Lake District this weekend - yea or nay?

[EdintheClouds]

Haven't been out in my '94 Hymer for six months but need to drop our son back in Edinburgh soon (we live in Suffolk) so thought I might use it as an excuse for a short trip. The Lakes on Saturday night is one of the options: any opinions about how welcome or otherwise we'd be? Also, any recommendations for good spots for an overnight stop in the Lakes in a 6.6m, 4.6T MH? Thanks in advance.

 

[barge1914]

Kendal Cricket Club car park £5

 

[Obanboy666]

There have been reports of people being moved on, I recall a thread about the police actually being involved earlier in the COVID crisis when idiots were still visiting the lakes in motorhomes and tents when you weren’t allowed to move from your house / area.
Things are probably better now but why not just use a CS like I’m doing at present, I’m sure £11.00 a night won’t break the bank.

 

[winks]

Kendal would be good so you fill up at Morrison’s and Aldi is just across the road. Then over Shap on the A6 and back the M6 at J39.

Cheers

H

 

[iandsm]

The Swinside Inn. Look it up on google. Great stopover

 

[Harryw]

Just checked the last couple of feedbacks on search for sites for the swinside inn, it seems it’s no longer MH friendly?

 

[iandsm]

That’s a pity or was a great please to stop. Good food too

 

[maureenandtom]

There;s a longish discussion here https://wildcamping.co.uk/threads/1970s-bylaw-used-to-ban-camping-in-lake-district.81887/

Briefly, this guy was moved on by police who quoted a bye-law of the National Park banning wildcamping, including roads and laybys, and threatening a £500 fine. He moved and later contacted the Lake District National Park authority who confirmed that there was no NP bye=law in force banning overnighting in lay-byes .

It seems to me that the police and the National Park Authority are assuming powers that do not exist and when challenged, the NP Authority almost admits it Here is the NP response to the motorhoming crimial.

Quoted from the link The first ten seconds of the video are the important ones and this quote is from the comments.


I sent them an email last night, in their reply they have confirmed they do not own the roads or lay-bys (not part of their land). Here is their response,

Here is information we currently have on the issue of campervans ‘The legislation regarding staying overnight in campervans is not entirely straightforward. In general, it is an offence under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act to drive a motor vehicle off the road onto land. But it is not an offence if you drive up to 15 yards for the sole purpose of parking. However, in general, sleeping overnight would not be classed as ‘parking’ – and is therefore likely to be an offence. But, nor is it an offence if the landowner has given permission. Unfortunately, the National Park Authority has no ability to take action against incidents of this nature, as we have no specific powers to do so. Offences under the Road Traffic Act are dealt with by the Police’

The NP Authority has no ability to take action. It says so. And nor does the police when quoting a non-existent bye;law.