Wild driveways

[magbrin]

Have read previous threads on the Aire Driveways idea and can report some information which may answer some previous questions, and I also am adding my own view on the subject:

• I paid up my £10 and it was refunded immediately - I was the first to sign up in the Highland area. That was the easy bit.
• It then took about 2 weeks to sort out usernames and passwords. As some of you are aware I am not the best with IT, but for some reason it was almost impossible for me to log in, load profile, photo etc. However that is now done and now I await it going live.
• We have plenty of space - call it driveway, carpark, field we have them all - and are happy for "friends" to camp overnight, free of charge. I have not yet met any of you but I do not hesitate to offer overnighting to you. Similarly I am happy to offer parking to others who, like me are happy to offer free overnight parking, on the Aire Driveways website.
• I have no idea how many members there are but if it means anything my photo was given and Id No. of 87
• I am unlikely to use anyone elses drive as when I wild camp I do it, not because it is free, but because I want to be away from the masses and their houses in the wild countryside whether it is in UK or abroad

If you are interested I will continue to let you know how I get on with the system. I am willing to give the scheme a go. I know there are other schemes but none of them seem to have many sites in Scotland. Undoubtably it is going to become more difficult to wild camp as more and more people take up the hobby so the more defined "wild" places there are the better. Below, if I can remember what to do is the photo of our listed site.

 

[biggirafe]

Have read previous threads on the Aire Driveways idea and can report some information which may answer some previous questions, and I also am adding my own view on the subject:

• I paid up my £10 and it was refunded immediately - I was the first to sign up in the Highland area. That was the easy bit.
• It then took about 2 weeks to sort out usernames and passwords. As some of you are aware I am not the best with IT, but for some reason it was almost impossible for me to log in, load profile, photo etc. However that is now done and now I await it going live.
• We have plenty of space - call it driveway, carpark, field we have them all - and are happy for "friends" to camp overnight, free of charge. I have not yet met any of you but I do not hesitate to offer overnighting to you. Similarly I am happy to offer parking to others who, like me are happy to offer free overnight parking, on the Aire Driveways website.
• I have no idea how many members there are but if it means anything my photo was given and Id No. of 87
• I am unlikely to use anyone elses drive as when I wild camp I do it, not because it is free, but because I want to be away from the masses and their houses in the wild countryside whether it is in UK or abroad

If you are interested I will continue to let you know how I get on with the system. I am willing to give the scheme a go. I know there are other schemes but none of them seem to have many sites in Scotland. Undoubtably it is going to become more difficult to wild camp as more and more people take up the hobby so the more defined "wild" places there are the better. Below, if I can remember what to do is the photo of our listed site.

Yes I think we would be interested in how this goes, many people have commented 'for' and 'against' in the past. The membership number of 87 I think says it all. If only half the people who on this forum who said it was a good idea had actually paid up the tenner I would expect the membership would be in the mid 100's.

My personal opinion is that like many 'ideas' it is flawed. Its very easy to setup websites and sit back and wait for the cash to roll in but the idea has to be sound and thought through in the first place, for me there are too many unanswered questions. Third party insurance if someone has an accident whilst on my land for one. I'm not talking about MH's but if someone was to injure themselves whilst staying on my drive through the scheme I'd like to be covered, What happens if one of these people turns out to be a house breaker, as I've technically invited them onto my land how does that stand with my insuarance company or will I need extra cover? The list goes on..... Sorry very cynical I know and not in the spirit of wildcamping but hey this is my opinion....

BTW very nice driveway, I'm sure a few people will be taking up your offer

 

[Kontiki]

I agree that this & the pubstopover schemes seem a good idea but think they could cause problems. Both these schemes are being run to some extent by the MCC, they still don't seem to have rolled out the pub stopovers yet as far as I know, but they have the 'Safe Knights' setup for members to allow other members to stopover whilst travelling somewhere. I have used a couple of these in the past & I am also listed for others to use. With the Safe Knights there are no payments involve & it is just expected that you are parking overnight while on a journey. The Aires Driveway seems to suggest that you use driveways like the French aires where you can stop for a day or so.

What we have also found is that people are reluctant to use others drives for stop overs, as you say you are offering the use of your drive but aren't likely to use anybody elses & you are wiling to pay a tenner for this (I know you got it back this year but you will have to pay next year) The MCC is only about £27.50 & you get many other benefits + you can sign up for the Safe Knights which even have a few down in Spain & one in Portugal.

BTW forgot to say that anybody from the site is welcome to park overnight on my drive when we are at home, just contact me by PM, be back in the UK by the end of April. At the moment my neigbours are using my drive as an overflow car park for themselves & friends , might even be a caravan & some gypsies on there by now

 

[AndyC]

Neither Airedriveways, Motorhomestopover or the Nightstop Scheme are being run by the MCC.

The only connection that the MCC have with any of the schemes is to inspect and grant Exemption Certificates to the locations that sign up to the Nightstop Scheme, which in my opinion is the only one that complies with the requirements of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act and is therefore legal.


AndyC

 

[magbrin]

I quote Biggiraffe (didn't want the whole lot!): "BTW very nice driveway, I'm sure a few people will be taking up your offer "

The continuating saga is an email this evening asking me to submit a photo of my driveway, saying that they cannot accept my photo
Response: "This IS our driveway. We live in the highlands of Scotland in an old School and Schoolhouse. This is the old school playground. It also acts as a car park for our small nursery business"

I'll let you know what happens

 

[magbrin]

Update

On 31st March I had an email stating that the photo had been approved. The following day I looked at the site and there was no sign. When I queried this this was the response:
"You are showing as a listing, members do not see their own profiles in newest listing, .......................................
Please be assured you are up and running"

It seems extraordinary Cannot see your own listing

And still on the main listing under Farr (which is where I registered as) I get

"Registered Members
There are currently no members registred for Farr in Highland.

We have however checked our database for all members listed for your chosen county and the results are listed below in town order.

Unfortunately there are no members registred for the county of Highland."

I also note that since I first started the process the same "newest listings" are listed. Either like mine the new ones are not added or, more likely there have been no new listings since early March.

If anyone is a member of Airdriveways I would be grateful if you could check the listing under Farr in the Highland area and let me know whether or not we are there.
Thanks
Magbrin

 

[tony]

On 31st March I had an email stating that the photo had been approved. The following day I looked at the site and there was no sign. When I queried this this was the response:
"You are showing as a listing, members do not see their own profiles in newest listing, .......................................
Please be assured you are up and running"

It seems extraordinary Cannot see your own listing

And still on the main listing under Farr (which is where I registered as) I get

"Registered Members
There are currently no members registred for Farr in Highland.

We have however checked our database for all members listed for your chosen county and the results are listed below in town order.

Unfortunately there are no members registred for the county of Highland."

I also note that since I first started the process the same "newest listings" are listed. Either like mine the new ones are not added or, more likely there have been no new listings since early March.

If anyone is a member of Airdriveways I would be grateful if you could check the listing under Farr in the Highland area and let me know whether or not we are there.
Thanks
Magbrin

hi just sent you email on airedriveways site. i hope its you.
tony

 

[magbrin]

hi just sent you email on airedriveways site. i hope its you.
tony

Thanks, Tony. Yes that's me
As you must be a member, can you see your listing? And what are your experiences of the organisation?
Magbrin

 

[tony]

Thanks, Tony. Yes that's me
As you must be a member, can you see your listing?
Magbrin

no i cant. i asked about that. they told me the same as you.maybe you could check me out.
ireland - waterford.
thanks.
tony

 

[magbrin]

Yes, You're there, both in the members listing (Co Waterford/Waterford) and the newest listings. Don't you think it rather odd that you can't see your own - even though you can see & edit profile
Have you had anyone yet?
I think my photo was give no.87 or 89. Is that all the members there are????

 

[tony]

Yes, You're there, both in the members listing (Co Waterford/Waterford) and the newest listings. Don't you think it rather odd that you can't see your own - even though you can see & edit profile
Have you had anyone yet?
I think my photo was give no.87 or 89. Is that all the members there are????

no contact yet from anyone. it would be easier if they just put in entries under county instead of using each seperate town if you follow me.
i agree you should see your own entry.
tony

 

[tony]

no contact yet from anyone. it would be easier if they just put in entries under county instead of using each seperate town if you follow me.
i agree you should see your own entry.
tony

if you go into "my driveway" you can see your own entry.
i cant see mine in the newest member but i can see yours.
tony

 

[magbrin]

no contact yet from anyone. it would be easier if they just put in entries under county instead of using each seperate town if you follow me.
i agree you should see your own entry.
tony

The Highland listing is HUGE, with every conceivable hamlet (except Brin). Most people won't have heard of most of them. I think it is really quite difficult to find anything. I did not really join to use drives, only to offer mine however it would be interesting to be able to see a map of where they (all) are just in case there is somewhere that might be useful. Unless I get anyone this summer I will not pay for next year. This year is free, and I assume you got your money back too.

 

[tony]

The Highland listing is HUGE, with every conceivable hamlet (except Brin). Most people won't have heard of most of them. I think it is really quite difficult to find anything. I did not really join to use drives, only to offer mine however it would be interesting to be able to see a map of where they (all) are just in case there is somewhere that might be useful. Unless I get anyone this summer I will not pay for next year. This year is free, and I assume you got your money back too.

yes i got my money back.
i will be thinking about next year whether or not to join.
tony

 

[HappyChaps]

Driveway Aires

Hi Tony & Magbrin,

I signed up to this last night (Newmachar, Aberdeenshire), like Magbrin we have a large driveway and a field, so space not a problem, with access to nice walking and cycling.

More than happy to let the odd person stop over.

I think the concept is good, but I think many prospective members will be put off by not being able to see how many and where sites are. And the current system for finding sites is ridiculous, with a low hit rate!

I have contacted the site regarding a map based interface which I think it really needs... we'll see.

I also think that needing to offer a driveway to access the network is limited, because not everyone will have suitable sites, but may be interested in getting involved in other ways... Its how you build the concept to critical mass though...?

I am particularly interested in the legal aspects - someone mentioned "sites" legislation - how does that work?

Well good luck, and if you are ever over NE way, feel free to pop by.

Cheers,

The_Happy_Campers