THE CCC are at it again

[Fisherman]

I have just emailed this letter to the CCC regarding what I regard as a totally misleading article on page 64 of their November magazine.
It will be interesting to see if it's published.
yet another attempt to scare people away from WC.

Dear Sir/ Madam,


Why does an organisation which depends heavily on membership from owners of motorhomes and campers publish totally biased misinformation about something many of your members do, Wild Camp.
This is not the first time you have done so, I wrote to you regarding similar comments two years ago.

Within the photo on page 64 of your November magazine are the words “Wild camping from a self contained tourer is generally not permitted in the UK’

This is completely misleading, and seems to indicate that wild camping is both difficult and illegal, which is wrong.

You are free to park on any public carpark unless it is subject to a traffic regulation order (TRO) within the 1984 roads traffic act.
You are also allowed to park on private land with the owners permission, and there are thousands of such places also.
Why not mention IE Brit Stops or other such organisations that list such places.

There are thousands of places in the UK were you can legally park overnight, to suggest that this is somehow illegal or difficult is extremely misleading.

Also I note your comment about some campers who dare to dry their laundry outwith their vans.
In comparison to what some in tents do, that seems petty.

You make no mention of the problems created by people in tents with no toilet facilities, leaving their human waste, rubbish, tents and camping equipment.
They also start fires in wooded areas damaging the flora and fauna, and leave these burnt remains for others to clear up.
We were on the banks of Loch Tay and Loch Lomond this year and were horrified at what we witnessed.
You mentioned the restrictions now imposed within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
These restrictions were result of such behaviour, not due to those in motorhomes.
Also within this area in public carparks were there is no TRO in force, you are still free to park overnight.

I am not anti tent, and I know that many who enjoy pitching a tent do so properly and with due care to the environment.
I used to do so myself.

But sadly this year due to covid restrictions many who would probably have never spent time in a tent overnight ventured out to do so.
And the damage many of them caused to our reputation may last for years.

Wild Camping, Informal camping call it what you will, is very feasible in the UK, so long as you do so considerately and within the law.

 

[Robmac]

I've not read the article Bill, but when they say "self contained tourer" do they mean touring caravan as opposed to motorhome/camper. I only say this as the word tourer is usually used to describe caravans ie. Tourers as opposed to statics.

Not that this makes a difference really because they have the same rights as we do, but it is more difficult. I thought I would point it out though as they may well use it as a defence against having a bias against motorhome wild camping. (If you see what I mean!).

 

[Fisherman]

I've not read the article Bill, but when they say "self contained tourer" do they mean touring caravan as opposed to motorhome/camper. I only say this as the word tourer is usually used to describe caravans ie. Tourers as opposed to statics.

Not that this makes a difference really because they have the same rights as we do, but it is more difficult. I thought I would point it out though as they may well use it as a defence against having a bias against motorhome wild camping. (If you see what I mean!).

No Rob, it's set within photo of an orange VW Campervan.
It's clearly meant for us.

I would photograph the article and post it, but I had such a photo removed on here due to copyright infringements.

They published my last letter, let's see what they do this time.

 

[Fisherman]

I have just sent it to Rob.
If anyone else wants to see it PM myself.

 

[Robmac]

I see what you mean now I have read it Bill!

Thanks mate.

 

[Fisherman]

I see what you mean now I have read it Bill!

Thanks mate.

It's blatant bias yet again designed to put some of from WC.
I hope others who are members flood them with complaints, it's a total disgrace.
These people really need to wise up.
Thousands of their members will be angered by this article.
I know I am.
I would leave them, but to be honest I like some of their sites, and theirs the rub

 

[barryd]

Hee Hee Nice one Bill. I'm not a member of the CCC but I might join now just to read the ranting replies from the anti wild camping brigade.

I joined the Caravan and Motorhome club again (not been a member for nearly ten years) while we were away just so I could use the CL sites (although to be honest I think there was only one that asked for a membership number). I was dead excited last night reading the magazine which was waiting on our doormat when we got home. "Which Awning", "Which net curtains", "Which beige Crimplene trousers". All riveting stuff. I might have made the last two up.

 

[Fisherman]

Hee Hee Nice one Bill. I'm not a member of the CCC but I might join now just to read the ranting replies from the anti wild camping brigade.

I joined the Caravan and Motorhome club again (not been a member for nearly ten years) while we were away just so I could use the CL sites (although to be honest I think there was only one that asked for a membership number). I was dead excited last night reading the magazine which was waiting on our doormat when we got home. "Which Awning", "Which net curtains", "Which beige Crimplene trousers". All riveting stuff. I might have made the last two up.

To be honest Barry I am a member of both, and ironically I much prefer the CCC.
Hence why I won't cut my nose of to spite my face.
Plus my wife wouldn't let me
But I find the C&MC magazine boring from front page to the back. I only skim through it.
But the CCC mag is much better, but nowhere nearly as good as MMM which I subscribe to.

 

[Robmac]

It's blatant bias yet again designed to put some of from WC.
I hope others who are members flood them with complaints, it's a total disgrace.
These people really need to wise up.
Thousands of their members will be angered by this article.
I know I am.
I would leave them, but to be honest I like some of their sites, and theirs the rub

For me it's not so much them putting people off wild camping, I'm selfish so the less people vying for places the better!

Seriously though, it is a misrepresentation of the law by a body who has influence and that is wrong.

 

[Fisherman]

For me it's not so much them putting people off wild camping, I'm selfish so the less people vying for places the better!

Seriously though, it is a misrepresentation of the law by a body who has influence and that is wrong.

Aye we know your selfish Rob

 

[izwozral]

Y

Aye we know your selfish Rob

Yeah, he's a right prawn.

 

[Fisherman]

Just got an email from someone asking can they use my letter as a template and send it to the CCC. Of course was my reply glad if you did.
If anyone on here wishes to do likewise, great no problems. Here’s their email address, the more the merrier.
mailbag@myccc.co.uk

 

[Snapster]

We’ve been members of both the big clubs on and off for years, and much preferred the CCC, but not now, we find them too expensive and if this is the way they are trying to attract new members, then they won’t be seeing us again.
There are hundreds of indie campsites with many of them offering sites that make you feel you are wild camping, all over the U.K. We don’t visit the U.K. often now, but when we do, we will use smaller sites or one of the increasing number of motorhome aires.

 

[barryd]

I had never stayed on a Club site ever, not once until this last trip. We booked the one at Dockray Meadows near Ennerdale and Loweswater in the Lake District. I have to say it was pretty good. The reason it was pretty good was that it wasnt your traditional club site or traditional campsite. No showers or toilets but plenty of spacious pitches on hard standing but not a concrete jungle. Plenty of grass. Just services (good service points and a drive over grey point) and EHU. A bit like a big posh Aire in France. £15 a night which was cheaper than some CL sites we stayed on. More of them would be good really. I have a ceiling of twenty quid a night that I just cant seem to get my head around paying above. I would never ever use site facilities so £15 for some water, emptying and a bit of electric seems about right to me.

I still prefer the ratty old scruffy farm CL types though. The best way to find them is to read the reviews on the club site and book on the ones with the worse reviews. We found two that way that were cracking.

 

[mistericeman]

I had never stayed on a Club site ever, not once until this last trip. We booked the one at Dockray Meadows near Ennerdale and Loweswater in the Lake District. I have to say it was pretty good. The reason it was pretty good was that it wasnt your traditional club site or traditional campsite. No showers or toilets but plenty of spacious pitches on hard standing but not a concrete jungle. Plenty of grass. Just services (good service points and a drive over grey point) and EHU. A bit like a big posh Aire in France. £15 a night which was cheaper than some CL sites we stayed on. More of them would be good really. I have a ceiling of twenty quid a night that I just cant seem to get my head around paying above. I would never ever use site facilities so £15 for some water, emptying and a bit of electric seems about right to me.

I still prefer the ratty old scruffy farm CL types though. The best way to find them is to read the reviews on the club site and book on the ones with the worse reviews. We found two that way that were cracking.

We always look for ones where someone has complained about the spiders in the toilets or a tap that drips or the grass is too green etc....

Theyre usually top class

Last one was complaining about the grumpy farmer owner on the Llyn ....

When we turned up he couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming....
Mind looking at the burnt patches from disposable Bbqs....
I could understand WHY he might have been grumpy with some folks.

 

[trevskoda]

I would not use the word wildcamping as that's not what most do, ie awning out barbies deck chairs, I would be stating sleeping/resting overnight in a self contained motorcaravan.

 

[Fisherman]

Never really understand all the fuss about campsites on here. I enjoy most sites but not for the sites, we are hardly in them. We are out and about visiting all the places we went to the site to see in the first place. I enjoy a good shower, and you just don’t get that in a van with only 100L of water. I love wild camping in rural spots, but we never WC outside Scotland. As for how much it costs, well we only live once and we can’t take it with us now can we. I love getting out with the van, meeting folks, seeing new places, when I think how much they cost to buy and to run, what we spend on our campsite visits is tiny in comparison.

 

[barryd]

It would mount up though if you are away long term. Four months we were away and most campsites were around the £30 a night mark. Some more, some less. Had I been on one of them every night it would have been getting on for nearly £4000. As it is I think we spent not far of £6k. Only about £800 was on CL sites, Rally fields and two sites. One things for sure. France and Western Europe are a lot cheaper! Food, drink and camping / aires etc.

 

[Fisherman]

It would mount up though if you are away long term. Four months we were away and most campsites were around the £30 a night mark. Some more, some less. Had I been on one of them every night it would have been getting on for nearly £4000. As it is I think we spent not far of £6k. Only about £800 was on CL sites, Rally fields and two sites. One things for sure. France and Western Europe are a lot cheaper! Food, drink and camping / aires etc.

Barry I get your point, I doubt if we would ever go away for that length of time in one go. But I am looking at a new van conversion right now and an auto box and engine upgrade is £4500. I would try to minimise costs if I could but my priority would be to enjoy myself as much as possible and the cost would be secondary. Obviously if money is tight, as it is for some that’s different. But I had worked hard all my life before retirement, and it’s time to enjoy what time I have left. If our trip involved Scotland we would be doing some WC, but that be through choice, and not to save money Barry. For me I don’t visit campsites, I visit what they have to offer near to them. We are out all day walking seeing the sites in the area, the campsite is only a base.

 

[barryd]

Barry I get your point, I doubt if we would ever go away for that length of time in one go. But I am looking at a new van conversion right now and an auto box and engine upgrade is £4500. I would try to minimise costs if I could but my priority would be to enjoy myself as much as possible and the cost would be secondary. Obviously if money is tight, as it is for some that’s different. But I had worked hard all my life before retirement, and it’s time to enjoy what time I have left. If our trip involved Scotland we would be doing some WC, but that be through choice, and not to save money Barry. For me I don’t visit campsites, I visit what they have to offer near to them. We are out all day walking seeing the sites in the area, the campsite is only a base.

Oh dont get me wrong, its not just the cost, I really dont like campsites. I somehow feel like I have failed if I have to use one. I dislike everything about them from the rules and regs, the laborious checking in and out process and being amongst lots of other campers. I do like CL's though and in England at least they to me are the best option generally. Nothing better than finding a very rural wild camp on your own preferably (difficult these days) with a view and peace and quiet. If I do have to use a site, it irks me though having to cough up much more than twenty quid for somewhere I am essentially just going to park for a few nights.