Just booked our first overnight try out!

[Deleted member 79335]

I've done it now :scared:
I've only gone and booked a pitch for New Years Eve at a site just outside Bellingham, Northumberland.

It's just a trial outing to see what is and what isn't needed.
theboerigg.co.uk

 

[Pauljenny]

Welcome. You've already made a wise decision, taking full membership.
Spend time going through all the forums on offer.. There's so much information and experience on offer.
If you need any advice, just ask here.
Have fun and adventures.

 

[phillybarbour]

I hope all goes well and you enjoy the first outing.

 

[Deleted member 3011]

Absolute best place for a first night try out is in your own driveway

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Hey Ken,
(Welcome)

Hope the first night goes ok for you !., But can I just say don’t get disappointed if it puts up a hitch or two, Treat any hitches as a learning curve to happiness when solved.
Enjoy

 

[campervanannie]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[trixie88]

good luck.......im sure you will enjoy it........first night out....big adventure.....whooooo...we were so excited on our first night in the van....parked at the top of the street,,i may add...lol.

 

[Robmac]

Welcome to the forum.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Deleted member 78698]

Hi, nice area. Dont forget you can also overnight at Elf Kirk near Kielder dam or the car park by Kielder Castle for £10 or theres a cracking POI near Falstone village.

The caravan & camping site on the other side of Bellingham is also a good stopover.

Love that area this time of year. Pity about the bloody midgies in the summer months. Enjoy.

Victor

 

[witzend]

Absolute best place for a first night try out is in your own driveway

I'd suggest this as well We spent a weekend in our own garden locked door to house fri nite til sunday evening used every thing in the van quite a learning curve any snags would have been easier to sort at home.
Rather than new years in Northumberland.

 

[Lee]

It will be a great experience what ever happens but just one thing make sure you have enough gas to keep you warm.

Have a brilliant time.
Welcome to the forum you are among like minded people.

 

[trevskoda]

Welcome from ulster,good first place to camp,you may catch the night time line underware tea leaf.

 

[landoboguy]

Hope you have fun.
Get a good charge (unless your hooked up) , check the gas, and take a good quilt. Dont forget a little whiskey to "see in the new year"

Enjoy

 

[antiqueman]

or

Absolute best place for a first night try out is in your own driveway

a pub car park:idea-007:

 

[Deleted member 79335]

Hope you have fun.
Get a good charge (unless your hooked up) , check the gas, and take a good quilt. Dont forget a little whiskey to "see in the new year"

Enjoy

We'll be on a hookup and have a fan heater on board although we also have a good diesel heater and a quilt.
Oh and we definitely will not forget the whisky!

 

[Deleted member 79335]

I'd suggest this as well We spent a weekend in our own garden locked door to house fri nite til sunday evening used every thing in the van quite a learning curve any snags would have been easier to sort at home.
Rather than new years in Northumberland.

hmm we have no drive and keep the camper at my parents house. Not too keen on spending the night there though

Bellingham isn't far from where we live and we have friends staying at the Camping and caravaning club that week.

 

[Deleted member 79335]

Hi, nice area. Dont forget you can also overnight at Elf Kirk near Kielder dam or the car park by Kielder Castle for £10 or theres a cracking POI near Falstone village.

The caravan & camping site on the other side of Bellingham is also a good stopover.

Love that area this time of year. Pity about the bloody midgies in the summer months. Enjoy.

Victor

I'll see how we go and could well end up checking out the Angel inn at Falstone thanks

 

[Deleted member 79335]

Well the first night on ehu went very well. The owners of the site were very welcoming and friendly even keeping the bar open into the New Year, well after their advertised 10pm closing time. They also brought out tasty bites and double fried chips for everyone f.o.c.. Went into a lovely little pub in Bellingham for a couple of drinks with friends who were staying on the Caravan and Campers Club site.


To be honest I wouldn't have liked to have been on any of the other 5 hard-standings as we were parked up quite close together so think we had the best site with open views.


The food in the restaurant was really good and at a reasonable price.

No complaints about feeling cold as we had a 3 season sleeping bag and left the fan heater on low all night, although only heard it switch on once in the early morning. Gas, hot and cold water, heating, TV, microwave all working good.

New Years day and decided to head north to Kielder.

After stopping at the dam for a cuppa and a dog walk we carried on to Kielder village where the Angel Inn accepted over night campers f.o.c. in exchange for eating in. However this was very busy so traveled up to the Forestry Commission car park where they have an area for staying overnight.

However, if you arrive before 9pm you have to pay the £5 daily charge and then £15 on top to spend the night, leaving at 9am. We thought that was a little expensive considering there were no facilities so decided to wild camp further North.

We ended up at the Hermitage Castle on the Scottish Borders and as it was getting dark set up for the night in the lonely car park facing the eerie castle!



We were just getting cosy when the leisure batteries decided they'd had enough and the diesel heater promptly shut down. Now it was already frosty outside and the gritters had been out already so as we were only 2 hours from home we decided to call it a day.

The next morning our leisure batteries had completely discharged. Nothing was switched on so it was a bit of a mystery. The only thing I can think of at the moment is a faulty split charging relay allowing current back to the vehicle battery. I don't know, but further investigation will be needed before our next trip out.

That's what this run out was all about though, trialing the vehicle and it's systems. We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and cannot wait to get away again.

 

[trevskoda]

Well the first night on ehu went very well. The owners of the site were very welcoming and friendly even keeping the bar open into the New Year, well after their advertised 10pm closing time. They also brought out tasty bites and double fried chips for everyone f.o.c.. Went into a lovely little pub in Bellingham for a couple of drinks with friends who were staying on the Caravan and Campers Club site.
View attachment 69152

To be honest I wouldn't have liked to have been on any of the other 5 hard-standings as we were parked up quite close together so think we had the best site with open views.
View attachment 69149 View attachment 69150 View attachment 69151

The food in the restaurant was really good and at a reasonable price.

No complaints about feeling cold as we had a 3 season sleeping bag and left the fan heater on low all night, although only heard it switch on once in the early morning. Gas, hot and cold water, heating, TV, microwave all working good.

New Years day and decided to head north to Kielder.
View attachment 69153
After stopping at the dam for a cuppa and a dog walk we carried on to Kielder village where the Angel Inn accepted over night campers f.o.c. in exchange for eating in. However this was very busy so traveled up to the Forestry Commission car park where they have an area for staying overnight.

However, if you arrive before 9pm you have to pay the £5 daily charge and then £15 on top to spend the night, leaving at 9am. We thought that was a little expensive considering there were no facilities so decided to wild camp further North.

We ended up at the Hermitage Castle on the Scottish Borders and as it was getting dark set up for the night in the lonely car park facing the eerie castle!

View attachment 69154 View attachment 69155 View attachment 69156

We were just getting cosy when the leisure batteries decided they'd had enough and the diesel heater promptly shut down. Now it was already frosty outside and the gritters had been out already so as we were only 2 hours from home we decided to call it a day.

The next morning our leisure batteries had completely discharged. Nothing was switched on so it was a bit of a mystery. The only thing I can think of at the moment is a faulty split charging relay allowing current back to the vehicle battery. I don't know, but further investigation will be needed before our next trip out.

That's what this run out was all about though, trialing the vehicle and it's systems. We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and cannot wait to get away again.

If the relay was stuck then you would not get engine started as that battery would also be flat,more like its not working or as normal the mr diy twiddle been having a go,any vans or boats i have worked on this is mostly the case.

 

[alcam]

Well the first night on ehu went very well. The owners of the site were very welcoming and friendly even keeping the bar open into the New Year, well after their advertised 10pm closing time. They also brought out tasty bites and double fried chips for everyone f.o.c.. Went into a lovely little pub in Bellingham for a couple of drinks with friends who were staying on the Caravan and Campers Club site.
View attachment 69152

To be honest I wouldn't have liked to have been on any of the other 5 hard-standings as we were parked up quite close together so think we had the best site with open views.
View attachment 69149 View attachment 69150 View attachment 69151

The food in the restaurant was really good and at a reasonable price.

No complaints about feeling cold as we had a 3 season sleeping bag and left the fan heater on low all night, although only heard it switch on once in the early morning. Gas, hot and cold water, heating, TV, microwave all working good.

New Years day and decided to head north to Kielder.
View attachment 69153
After stopping at the dam for a cuppa and a dog walk we carried on to Kielder village where the Angel Inn accepted over night campers f.o.c. in exchange for eating in. However this was very busy so traveled up to the Forestry Commission car park where they have an area for staying overnight.

However, if you arrive before 9pm you have to pay the £5 daily charge and then £15 on top to spend the night, leaving at 9am. We thought that was a little expensive considering there were no facilities so decided to wild camp further North.

We ended up at the Hermitage Castle on the Scottish Borders and as it was getting dark set up for the night in the lonely car park facing the eerie castle!

View attachment 69154 View attachment 69155 View attachment 69156

We were just getting cosy when the leisure batteries decided they'd had enough and the diesel heater promptly shut down. Now it was already frosty outside and the gritters had been out already so as we were only 2 hours from home we decided to call it a day.

The next morning our leisure batteries had completely discharged. Nothing was switched on so it was a bit of a mystery. The only thing I can think of at the moment is a faulty split charging relay allowing current back to the vehicle battery. I don't know, but further investigation will be needed before our next trip out.

That's what this run out was all about though, trialing the vehicle and it's systems. We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and cannot wait to get away again.

Probably proves your trial run was the right way to go .
I'm notorious for my lack of preparation , organisation etc .
First van 7 years ago I was part exchanging . Down to Sunderland , did the business , threw a pile of stuff in van and took off . Good bit of England then France , Spain and a wee bit of Italy . I got away with it , just .
Learned a lot but possibly a wee bit prep would have helped