Cool reception this year for motorhomes
Went down to West Bay in Dorset with my grandaughter for the first time this year. Was aware that parking costs had risen significantly earlier in the year. It appears that a lot of other changes were also made. There is now only one car park that allows parking by any vehicle which has been modified for sleeping or cooking, so all motor homes or camper vans. There are 15 designated spaces for vehicles less than 6m in length. If you are over 6m you have nowhere to park at all. All other parking areas and car parks clearly state no motorhomes which are clearly defined as above on all notice boards. Just a heads up for anyone who has enjoyed a day out in previous years. I live 2 miles away in Bridport but will sadly be taking my money elsewhere.
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I don't know if you are still monitoring your post but if so could you suggest a reason for it as you live locally?
Have Motorhomes become a problem for the council in any way? Staying overnight when they shouldn't? Littering? Maybe taking up too much room in the parking area when the council could squeeze more cars in instead? Is there a general problem in Dorset with motorhomes?
If any of the above, are other councils in the area likely to follow suit.
Doesn't bother me particularly being a caravanner but it would good to know for any possible visitor to the area in a camper van or motorhome.
Any of our Dorset residents shed any light on it?
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A significant number of local councils have what appears to be a "we hate motorhomes" policy when it comes to parking, either stipulating that their car parks are "no motorhomes" or installing height barriers. The latter may be to discourage a certain sector of the community from setting up camp in the car parks. The result is that motorhomes end up doing the "Flying Dutchman" impersonation or vote with their wheels and go elsewhere, depriving local businesses of trade.
Fortunately there are now some more enlightened councils although I suspect it will be some considerable time before this becomes widespread.
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West Bay is a busy place in the main season, we're fairly local too so know where to park the car for free but only if we get there early. We don't take the M/H. I guess the same applies to motorhomes trying to park anywhere, free or not there isn't a lot of room at West Bay so as said get there early.
Motorists of all descriptions are limited for parking in West Bay and the surrounding areas.
We like the limited motorhome parking at Hive Beach.
In West Bay there is a temporary summer camp site opposite the main car park alongside the Brit, worth a try if you want a stop over.
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I think there is some anecdotal evidence that more Councils are trying to come to terms with the provision of motorhome parking? In some parts of the UK special provision is being made. However there will always be places where making provision for parking of large vehicles will displace too many visitors in cars. It seems that at West Bay some provision exists but is limited. I am sure there are lots of Groups of Social Media that give information of such parking provision so there may well be alternatives in the area as Brue has already mentioned.
David
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I think there is a perennial problem with parking in popular places, temporarily or permanent park and ride solves it for many. I'm talking about parking in general. This island nation certainly likes coastal spots and some councils are better at problem solving in advance (if they haven't got other things as a top priority which unfortunately many have!)
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I would say Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, some parts of Somerset are also parking disadvantaged to start with, given that a lot of the popular spots are narrow inlets with steep sides. It’s the same up here at places like Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes, etc…. Whitby went down the park and ride route a decade or so ago, and to be honest, it’s spoilt the town. Too easy for folks to get into now, so it’s always heaving. Some places are very MH friendly, others still protective of what they have. It’s usually abuse of facilities by a few that limits progress for the many sadly.
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As CY points out we will take our business else where. This year was the first time I have really toured in the UK without bookings and I found it much easier now that the northern councils/organisations are opening up to overnight parking of motorhomes. I largely found them underused. I was particularly impressed with the provision by the Northumberland National Park at Kielder Water and along Hadrians Wall. They may well get some of my holiday money next year, especially if I cannot get over there.
peedee
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How much has the car park fee gone up? We were always pleasantly surprised by the low fees. Last year on 3 visits. Stayed at the delightful Bingham Grange CAMC site.
The car park before the harbour was usually available, as the one by the slipway on the eastern side.
The various 'sheds' serving food in the centre is a quaint and lovely feature, and sensibly priced.
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Some areas are assisting motorhomers. See photo. Also parking for motorhomes cost £6 a night all along the new sea front parking between Sandsend and Whitby. Dozens of vans can be accommodated here but arrive early for that 24hr slot, it’s very popular.
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Totally agree ttda. We were in Dorset last month and are here at the NYM site at the moment. The popular and even the not-so-popular spots in Dorset were absolutely rammed, the car parks were invariably full, with small parking bays and extortionate parking charges. Goodness knows what it will be like not that schools are out. There simply wasn't any room for motorhomes.
We went into Whitby yesterday - although I wasn't keen on going - and it was absolutely heaving to the extent that I was considering donning a mask even though outside on the streets. We left, instead. RHB is the same, as you say.
What is worrying is that it seemed most shops / hospitality venues were advertising for staff. Indeed the cafe were we stopped for coffee had closed it's kitchen yesterday because of lack of staff. Few can afford to live there since property prices have gone through the roof because of holiday/second home ownership.
I suppose, eventually, it will go full-circle with less visitors going because the facilities aren't there for them - allowing locals to re-establish themselves. I'm thinking particularly of RHB.
The cost of living crisis doesn't really seem to be having the impact that some would have us believe
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Not Dorset but Hampshire, Tichfield thru to Stokes Bay an area i know very well
"Have Motorhomes become a problem for the council in any way? Staying overnight when they shouldn't? Littering? Maybe taking up too much room in the parking "
exactly this and of course the usual tipping of toilet waste into the hedges or even the sea, buying up 2 parking places and only paying for one, some inconsiderates parking in one and setting up tables & chairs in adjacent space, and of course taking up all the front of house spaces, Fareham and Gosport council have spent considerable amounts of money driving in wooden stakes to keep vehicles off the grass verges etc.
and as TTDA says
"It’s usually abuse of facilities by a few that limits progress for the many sadly"
our restrictions are not quite as draconian as the ones outlined in the OP by Dorset council, but height barriers on most of the car parks have been very effective, e.g. you would not get a car in with a top box on, and all new signs saying no overnight camping/sleeping etc. At Stokes bay Gosport council have provided i think 8 spaces dedicated to MH's, but you have to pay, so these are often empty.
And although the restrictions have had a dramatic reduction in the number of MH's/campers in the area, they do bring their own problems, e.g. more parking in residential areas close to the beach, local OAP's who cannot walk to the beach or those that drove to the beach and then took a walk along the prom followed by a cup of tea and bacon sannie at the local shack now have to pay, you can buy and annual ticket,£80 i think.
Not sure what effect this has had on local businesses, but car parks have been very full even in the evenings during this spell of lovely weather, and there have also been plenty of cars parked in resedential areas, so my guess would be minimal.
Not sure what the overall reaction has been locally, but I know many who own apartments on the sea front are mightly glad to have their view back
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There are a lot of undiscovered places that are now totally different after this pandemic. Best case in point I can think of is Northumberland. Always been reliable for a “getaway from others” type of place, but the forced stay in the UK period has meant it’s secrets are now out there. The shock we had driving into Bamburgh a couple of years ago was incredible. Not a space left in a normally very quiet car park, and they had had to put lots of Field portaloos in to stop visitors doing unsavoury things to the local gardens😱 We drove straight through, turned right inland away from coast and found a lot more peace and quiet. My hope is that many have now gone back overseas, and have short memories of just how lovely the UK can be😁
Some places are welcoming MHs with open arms though, we were very impressed with Scotland. It’s certainly put it very high on our list of places to do more exploring with MH. But not the NC500 route😉
Motorhomes, a small minority, have always been a problem in some areas. It’s nothing new, it’s just that the sheer numbers on the roads have increased “the few” who don’t think of others to unacceptable levels. Local councils aren’t there to throw money at policing the situation, so they take draconian measures. We saw some caravans being used this way over last two years as well. Not travellers, just single units “wild camping”. Goodness knows what they do for water and slopping out🤢
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There was plenty of space in the Bamburgh Links car park this June and the Amble one but not Beadnell. I overnightied in the Bamburgh one with 4 others with two spaces still free but when I left at 8 am, to catch the low tide for Holy Island, I noticed there were still campervans overnighting in the laybys! Either they were not aware of the opportunity to park legally for a fee or they were too mean to pay!
peedee
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TDA, don't let the bad press put you off the NC500. We've done it a couple of times and not encountered any issues.
Obviously avoid July and August.
May/Sept/Oct are usually good months to do it. Choose you sites/nighthalts in advance avoiding the 'party' sites. There are some really nice places to see, when we did it last May we were surprised that it wasn't busier.
Fort William will always be busy, a lot of that is to do with the Jacobite train. Once north of there it was fine.
Scotland is trying hard (in some areas) to provide overnight parking places, the Highlands being one of the proactive councils, D&G as you mentioned are another.
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There are alternative routes to the NC500 and plenty of beautiful places which are just off route. A month ago we were wandering around the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and what a delight it was away from ‘it’ all. Similarly, on the Stoer peninsula. You just have to look beyond.
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Thanks TG. We like to plan our own routes, and for us, if we were doing it properly the NC 500 would last us a year!🤣 We like to be down every nook and cranny, explore anything of interest, so racing around a specified route isn’t really us.
We met some nice people in D&G “doing” the SW300, but they weren’t seeing the best places in our opinion. We like days off from driving as well, get on our bikes and spend most of the day out cycling. CLs are best for this, a lot safer to leave pooch on his own for a long sleep.I think the routes are really good for folks new to touring though.
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I think the “too mean to pay” bit probably rings true. We stayed on a lovely little Aire near Caerlaverock, HS, water, waste, CDP and a picnic table, stunning location, all for £5 a night. Some mean so and so had only decided to leave £2 rather than £5 in their payment envelope, because the fuel prices had gone up!
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From today onwards and into early September we know that unless we get to popular spots in Dorset (on our nearest coast) before 10 am we will have trouble finding much room for ourselves let alone a vehicle. It isn't to do with anyone being unwelcome it's just the sheer number of people. Good luck to others heading to other popular places, it's much the same everywhere.
I should also point out that there are some excellent THS sites and rallies dotted along the coasts of the SW and they probably work out cheaper than days spent battling crowded car parks.
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Following on from Rufs comments on Fareham & Gosport parking, I have noticed that, since parking fees have been introduced at Portchester Castle car parks, there are fewer cars there now.
It has also had the 'collateral damage' effect of charging people who attend the parish church which is situated within the castle grounds. It is also going to impact members of the adjacent sailing club who, in the winter months, park their cars there for longish periods whilst working on their boats. It's impacted more on the local community than it has visitors. If I'm heading there, it's walking distance but for many it's an unwelcome development.
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not aware of any such scheme in our area and some dog walking friends have bought an annual pass that covers most car parks, if such a scheme was in place they would know.
agree with CY, what has been introduced does have some detremental affects for the local population, I am lucky in that i can still walk and cycle reasonable distances so no need to drive to the beach, however, our old dog is now struggling with walks and whereas we would consider driving to a beach car park and then walking we now park at a friends house and then walk him, swings and roundabouts,
I would have preferred some sort of half way house, but we could not continue as it was, we were being pushed out by more and more MH's/camper vans, in many cases people call them MH's but they are nothing more than a transit van with a mattress thrown in the back, obviously, because beach side parking was free, and most of the car parks allowed a 48-72hrs stay depending on the time of year.
It will be interesting to see how much revenue the council take in from introducing parking fee's, substantial I would have thought even though the area is normally quite quiet during the winter months, although i have seen queues at the ice cream shop in December.
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There was parking in the most improbable spots at the bottom of Castle Street this morning rather than pay for the car park. Don't know if it was visitors or disgruntled locals. By its very nature a lot of the houses down there don't have off street parking.
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I think it’s happening all over to be honest, wherever visitors of one sort or another come to do something, and need to park up. We live close to our big park, and the town’s Rugby Club, and have had decades of silly parking to contend with. The park issue has been mostly solved as they have made what used to be tennis courts into a very large car park, and moved the tennis courts further into the park. But the Rugby Club (and they have been a Premier team) has no car park, so on match days it can be bedlam. All but our little street is now double yellow lines, which has pushed things a bit further out. Council have tried to get local residents to sign up to accept permit parking a few times, but as they want to charge, no one is happy with this, not as you only get one permit and everyone on our little street has at least two vehicles.
Overnighting in big outfits is even worse of course, brings a lot more issues. Some places have it well sorted, shining example for us is Kircudbright, but others just end up penalising everyone, including local folks.
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