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Just had our1st experience of a rally & thoroughly enjoyed it, & intending to do it again. Thought we might like to have a go at "wild "camping but not sure what it means I have had a look on the review site but it just appears to be tents, Can,t imagine being able to hide the outfit or motorhome behind a wall! So do u just park up overnight in a layby or what? Info please

Thanks

quite a few M/homes park on the north shore side in scarborough,the are cut back and thats where they park facing the sea

Camping in lay by's is a no no as I'm sure it's illegal - considered too dangerous in terms of accidents etc.

My view of wild camping is camping without tents in the nearest wood. If it can be used in relation to caravanning it probably means in a farmers field without any facilities.

There seems to be two sorts of wild camping:

Small tents - camp in the middle of nowhere e.g. halfway up a mountain or in a farmer's field (with his permission of course). I believe in Scotland it's allowed to set up anywhere above a certain height?

Motorhomes - just park up anywhere they can find a bit of space with no "No Overnight Parking" signs.

Not sure I fancy either with a caravan in tow.

Thanks for the input.When we were looking at the solar panel topic quite a few people seemed to be using them & we were wondering about trying it. maybe there hasn,t been too many replies because people want to keep it a secret!

Thanks again

Wild camping is a very risky business - in the UK or abroad.   I do not know what the risk level is, but it DOES happen.    The very nature of wild camping means that you will almost certainly be isolated.  In the event of being attacked, if you are rendered immobile, and any means of communication (mobile phones) are taken or smashed, you could be in a serious situation from a bodily harm viewpoint.  There may be others wild camping nearby but, in the event of trouble, you do not know if the others would come to your assistance, or if they are the ones waiting for the opportunity to attack you.

Sorry to sound alarmist, but it is better to consider the advantages/disadvantages before an unpleasant incident, rather than after.

Bertie.

Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 16/8/2008

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Wild camping is a very risky business - in the UK or abroad.   I do not know what the risk level is, but it DOES happen.    The very nature of wild camping means that you will almost certainly be isolated.  In the event of being attacked, if you are rendered immobile, and any means of communication (mobile phones) are taken or smashed, you could be in a serious situation from a bodily harm viewpoint.  There may be others wild camping nearby but, in the event of trouble, you do not know if the others would come to your assistance, or if they are the ones waiting for the opportunity to attack you.

Sorry to sound alarmist, but it is better to consider the advantages/disadvantages before an unpleasant incident, rather than after.

Bertie.

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Quote: Originally posted by mike142sl on 16/8/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 16/8/2008

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Wild camping is a very risky business - in the UK or abroad.   I do not know what the risk level is, but it DOES happen.    The very nature of wild camping means that you will almost certainly be isolated.  In the event of being attacked, if you are rendered immobile, and any means of communication (mobile phones) are taken or smashed, you could be in a serious situation from a bodily harm viewpoint.  There may be others wild camping nearby but, in the event of trouble, you do not know if the others would come to your assistance, or if they are the ones waiting for the opportunity to attack you.

Sorry to sound alarmist, but it is better to consider the advantages/disadvantages before an unpleasant incident, rather than after.

Bertie.

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I think you'll find that those who go wild camping are far more likely to look out for each other than those on non wild sites. And I've been on some so called normal sites which have been pretty, shall we say WILD?

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Well, you have more faith in human nature than I have.  You often hear of someone being attacked in broad daylight, with plenty of people around, but nobody steps forward to help.  Probably the same bunch that you would be banking on for help when camping wild.

Bertie.

Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 17/8/2008

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We used to do a lot of wild camping in Rhodesia now Zimbabwe but we carried rifles with us due to the dangers.  Wild camping is just that, no tents, only a poncho (raincoat) sleeping bag and a haversack.  Food was in rat packs and you never built a fire as smoke could smelt for miles which is no good when hunting.  Water is only for drinking and brushing teet.  Toilet was a hole in the ground near a tree.  If you use soap, the scent of soap can be smelt for up to a mile away.  Definitely no smoking.  If you came across a river that was flowing every slowly you only took water from the middle to avoid getting biharzia a disease that eats away at your liver and kidneys.  In doing so you kept a sharp eye out for crocs as you did not want to be a guest at their table.  Wild camping can be fun when you are the hunter and not the one being hunted. 

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Now thats what I call WILD not parking in a layby

We have been wild camping in the outer hebrides with CAR & CARAVAN, eat your heart out motor homers. It has been a fantastic experience, with some breath taking sites and scienery. Regards the risky buisness of wild camping, (the 2 tops post), when was the last time you picked up a newspaper and read such a thing had happened, this type of scaremongering should not be taken as gospel, and not put any one off from having a go.

Our experience

We got the ferry from Oban - Lochboisdale, found a cracking area at Erisay, close by the AM politician pub & resturant, were a good meal was had. We moved on to Benbecula, were we stayed a few miles up the road from the local camp site (shell Bay), from here we caught the ferry from Berneray - Leverburgh, and camped beside the water on the Luskentyre road.

We decided to recharge our batteries and park at a lovely site (Eilean Fraoich), were the owners were most helpfull, he actually washed the front of my van as we parked, next was up to the Butt of Lewis, just down from the light house, we loved it so much we sayed 3 nights, with a tea room, 2 x shops close by, a kids play park (one of the best I have seen in years), and a pub.

To finish of our time on the island we stayed at the Laxdale holiday park, which was ideal.

I have enjoyed our time, it was our first go at wild camping and would and although there were a few negatives, will certainly not think twice about doing it again. 

If anyone is thinking of following our route, please reply. Ferry prices are VERY reasonable for this kind of trip.

Quote: Originally posted by hymerman2 on 19/8/2008

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I seem to recall that there is a law in Scotland that gives the right for people to "wild camp"

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Like mcdowall, We wildcamped on Harris, North Uist, South Uist and Barra during our 27 day tour of the Western Isles.

We did also site camped for 5 days (on Lewis) and then 8 days (on Benbecula).

We have a 65w splar panel on the roof of our small caravan and when we wildcamp, the van remains attached to the car, most times.

These islands are geared up for the wildcamper with toilets, showers and CDP points specifically for them, at regular intervals.

In Scotland there are many areas where you can wildcamp. Where major roads have been straightened out you will find parts of the old road, if in an area of natural beauty, made into an off the road picnic area and ideal for a quiet overnight stay.

View points, car parks, roadside quarries (disused), once in a Police Car Park in the centre of Dumfries!!!! I have used them all.

Give it a try. You'll never know what it is like until you do.

Wildcamping on Harris

And on Barra

As the Glasgow bound plane takes off from the beach runway behind us.