Shall we sell up ???

[RS SPIKE]

We have been motor homing for around 18 months now and i must say when we go out we enjoy it.

However i'm undecided weather to see up !!!!!

I'm just a bit disillusioned by it all at the minute,every time we decide to go away for the week/weekend the site is fully booked or nobody can return your email to confirm your booking,or when you go some where the local authorities are anti motorhome.

I did a calculation last night,adding everything up tax insurance,fuel etc and it works out at £62.00 per night to stay in the van not sure if that's reasonable or not ?????
So at the moment the motorhome is sat in the departure lounge

 

[mitzimad]

we seldom book anywhere unless its seaside of city center weve always found somewhere its what we love about a motorhome the flexibility

 

[peterc10]

w
don't want to park on the moors in the middle of nowhere,we like a bit of life pub or restraunt

Then join Britstops. You can park for free in lots of Pub car parks and then go in for a drink or some food or both.

 

[Kool Kroozer]

The UK in my opinion is crap for camping/parking and not very motorhome friendly at all, Take motorway service stops for instance, you always see the signs at the roadside on motorways "Dont drive tired Take a break" what they dont tell you is you can only stop for a limited amount of time - like up to 2 hrs - then you get fined £60 if you stop over even by a few minutes, they basically want you to stop buy stuff and then piss off.. France for instance, stop overnight if you like, use the services for filling up an emptying - they really do cater for motorhomes

 

[RS SPIKE]

Then join Britstops. You can park for free in lots of Pub car parks and then go in for a drink or some food or both.

I'm a member of the britstop,I must say they are very good.
But I find a lot are out of town
Take this coming weekend we fancy going to York and there are no britstops and all the campsites are full !!!

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[irnbru]

We are hoping to spend a few days in York on our way south and I would be very surprised if we find nowhere to park up.

Have you looked at www.ukcampsites.co.uk

There are quite a fewiw in the area.

How many have you tried?

 

[shawn&emma]

Maybe busier this weekend as it's a half term so Ive been told.

Mainland Europe rules as has been said already.

Hope you don't sell up, but enjoy whatever you end up doing

Shawn

 

[GJH]

The UK in my opinion is crap for camping/parking and not very motorhome friendly at all, Take motorway service stops for instance, you always see the signs at the roadside on motorways "Dont drive tired Take a break" what they dont tell you is you can only stop for a limited amount of time - like up to 2 hrs - then you get fined £60 if you stop over even by a few minutes, they basically want you to stop buy stuff and then piss off.. France for instance, stop overnight if you like, use the services for filling up an emptying - they really do cater for motorhomes

Oh yes, really bad isn't it? It's as if "they" expect motorhomers to have the common sense to plan their trips so that they don't become over tired in the first place.

 

[GJH]

I'm a member of the britstop,I must say they are very good.
But I find a lot are out of town
Take this coming weekend we fancy going to York and there are no britstops and all the campsites are full !!!

Somewhere like York is always popular. I bet it would be just as difficult to find a hotel there at such short notice unless one were prepared to pay over £100 a night.

 

[peterc10]

Take this coming weekend we fancy going to York and there are no britstops and all the campsites are full !!!

Then why not try Ripon instead. The car park in the middle of town tolerates overnight parking for £3 from memory. Get the coordinates on the Campercontact app.

As others have said the UK is not very motorhome friendly so it pays to be a bit flexible.

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[GJH]

I've just done a quick search of the C&CC web site. There are over 50 rallies/THSs on this weekend, about half of which are as close to Derbyshire as York is.

 

[chaser]

I'm a member of the britstop,I must say they are very good.
But I find a lot are out of town
Take this coming weekend we fancy going to York and there are no britstops and all the campsites are full !!!

There is one just outside York, with a bus right outside that takes you to the centre of York, don't know what book you have but in the 2015 one it's number 718 we have been and can recommend it

 

[Khizzie]

Or if you want a campsite there is Naburn locks just outside of York with a bus top right outside and it does have spaces still as of last night ..

 

[deleted-member02]

Have you got the right tool for the job ?
It's hard work travelling in the UK with a motorhome, even if you plan and use sites...
Perhaps a stealth van conversion would be better ?
There are folk wilding all over the place, countryside, beach, towns and cities, you just don't notice them

 

[RS SPIKE]

There is one just outside York, with a bus right outside that takes you to the centre of York, don't know what book you have but in the 2015 one it's number 718 we have been and can recommend it

We have 2016 book I will look when I get home

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[RS SPIKE]

Then why not try Ripon instead. The car park in the middle of town tolerates overnight parking for £3 from memory. Get the coordinates on the Campercontact app.

As others have said the UK is not very motorhome friendly so it pays to be a bit flexible.

Need to be in York as there is band on we want to see Saturday night

 

[RS SPIKE]

We are hoping to spend a few days in York on our way south and I would be very surprised if we find nowhere to park up.

Have you looked at www.ukcampsites.co.uk

There are quite a fewiw in the area.

How many have you tried?

All of them within 5 mile radius of the city centre

 

[Kool Kroozer]

Oh yes, really bad isn't it? It's as if "they" expect motorhomers to have the common sense to plan their trips so that they don't become over tired in the first place.

Being sarcastic proves nothing, you could be a car driver,van driver, truck driver, if you pull in for a rest and a bit to eat it can be upto an hour before you can be back in you vehicle - which gives you an hour to get some shut eye after driving for god knows how long - as the service stations in this country are so far apart - unlike France theyre dotted around all over the place.

 

[GJH]

Being sarcastic proves nothing, you could be a car driver,van driver, truck driver, if you pull in for a rest and a bit to eat it can be upto an hour before you can be back in you vehicle - which gives you an hour to get some shut eye after driving for god knows how long - as the service stations in this country are so far apart - unlike France theyre dotted around all over the place.

This country is small enough to plan one's journey so one doesn't become so tired. MSAs are, as we all know, designed for short stops rather than being free/cheap camp sites. There are plenty of hotels, B&Bs, truckstops and camp sites near to motorways for anyone who needs the length of stop that MSAs are not designed for.

 

[peterc10]

I am afraid that Graham is blind to the advantages that the rest of Europe have for us Motorhomers. Not surprising given that he has never been there in a motorhome.

It's just best to vote with your steering wheel and head South or East.

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[GJH]

I am afraid that Graham is blind to the advantages that the rest of Europe have for us Motorhomers. Not surprising given that he has never been there in a motorhome.

It's just best to vote with your steering wheel and head South or East.

Nothing to do with that, simply all to do with taking responsibility for oneself rather than expecting "them" to make facilities available for every single minority. There are almost 26 million cars on UK roads and only around 250,000 motorhomes. Little wonder, then, that facilities like car parks and MSAs are set up to cater for that far larger majority.

 

[two]

If you can afford it, why analyse the cost? Look at the mess this country’s in thanks to accountants who think that everything can be controlled by money. The best things in life cannot be valued.

 

[RS SPIKE]

If you can afford it, why analyse the cost? Look at the mess this country’s in thanks to accountants who think that everything can be controlled by money. The best things in life cannot be valued.

I only analysed it because when I want to use it I don't seem to be able to !!

 

[Steve and Denise]

We went to York in the summer parked 4 miles out at Rufforth we took our toad in to York and had to pay around £7 for 3 hours parking so even car parking in York is top dollar there are sites in York but it will be premium money but 5 mins walk so you will save on taxis. I do like to travel around the UK and unlike some do not expect some one else to foot the bill for where I park

 

[peterc10]

Nothing to do with that, simply all to do with taking responsibility for oneself rather than expecting "them" to make facilities available for every single minority. There are almost 26 million cars on UK roads and only around 250,000 motorhomes. Little wonder, then, that facilities like car parks and MSAs are set up to cater for that far larger majority.

Graham my post was about the fact that rest of Europe do make facilities available for us, not that the UK doesn't. And that is why so many of us vote with our steering wheels and spend our money elsewhere in Europe. It is so much easier than lobbying for change in staid old "that is the way we always do it" UK.

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[peterc10]

We went to York in the summer parked 4 miles out at Rufforth we took our toad in to York and had to pay around £7 for 3 hours parking so even car parking in York is top dollar there are sites in York but it will be premium money but 5 mins walk so you will save on taxis. I do like to travel around the UK and unlike some do not expect some one else to foot the bill for where I park

Should have used the bus - stops outside the village pub. That what most of us did when we were on a MHF meet in Rufforth this summer.

 

[chaser]

Should have used the bus - stops outside the village pub. That what most of us did when we were on a MHF meet in Rufforth this summer.

The one I mentioned is at wheldrake, the bus stop sign is actually on the pub wall, and the bus takes you right to the centre of York , as you are going to a show you might be later than the buses but as it's only 7 mile , a taxi back wouldn't be a big amount.

 

[Steve and Denise]

Should have used the bus - stops outside the village pub. That what most of us did when we were on a MHF meet in Rufforth this summer.

I do not do buses to unreliable.

 

[haganap]

I'm a member of the britstop,I must say they are very good.
But I find a lot are out of town
Take this coming weekend we fancy going to York and there are no britstops and all the campsites are full !!!

first thing's first. If you want to go to York, then join the CC or CCC. There are loads of CL's where you can stay. I ran the York marathon 2 weeks ago and stayed at a site which was a 10 pound taxi ride away from the centre or a 5 mile walk. When running the marathon I must have passed about 5 different CL's all between £10 and £16 per night.


In answer to your question, I would suggest you analyse how you are using your van to maximise your enjoyment. I note from your avatar a very nice RS Escort, a Mk2. So presumably you like car shows steam rallies bike shows etc. I note your going to see a band play? therefore you like music and festivals etc.

Then maybe concentrate on enjoying your motorhome for these types of events? we have been to numerous steam rallies, festivals, car shows, american car shows, 40s weekends 60s weekends scooter rallies (cheap ones) and had a great time in a Motorhome. The other time's we use the van for my running events or cycling events where I stay near as possible get the scooter off the rack (or bike) and head to the start.

Then of course you could, yes could, try an MCC or CC or Fun rally. We have one organised for new year near you in Uttoxeter.

Then if you try all the above and it still doesn't appeal to you, make the decision to sell up, but reading between the lines it seems you have yet to really be taught how to get the most from it.
On the otherhand, if it sits on your drive going nowhere and getting in the way when trying to park the car or walk the dog? it's time to say goodbye.

that is the fairest unbiased argument I can give you.

 

[GJH]

Graham my post was about the fact that rest of Europe do make facilities available for us, not that the UK doesn't. And that is why so many of us vote with our steering wheels and spend our money elsewhere in Europe. It is so much easier than lobbying for change in staid old "that is the way we always do it" UK.

There are all sorts of things that the rest of Europe does that the UK does not, using the Euro and supporting membership of the EU for two. The former was rejected by the UK many years ago and the latter has just been the subject of a successful lobby for change.
The UK has developed differently from mainland Europe in many ways and expecting governments to pander to a tiny proportion of what is already a small minority of the population is both impractical and illogical, nothing to do with "that is the way we always do it".

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[peterc10]

[

There are all sorts of things that the rest of Europe does that the UK does not, using the Euro and supporting membership of the EU for two. The former was rejected by the UK many years ago and the latter has just been the subject of a successful lobby for change.
The UK has developed differently from mainland Europe in many ways and expecting governments to pander to a tiny proportion of what is already a small minority of the population is both impractical and illogical, nothing to do with "that is the way we always do it".

Yes dear ..... whatever you say dear ..............