Parking - am I a van or a camper van

[TripleBee]

I would not wat to be in that persons shoes at that moment, never.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Insurance claim job, they probably had a corroded roof out of warranty.

 

[ArunAlec]

Insurance claim job, they probably had a corroded roof out of warranty.

I’d love to see the claim form, .... damage to third party... “recently refurbished filling station plus loss of business!
But looks like the BBQ survived .

 

[Lorri]

WOW I missed loads of your replies, thank you all by the way, made very interesting reading. BUT, we have been in Lincolnshire 3 days so far and have not “thankfully” come across any parking problems - think Hubby got a little over panicked with his reading. So far have visited Gainsborough and Lincoln itself. 3 more days to go.

 

[Meoncoast]

This motor home took out a filling station.....

Several(many) years ago this happened near us. A gas pilot light on a fridge caught the fumes of someone filling up with petrol at a filling station.

 

[shudycamps]

Why is it they dont want campervans?

Last summer at Holkham Beach in Norfolk during the height of the summer when an adjoining field is opened, vans, camper vans, mobile homes and caravans are forbidden to park. They are afraid of the travelling community taking up permanent abode and the ensuing cost of removing them.

 

[David Eccles]

I first came across this last Nov at Almnmouth Beach - they wanted £15 saying I was in a campervan;
I turned round and was going to drive off so the lady said oh just pay me the £4 car fee then!!!

 

[hirsty]

I think most of these signs are aimed at Big Whites - "they" don't want people setting up camp in public car parks. A small minority of oiks will also leave 'domestic' rubbish and/or cause toilet related issues no doubt.

I don't take any notice for standard car-type activity, I'm then just a Kombi for the day ...

 

[Grumpy Mike]

Same debate I had with DFDS. Me saying it takes up a similar space to a car and is a car. They say no it has a bed its a campervan. I say OK if I have a bed in my car what is it?? A campervan is the reply.....

 

[TripleBee]

Then you have to ask where the bed is?
Roof down and back seat up.
Where is the bed?

 

[Calibus]

Reading this and other links quite frankly worries me a tad. I just ponied up the best part of £40k for a vehicle, which I and my other half chose over others for it being small and practical and a take anywhere vehicle. Don't get me wrong, we're absolutely loving the Cali' and if confronted, will just turn round and go elsewhere, but this now seems another item to research before heading out for the weekend.

Suggestion, maybe a sticky or something along the lines of "areas not Cali friendly", obviously listing troublesome places, and likewise friendly places.

 

[Ross Theobald]

I first came across this last Nov at Almnmouth Beach - they wanted £15 saying I was in a campervan;
I turned round and was going to drive off so the lady said oh just pay me the £4 car fee then!!!

I got the same response earlier this month, there was no category for camper van, just car, motor home or motorbike.
£4 paid

 

[Meoncoast]

I first came across this last Nov at Almnmouth Beach - they wanted £15 saying I was in a campervan;
I turned round and was going to drive off so the lady said oh just pay me the £4 car fee then!!!

Had the same at Alnmouth Beach. Kimmeridge in Dorset is the same but consider VW campers are not at Motorhome and you pay the car rate.

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Because the minority have spoiled it for the majority by wild camping for long periods and leaving the place a mess. It wont be long before Scotland do the same IMHO.

Scotland has already started - we were on Mull last week and were handed a leaflet on the ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish called 'Mull Campervan Leaflet' in which it clearly says......'In particular, please note that there is no such thing as “wild camping” in Scotland in a motorhome or campervan. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code specifically excludes motorised access. This means that if you are parking in an area out-with established campsites you do not have permission to stay there and you may be asked to leave by the landowner.'

This is the leaflet http://www.isle-of-mull.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mull-Campervan-Leaflet-2019.pdf

Still noticed loads pitched up in forest entrances and quite frankly not doing us any good by having windbreaks and awnings up - Not very discreet!

 

[Sandyvan]

This is sad, I have been going to Scotland for years to get away from the crowds that the likes of Cornwall attract. The Scottish tourist board I suspect marketed the NC500 and now they are reaping what they have sewn.
I always topped up at local shops and filling stations also carried black bags and have litter picked spots where I had parked fearing we (wild campers would be blamed) but the more I hear I don't want to go now but have great memories.

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Sadly the NC500 has destroyed or is destroying some of the wonderful villages en-route and one being Applecross where locals hate being on it now. The roads are worse due to excess traffic and the Belach-na ba is a nightmare with stupid motorhomes trying to get up and blocking the hairpins. There are however still some places that remain quaint and not yet commercialised such as Ardnamurchan peninsula. We visited 9th - 13th via Tobermory route and stayed at Ardnamurchan Campsite which is on no through road. Facilities although old are clean but location had jaw dropping views over towards Mull. Ironically the site has been up for sale and had solicitors not been talking at this moment we'd have put a bid in and kept it as one of 'those' sites - no motorhomes or caravans - no TV's etc specific to VW campers.....and Cali's with just a few tents; no groups etc...... site was up for £200k - watch this space if current off falls through. That whole area is quite and relaxing with so much to see. Tobermory is only 35 mins from Kilchoan on ferry but watch out incase cruise ship visiting. When we were there the Columbus was moored and 1800 passengers descended on Tobermory!!

 

[vmaxkiddy]

Not a million miles away from Skegness my local has a new sign.

 

[Whistler]

Scotland has already started - we were on Mull last week and were handed a leaflet on the ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish called 'Mull Campervan Leaflet' in which it clearly says......'In particular, please note that there is no such thing as “wild camping” in Scotland in a motorhome or campervan. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code specifically excludes motorised access. This means that if you are parking in an area out-with established campsites you do not have permission to stay there and you may be asked to leave by the landowner.'

This is the leaflet http://www.isle-of-mull.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mull-Campervan-Leaflet-2019.pdf

Still noticed loads pitched up in forest entrances and quite frankly not doing us any good by having windbreaks and awnings up - Not very discreet!

Good on them for trying at least trying to educate people. If someone chooses to ignore the advice then they cant complain when they get moved on.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[Digger]

Timely reminder that all land in Scotland is actually privately owned with very few exceptions. Although you can walk, cycle and tent camp vehicles are specifically excluded. Not trying to spoil your fun but if we don't start recognising the writing on the wall we will become demonised and restricted. Discreet and mobile is the best method.

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Agreed - being discreet and one nighters the landowners seem ok about it's the minions that stay for days and put up everything that cause the issue. We've only actually done it 3 times. Once was actually a small (very small) car park near Oldshore right up north west. Was public car park with toilets (cold water and no lights), no signs saying no overnight and wonderful beach over the sand dunes. We arrived at around 8.30 pm exhausted from a very long day and no luck finding a site but had left without a trace by 7.30 the next morning only to realise a few miles further north was Durness campsite - doh. Another was an emergency dash from Staffin back to Norwich as my father had been taken into hospital. It was about 9 pm so we packed v quick and I drove as far as I dare till near dark (I was worried about fast driving with all the v big deer around) found a small track into a forest and left as soon as daylight arriving in Norwich late afternoon. Ironically on that same track was a huge motorhome but we went further up the track out of site and bet they never knew we'd even been! Now I mostly use Archies App to find places - it has only failed once!

 

[DavidofHook]

Good thread here:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/vw-california-parking-in-swanage-dorset-grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.9452/

A couple of years ago we were in swanage and there were two vans, small motorhomes, slightly bigger than VW van types, parked on the front with windows blocked out and very evidently 'living there' for a period. On that basis I can understand Swanage not accepting that situation. However, they are cutting off their noses if they ban California type vehicle just for parking. As someone said we are no larger than a big Merc and , as long as we don't 'camp', ie cook, sleep etc why not?

 

[DavidofHook]

I don’t quite agree. Amsterdam just announced a policy of aiming to reduce tourism numbers. We’ll see a lot more of that, as mass tourism really becomes a thing (ain’t seen nothing yet).

Times when tourists were seen as an automatic good are coming to an end. And that includes tourists driving vans.

You may have something there. We have just returned from a Caribbean cruise on a 3000 passenger ship and we arrived at tiny islands only to find that, not only were we there but also, in one case, 5 other huge ships carrying between 4 and 6000 people each. We queued to get off and swamped the place. Embarrassing and horrible. we will never do that again. but it shows the downside of mass tourism. Sorry to go slightly off piste and ,of course, not boasting!

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Interesting on size of vehicles being no larger than a big Merc. The new Mondeo Estate is slightly longer than a Cali and the new Audi A6 Allroad is nearly 2" longer!!!! and wider!! Audi 4938 long and Mondeo 4867. It looks like a Cali is 4892 long.

 

[Digger]

Discreet and short term parking is the best practice. Personally I use the Club sites and CL's if possible as they give security when leaving van on site to wander. My main gripe is the Big Whites which park up for days on end and are an eyesore, especially as they tend to attract others to their camp!!!
If we blend into the background why should the councils object.

 

[Norfolk Jim]

A camouflage cali seems appropriate then I agree they seem to attract unruly groups and disturb the peace. On the last night of our hols we stopped at site in Galloway Forest and while taking the dog for late walk I noticed a white transit pull in (sign said site full and office closed) - the driver had quick sculk around and parked out of the way and he and his mate pitched small dome tent in hidden spot away from all others. I don't know why but as I walked past I had the urge to take a picture of the van and reg without them knowing - doors open and 2 bikes in the back - later both of them in showers when I went to loo........................ sure enough the next morning they'd gone. When I saw the office open I mentioned this and gave them the details of the van and the blokes - they were grateful as they'd captured a vehicle on their camera but couldn't get the reg................... bast***s. Site owner was handing it too police and warning other sites