Question for those with small camper vans.
Discussion
We drive to Spain three tines a year.
Been thinking of getting a little van for flexibility, touring and ease for the dogs ( not all hotels allow them)
Also all the french air du people just pull in and camp over night no issues.
Same on most roads and in the mountains. Lots of places to pull in and stay.
Thing is it’s a big investment just to use two/ three times a year.
When I’m driving around the UK I see signs in lay-bys no over night etc.
Is it camp sites only here, or Can I just drive until I’m tired and pull in somewhere.
How do you use them in the uk.
Been thinking of getting a little van for flexibility, touring and ease for the dogs ( not all hotels allow them)
Also all the french air du people just pull in and camp over night no issues.
Same on most roads and in the mountains. Lots of places to pull in and stay.
Thing is it’s a big investment just to use two/ three times a year.
When I’m driving around the UK I see signs in lay-bys no over night etc.
Is it camp sites only here, or Can I just drive until I’m tired and pull in somewhere.
How do you use them in the uk.
I would never stay in Aires in France. Lots of break-ins, sleeping gas being put in the camper and then robbed, fake Gendarmes etc.
As soon as you cross the border to Spain - completely different story. Nobody bothers you anywhere, thousands of wild camping places.
We camp regularly in our 4x4 camper in the Pyrenees.
Whole of Spain is campervan heaven.
Apart from Barcelona - never leave your camper on the streets of Barcelona.
There used to be two good big car parks that you were allowed to sleep in but both closed down recently. Now it's 35 euros in very few carparks if your van is taller than a low van and you're not allowed to sleep in it.
As soon as you cross the border to Spain - completely different story. Nobody bothers you anywhere, thousands of wild camping places.
We camp regularly in our 4x4 camper in the Pyrenees.
Whole of Spain is campervan heaven.
Apart from Barcelona - never leave your camper on the streets of Barcelona.
There used to be two good big car parks that you were allowed to sleep in but both closed down recently. Now it's 35 euros in very few carparks if your van is taller than a low van and you're not allowed to sleep in it.
Afraid I’ve got a very different view on France to the poster above.
I’ve spent 10s of nights in French Aires in all different kinds of areas and never had a problem. If anything, France and Germany have better provision than most other places in the EU in my experience. I’ve also wilded a fair bit in France and equally never had a problem nor been moved on even when I’ve parked up not noticing the no overnighting sign until the morning.
Sleeping gas is a popular urban myth. Do a bit more googling and you’ll find that a Consultant Anaesthatist debunked that myth a long time ago by describing how difficult it would be to knock someone out rather than kill them by injecting sleeping gas into a van and they’d also need a whole tanker or stuff given the volume of the van. Funny how all the people who claim to have been robbed by sleeping gas wielding Frenchies have the same in common - no signs of break in and copious amounts of wine drunk the night before and no money left in their wallets. Go figure!!
I’m not saying every Aire in as safe as houses but I find applying a bit of common sense as to where you park is no bad thing. I have arrived at some Aires and moved on (mainly in Belgium and far NW Germany but also in France) but soon found an alternative which has been safe and hassle free. Would avoid motorway services like the plague but then others feel different about that.
Different strokes for different folks but I would say France has amongst the best networks of Aires and tolerance of campers in Europe.
In the U.K., wilding is illegal in England and Wales but if you can park up discreetly (preferably late and leave early, also without a trace) you can get away with it. A bit more difficult in my 9m long Concorde but I’ve managed it at Dover the night before the ferry and in a few other choice spots. Scotland is great for it aside from Loch Lomond and the Trossacks in high season. I’d say in a small camper, providing you’re discreet, you should be able to have some cool nights away wilding.
I’ve spent 10s of nights in French Aires in all different kinds of areas and never had a problem. If anything, France and Germany have better provision than most other places in the EU in my experience. I’ve also wilded a fair bit in France and equally never had a problem nor been moved on even when I’ve parked up not noticing the no overnighting sign until the morning.
Sleeping gas is a popular urban myth. Do a bit more googling and you’ll find that a Consultant Anaesthatist debunked that myth a long time ago by describing how difficult it would be to knock someone out rather than kill them by injecting sleeping gas into a van and they’d also need a whole tanker or stuff given the volume of the van. Funny how all the people who claim to have been robbed by sleeping gas wielding Frenchies have the same in common - no signs of break in and copious amounts of wine drunk the night before and no money left in their wallets. Go figure!!
I’m not saying every Aire in as safe as houses but I find applying a bit of common sense as to where you park is no bad thing. I have arrived at some Aires and moved on (mainly in Belgium and far NW Germany but also in France) but soon found an alternative which has been safe and hassle free. Would avoid motorway services like the plague but then others feel different about that.
Different strokes for different folks but I would say France has amongst the best networks of Aires and tolerance of campers in Europe.
In the U.K., wilding is illegal in England and Wales but if you can park up discreetly (preferably late and leave early, also without a trace) you can get away with it. A bit more difficult in my 9m long Concorde but I’ve managed it at Dover the night before the ferry and in a few other choice spots. Scotland is great for it aside from Loch Lomond and the Trossacks in high season. I’d say in a small camper, providing you’re discreet, you should be able to have some cool nights away wilding.
mudnomad said:
I would never stay in Aires in France. Lots of break-ins, sleeping gas being put in the camper and then robbed, fake Gendarmes etc.
As soon as you cross the border to Spain - completely different story. Nobody bothers you anywhere, thousands of wild camping places.
We camp regularly in our 4x4 camper in the Pyrenees.
Whole of Spain is campervan heaven.
Apart from Barcelona - never leave your camper on the streets of Barcelona.
There used to be two good big car parks that you were allowed to sleep in but both closed down recently. Now it's 35 euros in very few carparks if your van is taller than a low van and you're not allowed to sleep in it.
I'm sorry but I rarely reply to pistonheads comments but I had to with this.As soon as you cross the border to Spain - completely different story. Nobody bothers you anywhere, thousands of wild camping places.
We camp regularly in our 4x4 camper in the Pyrenees.
Whole of Spain is campervan heaven.
Apart from Barcelona - never leave your camper on the streets of Barcelona.
There used to be two good big car parks that you were allowed to sleep in but both closed down recently. Now it's 35 euros in very few carparks if your van is taller than a low van and you're not allowed to sleep in it.
We have spent the last three years of holidays all over frances stsying purely on aires and have never experienced one problem and we have stayed in a few less than wonderful places while visiting Paris etc
It is only recommended you dont stop on Aires that are actually on the motorways and near Calais etc (most are now closes anyway).
agent006 said:
All aire means is "area".
Aire du service, on the side of a motorway. These are where all the bad tales arise from.
Aire du camping car, in a town or village centre. Never had a problem, rarely hear of any.
+1. stayed in a few all over France, most are right in town centres and either free or just a few euros Vicarious do a series of books inspiringly named <insert country name> all the aires. Have a look on their website for details https://www.vicarious-shop.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI...Aire du service, on the side of a motorway. These are where all the bad tales arise from.
Aire du camping car, in a town or village centre. Never had a problem, rarely hear of any.
Spuffington said:
Different strokes for different folks but I would say France has amongst the best networks of Aires and tolerance of campers in Europe.
In the U.K., wilding is illegal in England and Wales but if you can park up discreetly (preferably late and leave early, also without a trace) you can get away with it. A bit more difficult in my 9m long Concorde but I’ve managed it at Dover the night before the ferry and in a few other choice spots. Scotland is great for it aside from Loch Lomond and the Trossacks in high season. I’d say in a small camper, providing you’re discreet, you should be able to have some cool nights away wilding.
Absolutely agree regarding France, I have a little study on anaesthetic principles. It’s a total urban myth.In the U.K., wilding is illegal in England and Wales but if you can park up discreetly (preferably late and leave early, also without a trace) you can get away with it. A bit more difficult in my 9m long Concorde but I’ve managed it at Dover the night before the ferry and in a few other choice spots. Scotland is great for it aside from Loch Lomond and the Trossacks in high season. I’d say in a small camper, providing you’re discreet, you should be able to have some cool nights away wilding.
I’ve slept in plenty of these French lay bys I’m just too old to do it any more and she won’t so it’s hotels. I’ve never felt anything other than 100% safe and anyway nobody is getting near us without the dogs alerting us.
Last trip back about 5 weeks ago it got quite stressful finding a place we had tunnel to get to and didn’t know exactly how much progress we’d make.
As to the above. The absolute state of this country
illegal all over the rest of the world people happily do things we can’t without worry or stress, it’s depressing.Thanks for the info. One of the reasons I love Spain it’s far more relaxed.
Oh well we will see I’m bidding on a few on eBay that are cheap enough. I’d just like to use them here as well. Will look at prices of actual sites here.
agent006 said:
All aire means is "area".
Aire du service, on the side of a motorway. These are where all the bad tales arise from.
Aire du camping car, in a town or village centre. Never had a problem, rarely hear of any.
OK, just for clarification - I was purely talking about the unmanned aire du service. Didn't know there is also a camping option. Aire du service, on the side of a motorway. These are where all the bad tales arise from.
Aire du camping car, in a town or village centre. Never had a problem, rarely hear of any.
https://campingcarpark.com/
We use these all year around, access 24/7 usually unmanned, pay by card at the gate. We much prefer them to proper full on campsites as we're very self contained in our camper. We don't mind wildcamping if the location is OK, but wouldn't stop over on an autoroute or main route rest stop aire.
We use these all year around, access 24/7 usually unmanned, pay by card at the gate. We much prefer them to proper full on campsites as we're very self contained in our camper. We don't mind wildcamping if the location is OK, but wouldn't stop over on an autoroute or main route rest stop aire.
Balmoral said:
https://campingcarpark.com/
We use these all year around, access 24/7 usually unmanned, pay by card at the gate. We much prefer them to proper full on campsites as we're very self contained in our camper. We don't mind wildcamping if the location is OK, but wouldn't stop over on an autoroute or main route rest stop aire.
Very useful, thank you We use these all year around, access 24/7 usually unmanned, pay by card at the gate. We much prefer them to proper full on campsites as we're very self contained in our camper. We don't mind wildcamping if the location is OK, but wouldn't stop over on an autoroute or main route rest stop aire.
[quote=Pesty
Is it camp sites only here, or Can I just drive until I’m tired and pull in somewhere.
How do you use them in the uk.
[/quote]
Quite a few pubs will let you stay overnight in return for you buying beer and food.
http://www.wildcamping.moonfruit.com/pub-stopovers...
Is it camp sites only here, or Can I just drive until I’m tired and pull in somewhere.
How do you use them in the uk.
[/quote]
Quite a few pubs will let you stay overnight in return for you buying beer and food.
http://www.wildcamping.moonfruit.com/pub-stopovers...
I notice from your profile you're in Yorkshire. I don't know how common it is, or if it's something peculiar to North Yorkshire, but my brother in law who has a VW t5 camper van spends many of his weekends at Saltburn by the Sea or Scarborough as you can park overnight in some of the council car parks for free or cheaply.
On a similar note when we were at Helmsley a few weeks ago I noticed that motorhomes and camper vans could park in the overflow car park over night, again for free or a few £.
My son has a friend whose family are into mountain biking and spend their holidays in Scotland in a motor home on forestry commission sites as they can stay free of charge.
On a similar note when we were at Helmsley a few weeks ago I noticed that motorhomes and camper vans could park in the overflow car park over night, again for free or a few £.
My son has a friend whose family are into mountain biking and spend their holidays in Scotland in a motor home on forestry commission sites as they can stay free of charge.
Regarding the UK there are some areas in England with bylaws which prevent overnight parking / camping.
In some areas its not enforced, in others it is strictly enforced. For example Cornwall has some fairly strict rules. Lake district similar. Its £££ thing.
With the advent of Parking Eye cameras a lot of car parks now have automated systems.
That said, there is a whole wild camping movement in the UK. Have a look on the Wild Camping Forum. They have a google maps system which you can download to TomTom. There is also several hundred pubs which signed up to Wild Camping network which will allow you to park in their car park. Some free of charge, others £5 or so.
I wild camped dozens of times all over the UK in our van and never moved on once. Had a knock on the door once in a rural car park which had lift up bollards to stop parking and they knocked on to say they were lifting them at 9pm and they would not drop them till 7am if we ok with that then stay put which we did. IME the more rural you go the less chance of even seeing anyone. We have stayed in some pretty remote places and you might not hear or see anyone all night.
Scotland is better for wild camping though and AFAIK they permit overnight camping on the highway.
Wales seems ok in most places. We parked our van directly on the beach at Llandonna and stayed for 2-3 days at a time several times incl bank holiday weekends - even though there are signs saying not to do so it seems to be ignored as there were 10-15 vans most nights. I found the best thing to do is try somewhere out, do one night and if you find a good spot and the locals are happy and there is no problems sometimes you can do a few nights.
In some areas its not enforced, in others it is strictly enforced. For example Cornwall has some fairly strict rules. Lake district similar. Its £££ thing.
With the advent of Parking Eye cameras a lot of car parks now have automated systems.
That said, there is a whole wild camping movement in the UK. Have a look on the Wild Camping Forum. They have a google maps system which you can download to TomTom. There is also several hundred pubs which signed up to Wild Camping network which will allow you to park in their car park. Some free of charge, others £5 or so.
I wild camped dozens of times all over the UK in our van and never moved on once. Had a knock on the door once in a rural car park which had lift up bollards to stop parking and they knocked on to say they were lifting them at 9pm and they would not drop them till 7am if we ok with that then stay put which we did. IME the more rural you go the less chance of even seeing anyone. We have stayed in some pretty remote places and you might not hear or see anyone all night.
Scotland is better for wild camping though and AFAIK they permit overnight camping on the highway.
Wales seems ok in most places. We parked our van directly on the beach at Llandonna and stayed for 2-3 days at a time several times incl bank holiday weekends - even though there are signs saying not to do so it seems to be ignored as there were 10-15 vans most nights. I found the best thing to do is try somewhere out, do one night and if you find a good spot and the locals are happy and there is no problems sometimes you can do a few nights.
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