Are councils finally getting it?

[Robmac]

I don't call myself anything - not a wildcamper, not a site camper, not a pub camper. I actually do all of those.

But where I do agree (and I've said many times) is that the creation of Aires all over the place, then wildcampers will be ushered onto them by the powers that be. To my mind Aires should be places where you can stop for an hour, empty waste and fill with water and then carry on your way. (having paid a small fee). Otherwise they are just sites with a different name.

 

[Robmac]

...Brilliant minds think alike Wully!

 

[brian c]

Robmac. I agree. If all motorway rest areas had a waste and refill bay and charged say a £5 fee 30 minute stay. Think how much they could earn for a small outlay. Or come to that any rest place.

 

[Robmac]

Robmac. I agree. If all motorway rest areas had a waste and refill bay and charged say a £5 fee 30 minute stay. Think how much they could earn for a small outlay. Or come to that any rest place.

I don't think we will know for a couple of years Brian, but my fear is that the locals attitude to wildcampers will be "We pay all of this money to provide Aires and they freeload in laybys...". Then they will put pressure on councils to enforce, which in my case will be making me pay for something which I probably don't want ie. a campsite!

I may be wrong and it may seem irrational to some, but I am a cynic by nature and deeply suspicious of the motives of councils.

 

[brian c]

In answer to where I empty my cassette. Learnt a good tip on here. Thank you Annie. Cassette. Bag the solids. The pee well toilets. Or drains. Or. Bottled or even depending where and how well diluted on the grass. Etc. Not much different to a person peeing in the open. Which seems as it is happening a lot more or maybe becoming more open Brian.

 

[Wully]

Think there is a couple of different types of wild campers theres the tight arse brigade that won’t ever pay for a site or an Aire all down to pennies with this type wanting free facilities and complain about it when it costs a quid. And There’s the type who wild camp because they genuinely like the wilderness and scenery who like hugging trees you know all brains nae common sense type . Then you’ve got the anti social brigade who don’t like being or sharing with anybody the bullied at school type will stay on a field with 20 vans but they will be in a corner by themselves. I like the idea of aires but as said it will cause problems down the line for wilding but the wilding spots were getting thinner anyway so better off with somewhere to park than no where to park.

 

[Robmac]

Think there is a couple of different types of wild campers theres the tight arse brigade that won’t ever pay for a site or an Aire all down to pennies with this type wanting free facilities and complain about it when it costs a quid. And There’s the type who wild camp because they genuinely like the wilderness and scenery who like hugging trees you know all brains nae common sense type . Then you’ve got the anti social brigade who don’t like being or sharing with anybody the bullied at school type will stay on a field with 20 vans but they will be in a corner by themselves. I like the idea of aires but as said it will cause problems down the line for wilding but the wilding spots were getting thinner anyway so better off with somewhere to park than no where to park.

You're getting to be a bit of a flossiffer Wully!

 

[Wully]

Man with one chopstick go hungry.

 

[Makzine]

Most of the time we're not "camping" wild or otherwise as we don't put out the chairs and tables etc, we just park up for the night to eat and sleep. Whether it's an Aire or a layby or carpark makes no difference to us as long as we're not bothering anyone.

 

[caledonia]

Think there is a couple of different types of wild campers theres the tight arse brigade that won’t ever pay for a site or an Aire all down to pennies with this type wanting free facilities and complain about it when it costs a quid. And There’s the type who wild camp because they genuinely like the wilderness and scenery who like hugging trees you know all brains nae common sense type . Then you’ve got the anti social brigade who don’t like being or sharing with anybody the bullied at school type will stay on a field with 20 vans but they will be in a corner by themselves. I like the idea of aires but as said it will cause problems down the line for wilding but the wilding spots were getting thinner anyway so better off with somewhere to park than no where to park.

I’m the one in the corner of the field. Don’t mind paying but most sites are organised into neat wee rows and we prefer our own company. Sands at Gairloch is my kinda site as you can always find a nice place to tuck yourself away. We used to like Findhorn but they’ve turned that into an aire type thing. We used to like Corrie na Ciste at Aviemore but they’ve turned that into an aire type thing.

 

[Robmac]

Most of the time we're not "camping" wild or otherwise as we don't put out the chairs and tables etc, we just park up for the night to eat and sleep. Whether it's an Aire or a layby or carpark makes no difference to us as long as we're not bothering anyone.

There's the thing though, I like to put out chairs and a table in a wild spot somewhere, that's all part of the experience. As long as I don't hinder anybody or leave any trace why should it bother anybody.

 

[brian c]

Okay interesting reading. 1. Motorhome builder. =self build. 2.Wild camping =. Camping side 3 Motorhomer. = subjects relating to motorhomes non camping side. 4.Would that be a definition of the three forums or ……,.,,,,brian

 

[Robmac]

Okay interesting reading. Motorhome builder. =self build. Wild camping =. Camping side Motorhomer. = subjects relating to motorhomes non camping side. Would that be a definition of the three forums or ……,.,,,,brian

That doesn't bother me Brian. There are people on the forums that don't even have a motorhome. Anybody is allowed within reason.

I do get where you are coming from though when discussions on a Wildcamping forum could possibly (and it's an opinion not a statement of fact), damage what the forum is essentially about. However, forums do evolve as does everything else unfortunately, so we may have to reluctantly move with the times!

 

[Fisherman]

To me the status quo is simply not an answer to what's going on.
So some don't want aires, but then don't offer an alternative.
Its really easy to say that we will be forced into aires,
that they are just the same as campsites, that they will become just as expensive.
But we need things to change.
Aires will create competition for the expensive campsites.
Campsites are rarely well positioned for us, being set up for tuggers who have access to a car.

If more and more of us use Aires then less will need to use campsites.
And those of us who love remote places will have less competition.
And the same applies to the many carparks that are closed to us in towns and villages.
There are all types of points that can be raised here.
But one thing is for certain, wether we accept the need for aires or not.
Parking up in a remote location alone is becoming more and more difficult,
and the way things are heading its going to become even more difficult.
And sadly thats the reality of what lies ahead.
And what's going on right now affects us all, regardless of how we interpret the term wild camping.

 

[Robmac]

To me the status quo is simply not an answer to what's going on.
So some don't want aires, but then don't offer an alternative.
Its really easy to say that we will be forced into aires,
that they are just the same as campsites, that they will become just as expensive.
But we need things to change.
Aires will create competition for the expensive campsites.
Campsites are rarely well positioned for us, being set up for tuggers who have access to a car.

If more and more of us use Aires then less will need to use campsites.
And those of us who love remote places will have less competition.
And the same applies to the many carparks that are closed to us in towns and villages.
There are all types of points that can be raised here.
But one thing is for certain, wether we accept the need for aires or not.
Parking up in a remote location alone is becoming more and more difficult,
and the way things are heading its going to become even more difficult.
And sadly thats the reality of what lies ahead.
And what's going on right now affects us all, regardless of how we interpret the term wild camping.

Terminology re wildcamping etc. aside Bill, I do suggest an alternative.

Waste and water stations with a half hour stay for a fee and if anybody wants to campaign, then let it be for the right to roam.

 

[Minisorella]

Okay interesting reading. 1. Motorhome builder. =self build. 2.Wild camping =. Camping side 3 Motorhomer. = subjects relating to motorhomes non camping side. 4.Would that be a definition of the three forums or ……,.,,,,brian

To be honest, I think it's much more flexible than that because we all get different things from each different forum and tend to chat about anything motorhome and/or camping related. Apart from you saying that Motorhomer is non-camping, your assessment above could be broadly useful if you want to look up something specific on a particular topic but membership criteria is a whole different issue and I don't think we should need to distinguish, as you seemed to be saying earlier. Don't forget, many of us were members of Wildcamping long before Motorhomer or Motorhome Builder came into being. Therefore, a heck of a lot of historical but useful information about motorhoming and motorhome maintenance/repair etc can still be found on Wildcamping, even if it didn't relate to wilding, if that makes sense.

I think the reason I felt my feathers beginning to ruffle a bit at your early posts is because there's no way I'd ever want to feel obliged to give up membership here, even though I don't wild camp much since my husband died. Apologies if it came over a little strong but we've had many people in the past being critical towards members at any mention of using a camp site, so it's a bit of an involuntary reaction Most of us will camp in whichever circumstances are appropriate for each individual trip, so we like to have access to all the information available. Like Wully, I absolutely love the meets and they moved from here to Motorhomer, hence the joint membership. For me it's more about community and each forum brings something to the table, covering all three basic topics and beyond. I don't over-think it... I just enjoy!

 

[Fisherman]

Terminology re wildcamping etc. aside Bill, I do suggest an alternative.

Waste and water stations with a half hour stay for a fee and if anybody wants to campaign, then let it be for the right to roam.

Yes Rob the right to roam, the right to park within the thousands of carparks that lye empty every night. It seems utter insanity that all of these parking spaces are lying empty but we have no access to them. If say 90% of the barriers and restrictions were removed tomorrow then the need for Aires would be very limited Rob. And your idea for filling/ emptying stations would be fine.
But sadly Rob I was dreaming when I dreamt up the example I just gave, it’s pie in the sky, it’s what the Viking’s called Valhalla.
Yes Rob, your idea would give us somewhere to empty our toilets and get freshwater, but it would do nothing to improve the lack of places where we can stay Rob. What’s needed is change, but what’s up for debate is what needs to change, and there’s were our differences lay.
16,000 vans were registered last year, Hymer, Carthago, Chausson, Adria, and others are building larger factories to build even more. That’s the reality, right I’m off to Valhalla, Hope I don’t meet any vikings who don’t like motorhomes

 

[Minisorella]

In answer to where I empty my cassette. Learnt a good tip on here. Thank you Annie. Cassette. Bag the solids. The pee well toilets. Or drains. Or. Bottled or even depending where and how well diluted on the grass. Etc. Not much different to a person peeing in the open. Which seems as it is happening a lot more or maybe becoming more open Brian.

I'm not sure I like the idea of putting pee down a normal drain to be fair... it's a whole different treatment system that's usually kept entirely separate. Just my opinion.

 

[Fisherman]

To be honest, I think it's much more flexible than that because we all get different things from each different forum and tend to chat about anything motorhome and/or camping related. Apart from you saying that Motorhomer is non-camping, your assessment above could be broadly useful if you want to look up something specific on a particular topic but membership criteria is a whole different issue and I don't think we should need to distinguish, as you seemed to be saying earlier. Don't forget, many of us were members of Wildcamping long before Motorhomer or Motorhome Builder came into being. Therefore, a heck of a lot of historical but useful information about motorhoming and motorhome maintenance/repair etc can still be found on Wildcamping, even if it didn't relate to wilding, if that makes sense.

I think the reason I felt my feathers beginning to ruffle a bit at your early posts is because there's no way I'd ever want to feel obliged to give up membership here, even though I don't wild camp much since my husband died. Apologies if it came over a little strong but we've had many people in the past being critical towards members at any mention of using a camp site, so it's a bit of an involuntary reaction Most of us will camp in whichever circumstances are appropriate for each individual trip, so we like to have access to all the information available. Like Wully, I absolutely love the meets and they moved from here to Motorhomer, hence the joint membership. For me it's more about community and each forum brings something to the table, covering all three basic topics and beyond. I don't over-think it... I just enjoy!

Excellent post Jennie, well put.
I to feel exactly as you, but I cannot describe as well as you how I feel.

 

[Robmac]

Yes Rob the right to roam, the right to park within the thousands of carparks that lye empty every night. It seems utter insanity that all of these parking spaces are lying empty but we have no access to them. If say 90% of the barriers and restrictions were removed tomorrow then the need for Aires would be very limited Rob. And your idea for filling/ emptying stations would be fine.
But sadly Rob I was dreaming when I dreamt up the example I just gave, it’s pie in the sky, it’s what the Viking’s called Valhalla.
Yes Rob, your idea would give us somewhere to empty our toilets and get freshwater, but it would do nothing to improve the lack of places where we can stay Rob. What’s needed is change, but what’s up for debate is what needs to change, and there’s were our differences lay.
16,000 vans were registered last year, Hymer, Carthago, Chausson, Adria, and others are building larger factories to build even more.

It doesn't matter what I say Bill so I wouldn't take much notice.

I can kick and scream to my hearts content about the right to roam and my hopes for wildcamping - the world marches on. If that is the future though - ie, camping on Aires (sites) then it won't be for me. I will switch to B&B's for holidays with Julie, tents and the motorcycle for true wildcamping and the boat for the nearest thing I can get to wildcamping in a campervan.