Wild camping - avoiding aggro

[RogerV]

Until the winter of 2021/2 I'd never used a campsite, always wild camping. I've always been discreet and so haven't attracted official attention. I came across an English language web site put together by Spanish police which offers guidance on the difference between camping and parking. In the UK, I haven't yet found a legal definition of camping and have had conversations with a couple of officials, including a MoD police officer, on the matter when I make the point that I'm parked, not camping.

https://n332.es/motorhomes-parking-or-camping/

 

[trevskoda]

Thats about the same here, just some folk dont get it and decide to have a free for all in a carpark of all places.

 

[merl]

Interesting to see that sleeping in the vehicle doesn't mean you're camping and that levelling chocks are permissible too.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Interesting to see that sleeping in the vehicle doesn't mean you're camping and that levelling chocks are permissible too.

It Actually states

Merl so perhaps not driving up them, a bit ambiguous.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I had a quick Google and found this old post

Can I sleep in my camper when it's parked on the road or in a lay-by?

Answers to many frequently asked questions about motorhomes and their use.

www.ukmotorhomes.net

 

[r4dent]

It Actually states View attachment 120418 Merl so perhaps not driving up them, a bit ambiguous.

I read it as using chocks to stop the vehicle rolling if the hand brake fails.

Possibly because I was bought up in a house on a steep hill. Not many folks had cars but those that did all had a brick in the gutter to park up against.
All terraced houses so nobody had a drive (except "Stewy"'s Dad but he didn't have a car!)

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Me too, but it seemed odd to have in a list.

 

[Boris7]

Very rarely do anything but wild camp unless I’m at a race circuit.

It’s not really an issue as long as you use common sense, Truck drivers (I used to be one) do it all the time with no hassle. Your not get any attention if you just park and don’t get chairs out, light a bbq and don’t hang out washing etc…

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We used to like going up to the green at Cromarty but dickheads ruined that, we often saw Dolphins there.

 

[barryd]

Interesting to see that sleeping in the vehicle doesn't mean you're camping and that levelling chocks are permissible too.

But oddly opening your windows is not allowed. WTF!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

But oddly opening your windows is not allowed. WTF!

only the sliding ones, I suppose the lift up ones will increase the vans footprint.

 

[trevskoda]

I have 3 proper bus skylites which work well, also sliding side windows in the cab.

 

[SimonM]

We used to like going up to the green at Cromarty but dickheads ruined that, we often saw Dolphins there.

We went to Fort George 2 weeks ago and saw plenty of dolphins that the peeps on the other side wouldn’t be able to.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yes good spot too.

 

[merl]

It Actually states View attachment 120418 Merl so perhaps not driving up them, a bit ambiguous.

Yeh, I guess the intention is to chock the wheels to stop the vehicle from rolling rather than levelling it, hence it being OK to turn the front wheels into the curb.
BUT ....Lets say If I was to use my levelling wedges as chocks and the van rolled up them somewhat ............?
"It's not a wedge it's a tapered chock officer"

 

[merl]

But oddly opening your windows is not allowed. WTF!

Agreed some of the things listed are a little strange but at least the Spanish powers have taken the time to establish and inform of what they deem to be camping, cant see our gov going to the same trouble anytime soon.
The problem is the first thing they'd object to and seek to ban would be sleeping in your vehicle in a layby and taking a leak behind the hedge, but if they did that the country would grind to a halt because we'd lose an awful lot of essential cargo distributed by lorries.

 

[r4dent]

But oddly opening your windows is not allowed. WTF!

In an urban lay-by situation it makes sense.
I was urban wilding in Spain and there was a sign (In English) explaining that open windows over the pavement were a danger to pedestrians, and open windows over the road could be hit by passing vehicle.

 

[1 Cup]

side mirrors have to over hang, even the new camera ones, so in my eyes over hang is permitted


You can put them red and white triangle things on them open windows as a warning. Question but is there a minimum size by law of triangle thing ? a foot print is not over hang. wheels inside a car park bay ie wheels are enforceable by attendant but over hang is not.

Law says
upto 3 feet over hang befor warnings / lights should be fitted . To rear of vehicles . Not seen any about wide we just put triangle on, for courtesy on truck but not for mirrors that can stick out 50 cmson both sides Is my thinking .lol
Class A and lutons mirrors are out there too on both sides !

I live and Work by "Do no harm"

So how to avoid meeting strange people. DO not engage in the first place.

There UK laws are no prostitutes or ticket touts in the UK. but they are Soliciting for work for there respected company's !, police force / local government.
Soliciting / touting are both by UK law, Criminal. And judged so
Parking is civil law. So Not Judged and not criminal in UK courts. only unpaid fines are Criminal. So must be judged.

Do Not engage. As it is a money making / profit lead system . # en force ment

 

[wildebus]

In an urban lay-by situation it makes sense.
I was urban wilding in Spain and there was a sign (In English) explaining that open windows over the pavement were a danger to pedestrians, and open windows over the road could be hit by passing vehicle.

I don't think I would open hinged windows if by doing so they would overhang pavements or over a road.
I would open sliding windows though (of my 4 side windows, 2 hinge and 2 slide).

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Rattling a collecting tin is also classed as soliciting.