Wildparking Scotland.

[cc.t]

Hi.... Just arrived back home after six weeks up in Scotland. Started in Edinburgh and meandered up the east coast, armed with Canalman's POI database on my sat nav (great info file). On up to John o Groats across the top westwards eventually dropping down to Mull for a few days before heading home.
Getting to the point... how legal are all the No Over Night Parking signs? Yes there is plenty of wildparking to be found if you look for them, but from Canalman's POI file, I would go as far to say that seventy percent of the locations had new yellow signs... No Over Night Parking or similar. With Scotland's no trespass law can anyone actually move you on?
To me it was a little off putting, arriving at what you think is going to be your place for the night and finding these signs everywhere. With hind sight I should have made a note of all these places but didn't think it was going to be such a big problem as it was. So apologies for that Mr Canalman for not doing my bit.

Hope this note, just fore warns anyone going up to Scotland, that things are not quite as easy as they use to be.

 

[donkey too]

[/U]Oh NO! N O T A G A I N :mad2:

 

[Deleted member 13543]

Curses!! And there was me picking out all these great places up there to wild!! I had noticed quite a few yellow No Overnight Parking signs right at the top west end of Scotland when I was browsing Streetview - and that was done a couple of years ago. Sounds like things have got a lot worse, and it's not as if there is a campsite round every corner up there as an alternative. Will just have to hope for the best, and wear a nightie for once in case we DO get knocked up!!

 

[Wind Dancer]

Hi.... Just arrived back home after six weeks up in Scotland.
Hope this note, just fore warns anyone going up to Scotland, that things are not quite as easy as they use to be.

That's a great shame :sad: but thanks for the heads up. I too have been plotting my route, same as you going anti clockwise. Any chance you can remember some of the places you did manage to stay at?

 

[christine]

We have also just returned from the far north of Scotland. Here are a few updates:

Duncansby Head - yellow no overnight signs.
Lybster - ok.
Nybster broch - ok.
Latheronwheel - ok.
Helmsdale, harbour and village - ok.
Noss head (Girnigoe Castle)- ok.
Melvich Beach carpark - yellow no overnight signs.
Strathy Beach/cemetery carpark - ok.
Armadale beck - ok.
Cromarty - ok.
Forest park near Grey Cairns of Camster - ok.
Skelbo Castle, Loch Fleet - ok.
Dunnet Head - yellow no overnight signs.
Dunbeath - ok.

Noticed many, many yellow signs which mainly seemed to be local council owned places.

 

[Canalsman]

Thanks for the update ...

Regards

Chris

 

[Mick H]

Wilding in Scotland

See also, my recent thread on this forum in the Scotland wildcamping section.

Mick H.

 

[RSWO]

Mull

Where did u stay in Mull?

Hi.... Just arrived back home after six weeks up in Scotland. Started in Edinburgh and meandered up the east coast, armed with Canalman's POI database on my sat nav (great info file). On up to John o Groats across the top westwards eventually dropping down to Mull for a few days before heading home.
Getting to the point... how legal are all the No Over Night Parking signs? Yes there is plenty of wildparking to be found if you look for them, but from Canalman's POI file, I would go as far to say that seventy percent of the locations had new yellow signs... No Over Night Parking or similar. With Scotland's no trespass law can anyone actually move you on?
To me it was a little off putting, arriving at what you think is going to be your place for the night and finding these signs everywhere. With hind sight I should have made a note of all these places but didn't think it was going to be such a big problem as it was. So apologies for that Mr Canalman for not doing my bit.

Hope this note, just fore warns anyone going up to Scotland, that things are not quite as easy as they use to be.

 

[maingate]

We have also just returned from the far north of Scotland. Here are a few updates:

Duncansby Head - yellow no overnight signs.
Lybster - ok.
Nybster broch - ok.
Latheronwheel - ok.
Helmsdale, harbour and village - ok.
Noss head (Girnigoe Castle)- ok.
Melvich Beach carpark - yellow no overnight signs.
Strathy Beach/cemetery carpark - ok.
Armadale beck - ok.
Cromarty - ok.
Forest park near Grey Cairns of Camster - ok.
Skelbo Castle, Loch Fleet - ok.
Dunnet Head - yellow no overnight signs.
Dunbeath - ok.

Noticed many, many yellow signs which mainly seemed to be local council owned places.

As regards Dunnet Head (the car park), there was a sign there last year announcing no overnighting. There are 2 spots just back down the road from the car park which have no signs and are good quiet spots.

I never go up there in the summer, too many vans about. Any other time of the year, I tend to believe that any sign without an appropriate Traffic order is probably illegally posted. This is purely my private opinion and I respect the detailed notices. It is easier when you are the only van for miles and you are only staying one night and it gets dark at 4 pm. :wave:

 

[frankie501]

North of Luss on Lochmond there is a small village, Tarbet, we and many others spent the night in the parking lot below the hotel on the lake side where the cruises board.

 

[ipcel]

Achnahaird Bay

Just come back from 3 weeks in NW Scotland.
4 nights at Achnahaird Bay, didn't stop there all day kept going back.
Sign up no overnight camping. We were never the only van overnighting.
Got to know the local dog walkers, nobody bothered about campers.
Very nice spot.
I was telling one of the locals we needed to fill up with water and he told us to go round to his house and fill up. Nice people up there.

 

[Canalsman]

Thanks for the update - I've removed this spot from the POI database.

Regards

Chris

 

[ipcel]

No Overnight Parking Signs

After following the ' No Overnight Parking Signs' thread I think we should leave Achnahaird Bay on the POI file.
After all the locals aren't bothered.

 

[berniesbargreece]

You can park

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/general-chat/15445-no-overnight-parking-signs.html

I hope this link works.

If your vehicle is legal how can anyone move you on? If anyone tries, then tell them you have been driving 8 hours straight and you must stop or you'll fall asleep at the wheel (puts the pressure on them that way). Or simply tell them you have broke down, or lost your keys (waiting for replacement keys to arrive). I would be stunned if anyone of real authority asked you to move.

It seems these signs are not legal and have no rite being up in the first place.

 

[Viktor]

After following the I think we should leave Achnahaird Bay on the POI file.
After all the locals aren't bothered.

I agree. I think only POIs that are compromised by unsavoury behaviour, iriate locals,
or TROs should be removed.

 

[Ste]

When I was doing deliveries around Highlands etc.. 2 years ago, I was told that the yellow 'No Overnighting' signs were mostly to discourage you from setting up camp. As stated above, if you're too tired its unsafe, or in my case it was my daily driving hours had run out.
I think if we stand by WC's ethos we'll all be ok on the whole

 

[Delboy]

I've read elsewhere in other forums that people have even received parking fines for over staying in motorway services, getting a fine and just ignoring them! After a few more letters the demands just stop!

 

[David & Ann]

I've read elsewhere in other forums that people have even received parking fines for over staying in motorway services, getting a fine and just ignoring them! After a few more letters the demands just stop!

I have read the notices at one of the service stations on the M3 (forget the name) heading towards the A30 (South West) If the fine is ignored, then the next time you park there or any of their other branches, at a future date, your car will automatically be clamped until the fine is paid on the spot.

 

[John H]

I've read elsewhere in other forums that people have even received parking fines for over staying in motorway services, getting a fine and just ignoring them! After a few more letters the demands just stop!

Hi

It is important to remember that these penalties are not fines because the land in question is privately owned, so any "offence" is a civil one not a criminal one. They may send you a document that is designed to look like an official court document and may try to convince you it is a fine BUT IT IS NOT. Mind you, if you don't pay and use that car park again they can clamp you under current legislation (possibly due to change in this parliament) so I wouldn't recommend that you use the same car park twice! :wave:

Oops - sorry, David, I didn't realise you had alrready said this!

 

[David & Ann]

Hi

It is important to remember that these penalties are not fines because the land in question is privately owned, so any "offence" is a civil one not a criminal one. They may send you a document that is designed to look like an official court document and may try to convince you it is a fine BUT IT IS NOT. Mind you, if you don't pay and use that car park again they can clamp you under current legislation (possibly due to change in this parliament) so I wouldn't recommend that you use the same car park twice! :wave:

Oops - sorry, David, I didn't realise you had alrready said this!

Hi JH, I get this feeling that I am following you around, or you are.☺☺☺ Never mind, nice to bump into you in the post section. I enjoy reading you replies.