New campervanner looking for a good place to test
Hi There,
Firstly - completely new here and to Campervanning. We have just purchased our first campervan (Mazda Bongo) and we to go and find somewhere to take it for a quick weekend (maybe just one night) for a test run.
We live in Stroud (Gloucestershire) - are thinking of going to some woodlands - like the forest of Dean. I am wandering about just parking up somewhere for free or in a carpark - compared with booking an actual campsite. Since its a short trip I am not expecting to use the fridge or or very much power.
I suppose I am looking for general advise on places to just park up and camp (off the road). Are there places to look (maps?) for such things? - where should one start?
Thanks!
Alastair
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I think you should perhaps start by checking the law on wild camping. Here’s one source of info to get you started -https://www.salopleisure.co.uk/press/articles/motorhomes/a-guide-to-wild-camping-with-motorhomes-in-the-uk/3272
As you’ve joined CAMC, why not try using a CL if you’re looking for a secluded location rather than a big site? It'll be safe and have the basic necessities you'll need such as a toilet emptying point, fresh water supply and rubbish bins. Many even have electric hook-up points.
Tbh, I don’t think you’re posting on the right forum for info on wild camping park-ups but welcome to CT anyway.
PS You can choose your own user name via My Profile at the top of the page.
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Alastair
You could have a look at the "Life is too Short" channel on YouTube. They have a similar sized van to yours and they do a lot of no campsite camping. I think there is a website called something like PitchUp which lists places where you are allowed to stay which are not campsites. Having said that might it not be a good idea to use a campsite for your first night where at least you would have all the facilities you might need?
David
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My family had a Mazda Bongo, mostly used for trips to France. Can you heat yours easily? You might be better near an EHU as a start to see if everything works and the EHU might give you some back up especially if we have a cold snap. Good luck with your travels.
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You do need to do a bit of research around what is and isn’t allowed in terms of overnight camping. It’s always best to stay legal, but this doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. There are some lovely no hook up CLs that won’t cost very much, and you can always look at the Britstops option, which may or may not involve a small fee, but is very nice as locations are often based at pubs, craft type centres, some cafes etc…Just search “Britstops”.
Just parking up and dossing down for free might not get you the welcome you expect, and if you are new to campervanning, you don’t really want a bad first experience. SearchforSites is another good website and will tell you if overnight stops are allowed, and how safe, enjoyable, peaceful they are. Some of the Forestry car parks welcome overnight stays for a small fee, so suggest you take a look. We did a couple of very nice Forestry stays in Scotland last year.
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I agree with all the previous responses. However, for you first trip out with a new van I would pick a camp site. You will have all the facilities you need, and people around to help if there are things that go wrong, or you are not sure of.
Although I dont use CAMC club sites very often these days, I would actually go for a club site. Then you have a warden on site, and despite some of the moans on here and elsewhere, most Club wardens in our experience have always been helpful.
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If you're looking for a small, quiet site in the Forest of Dean for your first trip you could do worse than look at Hawthorne Cottage. You'd have full facilities and the reassurance of fellow campers to help out with any first time out questions.
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Alastair, there is a "bongo" owners club which might be of interest to you, as they regularly have meets and would perhaps help you with any problems you may have. You can find a link on Facebook to them. We have a friend who owns one, is a member and enjoys her outings with them.I
You could you the Searchforsites website to find somewhere that would suit your requirements.
https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/webapp.php
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There have been some excellent points made in the responses so far.
If it is a first test run, surely you should test everything. On a campsite with electric hook up you will be able to do that. If you have any problems then hopefully you can sort them or have them sorted before you embark on any longer trips.
Why do you wish to "just park up and camp"?
Do you have a toilet of any kind in your van?
Do you have any heating in your van? If not, a small panel heater and/or a small fan heater will be most useful if you are using an electric hook up on a campsite.
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Like others have said... I'd go to a proper site for the first journey out, at least.. Test everything out, and there will be someone around to ask for help if you need it.
I guess Cirencester Park CAMC site isn't too far away.... then there's the sites at Tewkesbury, Cheltenham (Racecourse), and even the 'Cotswolds sites' (Burford, Bourton, Moreton-in-Marsh). Go close to home the first time out..... if you forget anything, you can always nip home for it.. 🙂
David
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There are three pub based stop overs in the Forest of Dean, one with EHU. All have decent reviews. Just use Searchforsites.
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I wonder how long ago the new poster submitted his question, because if it has taken the usual length of time to get his post approved he could well have been out in his Bongo already, and many of the replies will be superfluous.
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It was only yesterday, Nellie. Posts show the date of posting rather than the date they appear. I know that first hand😀
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I know that first hand😀 I wonder how that is?🤔
Thanks TW, does that mean that those at OH have got their act together and that new posters queries will appear as soon as they are submitted?
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When I left CAMC I became a non-member so had to be re-approved as if I was a new poster.🤷🏻♂️
You may very well ask 😂😂
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Nellie
The original posting date remains the same as I understand it and as the OP only posted yesterday approval was pretty swift was it not?
David
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It certainly was David, if they have not altered the original date of the OP to when it appeared in this section.
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When I left CAMC I became a non-member so had to be re-approved as if I was a new poster.🤷🏻♂️
But was the rapid re-approval due to you previously having been a member, and so not required to go through the approval process again?🤔
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I’m not sure you can call a week rapid and it would have been far longer if Ro had not intervened.
The banner which appears saying 3 posts are needed before a new poster can go live does not reflect the true state of affairs.
We have drifted way off topic here. My apology to the OP.
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I wondered about the date of posting, as there has been no acknowledgement from the OP with regards to responses to his post, so suspected that he had lost interest, having made the post a while ago, as has happened before.
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