Think I'm going to Join the National Trust

[B+W vanman]

I never understand why people drive inwards. Much easier to leave if the space was reversed into.
Same with supermarket car parks and regardless of vehicle type.

If you do that in supermarket car parks the hatch/bootlid is at the wrong end

 

[gus-lopez]

If you do that in supermarket car parks the hatch/bootlid is at the wrong end

I always do it then pull out to load up. Nothing worse than trying to reverse out of a space in to main/any roads with no rear or side view. Even with cameras I still have to be very careful.
We even have one supermarket underground car park here that in one section if you drive in & there are no spaces the only way out is a 100m reverse to get in to a part were you can turn round.

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

If you do that in supermarket car parks the hatch/bootlid is at the wrong end

Mmm, I think we're onto another topic; that being, what are the determining factors in choosing an appropriate parking space.

Not meant to be cheeky; I know only too well that spaces in the UK are no bigger today than 30 years ago yet today's vehicles are all bigger than they were back then. For me; that just means being more discerning when selecting a space. I've never yet been at a supermarket where all spaces are gone. Well, lead-up to Christmas yes, but I avoid them then because I refuse to waste my life sitting in a queue for a shopping centre when I could be dropped off, walk 100 yards, do the necessary and then be collected later.

 

[B+W vanman]

I always do it then pull out to load up. Nothing worse than trying to reverse out of a space in to main/any roads with no rear or side view. Even with cameras I still have to be very careful.
We even have one supermarket underground car park here that in one section if you drive in & there are no spaces the only way out is a 100m reverse to get in to a part were you can turn round.

If you use a British supermarket with double banked parking, then reversing in puts the loading area at the wrong end and you have to manoeuvre your trolley between two vehicles to get to it.
If you pulled out and blocked the carriageway in our local Sainsbury’s, someone would kill you
If you were in Waitrose the same, except it would be the butler who did the deed………

 

[cliffanger]

Have they really gone 'all woke'? Or have those alleging it moved their own position?

I've not much time for those at the helm of NT due to demonstrated over-zealousness in pursuing their remit.
That said; I haven't noticed anything woke that affects any of the times I have visited NT in the past few years.

Now, if we get onto sandwiches etc, I'll have a lot more to say!!

There’s a pair of Blackamoor side tables at Dyrham Park with an explanation as to their origin and how they came to be owned by the Blathwaytes, but I wouldn’t say there was anything ‘woke’ in the description.

Saying that I think there’s a warning that there are things in the house indicative of the link to the slave trade.

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[scotzsue]

Was a member for many years but didn't use it much, it was pre motorhome ownership. Cancelled membership, when they gave us a pot of tea for 2 with 1 tbag same as a pot for 1, wouldn't let us have 2 pots for 1 and wanted to charge for another pot for 2 when we asked for another tbag.
I know they need funds but that was a step too far for me.

 

[alex n]

Never been to Scotland, am I missing much?

What a wee shame you have never lived

 

[B+W vanman]

If you go to Glasgow, you wont understand a word anyone says to you until you start to catch the cadence, whereas in Edinburgh they wont understand you, unless you speak really posh…

 

[hja]

With the van I always try and park nose out. Often car park is less crowded when we arrive so I can manoeuvre with space and by being nose out, much easier to leave. In supermarket, nose in so easy to get to the boot.

 

[Abacist]

I did belong to the Scottish NT on the advice that it was cheaper than the English NT but found out that it only worked that way in some respects. I am struggling to remember what the problem was but suspect that it was parking charges. Whilst the house or attraction entry fee might have reciprocal I am pretty sure that we had to pay for parking because we only had a Scottish membership attempting to visit an English NT site where thre was a parking charge to visit without going into the house. I suspect it was Saltram as that's our local and nice for a dog walk.

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[Minxy]

I did belong to the Scottish NT on the advice that it was cheaper than the English NT but found out that it only worked that way in some respects. I am struggling to remember what the problem was but suspect that it was parking charges. Whilst the house or attraction entry fee might have reciprocal I am pretty sure that we had to pay for parking because we only had a Scottish membership attempting to visit an English NT site where thre was a parking charge to visit without going into the house. I suspect it was Saltram as that's our local and nice for a dog walk.

I read on another thread recently that it isn't any different whether you have Scottish or English membership, you just have to put your membership info in the windscreen.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/national-trust-membership.319973/

 

[Happy Jack]

I never understand why people drive inwards. Much easier to leave if the space was reversed into.
Same with supermarket car parks and regardless of vehicle type.

I drive in and reverse out.
It is easier and never had a problem since Supermarkets started.
Lost count of the number of people I see having at least 2 attempts to reverse in.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Sounds like it's going to be a bit like my back garden

You’ve got a clay garden like us then

 

[Silver-Fox]

Same with supermarket car parks and regardless of vehicle type.

Difficult to get to the boot with your shopping if you reverse in

Oops late to the party

 

[Jim]

(Acknowledging your agreement)

I shall look into that specifically when I am next there.
I think it is unreasonable and the only other place I have seen such an instruction, was California.

It's not law so I shan't obey blindly. Instead I shall use my own judgement, training and experience.
If they challenge me I shall explain and (try to) persuade.
There are more bumps caused by driving in or reversing out of spaces than if done properly.

Reasoning:
1. When entering a space, it's a defined area with nothing in it. Pedestrians may cross in the way but that requires looking/monitoring two specific areas, each side of the space, between the vehicle and the space.
1a. Reversing in requires no more or less effort than if driving in.

2. When leaving a space that was driven into, the driver needs to check all around the rear, for cars and pedestrians, with his neck craned. Through rear-side windows if he has them and using mirrors/cameras too. Much more to look at with more difficulty than if having reversed in.

3. When leaving a space that has been reversed into, the driver can see each way, much sooner, before he has stuck his vehicle out before he can see whether it's clear.

All things considered; he can leave with greater safety than if reversing out, which must be considered before erecting such stupid signs as that one. When I say 'he'; by default, I include the ladies because they are as much part of 'mankind' as anyone else.

Perhaps interesting to note:
When I have explained it and sometimes shown what I mean, to women of a variety of ages, they do indeed find it easier and change their parking practice. Very different response from guys, some who remain convinced they know best.

If on my property I asked you to park a particular way, and you come back at me with your three point reasoning and interesting notes. Before you got to your interesting note, you'd be talking to yourself on the way out

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[TheMobileWanderer]

If on my property I asked you to park a particular way, and you come back at me with your three point reasoning and interesting notes. Before you got to your interesting note, you'd be talking to yourself on the way out

I didn't realise you run a car park too. Aires and campsites are different.

 

[Minxy]

It's not law so I shan't obey blindly. Instead I shall use my own judgement, training and experience.
If they challenge me I shall explain and (try to) persuade.

No doubt they have very good reasons for the way they want MHs parked there, one simple one could be to avoid unnecessary manoeuvring of large vehicles especially at busy times as this would cause hold ups, driving straight in and reversing out is much quicker than having to go forward and reverse in. Another may be so that the shrubs aren't squished with overhangs and/or to stop MHers sneakily emptying their grey waste onto the borders.

It would be interesting to know the reasons but I certainly wouldn't be wasting their time trying to get them to change to suit me because I believe my judgement is better than theirs. Their property, their rules.

 

[Jim]

I didn't realise you run a car park too. Aires and campsites are different.

Many campsites have car parks, ours does.

 

[Minxy]

When I have explained it and sometimes shown what I mean, to women of a variety of ages, they do indeed find it easier and change their parking practice. Very different response from guys, some who remain convinced they know best.

Really? Maybe the women feel intimidated or are just trying to get a know-it-all off their back and carry on with their day. Alternatively it could be that they have more patience for someone who seems to have an obsession with how people park. I'm sure some men and women would appreciate the 'education' but it comes across as quite condescending I'm afraid.

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

Really? Maybe the women feel intimidated or are just trying to get a know-it-all off their back and carry on with their day. Alternatively it could be that they have more patience for someone who seems to have an obsession with how people park. I'm sure some men and women would appreciate the 'education' but it comes across as quite condescending I'm afraid.

Nope. They asked me how I made it look so easy. So I explained and showed. Nothing more than that. I've no obsession with how others drive/park.

If it would have helped some who may find reverse parking difficult (or more difficult than driving in), I might have explained and drawn diagrams. I shan't.

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[Jim]

 

[dryad]

getting back to the original post, the new nature reserve sounds wonderful, and hopefully it will be wheelchair friendly as far as is possible..

have had hundreds of pounds worth of benefit from my membership before covid, fingers crossed you too Jim and if you can try a trip up to Scotland, like you I’d never been until I took some friends up there for an exhibition, had never wanted to visit that dark, damp country as I’d thought it was, but it was stunning and blew me away..

 

[Jim]

getting back to the original post, the new nature reserve sounds wonderful, and hopefully it will be wheelchair friendly as far as is possible..

Yes, I don't think there is a single step on the whole wetland, all the wooden bridges are gentle slopes

 

[Minxy]

Me thinks Jim hasn't been to Scotland 'cause he's a wuss ... probably frightened of the wild haggis and midges!

 

[bobnick]

Lots of Scotland is indeed stunning. Been many many times.
However i'm finding equally stunning places without the long drive up there.
Lake District
Peak District
Yorshire Dales
Mid Wales (watch the cameras.)
And others.

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[Rapido666F]

I know several places where they ask you not to reverse park because the exhaust fumes can damage or mark the walls and can enter the building via windows.

 

[robnchris]

Erdigg House near Wrexham is one of the NT's best houses for everything in it is original, nice garden with plenty of walks. Chris works there as a volunteer and loves it.
Bodnant is another fabulous place to visit, the house isn't open to the public but the garden and walks are amazing.

 

[Jim]

Me thinks Jim hasn't been to Scotland 'cause he's a wuss ... probably frightened of the wild haggis and midges!

I've spent countless nights among the fish farms and rice paddies on the HK Chinese border. The midges there are 100 times more of a pest than anything you'll see in Europe. There are so many midges it goes dark an hour early. No repellent works, there are so many you are breathing them in. So its not the midges. It's not the wild Haggis, we have a pet one.

It's just happenstance. that we've never been. Siân lived for a few years as a child in Kilmacolm (wherever that is) And actually as a young 17-year-old lad I think we might have crossed the Scottish border on a military romp.

What a wee shame you have never lived

Oh I've lived, just not in Scotland, but we will visit one of these days, and an English mate of mine is always telling me about the warm welcome he receives. We have a long list of places we want to visit, but we'll get around to Scotland in the next few years or so I'm sure.

 

[Jim]

I know several places where they ask you not to reverse park because the exhaust fumes can damage or mark the walls and can enter the building via windows.

Looking at the NT car park photo above, that's probably why they want nosy parking to keep hot exhausts away from that verge/hedge

 

[KNWH]

Mrs KNWH and I have been members of English Heritage and The National Trust for many years. We didn’t even visit properties at first; we just wanted to support the work they do.
Since we now visit places in both England and Scotland I decided a few years ago to switch to The National Trust for Scotland as that seemed fairer.
At one National Trust property I handed over my Scottish card and the woman scowled at it and proclaimed ‘Oh, that scam’ inferring I’d only got one the save money.
I could have pointed out that it would have been cheaper for us to just have joint membership of the National Trust, but I ignored her. Wish now I hadn’t.

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