Wild camping with a caravan

Carl Bebbington

Guest
I've had a quick read through the site and some areas seem to say that wild camping with a caravan is Ok as long as you abide by the usual rules, ie leave no trace of your visit, but then some areas seem to say that the wild camping freedom only extends to motor caravans, can you advise please.

We are keen to go to Scotland at Easter with our Airstream trailer (caravan), I was thinking about the area north of Oban. We are pretty self sufficient for a 2 or 3 days at least. Where do people tend to refill their water tanks when wild camping, we have 40 litres onboard and a further 40 litres outboard.

Any advice would be very valuable.
thanks
Carl
 
Hi Carl, i cant offer you any advice re a caravan, just wanted to welcome you and to say hello, if you have a good look around the site you will find loads of information. Good luck and enjoy

Jen
 
im not sure....my mates always want to come with me, i can take one at the moment, who sleeps on the front seats, but i wouldnt mind a cheapo 200quid old caravan to tow for my mates..but now i have a bird who i want to take with me, so that changes the sleeping in the cab on the seat part lol. trouble is i dont want to look like a gypsy if i tow a old caravan (although the ones i see all have large posh caravans not a tiny tatty 2 berth jobbie)
 
cooljules said:
im not sure....my mates always want to come with me, i can take one at the moment, who sleeps on the front seats, but i wouldnt mind a cheapo 200quid old caravan to tow for my mates..but now i have a bird who i want to take with me, so that changes the sleeping in the cab on the seat part lol. trouble is i dont want to look like a gypsy if i tow a old caravan (although the ones i see all have large posh caravans not a tiny tatty 2 berth jobbie)
Click to expand...

What kind of bird have you got CJ, i used to have a parrott, will the bird be sleeping with you? Arthur will be really peed off:rolleyes2:
 
hi. i use teardrop carvans ,two berth cheap thompson glens . and even use my artic trailer for wild camping . never had any trouble . also used rigid soded folding caravans.
have had roof tents (landrover style )and elecators they dont quite fit in with just parking and look abit obvious.but the rest ok. just do it . bet nobody tells you off.
 
As for wild camping freedom, there's no official difference between caravans and motorcaravans. In Scotland for example only tents are allowed to wild camp under certain conditions, there's no right for motorhomes or indeed caravans, even though it is tolerated in certain places close to the highway.

If you do a search you'll find threads where wild camping with caravans is discussed with loads of advice, but the only important difference I can remember is you must keep hitched to your towcar in places like laybys, car parks and any highways land.
 
Ive certainly seen caravans wilding on some of the Scottish islands and not hooked up to the car. I dont see an issue in parts of Scotland to be honest. Just follow the wilding rules that (hopefully) everyone on here supports and you should be fine.
 
barryd said:
Ive certainly seen caravans wilding on some of the Scottish islands and not hooked up to the car. I dont see an issue in parts of Scotland to be honest. Just follow the wilding rules that (hopefully) everyone on here supports and you should be fine.
Click to expand...

We did that area this summer and saw loads of caravans using the carparks and Wildcamping sites. The only thing I would be aware of when following some of the 'W's on the POI, some of the tracks going to them can be a bit tricky with a caravan. I'm an 'ex-caravanner' (still got it up for sale if anyone interested!!) and made the comment to my wife (so it must have been one of those few ocations that we were talking) that I was glad we didnt have the caravan with us. Saying all that, some of spots we did stay in were fantastic and without doubt this was high up there in our 'best holidays ever' list.
 
I used to wild in my caravan when working away from home, but did get a few knocks on door from Police & council asking questions. Seemed happy when I said I'd be away in couple of days and I was working at the BT telephone exchange (for BT but not as BT, but they didn't know that!!)

BTW in the early 70's a colleague of mine was contracting to the Telecomms Company Plessey, he used to wild in a large American RV, he had a microwave before hardly anyone had heard of them in this country!! Freezer and Washing Machine as well.
 
Bigpeetee said:
I used to wild in my caravan when working away from home, but did get a few knocks on door from Police & council asking questions. Seemed happy when I said I'd be away in couple of days and I was working at the BT telephone exchange (for BT but not as BT, but they didn't know that!!)

BTW in the early 70's a colleague of mine was contracting to the Telecomms Company Plessey, he used to wild in a large American RV, he had a microwave before hardly anyone had heard of them in this country!! Freezer and Washing Machine as well.
Click to expand...

Whats a washing machine for ???:D;)
 
Hi

Technically, any vehicle parked on the highway is causing an obstruction unless the highways authority has provided specific parking spaces. In practice, of course, cars (provided they are properly taxed and insured) are allowed to park on the roadside providing that other rules are not being broken by so-doing. Motorhomes are treated like cars. Caravans are another matter and it really depends on the attitude of the local highways authority (usually the County Council). Some interpret the law more strictly than others but there are a number of points to bear in mind:

1. Lights should be on at night (irrespective of whether there are street lights)
2. If the van is not hitched to a car then the council might regard it in the same category as a skip (no offence meant!) and require a licence.
3. If the van is not hitched to a car, then it will not be covered by your car insurance in the same way as it is while you are moving
4. The company that insures your van and its contents may not pay up in the event of loss

Having said that, I have seen caravans wilding in several countries - but not in England.

Whatever you decide to do, happy and safe travels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top