Wildcamping in your motorhome

[Dall]

I would also caution against disposing of black waste in public loos, in more isolated spots these often drain into sceptic tanks and any ordinary toilet additives will kill the bacteria and cost the owner a fortune .

The very reason true "off grid" van/MH owners only use plant based Bio fluids in thier cassettes all of the time. A lot of CS/CL also use septic tank systems........

 

[Apacheman]

If when you arrive at a wild spot you take 3 minutes to pick up the rubbish (there is always rubbish isn’t there) around your van, the whole place looks a lot nicer. I think even the dogs like it. And when the Warden comes along and explains you can’t stay here and you chat about what a lovely spot it is and there are vultures and recently introduced wolves and he explains that camper leave rubbish and spoil it all you say yeah, that’s a problem, and show him your bag full of weeks-old sun-bleached bog paper that patently isn’t yours ….. he gives you a wave and a smile and drives off. Costs you nothing.

Carry a litter picker and whether it’s stopping overnight or for a cuppa during the day if there’s litter, tend to get a bag out and do a litter pick. Feels like it’s giving something back and that it promotes Motorhome’s in a positive light. Amazing how many people actually approach you and positively comment.

 

[blue-skies]

Very good article Jim.

You could consider a shopping trolley for the cassette trip to the public loos in place of the rucksack.

Also, RADAR keys are readily available through Fleabay.

That way there'll be no-one in the next cubicle listening to 'the plop' and there'll be a sink to help with hygene and cleaning up any spills.

June

That is an awful and very selfish thing to do. There is a high risk of blocking the toilet, leaving the space dirty, unsanitary and smelly. People with disabilities who NEED those facilities, being unable to get into small cubicles, would have nowhere else to go.

 

[Haybob]

A very good article for wild camping!

 

[Wildbill]

That is an awful and very selfish thing to do. There is a high risk of blocking the toilet, leaving the space dirty, unsanitary and smelly. People with disabilities who NEED those facilities, being unable to get into small cubicles, would have nowhere else to go.

as long as it just poo and pee I don’t see a problem and most times i do leve the facilities cleaner than I find them in many occasions thay haven’t seen a bit of disinfectant bleach in years
I have never blocked a toilet yet I have unblocked a few over the years to facilitate them being accessible.
And clean
I have never went behind anyone who has emptied ther cassette and thay haveleft them in a bad condition or unusable
WB

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[ericonabike]

Have to say I've always found the expression "wild camping" wholly contradictory. Since the main rule for doing it is that you don't indulge in camping behaviour! I've wildcamped many times whilst cycle touring, when I take myself off road and out of the way. To my mind, if you're in a motor vehicle, you're always "wild parking" whether you're in a Lidl car park or a lay-by overlooking a beautiful headland. dons flak jacket

 

[Wildbill]

Have to say I've always found the expression "wild camping" wholly contradictory. Since the main rule for doing it is that you don't indulge in camping behaviour! I've wildcamped many times whilst cycle touring, when I take myself off road and out of the way. To my mind, if you're in a motor vehicle, you're always "wild parking" whether you're in a Lidl car park or a lay-by overlooking a beautiful headland. dons flak jacket

I do prefer off site parking as a term
WB

 

[SarahBattyll]

Thank you for your excellent read - I’ve never been brave enough and now I feel a bit more confident to occasionally dip my toes into proper wild-camping

 

[BusyBuilder]

Since using a SOG type toilet, so no chemicals, when I've emptied the cassette, it's just liquid, so how would this block a toilet I don't know. The thing is to leave the toilet cleaner than when you found it.

I used to fit bathrooms and believe me I've seen some sights in peoples homes, some would make you gag.

 

[nicholsong]

as long as it just poo and pee I don’t see a problem and most times i do leve the facilities cleaner than I find them in many occasions thay haven’t seen a bit of disinfectant bleach in years
I have never blocked a toilet yet I have unblocked a few over the years to facilitate them being accessible.
And clean
I have never went behind anyone who has emptied ther cassette and thay haveleft them in a bad condition or unusable
WB

We have used a toilet at home for years to empty our cassette(s) at end of a trip. If we are prepared to do it in our 'own backyard', then why not in a public one. Although I would wait till there is nobody about so that any temporary smell dissipates.

Actually, I can only recall two places where I have done it: one in the Lakes at a NT reserve and the other at a taverna in Greece with a toilet block remote from the taverna.

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[BusyBuilder]

Thank you for your excellent read - I’ve never been brave enough and now I feel a bit more confident to occasionally dip my toes into proper wild-camping

Try to find a nice place you feel safe at, stay 1 night, see how you get on, that's how most of us start out.
We off grid probably 95%, we've just been along the Moray Coast stopped at 3 places, paid for 1 night at Cullen. Then down east coast to St Andrew's, stopped 3 times, near beaches. Then back up through the Cairngorms stayed 2 nights on NT castle places. Nobody bothered us, no problems, and very quiet.
We could have booked sites, one at Stonehaven was 100 m from where we stayed (for small fee) and proper campsite was £56 per night.
We see the £56 as spending money for meal out, ice creams etc.
Do it, you may just find you like it.

 

[carolyn]

We empty our cassette down the loo when we get home after a trip ( obviously when I say we I mean Nick), no problem at all.

Touring Turkey a couple of years ago on an organised tour there was a real shortage of campsites and we’d sometimes be in car parks beside hotels. A room with a loo would be set aside for us to empty our cassettes.

If you leave it clean and tidy there’s really no problem. It’s what toilets are designed for.

 

[Whippet93]

I would also caution against disposing of black waste in public loos, in more isolated spots these often drain into sceptic tanks and any ordinary toilet additives will kill the bacteria and cost the owner a fortune .

The very reason true "off grid" van/MH owners only use plant based Bio fluids in thier cassettes all of the time. A lot of CS/CL also use septic tank systems........

Many campsites also use septic tanks, so we only ever use an additive suitable for them. I really can't see any reason for the manufacturers to still supply additives that cannot be used in septic tanks.

 

[Whippet93]

Informative article but I , for one , disregard signs which have no legal standing .
No Sleeping etc .

Even if they have no legal standing ( how do you know?), it still gives the man or woman in the street the view that motorhomers are arrogant and a law to themselves. Doing this is just more ammunition for local communities against motorhomes.

 

[barryd]

as long as it just poo and pee I don’t see a problem and most times i do leve the facilities cleaner than I find them in many occasions thay haven’t seen a bit of disinfectant bleach in years
I have never blocked a toilet yet I have unblocked a few over the years to facilitate them being accessible.
And clean
I have never went behind anyone who has emptied ther cassette and thay haveleft them in a bad condition or unusable
WB

Yeah I had to empty one at a Marie outside loo up a mountain in France the other day. 24 mile round trip to the nearest Aire. I planned ahead though and knew it was ok to empty there. At the risk of spoiling peoples lunch the key if you think you are going to have to do this is to not stuff loads of paper into the cassette or any at all if possible. Make like the Greeks and bag it and bin it. When I emptied mine I took a full cleaning kit with me but it pretty much wasn't needed. Went down no problem.

I don't make a habit of it but it can be done safely and without mess.

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[SarahBattyll]

Try to find a nice place you feel safe at, stay 1 night, see how you get on, that's how most of us start out.
We off grid probably 95%, we've just been along the Moray Coast stopped at 3 places, paid for 1 night at Cullen. Then down east coast to St Andrew's, stopped 3 times, near beaches. Then back up through the Cairngorms stayed 2 nights on NT castle places. Nobody bothered us, no problems, and very quiet.
We could have booked sites, one at Stonehaven was 100 m from where we stayed (for small fee) and proper campsite was £56 per night.
We see the £56 as spending money for meal out, ice creams etc.
Do it, you may just find you like it.

Thank you

 

[jumartoo]

Carry a litter picker and whether it’s stopping overnight or for a cuppa during the day if there’s litter, tend to get a bag out and do a litter pick. Feels like it’s giving something back and that it promotes Motorhome’s in a positive light. Amazing how many people actually approach you and positively comment.

I once had someone put their rubbish in my bag whilst collecting