Parking for beginners

[Gary217]

Hi - although we've had a camper for a few years and travelled a lot in it so we are fairly experienced on many aspects , we've not had a 'grown-up' one before as our previous van was VWT5 which was about the size of a large car and went under most car park barriers...just. We now have our Transit LWB Hi top (picked up last Friday) so I thought I'd put my naive questions in this beginners section.
My first question is parking. We tried to choose a van that was not too large but look like we failed miserably on that score - although it is only just a metre longer than the VW it is too big for most car park slots and on our first trip out we found it difficult to park at the coast and only one car park was without a height barrier, but then spaces were incredibly tight so we didn't end stopping there. Trips into Beaulieu Village and then Christchurch proved the same, and we ended up stopping on the way back in a New Forest car park for our celebration (of new van) lunch ...feeling quite despondent.
So, we see a lot of motorhomes that are bigger than ours trundling around, so where and how do you park in the UK - especially in nice spots?

 

[Eeyore]

It's terrible, we pull up on an aire in a town and round come the touts from neighbouring towns. "Monsieur you can ave my sister if you just come to my town", it's embarrassing, under these circumstances how does one divert the attention of one's wife ? You should have seen the picture of his sister.

Oh Brian ! Don't spoil it. Somehow we've got to maintain the legend that aires are no more than glorified car parks. If people know there are perks then they'll all want to use them and there'll be no space for us.

If the OP wants to be inspired by a really intrepid lady, who doesn't let anything as petty as a lack of parking spaces stand in the way of her adventures, then he should read this blog:

http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk/

I've put the link to the first year of Sue's adventures so you don't miss one glorious episode of them.

Am I right in thinking that she is a member of this forum ? Stand up and take a bow !

 

[hilldweller]

@ScotJimland posted it Broken Link Removed earlier today.

Was that really necessary ?

 

[GJH]

Was that really necessary ?

No, not at all but I knew you would appreciate the gesture

 

[hilldweller]

No, not at all but I knew you would appreciate the gesture

OK, I was going to spend a fortune on colonic irrigation this week so you've saved me the money.

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[chaser]

You can also park along Foss Island Road, though it is payment, but it's very close to City center just outside of Walmgate Bar. It's along the roadside so length isn't an issue

Very good britstops couple of miles outside York bus from the pub straight to town centre

 

[Puddleduck]

Thanks all for the replies - this is a great forum, not only got some useful replies but no-one has said anything derogatory about the fact that we (well, me actually) didn't check one of the fundamentals well enough.

Probably because so many of us have done something similar

Yep, we've all done it and it takes courage to admit to it.

Oh how I wish it did

Go join @Tootles , naughty corner.

Oh Brian ! Don't spoil it. Somehow we've got to maintain the legend that aires are no more than glorified car parks. If people know there are perks then they'll all want to use them and there'll be no space for us.

If the OP wants to be inspired by a really intrepid lady, who doesn't let anything as petty as a lack of parking spaces stand in the way of her adventures, then he should read this blog:

http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk/

I've put the link to the first year of Sue's adventures so you don't miss one glorious episode of them.

Am I right in thinking that she is a member of this forum ? Stand up and take a bow !

@dippingatoe

Be warned her site is addictive and you will need to put a few hours aside to read it.

 

[GJH]

OK, I was going to spend a fortune on colonic irrigation this week so you've saved me the money.

I'm pleased about that. Now you can afford to go to Blackpool instead of Bruges

 

[TheCaller]

Thanks all for the replies - this is a great forum, not only got some useful replies but no-one has said anything derogatory about the fact that we (well, me actually) didn't check one of the fundamentals well enough.

That's only 'cos you is new.

You will know when you have become a regular when you get the p$$s extracted mercilessly for a similar 'oops' moment. To be fair though, the flow of useful advice keeps flowing no matter what.

But it's true - as someone has in their sig - 'the man who has never made a mistake has never made anything'. We've all been there. The other oft quoted maxim is that it takes three vans to get the right layout. Don't worry about the parking issue - we went from a pop-top T4 to a 6.5m panel van that's 2.7m high. We get to most places & the extra convenience of the van far outweighs the downside of a few parking problems.

From a T4 at one end to an American RV at the other, it's always going to be a compromise & it's just a case of finding the one that works best for you.

 

[Indy259]

I parked on the Cliff Top C/P in Hunstanton during the summer, however when I was leaving I noticed a small council van charging along the grass along side me, when I stopped the young council driver came over and said he would open the barrier (which I had not noticed} for me, he said that the bin men opened it when entering and then closed it leaving. Needles to say I thanked him very much. The barrier height was 6ft 2" I was 7ft 2"!

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[The Cruisers]

We love the new forest. Can you park in their car parks for a day? If so can you let me know which ones please. We go by car usually for the day and park up take a picnic or find a village for lunch and go for walks. Don't remember height restrictions but then we weren't looking for them. Having got our MH for first time this year was thinking that going in the MH was probably out of the question

 

[Eeyore]

We love the new forest. Can you park in their car parks for a day? If so can you let me know which ones please. We go by car usually for the day and park up take a picnic or find a village for lunch and go for walks. Don't remember height restrictions but then we weren't looking for them. Having got our MH for first time this year was thinking that going in the MH was probably out of the question

Just a thought: If you put " New Forest pubs with parking" into Google it brings up a whole raft of websites with names and details. You could find somewhere near where you wanted to go for the day, look at the pub in Google Streetview to check it out and then, if you like the look of the place and the car park is big enough, ring the pub and ask if you could park for the day there if you had a drink/snack/ meal as well. It would have to be a pretty poor-spirited landlord who would refuse !

 

[GJH]

We love the new forest. Can you park in their car parks for a day? If so can you let me know which ones please. We go by car usually for the day and park up take a picnic or find a village for lunch and go for walks. Don't remember height restrictions but then we weren't looking for them. Having got our MH for first time this year was thinking that going in the MH was probably out of the question

All 135 Forestry Commission car parks in the New Forest are accessible by motorhomes. See their statement under New Forest National Park here.

 

[Gary217]

Most car parks that are not in towns in the New Forest are unrestricted and free, those in the towns which I guess are under the local council control or district council are more restricted and pay to park. If you're parking in the forest proper, then you can leave your vehicle and go off for the day.

 

[DanielFord]

Also for the New Forest, a new company has set up a useful service for the area - Rent a Twizzy.
So if you want a longer stay, you can pitch the van, and then use the Twizzy to get around

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[The Cruisers]

Thanks for all your replies about New Forest parking.
Daniel, what's a Twizzy?

 

[Gary217]

It's a miniature electric car (Renault possibly?) that someone is hiring round here - occasionally see one parked up at beaulieu where I volunteer. Not been near one, but they look max of two seats and seem to have no side windows, but I might be being unfair.

 

[FIDGET]

Twizzy http://www.hireatwizy.co.uk/

 

[DanielFord]

It's a miniature electric car (Renault possibly?) that someone is hiring round here - occasionally see one parked up at beaulieu where I volunteer. Not been near one, but they look max of two seats and seem to have no side windows, but I might be being unfair.

Yes spot on, it is a Renault. The side doors and windows are an optional extra, but these ones seem to have them fitted, judging by the photos (see the link that @FIDGET posted)
For 2 people tootling around the Forest, they seem an ideal solution.

 

[Gary217]

I've taken on board all the comments and indeed used the 'overhang' method as described to me earlier in this thread with the result I fitted (just!) into a Waitrose car park space in Salisbury - very proud of myself ....

View media item 17889

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[HymerB544]

We try to find a parking spot with grass behind it, that way after checking kerb height and other obstructions I put the arse end over the grass. With our back wheels up against the kerb we are usually fine at the front. Another plan is to go as far away from the pedestrian access or entrance if on a supermarket carpark 'cos the lazy buggers don't like walking and there's more room for us.
Mind you I have done this before and come back to our MoHo to find out of a possible six spaces another MoHo parked right next to us I couldn't get in through the drivers door!

This what we do. Other than that, we use either our bikes or the local bus, or walk! And leave the van on site. Gary

 

[Gary217]

Van on site doesn't tend to be an option for us as we tend to move around/tour a lot - on our last five week trip in Europe the longest we stopped at a site was four days. It's just what we enjoy doing, plus we like out of the way sites so need the van to explore so I'm just going to have to improve my parking techniques!

 

[Eeyore]

Well done . Very neat !

Just a slight word of warning. Either you or passenger should check behind you if the grass is longish. We watched a very nice van have bits ripped out of the underneath when they reversed back into a huge rock neatly hidden in the uncut grass. It was painted white too, to warn people not to park on the grass....

 

[Jac Sprat]

Can I ask what people do when they have a dog and have to take buses from out of town? Our dog has never gone on a bus. Is this generally allowed in the UK and Europe?
We are just about to set off as newbies on our first moho trip.

 

[GJH]

Can I ask what people do when they have a dog and have to take buses from out of town? Our dog has never gone on a bus. Is this generally allowed in the UK and Europe?
We are just about to set off as newbies on our first moho trip.

We don't have a dog (I'm allergic) but this point has been raised before.
The policies of bus companies to dogs varies and there may well be limitations on the numbers and types of dogs allowed on buses. One constant is that they are not allowed on seats.
You can often find policy details on bus company web sites, e.g. Here and Here (#8).

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[Jac Sprat]

Thanks

 

[Emmit]

Puddleduck wrote,

"Don't park in a coach park without permission even if you do buy a ticket as you will get fined."

Watch this space!!!

Last weekend I was ticketed for parking in a FORMER Coach Park (The Local Authority had painted out the only sign indicating it's previous use) in Ryde on the IOW.

Photos taken and I'll be amazed if they try to uphold the ticket

 

[Lenny HB]

Can I ask what people do when they have a dog and have to take buses from out of town? Our dog has never gone on a bus. Is this generally allowed in the UK and Europe?
We are just about to set off as newbies on our first moho trip.

We often look after our daughters dog, I take her on the bus, no problem in the UK, Quite a few European companies charge for dogs on buses and I believe in Spain it is at the decision of the driver @Don Quixote may know.

 

[GJH]

Puddleduck wrote,

"Don't park in a coach park without permission even if you do buy a ticket as you will get fined."

Watch this space!!!

Last weekend I was ticketed for parking in a FORMER Coach Park (The Local Authority had painted out the only sign indicating it's previous use) in Ryde on the IOW.

Photos taken and I'll be amazed if they try to uphold the ticket

Isle of Wight Council publish a list of car parks suitable for motorhomes Here. If you were in one of the four listed for Ryde you may have a case, depending on the reason for contravention. If you were parked elsewhere they may well have got you I'm afraid.

 

[Don Quixote]

We often look after our daughters dog, I take her on the bus, no problem in the UK, Quite a few European companies charge for dogs on buses and I believe in Spain it is at the decision of the driver @Don Quixote may know.

I have travelled around Spain by public transport over past 4 years and have never seen small animals being carried on buses, trains or taxis.
I think it's unlikely a taxi driver would agree to carry a dog, they are always paranoid about the cab being soiled, drunks are often refused carriage for the same reason! So the answer has to be "maybe", it all depends on the tolerance of the individual taxi driver, but I imagine on trains the dog would have to be carried in a special doggy cage in the guards van.
I can't see a Spanish bus driver allowing a dog on a single decker bus. There are exceptions for specialist dogs in the charge of blind persons, but always at the driver's discretion. In Spain, all city buses and coaches are single-decker (except the open-top city tour buses.) So, you would have to enquire at the bus station before buying a ticket, another crafty alternative, if your doggy is well-trained, is to pop him into a small rucksack and carry it under your seat, where hopefully he would fall asleep and remain unnoticed! but I did not say that...........

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[Emmit]

Isle of Wight Council publish a list of car parks suitable for motorhomes Here. If you were in one of the four listed for Ryde you may have a case, depending on the reason for contravention. If you were parked elsewhere they may well have got you I'm afraid.

I wasn't in a motorhome. I was in my car. There was abolutely NOTHING to indicate the ownership of the car park. It was adjacent to the Bowl.
If it was owned privately there would have been no sanction possible for the owner to have taken because there were no notices whatsoever to indicate any sanction that could have been taken.
All of the above has been pointed out to the Council and I await their excuses.
I would have parked in the Pay and Display in Quay Road but, after finding that two of the machines were out of use (photo taken) and being told by a local that the Council expect the motorist to find a machine that works, (yea right) and, notwithstanding that, they will still ticket you, I found the former Coach Park.

Furthermore, for the Council to 'Get Me' they have to show adequate signage. How they're going to do that with no signage is beyond me.