No Overnight Parking - Scotland

[noody]

(Huge smile)

I think this problem is just down to the huge numbers of motorhomes added to our roads in the last few years, it's down to unrealistic expectations from some with ignorance added in some cases and of-course people with little consideration for others are always going to spoil things.

Think dog-owners.

The very-last camp-site I visited was a peaceful hideaway just inland from the South Hams coast, just five vans and lot's of tent-ers, what-on-earth goes-on in the mind of a person who plays music with the van/car doors open for extra benefit of everyone for tens of square miles ? They assume everyone will enjoy their music or maybe it's, "up-yours, I want to play music."

What goes-on in the mind of a person who let their dog poo within a yard of our van and don't pick-up?

What goes-on in the mind of a person who leaves poo on the toilet floor in an incredibly clean and tidy toilet block?

Richard.

 

[MikeH]

I`ve literally just got back from my wee tour of Scotland. We noticed the yellow signs, yes, very welcoming arent they? We also noticied lots of motorhomes ignoring those signs.

I was very tempted to join them, so at one I parked up and got chatting with the owners. A very nice dutch couple told me they werent overnighting but leaving later. A Flemish family told me they and 3 other MHs would be staying the night (Loch Ness information centre car park) despite the NOP signs.

So, we settled down, tucked inconspicuously away from the main road. By about 9pm, my conscience bothered me (ok, I submit, my wifes nagging did it) and I headed over to the Flemish man and explained why I wouldnt be staying there that night. I explained that, since there are signs up, don`t be surprised if you find a parking ticket on your window in the morning. Saying that, if you`re away home to a different country in a few days, I don`t see how they would enforce the fine in his case. So I bid him and his group a good night and headed off.

Well, I tried but I couldnt ignore those signs. We did find good spots to overnight for free and a great little site for £8 a night inc electric (at Huna, Caithness, cant remember its name but just past the Huna sign heading west, at a bend on your left.)

Our last night was interesting! We spent the day at the Landmark Activity Centre in Carrbridge which closed at 7pm. As I was leaving, a lady with two young kids asked if I could help start her car. Well, 2 hours later and I had to accede to a local garage. This put us 2 hours behind schedule and, more importantly, late for the fuel stops that closed at 10pm. I`d planned on stopping at Blair Atholl for enough diesel to get home. Unfortunately, they had just closed when we got there. So had the next one at Pitlochry.

With not enough fuel to make it to the next 24 hour station, we had no choice but bed down and wait for morning opening time. We parked in a little picnic spot, next to the petrol station and directly oppostite Bells distillery. There were no signs, probably because no-one expected anyone to park there!

830am we woke, drove 20 yards to the diesel pump and filled up. I told the attendant what had happened, he asked if we slept ok and when I said we were ok but a bit cold he even apologised!

Sorry for going off topic a bit! My point was about the signs being ignored.

 

[Deleted member 967]

I must have been very lucky....in 20 years in Scotland with a motorhome I have never ever met problems over parking.
However, the A Class driving up the main road in Uist blindly refusing to move over for an ambulance with lights on...or in Fort William carpark last week, occupying one bay for the van, the second for tables and chairs and, when challenged, pointing out that table and chairs are not a vehicle so neither can be ticketed or charged for...that doesn't help.
Remember, people do live and work up here and do deserve some consideration!

By putting anything out wherever you are, you are technically camping. That is how touring caravans are banned, as they have to put water containers out. If you park and use the Motorhome for whatever purpose, you are like any other vehicle using the car park.