Latest UK Motorhome Stopover News

For listings see our UK Stopovers page

See below for a resume of the legislation regarding Stopovers

New UK Stopover Scheme
A new scheme has been launched to provide motorhome stopovers at pubs in the UK. It is a club with paid membership, members will be able to park up overnight at pubs which have joined the scheme and the first night will be free. Currently (April 2008) there are over 165 sites available, listings are available to members only. For full details see the scheme website: www.motorhomestopover.co.uk

When asked how the scheme would meet the requirements of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, they told us: "With regards to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, we are not providing camping; we are providing parking with the consent of the owner."

First Irish Aire de Service: (Feb 08) The first motorhome Aire de Service has been set up in Askeaton. County Limerick. Although not a UK stopover we thought it was an important development, you can read more here.

Powys County Council have confirmed the following official provisions for motorhomes to stay overnight (Feb 08):

Brecon: The Watton car park - motorhomes may stay overnight free of charge (between 6pm and 8am) for 1 night in 7. This is a temporary provision while the usual motorhome parking facility in the coach/lorry park is currently unavailable Hay-on-Wye: Oxford Road car park - motorhomes may stay overnight free of charge (between 6pm and 8am) for 1 night in 7

Folkestone Harbour (Jan 08)
The Harbourmaster at Folkestone has confirmed to us that motorhomes may stay overnight in the truck parking area at Folkestone Harbour. The cost for motorhomes is £7.50 per night (trucks pay £10.00). There are some facilities for truck drivers on site and motorhome owners may also use these.

Herefordshire Stopovers (Jan 08)
Herefordshire County Council confirm that they will permit overnighting by motorhomes in two car parks commonly used for overnight parking by lorries. The car parks are Merton Meadow in Hereford, and Broad Street in Leominster. Details on our UK Aires page.

Two new Aires in Northern Ireland (Jan 08)
The Northern Ireland group of the Motor Caravanners Club are actively promoting the establishment of official stopovers and full 'Aires de Service' in their region. They tell us that Carrickfergus Council has installed an Aires de Service near the centre of the town and a second at the attractive resort of Whitehead. To celebrate the installation the mayor Alderman David Hilditch MLA entertained the NI group during its November rally in the town and reported that the two new service points were already attracting visitors to the area. The group chairman Robert Strain congratulated the Council on its initiative and expressed the hope that other district councils would soon follow the lead set by Carrickfergus.
See our UK stopovers listings for all the Northern Ireland locations.

Practical Motorhome (Oct 07)
The magazine launched a 'Pub Stop' scheme. It listed pubs that welcome motorhomes to stay overnight, however the scheme is on hold at the moment whilst the magazine attempts to address the legal issues.

The Motor Caravanner's Club
Have been promoting the provision of motorhome stopovers to local councils and other potential providers, such as supermarkets. They have produced a promotional DVD to suport the campaign but report that it has been a uphill struggle with very little response or support from councils.

Motor Caravan Magazine
Launched a campaign for official motorhome stopovers to be set up. They had some meetings with local authorities and MPs, but disappointingly there has been no recent coverage in the magazine.

Here at UKMotorhomes.net we are right behind all campaigns to promote the introduction of motorhome stopovers in the UK and hope to be able to work with anyone to further the cause.

For more about aires, and details on the setting up of the one at Broughshane in Northern Ireland, see our article.

If you have any information about local initiatives to set up motorhome stopovers - let us know using our contact form

Legislation regarding Stopovers

In law, at least as regards the places where they may be stationed for the purposes of human habitation, motorhomes are included within the definition of a 'caravan' . The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act (1960), states that a caravan is defined as:

" ... any structure designed or adapted for human habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another (whether by being towed, or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer) and any motor vehicle so designed or adapted ... "

The Act introduced the licencing of caravan sites, and defines a 'caravan site' as " ... land on which a caravan is stationed for the purposes of human habitation and land which is used in conjunction with land on which a caravan is so stationed." Certain exemptions are allowed from the licencing requirements of the Act, these include:

" ... the use of land as a caravan site if the use is incidental to the enjoyment as such of a dwellinghouse within the curtilage of which the land is situated."
Meaning that, for example, you may occupy a caravan situated in your garden.

" ... the use of land as a caravan site by a person travelling with a caravan who brings the caravan on to the land for a period which includes not more than two nights—
(a)
if during that period no other caravan is stationed for the purposes of human habitation on that land or any adjoining land in the same occupation, and
(b)
if, in the period of twelve months ending with the day on which the caravan is brought on to the land, the number of days on which a caravan was stationed anywhere on that land or the said adjoining land for the purposes of human habitation did not exceed twenty-eight. "
This is the exemption which permits pubs, for example, to allow a motorhome to stay overnight on their car park. However only one motorhome is permitted at any one time and the landowner can only permit his land to be used for a maximum of 28 days in any period of 12 months. It does not, of course, give a right to station a caravan on any land, it simply means that the landowner does not need a caravan site licence. There may also be other, local, restrictions in force which prevent landowners permitting the stationing of a caravan on their land.

" ... land as respects which there is in force a certificate issued under this paragraph by an exempted organisation if not more than five caravans are at the time stationed for the purposes of human habitation on the land to which the certificate relates.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph an exempted organisation may issue as respects any land a certificate stating that the land has been approved by the exempted organisation for use by its members for the purposes of recreation."
This allows 'Exempted Organisations' such as The Caravan Club, The Camping and Caravanning Club, and the Motor Caravanner's Club, among others, to set up CL (Certificated Location) and CS (Certificated Site) sites for use by their members. Whether the use of the sites is restricted to members only is up to the individual clubs to decide. As far as we know only the Motor Caravanner's Club allows non-members to use its CS sites.

" ... land occupied by the local authority in whose area the land is situated."
This is the most interesting exemption as far as the setting up of Stopovers is concerned, it allows local authorities to permit motorhomes to stay overnight on, for example, car parks or other land in their control.