Try this fun and random way of touring the UK!

Petroleumblownapart

Petroleumblownapart

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Thought I'd describe a new (to us) fun diversion when planning (actually planning not allowed)....
We have been touring for 40 years and for the first 39 we planned our trips in advance, sometimes to a strict plan but mostly just a rough plan. However last year we couldn't decide where to go so we decided to be completely random with the results applied by strict criteria..... We used a randomising App on our phones and it let decide which direction from the current location. We set a max mileage, as the crow flies, of 80 miles and then used a ruler on a map to set a line in the chosen direction. We chose the closest site, pub, stopover to the line and whether we would have chosen it or not then that's where we would go. If we can't find a site along the line within about 10 miles of the line we start again until a result occurs..... We were a bit unsure if it would be a good system so we tried it!
It has been like a breath of fresh air and we have been to so many new places this last year, enjoyed doing things we might not have that we now do it several times a year. We only tour the UK so it's no problem. The whole process is fun....... Why not try it for yourself...... No pre-planning .... It's brilliant.
 
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We have never planned any thing,just a general direction we wanted to head to.
And this is the first year we have booked a campsite in advance,because we needed
to be in Benidorm to meet friends.
 
Figaro said:
What's a randomising app ?
And how does it chose your direction
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We use this one (screenshot). It's super flexible as you decide what to randomise. You can save several lists for later randomising. It's on Google Play but no idea about iOS. I'm sure there are others but this one is faultless.
We're doing a whole month next year with not a Scooby of where we will visit..... It's quite liberating, stressless and neither of us gets any blame for a bad pick. Having said that, we've only had 2 places we would not go to again.

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cyberyacht said:
Hmm. For those of us on the south coast, we could end up with wet feet.
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I had assumed some sort of common sense might apply. In any case there's not much chance of a suitable site at 50 fathoms, so hit randomise button again. Or buy an 8 sided dice if you don't like technology.
 
Love the idea of being completely random though I would set a minimum distance from home. Like many others I insist that I don't plan but I know that my inbuilt bias limits my choices.

Does the app. do degrees or just N/NW/S etc.?
 
We've always done a similar thing, but not relying so much on chance. We just choose an interesting looking area nearby on a map. We always used to use OS maps, (I just dumped 120 of them). Now we just love using Google earth instead. (y)
 
We never plan ahead.. just a general direction.
Before we set off, Jan does a lot research about places and things she would like to see... I just drive and do the cooking.
 
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Petroleumblownapart said:
We use this one (screenshot). It's super flexible as you decide what to randomise. You can save several lists for later randomising. It's on Google Play but no idea about iOS. I'm sure there are others but this one is faultless.
We're doing a whole month next year with not a Scooby of where we will visit..... It's quite liberating, stressless and neither of us gets any blame for a bad pick. Having said that, we've only had 2 places we would not go to again.

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Who is the developer of that one.
Play Store doesn't seem to offer anything called "RandomChooser" as far as I can see
 
We go analogue with the randomising app. Heads or tails works for us. The only thing we book are ferries out and return. If its wet up in northern France, head south. Stay the most 3 nights if we like it. If not move on.
 
It sounds an interesting idea. I am interested in more detail about how you have used it in the uk. 80 miles as the crow flies. How do you know there will be anything interesting along the road or when you get there? I think we would have a problem finding sites. We don’t do pub stop overs (expensive) and we are not prepared to pay £40 or £50 pounds for a site.
 
Langtoftlad said:
Who is the developer of that one.
Play Store doesn't seem to offer anything called "RandomChooser" as far as I can see
Click to expand...
Here's another screenshot. Deffo got ours from Google Play.

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hja said:
It sounds an interesting idea. I am interested in more detail about how you have used it in the uk. 80 miles as the crow flies. How do you know there will be anything interesting along the road or when you get there? I think we would have a problem finding sites. We don’t do pub stop overs (expensive) and we are not prepared to pay £40 or £50 pounds for a site.
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We don't know what we will find and that's half the fun. Britstop pubs don't normally charge anything, although the idea is to have a drink or buy food. CL sites or other small sites are usually around £20 including electric. If we can't find anything worth visiting after we arrive, we move on using the randomising App again the next night.
If there isn't a site listed anywhere within 10 miles along the 80 mile line we just randomise again until we get a site, even if it's only 30 miles away by road. The freedom from choice and fun we have is why we keep using it.
 
Folkranger said:
Love the idea of being completely random though I would set a minimum distance from home. Like many others I insist that I don't plan but I know that my inbuilt bias limits my choices.

Does the app. do degrees or just N/NW/S etc.?
Click to expand...
App does whatever you add to the list, you could decide on whether to stay in bed or fly to the moon. The limit is whatever you are happy with. If you want degrees then just add a few at random but it's hard to set a ruler on the map if you have odd degrees.
There used to be another App that randomly provided What3Word locations so that could completely randomise your direction line. Just join to the new W3W and decide how far you are prepared to travel..... Mmm Must try that one!

Maybe it should be call 'Magellan Magical Mystery’
 
Many of my trips into the unknown involve leaving Cardiff on the A4232 to join the M4.

I count the red and white cars coming towards me. When I reach the M4, if red cars are leading I turn right, if white I go west.

Repeat when heading east for the decision at the M5, the North or Devon.

Also carry a dice for odds or even decisions
 

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