C&MC Tourism Aires

Craig

I don't know if you are a watcher of YouTube but some of the full timers provide a lot of information on parking. Those Happy Days and Camper Vibe are a couple that might be worth a look. Something I have picked up from those videos is that the National Trust, whilst generally happy to have motorhomes as day visitors they are far from keen for overnight stays. The channels also often list places where you can stay overnight often with only a modest fee. I expect the Club would be conflicted if it provided information on such overnight parking as they are interested in selling their own pitches and those on CL's? There were a couple of questions at the 2021 AGM about providing motorhome only facilities and I didn't get the impression there were going to be changes any time soon. 

David

What car park, Craig? Most sites have a very limited parking areas.

As it is the Caravan and Motorhome Club, it is my contention that any such spaces should be available to all members irrespective of their unit type and that simply isn’t practical.

DK has given you some tips and I think you’d be better looking to the likes of Britstop for this provision rather than one of the major clubs.

The National Trust is not interested  in allowing overnight stays in their car parks. Their statement is attached.

For daytime motorhome parking it’s best to phone the property concerned and ask about motorhome access. Some of their properties are easy. Some are impossible.

NT overnight camping was allowed last year at Aira Force Car Park close to Ullswater. Not sure if this is allowed in 2022.

Review from last year taken from the NT Aira Force Car Park web page 

Whoever at the National Trust came up with the idea of letting camper-vans stop in the car park overnight for £10 deserves a medal in the annual NT medal giving ceremony. Great idea and great in practice. About 10-12 other vans and motorhomes stayed overnight. All quite respectful of the rules and we had one of the quietest nights sleep we’ve had in the camper. The toilets are open overnight as well so this is a bonus. Top marks to the National Trust and I hope this is rolled out to other suitable sites. I also hope people don’t abuse the privilege.

The Club is stuck in a rut, it should never have changed its name to the Caravan and Motorhome Club. All it has ever done since is provide drive over grey waste disposal facilities, nothing else to help promote motorhome/campervan tourism. It won’t even open any sites to members to stop and service their outfits without paying an overnight fee.  It is still hell bent on providing full facility sites for long staying owners of outfits, not no frills "quickstop"  facilities for those requiring to move on a more frequent or daily basis.

Don’t waste your time tackling the Club to go any further to promote motorhome touring, Check out CAMpRA instead and give them all the support you can. The future lies with other organisations and local councils to provide the parking and overnight stopping places so desperately needed in this country to enable REAL motorhome/campervan touring to take place.

peedee

If I buy a bike even though there are no cycle lanes here. Someone should provide them for me.

If I buy an electric car even though there are hardly any charging points here. Someone should provide them for me.

If I buy a motorhome even though there are hardly any Aires. Someone should provide them for me.

I want.

You forgot to mention that to cater for  the growth in motor caravans in the club membership  the club should have transport available at sites without transport close by or within easy walking distance to civilization 🤣

The NT also has quite a few campsites of it's own in some good spots. However they also have many car parks that CAMC doesn't have.

All these organisations including CAMC are doing whatever they can to provide a variety of pitches and make things viable too.

The suggestions about looking up alternatives provides plenty of choice in the face of CAMC site  limits on space and parking. There are lots of alternatives already.

Liam & Janine (Those Happy Days) remarked in their return to Ilfracombe and North Devon how limited overnighting is compared to last year. Their latest youtube feed mentions getting into trouble in Wales this last week for overnighting. Whilst we like their approach, sometimes their lack of common sense (Liam has a degree, but in wot isn't clear) and sense of entitlement grind a bit. 

Louise, Emily, AJ & Summer (Camper Vibe) are currently in Sweden are far more balanced and respectful.

Who will get the soon to be launched air con unit from Eco Tree gratis for most plugs on their channels? Quite how £1 per Watt in a power bank is value is beyond me, when non trendy, latest tech UPS are far cheaper. Must be the Van Life premium as its for vanning.

There is considerable content online to find places than there was when we motorhomed a few short years ago. 

The Van Life thing seems to be anti established ways.  Quite why the self build, non off the shelf builds use heavy timber, tongue and groove, domestic cabinetry and appliances is beyond me. Wonder how they manage if pulled into a weigh station.

Another great channel is Tread the Globe, Chris and Marrianne, currently in Alaska circumnavigating the globe in an 18 year old Fiat Ducato based PVC. Despite the sign on their van, they didn't sell everything, they rent out their home in Surrey to fund the trip.

The Rolling Radfors, currently in Switzerland recently posted of a Rally in the New Forest for £10 a night, the Beaulie CAMC temporary site is about 4x that at the moment.

I think your two first examples might be a little disingenuous.  🤔😁

I want more safe cycle lanes so that I don’t get squashed, knocked off, run over, abused, etc… while I try to stay fit and healthy (less of an NHS burden) and help the Planet generally (despite having no children of my own)

Same with electric vehicles, trying to improve emissions locally, and contribute towards saving the Planet.

Touring outfit ownership is more niche, and debatable in terms of healthy lifestyle and saving the Planet, mainly the choice of those with a degree of disposable income. Employs a good few though……😁