Aires feature on BBC Landward this weekend - please watch!

[Fisherman]

The way I see our current situation is doing nothing other than complaining about what others are doing is not an option.
Even in my 5 years I have seen a gradual erosion of places to park up for the night. I personally have lost around 8 places were I had previously parked up that are no longer available. And in England and Wales it’s looking even worse. Add to this over 16000 new vans last year compared to 4000 in the year 2000, I think you can see we have problems. Basically more vans looking for less places each year. I hear folk saying that they prefer solitude, well don’t most of us sometimes, I know I do. We ventured to a spot were twice before we were alone this year. When we arrived four vans were in place, and we finished up a mile away on a lay-bye.

Doing nothing sadly is not an option, I wish it was.
Times are changing , and sadly we have to make the best of what’s on offer. it’s simply not realistic to think that we can go back to how things were 20 years ago or more. I would love to see more carparks and places in towns remove their restrictions, and for remote locations to go back to how they were, but they won’t. And we are not only competing against each other for road space and parking now, many car owners are also venturing to places they would never have ventured to before, creating even more pressure. The NC 500 is only one example, there are others, and every year we hear of similar routes being developed all over the U.K. and Ireland.

On the bright side we will be venturing out more in winter. It’s a time of year when you can still find that solitude in wonderful locations. There’s a guy on YouTube who posts his winter trips in scotland his site is called seeing scotland in a Motorhome. Wherever he ventures he spends the night alone. And these places he stops are normally busy in summer. He inspired us to get out more outwith the warmer months, and the scenery in winter is more spectacular than in summer.

 

[barryd]

Well my suspicions about the Lake District seem to be true. Been here over a week now and so far only one wilding spot we used to frequent is still open to us but its not exactly easy to get to. There are no overnighting signs everywhere now. Its fine for us as we are mainly using CL sites and the bike to tour about on and this time of year I dont want to be off hookup long anyway but it is a shame. Some of the wild spots we used to use were cracking. We are off to Wastwater and Eskdale area today and looking at the POI map all the ones down the side of the lake have gone. Why? Hardly anyone goes there and they are just laybys overlooking the lake on a quiet road. I thought legally we were allowed to spend the night within 15 yards of the road anyway. Perhaps its a National Park bylaw that allows them to ban us I dunno..

Just spent four nights on the Caravan and Motorhome Club site at Dockray Meadow near Loweswater and Ennerdale water. Now before you laugh and disown me its not bad. Its a bit like a posh aire in France. Just services (Really good services) and EHU and loads of space. Park where you like (on well spaced out pitches) and just £15 a night. There are no toilets or showers of course here which is great. Keeps the price down I guess so in effect it is a bit like a large aire. More of these I would say would be great. I never would use site facilities but I am more than happy to pay £15 for a place like this.

 

[barge1914]

Totally agree. Free or a fiver sounds about right. I wouldnt use them if they were above a tenner. May as well pay for a CL which chances are will have more space and a view.

CAMpRA survey found the majority are happy to pay £5 for parking only, or £10 if water and disposal services are included. CAMpRA don’t advocate EHU as essential, and if practical it’s better to pay as you go for services rather than all inclusive. However many site owners think they can increase their charges and revenue by providing and including services. As mentioned before in some areas on the Scottish west coast, islands and parts of Wales some owners and councils are milking the present situation because there simply isn’t any competition and demand is far outstripping supply. If Aires become commonplace as in parts of Europe then one would hope market pressures will bring back some sanity and competition.

 

[barge1914]

The way I see our current situation is doing nothing other than complaining about what others are doing is not an option.
Even in my 5 years I have seen a gradual erosion of places to park up for the night. I personally have lost around 8 places were I had previously parked up that are no longer available. And in England and Wales it’s looking even worse. Add to this over 16000 new vans last year compared to 4000 in the year 2000, I think you can see we have problems. Basically more vans looking for less places each year. I hear folk saying that they prefer solitude, well don’t most of us sometimes, I know I do. We ventured to a spot were twice before we were alone this year. When we arrived four vans were in place, and we finished up a mile away on a lay-bye.

Doing nothing sadly is not an option, I wish it was.
Times are changing , and sadly we have to make the best of what’s on offer. it’s simply not realistic to think that we can go back to how things were 20 years ago or more. I would love to see more carparks and places in towns remove their restrictions, and for remote locations to go back to how they were, but they won’t. And we are not only competing against each other for road space and parking now, many car owners are also venturing to places they would never have ventured to before, creating even more pressure. The NC 500 is only one example, there are others, and every year we hear of similar routes being developed all over the U.K. and Ireland.

On the bright side we will be venturing out more in winter. It’s a time of year when you can still find that solitude in wonderful locations. There’s a guy on YouTube who posts his winter trips in scotland his site is called seeing scotland in a Motorhome. Wherever he ventures he spends the night alone. And these places he stops are normally busy in summer. He inspired us to get out more outwith the warmer months, and the scenery in winter is more spectacular than in summer.

This year being the exception, nearly all my trips around Scotland have been between December and February. The moody weather and atmosphere adds something that is missing in summer, and removes something that is all too evident in summer…people! We’ve have some horrendous weather, days when the only traffic has been ourselves…and snowploughs. And a few years back while the rest of the country was been blasted by storm after storm after storm we had wall to wall blue sky and sun for three weeks all the way round the north coast…mind you, it was a mite chilly!