My partner has recently been ill and is now convalescing. I am wondering whether a motorhome may be suitable for us and to that end are considering hiring one for a week a bit later this year as a "tryout". I have done a little caravanning about 30 years ago, but nothing since then...……….I expect things will have changed somewhat

At present we have no particular agenda and are wondering whether in general, outside of school holidays, it is necessary to book campsites in advance, or whether we can just turn up and expect to find a pitch available??

Many thanks

Steve

I go away for 6 months during the summer .......... and have never booked ......... in this country or abroad.

In view of your circumstances, for this trip I would suggest booking to reduce the hassle, and also picking in advance sites with nice outlooks and handy pubs. If you say what area you would like to visit there will be lots of suggestions from folk on here. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

Motor-Caravanning supplied me with some of the best holidays I have ever had.
To get the best out of it you need to go to the wilds of Scotland or somewhere similar.

The higher driving position gives great views, and you have your own cooking facilities (and toilet).

You can't beat, being able to pull over when you find a nice view, and then preparing a meal and eating it outdoors looking at around you.

Click image to enlarge

Metro, Was that photo taken at the Three Counties Show Ground Malvern ?

I think, and know from experience, Scotland has changed since you holidays there .......

TripAdvisor comment

Too many Motorhomes
Review of North Coast 500
Reviewed 27 May 2018
We are just back from Northern Scotland, an expedition we have done very many times over the years. The 'marketing' of the NC 500 has ruined it for us. Only a week ago between Scourie & Melvich we counted nearly 100 motor homes, often travelling in packs. On the SE side of Loch Eriboll we were faced by two car/caravan combinations, travelling in close company completely unaware of the protocols for single track roads with passing places.
One wonders how much business these vehicles bring to the area - obviously not overnight accommodation, presumably just camp site fees & supermarket food supplies.
Luckily we know plenty of other non NC 500 scenic roads not yet discovered by the hoards.More
Date of experience: May 2018


I actually did the Scotland 500, in 2016, and can confirm ........ too many motorhomes of all shapes and sizes filled Scotland.
As for the Isle of Skye, too many people and too many vehicles, the locals say Skye is ruined in the summer.


As the BBC reported.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40874488

.

Last edited by Largered on 4th Mar 2019 5:54 pm. Edited 1 time in total

I prefer always to book in advance, that way you know where you're going to get your head down at night.
I'm certainly not a 'freeloader' that parks up at beauty site car parks etc.

This is my bus
[not had chance to use it much, might be putting it on the market.]

Click image to enlarge

RonP, when I was on the Med Coast of France, I travelled with a circus for several days ...... free camping and very friendly people.

My brother in law has a campsite right on the North Devon coast and prefers people to book. He does have people showing up on spec all year round and if it's out of high season he generally lets them in but prefers to keep the numbers down to avoid overcrowding. In high summer he turns a lot away.

www.stokebartonfarm.co.uk 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I always used to pre-book after planning my routes to cut down driving times, agree with Scotland now I was up through Glen Coe and they were like something out of a Western film taking up all the rest places, think people gather for a bit of safety.

Where you thinking of going Jenks? If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Largered wrote:

Metro, Was that photo taken at the Three Counties Show Ground Malvern ?

As for the Isle of Skye, too many people and too many vehicles, the locals say Skye is ruined in the summer. .

jenks1950 wrote:

My partner has recently been ill and is now convalescing. I am wondering whether a motorhome may be suitable for us Steve

Can be a busy time if you're doing everything yourself due to your better half being unable. Toilet emptying, fetching water, levelling van, remembering to put aerial down then doing all again to move somewhere else,
Not trying to put you off but pointing few things out. I loved it, swmbo would have clothes food etc ready on a Friday, chuck everything in works van including the dogs 3 miles across Cardiff to storage swap over to van up in Aperporth by 1900hrs, plugged in electrics and water having a beer by 2100hrs, leave Sunday night. If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

IanMetro wrote:

Motor-Caravanning supplied me with some of the best holidays I have ever had.
To get the best out of it you need to go to the wilds of Scotland or somewhere similar.

The higher driving position gives great views, and you have your own cooking facilities (and toilet).

You can't beat, being able to pull over when you find a nice view, and then preparing a meal and eating it outdoors looking at around you.

Click image to enlarge

Fantastic.


(1981 Bedford CF Autosleeper SV100 -- first fibre glass motor caravan to be produced)

PS I still own it, but alas it is at the bottom of my garden, awaiting restoration of the Bedford part, the actual caravan part is pretty near perfect.

Thanks for all the replies, advice and opinions, that has been really interesting and helpful

We have just had to cancel our planned walking holiday in Mallorca and so I had just wondered whether a motor home may be something for us. Interesting the comments regarding how they can become disliked in some areas. I can "get that" where there are large numbers and they are pitching where they shouldn't and I can also see the issue of them not contributing to local economies I have in the past wondered on seeing a large RV towing a small car behind, whether that has been a result of the recent pension fund reforms!!
Anyway, a weeks rental seemed like a good way of seeing whether it suited us and sort of thinking about heading from Hertfordshire over to Gloucester to see my daughter, who will have just had a baby, and then heading down to North Devon for a few days. Definitely not wanting to log up too many miles. Looking for rest and relaxation

Thanks again everyone

Steve

Enjoy  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.