Wildcamping How To Guide 2012

[Watatoad]

I'll take my chances :lol-049:

That's definitely one for the individual to make their own mind up about

I suppose if we're going to suggest ways that nervous wildcampers can protect themselves and their campervans while out and about they'll have to be within the law.

Technically, your campervan is your home on wheels. It seems to make sense to me that the same rules used for the protection of your bricks and mortar abode would apply.

Would I be correct?

Not too sure about that as a disabled man a caravaner was arrested and successfully prosecuted earlier this year for having an offensive weapon a Swiss Army knife in his glove box - No not a locking one - just a small general purpose one - he said that he used it for peeling apples and when picnicking.

Not sure if I am aloud to add the link to the newspaper article but on the chance I am:

Disabled caravanner prosecuted for keeping penknife in his car to use on picnics | Mail Online

 

[Watatoad]

Superglue, great for the van and will save a life. I'd say most injuries we will see that cannot wait for an ambulance will be the same as those seen on a battlefield, therefore I carry a medic's kit on the bike not a pack of plasters!

A good point made I'll add one to the van when I finish building it....

Just make certain it is medical quality superglue as some are very different.

 

[Seannachie]

Not too sure about that as a disabled man a caravaner was arrested and successfully prosecuted earlier this year for having an offensive weapon a Swiss Army knife in his glove box - No not a locking one - just a small general purpose one - he said that he used it for peeling apples and when picnicking.

Not sure if I am aloud to add the link to the newspaper article but on the chance I am:

Disabled caravanner prosecuted for keeping penknife in his car to use on picnics | Mail Online

The report in the paper does not mention the length of the blade on the knife, or what statute and section Knowles was charged under, but it does state categorically that he '...admitted possessing an offensive weapon at Torquay Magistrates Court' (my underlining), so it seems that he actually pleaded guilty.

His brief also said, '[Knowles] used the knife to cut up fruit on picnics with his wife [for whom he is a carer]', as if this was some sort of mitigation, and it appears that the magistrates accepted it as such because of the leniency of their sentence. However, had Knowles pleaded not guilty to the charge, this could have been offered as grounds for acquittal as he could maintain that he had 'lawful authority or reasonable excuse' for having the knife in his vehicle and it would have been up to the prosecution to rebut that by providing evidence to the contrary from the arresting officers (hard to do under the circumstances, I would have thought).

Frankly, I think Knowles was badly advised if his brief allowed him to plead guilty. On the other hand, if he had pleaded not guilty and the case went against him (as indeed it did), I think that he has solid grounds for appeal and that it would be successful given a half-decent brief.

In conclusion, this case should not be treated as a precedent (in fact, cases in the Magistrates' Courts never are).

 

[BillyPants]

I have a small lockknife. I keep it in my ruc sac with a torch, whistle, compass etc etc and I keep it for exactly the same reason: cutting fruit etc when up mountains. I hunted for weeks for the type, a serrated blade which slices through fruit etc with ease, but on simple contact does not cut skin. I was sick of cutting my own fingers! I'm not certain how he was prosecuted because I'm sure we're allowed anything up to a 4 inch blade.
Personally I think the cops have been disappointed they waited all night and didn't get a drunk driver so they were determined to get him for something. Anything. Mind you, don't they have to have reasonable suspicion to search your vehicle?
This whole thing doesn't sound quite right to me.

 

[fofeg101]

Get a Radar key.

Disabled Toilet Keys - Toilet Aids - Incontinence Shop | AgeUKIncontinence.co.uk

 

[Sharon the Cat]

Get a Radar key.

Disabled Toilet Keys - Toilet Aids - Incontinence Shop | AgeUKIncontinence.co.uk

If you are entitled to one.

Surely this is the sort of system, which if abused, will eventually be withdrawn.

 

[Asto]

We do pay for them, and should the mainstream toilets be closed for whatever reason I would use a disabled one without feeling any guilt.

 

[Seannachie]

I have a small lockknife. I keep it in my ruc sac with a torch, whistle, compass etc etc and I keep it for exactly the same reason: cutting fruit etc when up mountains.

The legislation and case law which defines an 'offensive weapon' specifically excludes folding pocket knives with a blade not exceeding 75mm but specifically includes lock-knives as these are NOT 'folding pocket knives'.

Were I you, I would leave your lock-knife at home and carry a small folding pocket knife instead; after all, this is just as capable of peeling fruit as a lock-knife and has the benefit of not falling foul of the law.

 

[cornishgail]

Help!! tablet/pad with sat nav.

Hi
Is there such a thing?? I would like a sat nav on an I pad but will use only pay as you go not contract
so.... do you need Wi-Fi to use a sat nav app and will it tell you where you are if not on Wi-Fi?
getting really confused as I need to replace very old sat nav but want to combine it with an I pad....does that make sense?
thanks
gail:help:

 

[Tezza]

Hi
Is there such a thing?? I would like a sat nav on an I pad but will use only pay as you go not contract
so.... do you need Wi-Fi to use a sat nav app and will it tell you where you are if not on Wi-Fi?
getting really confused as I need to replace very old sat nav but want to combine it with an I pad....does that make sense?
thanks
gail:help:

Hi...yes you can download tomtom from the app store. I have tomtom europe. It cost about £80.00 i think , it takes 2 Gb of space but it does not need to be connected to 3G or wifi as the maps are all downloaded onto the ipad. I also use waze a lot but that does need a connection. hope this helps

 

[Deleted member 38455]

Not too sure about that as a disabled man a caravaner was arrested and successfully prosecuted earlier this year for having an offensive weapon a Swiss Army knife in his glove box - No not a locking one - just a small general purpose one - he said that he used it for peeling apples and when picnicking.

Not sure if I am aloud to add the link to the newspaper article but on the chance I am:

Disabled caravanner prosecuted for keeping penknife in his car to use on picnics | Mail Online

But it's legal to have a knife in public if you need it for your work (e.g. if you're a chef or a carpenter); if you have it for religious reasons; or if it's a penknife less than three inches long, which you have no intention of using to hurt anyone.

 

[Seannachie]

But it's legal to have a knife in public if you need it for your work (e.g. if you're a chef or a carpenter); if you have it for religious reasons; or if it's a penknife less than three inches long, which you have no intention of using to hurt anyone.

But see my first post on previous page.

We do not know the facts, specifically the size of the blade or what legislation he was charged under but, in any event, the newspaper report states that he '...admitted possessing an offensive weapon'.

On the basis of the sparsely reported facts, it seems to me that he should have pleaded 'not guilty' on the grounds that he had 'lawful authority or reasonable excuse' for having the knife, yet his brief apparently told the court that his client 'admits possession of it and he had no good reason for having it.'

So, either he was badly advised by his brief, or he had the knife for some other purpose than just 'to cut up fruit on picnics with his wife', which is the only explanation I can think of for him having '...admitted possessing an offensive weapon'.

And in saying this, I fear that we have taken the OP sufficiently far off topic to let this point go - especially as anything we say here is without full knowledge of the facts which, in any event, have been inadequately reported in that Mail Online article.

 

[Tbear]

Apart from all the advice on the previous 17 pages, my one piece of advice is always carry a Rounders bat. I use to carry a baseball bat but found it to long. A rounders bat is much more `user` friendly in confined spaces, when unwanted guests arrive. Only joking common sense prevails in all cases.

This is very true plus a baseball bat is recognised as a weapon but a Rounders Bat is a little girls toy so not normally considered an offensive weapon.

Richard

 

[Bel]

Why is it that there is always someone wanting to impose rules regulations or guidelines about every aspect of your life. I would have thought wild camping would have been a bit about freedom and if you say the guidelines are common sense then why need them, if a newbie has enough interest then its all on here anyway. Oh look we have a set of guidelines then someone else takes them up then they become rules that you have to obey. Yet another thin end of a wedge. A set of guidelines wont make a jot of difference if someone thinks its ok to dump anywhere they still will. This subject has been brought up in the past times many and there are plenty who dont want yet another set of rules regulations laws guidlines to have to live your life by.

I agree, I'm a newbie and it never occurred to me to ask for 'code of conduct guidelines'. My common sense and natural awareness & respect for the environment and other people should, I hope, serve me well.

 

[Monty1083]

Does download the POI file count as advice?

Only wish I could... I've downloaded to the Tom Tom but never get many sites showing up. Wish there was a straightforward, old fashioned list I could download...... :-(

 

[johnkyte]

Never leave rubbish, if the bin is full, take it with you.

No, please dont take the bin!!!

 

[Risky]

This is very true plus a baseball bat is recognised as a weapon but a Rounders Bat is a little girls toy so not normally considered an offensive weapon.

Richard

I have a steering wheel lock…clamps around steering and is bright yellow. It is also about 6 kilos, 2ft long and guaranteed to turn the lights out on anyone that dares to step over the boundary…hit hard, hit once and if that don't work hit again but harder! Better be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
Never had any issues when parked up, gut instincts tells you what's what usually. Had a few noisy nights, and a few nosey peeps in cars take a look at us but never any disturbance. Start friendly, confident and try and slip in that you're "
"waiting for your other mates…should've been here by now"

 

[stefano]

As well as the large dog food bowl and the toy arm, a copy of Guns & Ammo on a window may also serve as a deterrent.

 

[Deleted member 39129]

Just a thought

Make sure you don't park behind gates that could be closed and blocking you in

 

[Deleted member 23433]

I have just been reading through our 16 page wildcamping guide. unfortunately this contains a lot of info and discussion rather than being a guide.

I want to have a guide on here for people to read, so I am starting a new thread and I will ask people to add one suggestion per post. you can make as many posts as you like but please one item of information per post. I can then collect these into one article.

Thanks

Any idea when the guide will be finished and available?