them is to present evidence of the advantages to be gained.

You may have seen on other threads that I'm forever banging on in similar vein

Watch this space. All being well there should be an announcement of a new council provided facility opening in a few weeks.

Graham

Bulletguy · 22-05-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotchjock

If you wan't to be encouraged to wild camp, try the Shetland Islands or Orkney........There are no campsites on most of the islands.

Did the Outer Hebrides last year and thats pretty much the same.

There are one or two sites but by far the best way to 'do it' was wild camp. The isolation was an unforgettable experience along with the single track roads and the occasional group of highland cattle wandering about!

Thoroughly enjoyed Lewis, Harris and Barra....but the Uists are weird. Life just seemed to disappear after 6pm and i hardly saw anyone.

Bulletguy · 22-05-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJH

I did make the point earlier in the thread that, in fact rather than legend(?), there is no such thing as "wild" camping when vehicles are used. The reason I mentioned camp sites was as an example of the different facilities available to HGV and MH drivers.

Most use the term 'wild' meaning independant of commercially provided utilities such as gas, water, electric, drainage etc. Using HGV's as an example i suppose you could say many of them are fully capable of 'wild camping', though not for the same reasons as MH owners.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJH

As commercial concerns the services operators need enough business to justify the costs of employing staff to provide decent catering at all times - simple market economics.

Couldn't agree more. Hence the reason my stating "What better incentive could they wish for than MH owners or car drivers travelling long distance parking up overnight?"

Erecting prohibitive signing banning people from overnight stops etc is no way to drum up business for catering facilities. if anything it's one sure way of closing businesses down!

GJH · 22-05-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

Most use the term 'wild' meaning independant of commercially provided utilities such as gas, water, electric, drainage etc. Using HGV's as an example i suppose you could say many of them are fully capable of 'wild camping', though not for the same reasons as MH owners.

Yes, I realise that many people use the term "wild" for off-site overnighting in a MH. Problem is that many don't understand the difference between that and what "wild camping" really is as defined in law.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

Couldn't agree more. Hence the reason my stating "What better incentive could they wish for than MH owners or car drivers travelling long distance parking up overnight?"

Erecting prohibitive signing banning people from overnight stops etc is no way to drum up business for catering facilities. if anything it's one sure way of closing businesses down!

I thought all motorway services (which is what we were talking about in regard to this (sub) point) allowed overnight parking (albeit for a fee). Is this not the case with some of them?

Graham

euro · 23-05-2008, 04:30 PM

I have a van conversion. I guess the rules apply just the same to these as to the much bigger RV's ?

GJH · 23-05-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euro

I have a van conversion. I guess the rules apply just the same to these as to the much bigger RV's ?

From all the information I've gathered the only difference seems to be that there are even more restrictions placed on larger vehicles purely because of their size and weight.

For instance, it may be possible to use a standard car park bay with a van conversion so long as the vehicle type or weight did not prohibit it.

Graham

Bulletguy · 24-05-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJH

Yes, I realise that many people use the term "wild" for off-site overnighting in a MH. Problem is that many don't understand the difference between that and what "wild camping" really is as defined in law.

What is the legal definition?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJH

I thought all motorway services (which is what we were talking about in regard to this (sub) point) allowed overnight parking (albeit for a fee). Is this not the case with some of them?

Graham

No.
Some motorway service areas actually ban it but few people take any notice.

GJH · 24-05-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

What is the legal definition?.

As I mentioned on Monday, the only place in the UK where "wild camping" is actually allowed by law in some locations is Scotland and the definition of "wild camping" excludes use of vehicles in the majority of cases.

I've posted on previous threads the explanation supplied to me by Cairngorms National Park Authority - see HERE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletguy

No.
Some motorway service areas actually ban it but few people take any notice.

That's something I didn't know. It is certainly a legal requirement for services to provide short-term parking (plus food and toilets) 24 hours a day. Is it possible for you to post a list of those which ban overnight parking?

Graham

Bulletguy · 25-05-2008, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJH

As I mentioned on Monday, the only place in the UK where "wild camping" is actually allowed by law in some locations is Scotland and the definition of "wild camping" excludes use of vehicles in the majority of cases.

I've posted on previous threads the explanation supplied to me by Cairngorms National Park Authority - see HERE.

Blimey!!

Confronted with all those 'rules 'n reg's' i'd begin to wonder whether it was even worth leaving home!

Surely Graham the bottom line is simply using a bit of plain common sense and not making a general nuisance of yourself by inconsiderate use of overnight parking? Be it Scotland, Wales or anywhere in England, i've never had, nor can i see there being a problem.

Many people are now fast growing tired and fed up with all the craziness of various prohibition which tends to have its support from the 'potty pc' brigade who relish taking issues to an extreme and generally making life as miserable and unbearable as possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJH

It is certainly a legal requirement for services to provide short-term parking (plus food and toilets) 24 hours a day. Is it possible for you to post a list of those which ban overnight parking?

Oxford Services on the M40 for one. There are plenty more though. Many motorway service areas now like to encourage the business types in suits with company accounts who gather for 'meetings'.

Thats one i stopped on after driving non-stop from Switzerland two years ago. Called in at others on the way up to find the same notices prohibiting overnight stops. When i woke, there was a german registered van next to me with driver fast asleep.

It's all about being reasonable, considerate and sensible. If you sit blasting 2000watts of techno tripe out the back of your vehicle at 3am.....then i think it only right for those people to be moved on.