motorhome user calls us spongers

[HolidayRambler123]

we use camp sites all the time but thats purely so we can leave our pride and joy safe, but boy you pay for it, but what's wrong with taking advantage of using laybys car parks etc ?? after all we all pay road TAX !! Dont we ??

 

[Deleted member 2636]

Aren't motorhomes made to be used 'off site'?

No they are supposed to sit on your drive for 50 weeks of the year and not do more than 3k miles in that time

 

[Firefox]

The person who wrote the letter/article is clearly deranged, not to mention having a poor command of vernacular English!

A sponger is someone who begs or borrows money off another.

How can free camping, espec parked on a roadside, aire, or layby be begging or borrowing money off somebody? We are merely choosing not to pay campsite fees. And the fact that there is no campsite shop or bar to supply us means we are much more likely to spend money in local shops or bars rather than the cash going into the central coffers of a camping club.

Far from being spongers, we are actually the opposite; people who are likely contribute income to local shops or bars.

 

[maingate]

What forum are you on about? can't seem to find anything on the forums I use....got a link??

Martyn

Do a search on outandaboutlive.co.uk (or com?). Search using 'wildcamping and you will see some of the ding dongs I have had on there with the stuffy old farts who frequent that site (and think they own it).

I use a different name on there and you will have to guess who I am. Not difficult. :dance:

 

[Bernard Jones]

I've paid my road tax to use the public road. Why should I pay twice to park it somewhere else?

 

[Mothman]

As ive said in my earlier posts i wild camp to get away from the hurley burley of modern life, to get away from noisey people ,,, thats if they dont park next to us im not paying for a noisey over run sheep hurding penn at a huge cost when all i really want is to be in the semi wild ALONE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i was a member on a campervan forum and all they seem to want to do is go on huge meet ups on sites,,, dont get me wrong if thats what they like all meeting up 20 or so vans then thats all good, but im not made that way call me unsociable or a loner but i like my space,, & i like this forum to boot,, you guys are my cup of tea

 

[fairytooth]

If I was going to stay on a site I'd have bought a caravan!! And for a lot less. Aren't motorhomes made to be used 'off site'?

Exactly! So just keep doing what you enjoy. Unfortunately many people in Britain are infected with 'small mindedness'

Worrying about dress sense en route to the shower block while kids run riot on our streets just about sums it all up for me.

 

[kimbowbill]

The problem, i find, with campsites are, i have two very large dogs, they are very sociable but other dogs dont like them because they are large, so you get the nambys who pick up their dogs when they see me coming, this just makes mine more inquisitve as they want to say hello to them, and you always get the Mr know it all and wants to tell you how to drive, where's the best place to go and gives you all his life experience when you dint ask for it, boring, boring, boring, and me been a woman usually on my own i tend to get people wanting to help me, as if i'm useless, if i want help i will ask, i boated on my own for 7 years, in comparison, MHing is a doddle, i hate campsites and i dont intend to use them, i dont mind been called a scrounger, freeloader, whatever, dont bother me,

Jen

 

[Barbt]

We have occasionally used campsites but were put off by unpleasant remarks about motorhomes such as " we don't encourage your sort on CCC sites ". My husband is a solicitor, owning his own practice and I am a legal secretary. I don't know what sort of people they do encourage - all we could see were drinking beer and making a lot of noise! CCC sites are so unwelcoming it's just not worth the money to use them.
We now wildcamp every time we go away, whether its just for the weekend or a longer trip to Scotland as we are going to do for the next two weeks. It's much more fun, peaceful, relaxing, etc etc, and you can wake up to a different view every day.

 

[kimbowbill]

We have occasionally used campsites but were put off by unpleasant remarks about motorhomes such as " we don't encourage your sort on CCC sites ". My husband is a solicitor, owning his own practice and I am a legal secretary. I don't know what sort of people they do encourage - all we could see were drinking beer and making a lot of noise! CCC sites are so unwelcoming it's just not worth the money to use them.
We now wildcamp every time we go away, whether its just for the weekend or a longer trip to Scotland as we are going to do for the next two weeks. It's much more fun, peaceful, relaxing, etc etc, and you can wake up to a different view every day.

Which site is that then?, sounds like a good site to me, the one's i've stopped in they are all in bed for 7 with ther jim jams on, i agree with you on the wilding side tho, its great in scotland hope weather stays nice for you, at least you wont have the midges for compay

 

[carolinemoon]

We do a bit of both!!!

Sometimes, especially when we take my mum, it's nice to stay on a site (although we always choose fairly uncommercial sites without clubs/swimming pools etc)

But, I have to say nothing beats waking up early in the morning parked up somewhere on Dartmoor (for instance) with nothing around you apart from stunning scenery and a few wild poinies!!

We're off to Porlock Weir (Somerset) this weekend wild camping...yes we will park in the carpark which is right on the beach, but no doubt we will put a couple of quid over the bar at the local pub just across the road, take all of our rubbish home with us, and not disturb and locals whilst we're there.......I can't see the problem, after all, us wild campers do pay road tax to be on the road!!

Happy Camping - however you do it! :dance:

 

[maingate]

We have occasionally used campsites but were put off by unpleasant remarks about motorhomes such as " we don't encourage your sort on CCC sites ". My husband is a solicitor, owning his own practice and I am a legal secretary. I don't know what sort of people they do encourage - all we could see were drinking beer and making a lot of noise! CCC sites are so unwelcoming it's just not worth the money to use them.
We now wildcamp every time we go away, whether its just for the weekend or a longer trip to Scotland as we are going to do for the next two weeks. It's much more fun, peaceful, relaxing, etc etc, and you can wake up to a different view every day.

I think you must have been desperately unlucky with the C&CC sites you have visited. I used their Club sites many times when I was working around the country and living in my m/home. They were definitely less stuffy than CC Club sites.

We discovered C&CC Temporary Holiday Sites last year as we were touring the South and South West where wilding sites are few and far between. They are much more relaxed (apart from a few basic rules) and we thoroughly enjoyed our time in some great spots. This year, we have used them a lot, ranging from Corbridge (just up the road) to Benderloch (just North of Oban). For around £6 per night, they are good value and you can spend more time in one place this way. We have become good friends with a number of fellow motorhomers and (dare I say it :lol-061 Caravanners.

We normally tend to limit our wilding during school holidays but these THS's are the perfect way to use the m/home during that period.

 

[fairytooth]

Let's be honest, there is good and bad everywhere you look - CCC, CC, whatever. BUT, at least when you are wilding you don't have any BOFs around you to spoil your enjoyment.

So, long live wildcamping, and this lovely site with so many great contributors, help, advice and info !!

 

[bob72]

As ive said in my earlier posts i wild camp to get away from the hurley burley of modern life, to get away from noisey people ,,, thats if they dont park next to us im not paying for a noisey over run sheep hurding penn at a huge cost when all i really want is to be in the semi wild ALONE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i was a member on a campervan forum and all they seem to want to do is go on huge meet ups on sites,,, dont get me wrong if thats what they like all meeting up 20 or so vans then thats all good, but im not made that way call me unsociable or a loner but i like my space,, & i like this forum to boot,, you guys are my cup of tea

A few weeks back we went camping to the gower with friends who are not self sufficient so we had to stay on a site. Theres a site I (used) like so we went there. When we turned up and pitched I wasn't paying much attention to the vans around us; just looking for a nice level pitch (a lot of the site is on a hill and neither of us have leveller blocks).

After we pitched up I then realised that the strange looks we had been getting was because we were pitched in amongst some Motorhome club meet

Oh well I wasn't going to move as the pitch was really the only decent one left.

I did find it quite amusing watching their goings on. The had a bell they rang (much to my annoyance but hey ho) and everyone jumped out of their vans and huddled around the 'ring leader'. It was quite amusing!

When we got back I looked the club up and found a pic of our vans on their site (we are in the background hehe)

 

[rugbyken]

last week stayed on a cl near newham on severn monday so only me and a caravan on site walking the pup round the site [theyv'e one of those maize mazes ] realised the site had got all i need tap bin and somewhere to empty loo and grey water,
the caravaner started on about cheeky buggers he'd seen wildcamping in his opinion no better than gypo's, so yes i bit, told him i'd been out a fortnight first site i'd had to pay for & only cos i needed fresh water, and emptying the loo, solar panel still topping me up etc,
explained didn't like the restriction's on sites and used the one about an hotel that charged for a sauna and pool even if you didn't use them because they had provided them and said sites with posh toilet block's were just doing the same, at this point he started telling me that's why he used cl & cs sites, he couldn't see why i started laughing,
i ended up having a couple of beers with him and showed him my all the aires book, and my sostas book and educated him a little, and although we were getting along fine still had to tell him that as a long term member of both the cc and the c&cc felt distinctly second class citizen and resented subsidising the caravanners, at this point the other half said our goodbyes and got me moving,

 

[guyd]

We do a bit of both!!!

Sometimes, especially when we take my mum, it's nice to stay on a site (although we always choose fairly uncommercial sites without clubs/swimming pools etc)

But, I have to say nothing beats waking up early in the morning parked up somewhere on Dartmoor (for instance) with nothing around you apart from stunning scenery and a few wild poinies!!

We're off to Porlock Weir (Somerset) this weekend wild camping...yes we will park in the carpark which is right on the beach, but no doubt we will put a couple of quid over the bar at the local pub just across the road, take all of our rubbish home with us, and not disturb and locals whilst we're there.......I can't see the problem, after all, us wild campers do pay road tax to be on the road!!

Happy Camping - however you do it! :dance:

porlock weir is nice to stop at - I live just round the corner at Allerford. Kettle always on - pop in for tea if you want - and that goes for anyone on here. PM me for directions. water / poo disposal here too (I have a manhole cover you can lift for built in ones like ours)

 

[Mothman]

lol i think i know the lot your talking about:lol-053:

A few weeks back we went camping to the gower with friends who are not self sufficient so we had to stay on a site. Theres a site I (used) like so we went there. When we turned up and pitched I wasn't paying much attention to the vans around us; just looking for a nice level pitch (a lot of the site is on a hill and neither of us have leveller blocks).

After we pitched up I then realised that the strange looks we had been getting was because we were pitched in amongst some Motorhome club meet

Oh well I wasn't going to move as the pitch was really the only decent one left.

I did find it quite amusing watching their goings on. The had a bell they rang (much to my annoyance but hey ho) and everyone jumped out of their vans and huddled around the 'ring leader'. It was quite amusing!

When we got back I looked the club up and found a pic of our vans on their site (we are in the background hehe)

 

[maingate]

I have read the article in my C&CC mag and I entirely agree with the letter writer.

He used phrases like 'parked for days and nights on end', 'used (and abused) the free public toilets', 'left their rubbish any and everywhere'.

If he is correct and accurate with his comments then wilders have shot themselves in the foot (again). If any members on here behave like that then I may upset you badly if we meet. I have no time for anyone who does not have basic commonsense or respect for the countryside. People like that are as bad as the idiot looters we have seen recently.

BTW, the place now useless to wilders is Seaford in East Sussex.

 

[Mothman]

I have been wild camping for years now & there is no exuse for people dumping there rubbish ie leaving it behind,,,,,,, we always take our rubbish home with us, nearly all places we have found seem to contain peoples waste be it human waste:mad2: or simply rubish,,,,,,,, who is doing this day trippers? throwing there crap out of the cars? surely not TRUE wild campers?????? i mean we all seem to be of the same mind set us wilders that is leave no trace at least that seems to be the case with people we have met on our travels,, i get fed up of picking other peoples crap up just so we can park up & not be blamed for the rubish that other people have left behind its gonna kill wild camping i recon,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[donatten]

In the camping and caravanning magazine , we are called spongers,because we do not use camp sites.Any one else read the article ,or going to reply.

I say anyone who is prepared to get ripped off then let them, I cannot understand why people don't see that camp sites are now way overpriced.
Don Attenborough.