First time renting a motorhome

Gavinb21

Gavinb21

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Hi
In July we will be renting a motorhome for the first time. I think its a Bessicar 496 and i am a little nervous to say the least.

We are heading to tenby south wales day 1 then along the coast a little for a stop near st davids before heading north to Aberystwyth day 3. Eventually back across north wales and home day 4.

Is there any advice you guys can give or things i should know.

I would love to just rock up in some small seaside town but i am worried about narrow roads and unwelcoming car parks.
 
Small seaside towns in a motorhome in the summer 🤣
 
Do you have a good atlas as well as a satnav…….? :unsure:

(Trucker’s Atlas…)
 
Gavinb21 said:
Hi
In July we will be renting a motorhome for the first time. I think its a Bessicar 496 and i am a little nervous to say the least.

We are heading to tenby south wales day 1 then along the coast a little for a stop near st davids before heading north to Aberystwyth day 3. Eventually back across north wales and home day 4.

Is there any advice you guys can give or things i should know.

I would love to just rock up in some small seaside town but i am worried about narrow roads and unwelcoming car parks.
Click to expand...
Looks a bit big for car parks, stick to campsites unless you know you can definitely park somewhere.

You should be OK to call at supermarkets outside busy times, just use 2 spaces out of the way 👍
 
Sorry, some places have motorhome carparks or you can use the following to find out if you are welcome

sites.google.com

M H Aires Stops Sites & Informal Camping

These are Places for Motor-homers to stop, in Pubs, Parking, Informal Camping and Aires, this web site has many to suit you all, no registration needed. People ask for recommendations on Facebook and get answers, then they get lost among the thousands of following messages. So I decided to
sites.google.com sites.google.com

but you will have to be there first thing to get into thr carparks and the main advice is if you don't know or aren't sure get is find a safe place to park outside where you want to go and get out ans walk, have a look then go in.

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Welcome.

Have you booked sites for overnight stops?
If not, you need to as they will be very busy, if many aren't already full.

Here are my idle jottings for a future tour in Wales if any fit your plans........

Conwy castle. Free overnight m/h parking.

https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/conwy-castle?lang=en


Both Powys and Hereford Councils publish information on CPs where MHs are welcome, some day only, others for the night.

Brecon by canal. Ross on Wye.

You can also find places to stop using the Pak4Night website or App.

Good luck.
 
If you arent happy being in a carpark at the crack of dawn I wouldn't risk it or if you haven't been there before in the car
 
Very busy in Pembrokeshire at present so plan your route and pick a good time of the day to travel. There should be no need for you to drive into Tenby town centre itself so avoid that one.

You will have a great time. Relax. Enjoy
 
Spriddler said:
Welcome.

Have you booked sites for overnight stops?
If not, you need to as they will be very busy, if many aren't not full.

Here are my idle jottings for a future tour in Wales if any fit your plans........

Conwy castle. Free overnight m/h parking.
from whence Richard 111 was fooled into leaving to meet his cousin Henry Bolingbroke son of John of Gaunt, the Protector of Richard when young Richard 111 was still a minor - 10 yrs old. Bolingbroke had been exiled to France but usurped the crown to become Henry 1V, whose son would become Henry Vth.
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/conwy-castle?lang=en


Both Powys and Hereford Councils publish information on CPs where MHs are welcome, some day only others for the night.

Brecon by canal. Ross on Wye.

You can also find places to stop using the Pak4Night website or App.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Ross on wye here overnight is OK

maps.app.goo.gl

51°54'48.9"N 2°35'20.7"W · 51.913571, -2.589089

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
 
If you want some recommendations then please PM me

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Relax, enjoy and laugh if it doesn't go to plan.
 
If it doesn't go to plan just make a coffee as that's why we have motorhomes
 
If you do enter a pay and display carpark and need to occupy two spaces - please remember to buy two tickets and take a photo of them in place on dash. Much cheaper than fine ;)

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Gavinb21 said:
Hi
In July we will be renting a motorhome for the first time. I think its a Bessicar 496 and i am a little nervous to say the least.

We are heading to tenby south wales day 1 then along the coast a little for a stop near st davids before heading north to Aberystwyth day 3. Eventually back across north wales and home day 4.

Is there any advice you guys can give or things i should know.

I would love to just rock up in some small seaside town but i am worried about narrow roads and unwelcoming car parks.
Click to expand...
If you haven't driven something that size before...mirrors, mirrors and again mirrors. Especially on tighter turns or on small roundabouts, make sure you are checking your mirrors (both the top and the bottom wing mirror, yes, you will have 2 on each side!) to make sure you are clearing any obstacle with the rear of the van. Don't turn into a corner like you would do with a standard car...allow a little more space and time, so...(i hope this make sense) go a bit further on from the turn than you normally would do before you begin the turn. Like 30cm or so extra.
 
A useful tool for finding places to stay is https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/ I think the website is free and the app for phone or tablet is about £6 a year some of the places shown may be club sites but there are plenty of others including pubs that will let you stay overnight at minimum cost or free if you buy a meal.
 
The road from Haverfordwest to St Davids is in places quite narrow buy take your time and it should be alright.
 
Sugarnan said:
If you do enter a pay and display carpark and need to occupy two spaces - please remember to buy two tickets and take a photo of them in place on dash. Much cheaper than fine ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks i was wondering if people bought 2 tickets when talking 2 spots

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Spriddler said:
Welcome.

Have you booked sites for overnight stops?
If not, you need to as they will be very busy, if many aren't already full.

Here are my idle jottings for a future tour in Wales if any fit your plans........

Conwy castle. Free overnight m/h parking.

https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/conwy-castle?lang=en


Both Powys and Hereford Councils publish information on CPs where MHs are welcome, some day only, others for the night.

Brecon by canal. Ross on Wye.

You can also find places to stop using the Pak4Night website or App.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I booked FollyFarm, Birtwick Park and Woodlands Caravan Park for the 3 overnight stops all-electric hardstanding
 
Best advice I can give is avoid Aberystwyth😅
 
One word of caution, remember when parking close to a wall or another van if you turn tight the back end will swing the opposite way. The same for and sign or lampposts close to the keep. One sites or wooded areas beware of trees or overhead obstructions.
 
If you are going to St Davids the Caravan Club recommend going via Letterston, longer route but a better road, Solva hill is narrow, the only car park there has been full all this month & there is no where else there to stop.
 
Richard n Ann said:
Put them on here so everyone can go 🤣
Click to expand...
That’s not fair. I love you guys but there are are only so many spots in Pembs 😁

On a serious note, Haverfordwest to St David’s road is a cinch, no problems.

Avoid Amroth, Wiseman's Bridge, Coppet Hall and Saundersfoot unless you have booked something. Crazy right now, especially in a bigger van.

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Pembrokeshire touring without booking not ideal. The park and ride at bottom of tenby has some large van parking spaces. Middl of St davids not the choice for a 8m van and your first time. Just be careful out there. (REMEMBER hill st blues)
 
That does sound like a lot of driving.

It’s a beautiful place though so lots to see. When we did that route we came across things like a waterwheel and just pulled in to have a nose. That’s the beauty of motorhomes.
 
Sugarnan said:
If you do enter a pay and display carpark and need to occupy two spaces - please remember to buy two tickets and take a photo of them in place on dash. Much cheaper than fine ;)
Click to expand...
Also check that it is allowed to buy 2 tickets as many councils do not allow it.
 
Street view any car parks you may want to use a lot are putting in height barriers.
Take turns a little wider than you would in a car and wait for a bigger gap in traffic before you pull out,
The bigger vehicle will be slower to accelerate
 
Tenby is very busy in July/August and not even car friendly in high season. The last time we took family when they were staying with us it took us about half an hour to find a car parking space.

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