Resources, hints and tips for finding free or inexpensive spots - UK and Europe.
Here are resources I have found invaluable in my Hymer travels. Technology and the Internet are your best friends - t'Internet, GPS and Google Earth and Street View, allowing you to virtually visit places in advance. I can advise on all aspects of in van technology - just ask!
Glossary for technophobes......POI file - "Point of Interest" - these are little database files that can be loaded into your GPS unit, and also into your computer. Each "POI" is indeed a "Point of Interest"! so they can be anything from camp sites to castles to supermarkets....you name it.
Widcamping.co.uk - free places to park up!
This website has grown a lot in the few years it has been around. For years I moaned and wished that there was a database of wild camping spots, and then these guys finally did it. It is a website, and of course the ubiquitous forum, and is now taking on all the trappings of a full blown commercial operation - It's £15 a year which I pay gladly. But it's unique offering is it's user generated database of wild camping spots in the UK. These are available as POI files for all GPS units, and Google Earth. From simple laybys to isolated moors and hidden spaces I have found it invaluable. I can zoom into an area, then virtually drive by the location using Google. Or I can simply ask my GPS for the nearest location, and take pot luck.www.wildcamping.co.uk
Caravan Club CL sites
Next up is Caravan Club CL's - most people know about these, but for newcomers....If you join the Caravan Club, you get access to their network of small sites. UK planning laws allow just about any farm or landowner to have a site for up to 5 caravans or motorhomes. They vary from basic to luxury, but all have water and waste disposal, about half have hookup. Now I don't want to promote naughty behaviour, I pay my membership to the fuddy duddy Caravan Club willingly....but I have only been asked for my membership card twice in 10 years. And I have discovered also that some sites drop out of the scheme and the CC directory, but still retain the sign! So if you are out and about, and see a "Caravan Club Certified Location", and are desperate for a nights stop, then take a chance - you can always join later! POI databases are available for these CL sites from various places. Just Google it, or contact me. Here is a link - don't confuse "Certified Locations" with "Club Sites" which are all singing, dancing holiday destinations in their own right.http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/advice-and-information/route-planner/satellite-navigation-downloads
Archies Camping Database
If you look around, there are so many different clubs and organisations who list camp sites in different countries. I had this problem on my travels round Europe. Then I found Archie! He is a Dutch guy who collates every single campsite in Europe, no matter who own or runs it, into a single database POI file. It is regularly maintained and updated by users, and Archie asks for donations.
http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/
Furgoperfectos!
Furgo is Spanish for "Van" ... and has become the slang word for the VW camper. So Spanish VW campers are "FurgoVW's"! Furgoperfectos is an informal group of Spanish VW owners, including a lot of surfers and bikers. They maintain a POI database for their members, but is freely downloadable for your GPS. The majority of locations are Spain Portugal and France, but every year more are added further afield. I have used these extensively, and found some truly stunning sea side locations, but be warned that access to these sites is intended for VW capers and similar. I have never failed to get onto any of the many I have visited in my 7m Hymer, and the vast majority are places where almost any vehicle can visit .... but I have had a couple of tight squeezes. But Furgoperfectos is a truly precious resource!
The site is in Spanish, and contains lots of information for VW fans - Google translate works well in Spanish. The POI files are here - www.furgovw.org - they seem to have introduced a requirement to register this year. Any problems contact me.
The Motorhome Tourism Organisation
This quite new site seems to be a labour of love by one gentleman, and deserves support. UK motorhomers seem to take it for granted that facilities are better abroad than here in the UK, and generally we just put up with it and do our own thing. But councils up and down the country vary between draconian and welcoming in their attitudes to motorhome parking and access.
This site is trying to do something about it, and has the beginnings of a UK map of car parks that permit overnight parking. It also lobbies councils and government on our behalf, and for that reason alone deserves support.
www.tmcto.org
If you go down to Legoland Windsor and email this chap paul.harley@legoland.co.uk or CustomerServices@merlinentertainments.biz they will let you stay in there staff car park free of charge and its only a ten minute walk to the park passing all the queing cars.
Any more resources? Please contact Ron or any of the Classic Hymers team.
Glossary for technophobes......POI file - "Point of Interest" - these are little database files that can be loaded into your GPS unit, and also into your computer. Each "POI" is indeed a "Point of Interest"! so they can be anything from camp sites to castles to supermarkets....you name it.
Widcamping.co.uk - free places to park up!
This website has grown a lot in the few years it has been around. For years I moaned and wished that there was a database of wild camping spots, and then these guys finally did it. It is a website, and of course the ubiquitous forum, and is now taking on all the trappings of a full blown commercial operation - It's £15 a year which I pay gladly. But it's unique offering is it's user generated database of wild camping spots in the UK. These are available as POI files for all GPS units, and Google Earth. From simple laybys to isolated moors and hidden spaces I have found it invaluable. I can zoom into an area, then virtually drive by the location using Google. Or I can simply ask my GPS for the nearest location, and take pot luck.www.wildcamping.co.uk
Caravan Club CL sites
Next up is Caravan Club CL's - most people know about these, but for newcomers....If you join the Caravan Club, you get access to their network of small sites. UK planning laws allow just about any farm or landowner to have a site for up to 5 caravans or motorhomes. They vary from basic to luxury, but all have water and waste disposal, about half have hookup. Now I don't want to promote naughty behaviour, I pay my membership to the fuddy duddy Caravan Club willingly....but I have only been asked for my membership card twice in 10 years. And I have discovered also that some sites drop out of the scheme and the CC directory, but still retain the sign! So if you are out and about, and see a "Caravan Club Certified Location", and are desperate for a nights stop, then take a chance - you can always join later! POI databases are available for these CL sites from various places. Just Google it, or contact me. Here is a link - don't confuse "Certified Locations" with "Club Sites" which are all singing, dancing holiday destinations in their own right.http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/advice-and-information/route-planner/satellite-navigation-downloads
Archies Camping Database
If you look around, there are so many different clubs and organisations who list camp sites in different countries. I had this problem on my travels round Europe. Then I found Archie! He is a Dutch guy who collates every single campsite in Europe, no matter who own or runs it, into a single database POI file. It is regularly maintained and updated by users, and Archie asks for donations.
http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/
Furgoperfectos!
Furgo is Spanish for "Van" ... and has become the slang word for the VW camper. So Spanish VW campers are "FurgoVW's"! Furgoperfectos is an informal group of Spanish VW owners, including a lot of surfers and bikers. They maintain a POI database for their members, but is freely downloadable for your GPS. The majority of locations are Spain Portugal and France, but every year more are added further afield. I have used these extensively, and found some truly stunning sea side locations, but be warned that access to these sites is intended for VW capers and similar. I have never failed to get onto any of the many I have visited in my 7m Hymer, and the vast majority are places where almost any vehicle can visit .... but I have had a couple of tight squeezes. But Furgoperfectos is a truly precious resource!
The site is in Spanish, and contains lots of information for VW fans - Google translate works well in Spanish. The POI files are here - www.furgovw.org - they seem to have introduced a requirement to register this year. Any problems contact me.
The Motorhome Tourism Organisation
This quite new site seems to be a labour of love by one gentleman, and deserves support. UK motorhomers seem to take it for granted that facilities are better abroad than here in the UK, and generally we just put up with it and do our own thing. But councils up and down the country vary between draconian and welcoming in their attitudes to motorhome parking and access.
This site is trying to do something about it, and has the beginnings of a UK map of car parks that permit overnight parking. It also lobbies councils and government on our behalf, and for that reason alone deserves support.
www.tmcto.org
If you go down to Legoland Windsor and email this chap paul.harley@legoland.co.uk or CustomerServices@merlinentertainments.biz they will let you stay in there staff car park free of charge and its only a ten minute walk to the park passing all the queing cars.
Any more resources? Please contact Ron or any of the Classic Hymers team.
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