Parking a motorhome

Generally I have a rough idea why I’m going somewhere and the only research I’ll do is to trawl the site reviews for some mention of shop/pub/bus stop nearby, within walking distance etc.

For me that’s the most important information a review can contain. Most of the other stuff is just subjective and of little interest. Published site information in that respect is generally poor and probably dates from the time when CMC was CC - it’s probably not a big deal for most caravaners?

I’d like to see more people taking opportunity to leave reviews making specific reference to local facilities and accessibility. Maybe the review page should be updated with some prompt questions to capture key information?

"I would say don’t fall into the trap of dwelling too much on what others do, how they holiday, where they stay, how much planning or lack of planning goes into something. Everyone makes their own choices based upon their own wants and needs, and there is no right or wrong, just choice"

Agree 100% with that and thank goodness you wrote it TTDA! Bexcuse I was beginning to think we'd been doing it all wrong over the last 40+ years of touring. Our holidays are primariily based around walking so we do lots of planning and if staying somewhere for, say, a week we will have probadly 5 full days planned out in advance and a couple of fall backs if the weather is too bad to get out. And we still do that for trips abroad, even on package holidays we will have read up about places we're visiting and worked out what sites we most want to see. 

Regarding size, it seems to be universally acknowledged that those with smaller motorhomes tend to use them as transport whereas those with much larger motorhomes use them as caravans - I accept there are always exceptions but it is not far off the mark.

As a generality you are probably correct. We fully investigated MH's before we bought, as we intend it to see out or touring. In the end we decided the van type, were just to much of a compromise and opted for a coach built, 2.22 x 6.94. So a little bit narrower than our caravan but still oversize for a normal parking space, even if you can hang over the grass at the back.

However, in this country you can easily move on to a site close to where you want to visit. When we had the caravan we would have spent a week on each site and perhaps used the car on a couple of days. Now we might move on to 2 / 3, sites in the week. In the U.K. Of course often a little more planning is required. In France there are often Aires or even better municipal sites at the places we want to visit, so public transport is not required.

Given their cost and potential losses involved in changing, it was vital that we got it right. So far after a year using it both here and in France, we are happy with our choice and the minimal limitations it imposes.

 

 

I do think if you refuse to take your MH off site after arriving then you have either, bought one that is too large, lost your nerve or touring in the wrong area/country.

"Refuse" for me is too strong a word, I would substitute "chose" While I do have a larger motrhome, that was my choice governed by a number of factors.  I haven't lost my nerve, yet, but do acknowledge that ownership can be a bit fraught with a few difficulties that is why I will sometimes tow a small car in the UK and why I enlist the help of a truck sat nav. I like to minimise the stress of the unknown after all I am out to enjoy myself..

Even smaller motorhomes have difficulties in finding parking and getting down some of the narrower roads and avoiding height restrictions, It is not all about being too large or having no nerve. It is mostly down to the way our country is and to its attitude to providing adequate facilities for motorhomes of all sizes to tour in the UK.

peedee

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We've only had it a year and visited France once for 6 weeks. However, managed easily find sites or Aires within easy walking distance of what we wanted to visit, both rural and urban As in the case of Avignon, Bayeux and Bourges.

Would agree for the UK.

Yes, that’s our experience. Almost always somewhere available wherever you want to visit. Such places are not always the nicest and cheapest sites you’ll visit, taking advantage of location, but they exist if you need them. European cities are generally well served, much more so than UK.

Thought this may be of interest to any MH's visiting Kent

 

The results of a survey about parking for motorhomes which was conducted this year have just been published >here< The year of the staycation has certainly made a few councils wake up and smell the coffee. Is change on the way?

peedee

Change is creeping in, PD.