Wild Camping How To Guide
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
- Status
Coolasluck
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,298
- Likes
- 83
Hi buddy i have a hymer b 544 and love it.Me and the wife use as much as possible.I would think you would have a fair bit of cosy room there.The bed is perfect for one person and just ok for 2.Although the more i sleep in the pull me down bed the more i am getting used to it.I could full time in the b544 easily ,but the only drawback as far as we are concerned is that you dont have a separate shower,which for us is a priority when we full time.
Stick to a hymer for most they are the best quality in particular up to about 1997.Incidentally we have an lpg fixed tank on our van,and i would say a refillable fixed tank would be a must not only for convenience but for cost too
ciderjo
Guest
When we built our van we had wild camping in mind and so we installed extra locks on doors. We do not need keys to unlock them form the inside, they were put on to give us peace of mind and to delay any one trying to get in. (we've used upvc window locks and door chains)
Always leave full clear access to drivers seat for any required get away.
We love wild camping and have never experienced any problems. We follow all the afore mentioned guides/rules and find we sleep peacefully at night.
Vanessa
Always leave full clear access to drivers seat for any required get away.
We love wild camping and have never experienced any problems. We follow all the afore mentioned guides/rules and find we sleep peacefully at night.
Vanessa
Adriaboy
Guest
Wild Camping - How To Guide
My tip - If there is a shop or pub nearby, use it and interact with local folk.
By participating to the local economy, we are more likely be tolerated or even welcomed by the natives.
My tip - If there is a shop or pub nearby, use it and interact with local folk.
By participating to the local economy, we are more likely be tolerated or even welcomed by the natives.
manicmerc
Guest
Answering a knock
I would just like to add my two penneth regards the police.
These chaps are very good at answering 999 calls etc, but they are also extremely well versed in the art of conning people into a false sense of security.
I have wild camped throughout europe and the u.k. including staying in some of Hackney streets, Paris streets, and pretty much anywhere else you care to mention, where i have never had any hassle off ordinary people, however, the police are not ordinary people.
I would advise that if you get a knock on the door in the very early hours, to completely ignore it, unless you can hear sirens off other appliances, and the smell of fire, this will be obvious.
As long as you have parked legally, and your van is up-together insurance, mot, tax wise, their is absolutely no reason to engage with these people, unless they have witnessed you cause a breach of the peace.
These people are on the lookout for trouble, and are usually the instigators of it, so dont fall for the knock knock, hello its the police open up please, stay silent, remain calm, and they will eventually go away.
It is clear that not all the police are the same, but in this day of corporate, ie; statute law, unless you are on your toes, they will have you nicked for almost anything they choose, just take a look at the Pace act
I would just like to add my two penneth regards the police.
These chaps are very good at answering 999 calls etc, but they are also extremely well versed in the art of conning people into a false sense of security.
I have wild camped throughout europe and the u.k. including staying in some of Hackney streets, Paris streets, and pretty much anywhere else you care to mention, where i have never had any hassle off ordinary people, however, the police are not ordinary people.
I would advise that if you get a knock on the door in the very early hours, to completely ignore it, unless you can hear sirens off other appliances, and the smell of fire, this will be obvious.
As long as you have parked legally, and your van is up-together insurance, mot, tax wise, their is absolutely no reason to engage with these people, unless they have witnessed you cause a breach of the peace.
These people are on the lookout for trouble, and are usually the instigators of it, so dont fall for the knock knock, hello its the police open up please, stay silent, remain calm, and they will eventually go away.
It is clear that not all the police are the same, but in this day of corporate, ie; statute law, unless you are on your toes, they will have you nicked for almost anything they choose, just take a look at the Pace act
europebycampervan
Guest
We have been wildcamping across the continent for the last 5 months. No problems as yet. Our favourite haunts are in the middle of nowhere, with only a stunning view for company. It does mean we are isolated but this actually makes me feel safer than when we are in towns.
Generally, we try to be inconspicuous, don't park in front of gates etc. Also, if you park just off a narrow road make sure you leave enough space for the locals to fly past you! Be friendly, and try to contribute something to the local economy. Don't block someone's view or park directly outside people's houses. We keep blinds drawn and switch off our lights as soon as humanly possible. And lastly, we wake up early and leave soon after a reviving cuppa.
Generally, we try to be inconspicuous, don't park in front of gates etc. Also, if you park just off a narrow road make sure you leave enough space for the locals to fly past you! Be friendly, and try to contribute something to the local economy. Don't block someone's view or park directly outside people's houses. We keep blinds drawn and switch off our lights as soon as humanly possible. And lastly, we wake up early and leave soon after a reviving cuppa.
Bernard Jones
Guest
Sometimes even the best advice doesn't apply in every situation.
I was once parked overnighting in a Paris Street, knock on the door, ignored it, thinking it was police, traffic warden or just some busybody saying I couldn't park there. Couldn't be bothered to get up. Let them stick a parking ticket on it and bugger off thought I, they never chased you back to England for a parking ticket in those days. Next thing a brick came through the window. Must have been thieves. When I jumped up and they saw me they ran off. But I was left with a broken window.
shawbags
Guest
Best site for wild camping spots in spain and portugal !!.
Portal y foro de usuarios de furgonetas camper .Give the site time to load it can be a little slow,scroll down home page,click on the map of spain on the left,give it time to load,righ click to zoom until little Vw campers pop up and click on the camper for info.This site is great and you will not find a better site for wild camping in europe,more spots pop up every now and then,cheers Shawbags
Portal y foro de usuarios de furgonetas camper .Give the site time to load it can be a little slow,scroll down home page,click on the map of spain on the left,give it time to load,righ click to zoom until little Vw campers pop up and click on the camper for info.This site is great and you will not find a better site for wild camping in europe,more spots pop up every now and then,cheers Shawbags
walter senior
Guest
Guide
Hi. i think it would be a good thing to have a guide the things that have been stated make sense but we must relies that what the police and the councils say is not always true i agree the law must be upheld if we are to keep the good name of the club but this matter should be given some thought . Walter senior.
Hi. i think it would be a good thing to have a guide the things that have been stated make sense but we must relies that what the police and the councils say is not always true i agree the law must be upheld if we are to keep the good name of the club but this matter should be given some thought . Walter senior.
oirishman
Guest
Do not be afraid.
I find people who are always worrying about getting broken into are the ones it happens to.
by all means be careful but dont go camping thinking that the world is full of people waiting to burgle your van or gas you in your sleep.these instances are very very rare and most people dont have any bad experiences.
remember the law of attraction.if you think it ...it will happen.
so think good things.
I find people who are always worrying about getting broken into are the ones it happens to.
by all means be careful but dont go camping thinking that the world is full of people waiting to burgle your van or gas you in your sleep.these instances are very very rare and most people dont have any bad experiences.
remember the law of attraction.if you think it ...it will happen.
so think good things.
julie1
Guest
Wildcamping Greece
Hiya all
Just a warning for anybody overnighting in Zacharo, Peloponnese, Greece.
Parked up on the road (not a main road) adjacent to the beach. It was a lovely spot and after having a good look around we decided it would be safe to spend the night. We went for a meal in the beach taverna (100 yards away). We could easily see our motorhome from where we were sitting and apart from the odd car going past all seemed OK. As usual before going to sleep we put everything away and make sure cupboards, fridge etc are locked. Never complacent, we have a torch, camera phone and hairspray (for eyes not hair) to hand just in case we need them. We went to sleep around midnight. At 2.00am in the morning we were woken to really loud bangs and a car driving off. The people in the car had hurled three big rocks at the side of our van. We moved off almost immediately. This was a horrible experience which left us really shaken.
I would like to add though that this was the only time we had trouble and we wildcamped all of the time. It certainly did not put us off but the next few nights were spent at an unofficial wildcamping spot with many German vans. Safety in numbers.
Hiya all
Just a warning for anybody overnighting in Zacharo, Peloponnese, Greece.
Parked up on the road (not a main road) adjacent to the beach. It was a lovely spot and after having a good look around we decided it would be safe to spend the night. We went for a meal in the beach taverna (100 yards away). We could easily see our motorhome from where we were sitting and apart from the odd car going past all seemed OK. As usual before going to sleep we put everything away and make sure cupboards, fridge etc are locked. Never complacent, we have a torch, camera phone and hairspray (for eyes not hair) to hand just in case we need them. We went to sleep around midnight. At 2.00am in the morning we were woken to really loud bangs and a car driving off. The people in the car had hurled three big rocks at the side of our van. We moved off almost immediately. This was a horrible experience which left us really shaken.
I would like to add though that this was the only time we had trouble and we wildcamped all of the time. It certainly did not put us off but the next few nights were spent at an unofficial wildcamping spot with many German vans. Safety in numbers.
MichaelU
Guest
A code for Motorhome users
I always have a long handled litter picker and bin bags.
I've pulled up at some pretty sad and sorry spots in UK and Europe too for an overnight stop. It's either a sit down and experience that feeling of dread.. "do I really want to stay here" or get up and do something about it. It's amazing how a twenty minute litter pick can make a wild camp site look so very different and a pleasure to stay at. Litter picking is good exercise and a service to the community you are spending a night with.
Don't wait until you're leaving to tidy your mess or that of others away, the local Plod is always impressed by you doing your community service in advance of being pulled up for overnight parking!
I always have a long handled litter picker and bin bags.
I've pulled up at some pretty sad and sorry spots in UK and Europe too for an overnight stop. It's either a sit down and experience that feeling of dread.. "do I really want to stay here" or get up and do something about it. It's amazing how a twenty minute litter pick can make a wild camp site look so very different and a pleasure to stay at. Litter picking is good exercise and a service to the community you are spending a night with.
Don't wait until you're leaving to tidy your mess or that of others away, the local Plod is always impressed by you doing your community service in advance of being pulled up for overnight parking!
CasaMia
Guest
translating to English
This is a very good site, if you Hablo Espanol well & good, if not, every time you open a new page in Spanish, copy and paste the http adress for that page into the Google search bar when it comes up with the listings you should see an option to translate next to each search option found, just click on it and the whole page is translated for you. Hope I have explained it OK & hope it helps
This is a very good site, if you Hablo Espanol well & good, if not, every time you open a new page in Spanish, copy and paste the http adress for that page into the Google search bar when it comes up with the listings you should see an option to translate next to each search option found, just click on it and the whole page is translated for you. Hope I have explained it OK & hope it helps
matthew123
Guest
What is the legal position about having a beer in your van?
sagart
Guest
I believe it can be off the lead as long as it's not a Pit Bull type...
Deleted member 967
Guest
Legality of Wildcamping
I posted this on another thread and thought it would be appropriate here:
The Public Health Act 1937 contains the definition that a Motorhome/Campervan is a Caravan. This Act still controls camping in tents or other structures. The definition of a caravan was carried over to The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
The 1960 Act requires the owner of land to hold a Caravan Sites licence and have Planning Permission to station a caravan used for human habitation on land owned by him. He is liable in law if he permits someone to occupy a Caravan for Human Habitation and he doesn't hold a site licence. This is policed by the Local Planning Authority.
There are some limited exemptions one of which allows the landowner to have one caravan on his land for no more than 28 days in a year. The caravan is only allowed to stay for a maximum of 2 nights. If the holding is more than 5 acres then 3 caravans can occupy the land but the same nights limit and 28 day rule applies.
Another is "Caravans used Used within cartilage of a dwelling house"
1. A site licence shall not be required for the use of land as a caravan site if the use is incidental to the enjoyment as such of a dwelling house within the cartilage of which the land is situated.
A number of Clubs (14 on 1st April 2011) have powers to grant exemptions to landowner. These sites are limited to 5 caravans, but can be used all year round.
In England, Scotland and Wales, these sites do not need planning permission or a site licence. Northern Ireland is different in that they still need Planning Permission but do not need a site licence.
Parking: The Police are not involved in this matter unless by parking you are causing an obstruction. If parked in a lay-by and the speed limit is more than 30mph then vehicle light must be displayed at night (Highway Code)
If you park on land without the owners permission this is trespass. This is a civil matter and does not involve the Police.
If the landowner has asked you to move on and you have refused, he has to go to court to get an injunction to move you on. The police would become involved if your refusal or his request was violent, or if there were 6 or more individuals or vehicles involved.
Local Authority land can have by-laws on it prohibiting the use by caravans or overnight stops. These places will have a sign displayed and this should indicate under which by-law the prohibition applies and what actual prohibitions apply.
Some land owners erect "No overnight Parking" or "NO CAMPING" signs as a means of defence if the local authority threatens action. These signs have no legal standing.
This to the best of my knowledge is the position. I hope this answers your question.
I posted this on another thread and thought it would be appropriate here:
The Public Health Act 1937 contains the definition that a Motorhome/Campervan is a Caravan. This Act still controls camping in tents or other structures. The definition of a caravan was carried over to The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
The 1960 Act requires the owner of land to hold a Caravan Sites licence and have Planning Permission to station a caravan used for human habitation on land owned by him. He is liable in law if he permits someone to occupy a Caravan for Human Habitation and he doesn't hold a site licence. This is policed by the Local Planning Authority.
There are some limited exemptions one of which allows the landowner to have one caravan on his land for no more than 28 days in a year. The caravan is only allowed to stay for a maximum of 2 nights. If the holding is more than 5 acres then 3 caravans can occupy the land but the same nights limit and 28 day rule applies.
Another is "Caravans used Used within cartilage of a dwelling house"
1. A site licence shall not be required for the use of land as a caravan site if the use is incidental to the enjoyment as such of a dwelling house within the cartilage of which the land is situated.
A number of Clubs (14 on 1st April 2011) have powers to grant exemptions to landowner. These sites are limited to 5 caravans, but can be used all year round.
In England, Scotland and Wales, these sites do not need planning permission or a site licence. Northern Ireland is different in that they still need Planning Permission but do not need a site licence.
Parking: The Police are not involved in this matter unless by parking you are causing an obstruction. If parked in a lay-by and the speed limit is more than 30mph then vehicle light must be displayed at night (Highway Code)
If you park on land without the owners permission this is trespass. This is a civil matter and does not involve the Police.
If the landowner has asked you to move on and you have refused, he has to go to court to get an injunction to move you on. The police would become involved if your refusal or his request was violent, or if there were 6 or more individuals or vehicles involved.
Local Authority land can have by-laws on it prohibiting the use by caravans or overnight stops. These places will have a sign displayed and this should indicate under which by-law the prohibition applies and what actual prohibitions apply.
Some land owners erect "No overnight Parking" or "NO CAMPING" signs as a means of defence if the local authority threatens action. These signs have no legal standing.
This to the best of my knowledge is the position. I hope this answers your question.
Last edited by a moderator:
tf bundy
Guest
Cooker cleaning :/
I dont worry about being attacked in my motorhome, but understand that some people may have some worries. May I recommend spray cooker cleaner as a last line of defense. However, this is a LAST LINE OF DEFENSE, as it should be sprayed into the eyes of an attacker and will cause very serious injuries indeed. You can also justify having it on board as a powerful cleaner for that greasy mark on your hob.
However (again) I should point out that I would, run away, negotiate or hit the attacker with a large heavy object before I would use cooker cleaner on them, it would only be used when all else has failed and its you or them, because it really works, but you have to live with the consequences of using it.
I dont worry about being attacked in my motorhome, but understand that some people may have some worries. May I recommend spray cooker cleaner as a last line of defense. However, this is a LAST LINE OF DEFENSE, as it should be sprayed into the eyes of an attacker and will cause very serious injuries indeed. You can also justify having it on board as a powerful cleaner for that greasy mark on your hob.
However (again) I should point out that I would, run away, negotiate or hit the attacker with a large heavy object before I would use cooker cleaner on them, it would only be used when all else has failed and its you or them, because it really works, but you have to live with the consequences of using it.
Last edited:
Douzeper
Guest
A torch is great for defense, shone directly in someones eyes while you stand to left or right of the torch held out at arms length. They can't see you and will assume you are standing behind it if they lash out.
roadrunner51
Guest
If you park near a restaurant or a cafe, perhaps have the decency to use them - if only for one meal; straight away that will put you on good terms with the owners and they will probably be more open to campers in the future. If you're near houses remember to respect them, think how would you feel if a camper van pulled up outside. I think try and be friendly to the locals too - even a smile can break the ice and "hi" is now universally known.
Personally I've always preferred WILD camping to layby's, but you can't always find those great out-of-the-way wild spots can you? If you do follow a track down to a dry riverbed in S. Spain and find a fantastic spot be prepared to move in the night if it starts raining!!! :boat:
Personally I've always preferred WILD camping to layby's, but you can't always find those great out-of-the-way wild spots can you? If you do follow a track down to a dry riverbed in S. Spain and find a fantastic spot be prepared to move in the night if it starts raining!!! :boat:
Deleted member 21686
Guest
My wife said can I ask you a question?
I thought here we go she's been checking my phone (joke)
Why an earth have we got a baseball bat in the cupboard?
And there's a ball too!
I calmly explained if someone attacks us I'll beat their brains out with the bat.
She said but why do you need the ball?
I said in case they fancy a game afterwards.
But no Bat goes with ball not carrying an offensive weapon.
Oh and the Bowie knife is for cutting up tomatoes.
- Status