Off site camping guide

[stevewhitey87]

Hello

This might be very random but is there such a thing as an online directory with listings of where is suitable park and sleep for the night in your van?

I often work away around the country and being self employed I take my van and find somewhere to park up at night, but I’m often arriving late due to my job and have stumbled across some unsavoury characters in the past and certain park up spots.

I know these easy answer is to use sites and pay, but in most cases I arrive late at night and don’t want to disturb others and also pay for only sleeping.

Any advice would be great thank you

 

[Sackmycook]

Park4Night
Search4sites

 

[Sasquatch]

have stumbled across some unsavoury characters in the past and certain park up spots.

That Rio Ferdinand can be quite persistent!

+1 Park4Night app.

 

[Dellmassive]

BritStop

 

[Salty Spuds]

P4N is the goto app. That said, the UK lags far behind Europe in free overnight stopovers. It can be a struggle to find places in some areas. Many pubs now allow you to stay over if you buy a drink or a meal. Always worth an ask or a phone call.

 

[DXX]

I use the app’s but I pretty much stop any where. All you need to do is keep a low profile, don’t be a PITA and leave no trace. Common sense really.
Pubs are crying out for business, they may not want large motorhomes swallowing up their car park but I get more yes no problem than no when I ask.

 

[stevewhitey87]

Thank you so much for all the replies everyone. Very much appreciated

 

[JumpShip]

Technically illegal to wild camp in most of England without the land owners consent. Having said that there are places that do allow it but don't rely on listings on p4n to all be legal .

 

[Sasquatch]

I use the app’s but I pretty much stop any where. All you need to do is keep a low profile, don’t be a PITA and leave no trace. Common sense really.
Pubs are crying out for business, they may not want large motorhomes swallowing up their car park but I get more yes no problem than no when I ask.

A lot of pubs will let you park up overnight for free if you have an evening meal.

 

[DXX]

Technically illegal to wild camp in most of England without the land owners consent. Having said that there are places that do allow it but don't rely on listings on p4n to all be legal .

Not a criminal offence until you refuse to leave if requested. Trespass is a civil law matter in the UK.
I was referring to stopping on the public highway.

 

[JumpShip]

Assuming they havent broken in to gain entry .
I heard of a farmer locally that 'painted' a campervan with slurry for being parked on his land without permission .

 

[Sasquatch]

Technically illegal to wild camp in most of England without the land owners consent. Having said that there are places that do allow it but don't rely on listings on p4n to all be legal .

That's a tricky one, the generally held definition of camping for the purposes of civil law includes a movable shelter, such as a tent, and not a vehicle.

The public health act includes vehicles, but the police dont enforce that and council employees wont be at their desks until 8am, long after you've buggered off.

So unless there's a by-law that makes it a criminal act or which levies a penalty from a public body such as a council, theres nothing anyone can do as a matter of practicality for you dossing down overnight in a public place.

Private land is a different kettle of fish, but theres a dearth of stated cases so even if you take the piss you're unlikely in the extreme to suffer for it.

Trespass is not a criminal offence, even if you refuse to leave, provided yourre not causing damage, in posession of weapons, etc. If you refuse to leave the land owner can exercise their right under common law to remove you using reasonable force (which none of them know about) or apply to a court for an order, failure to comply with being a contempt and leaving you open to arrest.

Do it discretely and respectfully and no-one will know, much less care. If you're on private land and you're asked to leave, simply do so. None of it is difficult.

Gazillions of lorry drivers doss down overnight in public places and dont get prosecuted for it, and neither will we.

 

[Dundee_Kev]

Supermarket car parks, usually all on private land these days but pay a few quid on the parking app.

Food, drink. toilets and usually peace and quiet depending on location. Just make sure you keep a copy of the invoice, we had to produce it after getting a couple of photos posted of the van entering and exiting an Asda along with a £60 charge for the photos!

 

[DXX]

I’ve even seen churches offering parking for a small donation.

 

[Sasquatch]

I’ve even seen churches offering parking for a small donation.

Hallelujah!

 

[Sackmycook]

If anyone is heading to the North York Moors, Coxwold Village Hall has a quiet carpark around the back with water and toilets, £10 in the loyalty box. Just drop them an email beforehand

COXWOLD VILLAGE HALL

www.coxwoldvillage.org