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We’ve been motorhomers for just over 2 years now, but compared to a lot of MHF members we’re still newbies. We’ve only had the one van: a 10 year old Auto-Sleeper which we love apart from one or two (well, three really) issues.
So far our pattern of camping has been to use mainly clubs sites, along with some CLs, CSs and the odd independent site. We’ve only ‘wild camped’ once, and that was by accident. A site cancelled our booking due to waterlogging so we slept in the van parked on the road outside our friends’ house when they had a party. Not ideal, but it solved the problem.
So,...apart from the usual questions about where you can camp and how you manage to find it what I’m really curious about is what you do when you’re camping? I realise there are probably infinite possibilities but I can’t help feeling they must somehow fit into one or other of the following three types.
1. You find your ideal spot, set up camp early in the day and spend your time in or around the van, enjoying your surroundings,
2. You set up camp then go off on foot, bicycle, bus or train for several hours, to do what you came to do, before returning later in the day.
3. You drive to somewhere you can park for the day while you do the things that interest you, then after your activities you find somewhere to camp for the night.
Before we could consider wild camping for other than the odd night we would need to spend some money to solve power, water and possibly security issues. For information, and possible encouragement, I’d like to hear stories about how members spend their time when wild camping.
Thanks
Chris
PS We tend to fit into 2, though as we are on camp sites we usually can't arrive before 12 noon on the first day. We wonder though, how safe it is to go off and leave your van if you're wild camping.
One of the most important things about wild camping is feeling secure in the place you are wild camping. We have pulled into a number of spots and have not fealt "happy" and have moved on. Most wild camping spots are known by many so you are not always entirely on your own.
There is safety in numbers so parking among fellow campers can be good. (not parking on top of them but giving them space) We have found places that have been unique and we have stayed there for several days.
I think the point you may be missing about wild camping is you dont really "set up camp", it is somewhere to park for the night when you are touring.
When we are out we are usually upto something, Climbing, canoeing, cycling or walking, these thing often mean we need to be somewhere off the beaton track.
club site aint really our thing cos we often arrive late evening and are planning on being somewhere early doors, so they do not represent value for money, we generally look for independent sites or farm site (never tried a cl or cs as we dont belong to a club, but like the idea) this is because i dont really want to pay more than £12 to £15 for a parking space for a night and we dont use hook ups.
So most of the time in the Lakes but more so Snowden we wild camp, there are many more small independent sites in the Lakes which makes the need for wild camping less.
So to answer your question
I generally have a rough idea where we are going to park, normally somewhere within walking distance to a pub, not near anybodies house and although a lot of people say they like to be on their own, we usually opt for somewhere there is usually one or two vans, saftey in numbers an all that,.
So after a days activities, hit the spot around dusk (thus attracting least attention) make some dinner in the van and head down the road for a few beers and if anybody were to ask me to move the answer is simple, I cant.
Wild camping is great, and not because it is cheap or other things people might say, but because it fits in with our lifestyle.
I am sure if you have not had much need to do it so far i doubt you ever will.
Hi Chrisandjohn.
We cast our vote before replying,and at the moment,we are not "Oddlegs". Enjoy the area you fancy staying the night,while doing so,look for somewhere safe looking, as it gets later in the day,in some of the more crowded areas people tend to drift away so you can often have a spot on a beach,or moorland to yourselves,in certain areas,perhaps a m/home may be parked up,have a chat,they may be stopping as well,there is safety in numbers,but that is obvious. I know this may sound silly to some people,but often parked up in the lorry of a night a police car has cruised by,and i have flagged them down and asked if this was a good spot to be ,they have allways been very helpfull,so no reason not to ask one yourself,they do know their patch.
10% of any money you save,can be sent to " Teds Stella Fund"
Jented
I think the point you may be missing about wild camping is you dont really "set up camp", it is somewhere to park for the night when you are touring.
When we are out we are usually upto something, Climbing, canoeing, cycling or walking, these thing often mean we need to be somewhere off the beaton track.
club site aint really our thing cos we often arrive late evening and are planning on being somewhere early doors, so they do not represent value for money, we generally look for independent sites or farm site (never tried a cl or cs as we dont belong to a club, but like the idea) this is because i dont really want to pay more than £12 to £15 for a parking space for a night and we dont use hook ups.
So most of the time in the Lakes but more so Snowden we wild camp, there are many more small independent sites in the Lakes which makes the need for wild camping less.
So to answer your question
I generally have a rough idea where we are going to park, normally somewhere within walking distance to a pub, not near anybodies house and although a lot of people say they like to be on their own, we usually opt for somewhere there is usually one or two vans, saftey in numbers an all that,.
So after a days activities, hit the spot around dusk (thus attracting least attention) make some dinner in the van and head down the road for a few beers and if anybody were to ask me to move the answer is simple, I cant.
Wild camping is great, and not because it is cheap or other things people might say, but because it fits in with our lifestyle.
I am sure if you have not had much need to do it so far i doubt you ever will.
Now if we had aires........
Paul
Thanks Paul,
I'm not sure I am missing a point so much as curious as to the range of ways people might wildcamp. Perhaps I should have emphasised the YOU in 'How do YOU wild camp'. I wasn't wanting people to be prescriptive. Anyway, you've told me how you do it so thanks. That was the kind of thing I wanted to know.
i'd find it hard to tick just one box, some times we wild camp on spec as a stop over on our way somewhere sometimes we head out with the intention of going to the beach for the day and don't fancy going home.
our last holiday was from good friday till the following sunday, all we knew was that we had campsites booked for the weekends and we knew where we wanted go inbetween, but nothing booked.
we ended up spending two nights in one spot, and yes we set up camp, chairs out in the sun for an afternoon sunbathing and then a leisurely walk to the pub for a meal and half a pint (the down side to wild camping)
you'll work out where's safe to stay for the night, weather on not to leave the van there while you go off etc, it's mostly common sense, ie you wouldn't leave your van in a car park covered with broken glass on the floor.
As for the police, never had any bother with em, last may bank holiday we even had armed police pop in for a brew inbetween doing security patrols of the area we were staying in.
the best thing about it all is finding that spot where at 6pm you are entirely on your own or with your friends and you have the best views of the surrounding area so you can sit back relax and enjoy!
i'd find it hard to tick just one box, some times we wild camp on spec as a stop over on our way somewhere sometimes we head out with the intention of going to the beach for the day and don't fancy going home.
our last holiday was from good friday till the following sunday, all we knew was that we had campsites booked for the weekends and we knew where we wanted go inbetween, but nothing booked.
we ended up spending two nights in one spot, and yes we set up camp, chairs out in the sun for an afternoon sunbathing and then a leisurely walk to the pub for a meal and half a pint (the down side to wild camping)
you'll work out where's safe to stay for the night, weather on not to leave the van there while you go off etc, it's mostly common sense, ie you wouldn't leave your van in a car park covered with broken glass on the floor.
As for the police, never had any bother with em, last may bank holiday we even had armed police pop in for a brew inbetween doing security patrols of the area we were staying in.
the best thing about it all is finding that spot where at 6pm you are entirely on your own or with your friends and you have the best views of the surrounding area so you can sit back relax and enjoy!
I know what you mean about ticking boxes. The poll was an afterthought really, I just want to hear people's different experiences of wildcamping, not just about the place they choose to stay at and how they found it, but how it fits into what they are doing with their time.
we have only been motorhoming 21/2 years, and we have not stayed on a site yet,except bream last year,and that was fun.
we are too i would say disorganised,but really its just wanting to come and go as we please,after 40 odd years having to be in a routine.
we, really me... goes on all the wildcamping sites, including this one,and gets an idea about an area,and ask other motorhomers,then we usally spend most of the day walking or round a castle or something,and then make in the general direction of where i,ve seen somewhere to park,but you get a good feel for somewhere,beach,lake national park,and try to park before it goes dark,so you can see what the ground is like,etc.
the first time you lay awake most of the night,every noise is at least a ten foot black bear,,,,,,,but you wake in the morning look out,and hopefully to a great veiw,we must be coming up to 400 nights,and still enjoy as much as the first week.
Its good to be able to just turn up on spec, no formalities, I suppose we see as part of the freedom a camper brings.
C&J, do you guys have any hobbies or activities that go along with your van?? maybe that would be a good topic for another thread.
Paul
We both like walking, John particularly has an interest in natural history and in gardening, and we're also both interested in art and architecture. We take lots of photos too while we're out and about. Mostly we want to stay somewhere where there are good walks. If we stay in or near a city we like to find art galleries and museums. We often combine motorhoming with visiting friends and family: mainly Dorset, Kent and Scotland so far. Also, 2 trips to France last year have made me determined to improve my French, so that has become an interest now.
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