Latest UK Motorhome Stopover News

For listings see our UK Stopovers page

See below for a resume of the legislation regarding Stopovers

Camperstops.org
This is a new initiative designed as a central point of information about motorhome stopovers in the UK.
The website www.camperstops.org offers free help and advice for setting up a Camper Stop, which they describe as a short stay "Stop & Go" overnight rest area for motor home tourists. They are not for profit website and plan to provide information and knowledge, answer questions and show the benefits of this new wave of tourism which has boomed over the last few years.

March 2013 Updates
It's the time of year when we check as many of our listed sites as possible to ensure that we have, as far as is possible, the correct info.

This year there are a few minor changes, a couple of deletions, and we are happy to report, a few new locations to include!

Major news is that Torridge District Council, in North Devon, have authorised overnight stays by motorhomes in several of their car parks:

From the 15th March the following car parks will permit the overnight parking of motor homes at the rate of £5 per night per space occupied for any period between 6pm and 10am (max two consecutive nights only) we will also be asking motor homes to remain at least 6m apart. Signage to this effect will be displayed in the car parks.

Sydney House, Torrington EX38 8AA
The Manor, Holsworthy EX22 6DJ
Riverbank (long stay), Bideford EX39 2QS
Churchfield, Appledore EX39 1RL
The Main, Westward Ho! EX39 1LG

There will be an additional button on the parking meter which will vend on the payment of the £5 charge. The daily charge is £3 at all sites with the exception of Westward Ho! for the period 15 March to 31 October when the daily charge is £7. Enforcement will be conducted by Civil Enforcement Officers at irregular times/days and will need to reflect the popularity of the offer. I would suggest it is the interests of Motor Home owners to self police the parking where ever possible as I fear that any significant abuse could lead to the withdrawal of the facilities.

We also have an additional stopover in Herefordshire listed, Red Meadow car park in Ross-on-Wye.

Check out the listings and you can print off a paper copy too!

No official stopover site for Exmouth
[1/3/13]
We had heard that Devon County Council were planning to introduce motorhome parking bays and allow overnight stays in some Exmouth car parks in a effort to alleviate the problem of motorhomes monopolising seafront parking bays. Sadly local councillors have voted againts the proposal, so it will not happen in the forseeable future.

New stopover in Essex
[27/2/13]
Thaxted Parish Council have confirmed that they have created dedicated motorhome parking bays in their Margaret Street Car Park. Stays of up to 48 hours in any period of 14 days are permitted. Free. Toilets available.

Scottish National Park Proposals for Motorhome Overnight Parking
[20/11/12]
The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park have recently published their 5 Lochs Visitor Management Plan. It includes the following proposal:

"Where appropriate facilities to accommodate motor home overnight parking should be considered as part of any site improvements".

Whilst informal overnight parking of motorhomes and campervans is not uncommon in parts of Scotland, it is very welcome initiative to hear from a National Park that official provision for motorhome and campervan overnight stays is to be made.

The full report can be read here: www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/images/stories/Looking After/PDF/5 Lochs/5LochsPlan_2012_web.pdf

No Stopovers for Scarborough
[16/10/12]
We have now, finally, received information from Scarborough Borough Council regarding the proposal to allow motorhomes to park overnight in certain car parks within the district.

Despite the original recommendation of their own Parking Review Group the decision has been taken not to allow overnight stays, and to ban motorhomes from certain car parks completely at night.

This is the statement from Jane Wilson, Deputy Parking Manager, Scarborough Borough Council (received 16/10/12):

"The proposals to allow overnight use of motor caravans on various Off Street Car Parks was referred to the Parking Review Group for further consideration, at its meeting on 12 July 2012 members of the group voted unanimously against designating specific car park areas to allow the authorised overnight parking of Motor Caravans. A key factor that members considered in reaching their decision was the advice from Planning stating that the creation of a designated area on a car park would need planning permission for change of use, and that current policy would not support any application. As you are aware consideration was also given to prohibit motor caravans between the hours of 11pm-7am on certain car parks. I can confirm that objections were considered at a meeting of the Council's cabinet today with members approving the recommendation to introduce amendments to Traffic Regulation Order to prohibit motor caravan parking between 11pm and 7am on certain car parks to be implemented from 1 January 2013".

Whitby had already decided against the proposal. The head of tourism and culture Brian Bennett said: "Members have previously considered this option however it was felt that there were sufficient official sites within the borough that welcomed motor caravans and there was not a need for a facility specifically for motor caravans."

Our view, and that of some other local authorities, is that allowing overnight stays by motorhomes does not necessarily require planning consent for a change of use, as the primary function of the car park is not affected.

A lost opportunity for Scarborough to welcome additional tourists.

Another stopover in Ireland!
[30/8/12]
We've just had confirmation from Buncrana Town Council (in Co. Donegal) that 3 overnight parking bays for motorhomes are now operational at the Tourist Information Centre, water and electric is available. See our Stopovers page for more details

More stopovers planned
[7/8/12]
We have been in rather 'long term' contact with couple of local authorities about setting up official motorhome stopovers. Both Tendring Borough Council in Essex and Malvern Hills District Council in Worcestershire now have plans to allow motorhomes to stay overnight in designated car parks.

Tendring DC are planning an experimental scheme at one car park, if it is a success they hope to extend it to others in their area. One concern they have is that the site will be targeted by 'travellers' to set up unauthorised encampments, it may be necessary to have security measures in place and advance booking. We wiil post more information when we have it.

Malvern Hills DC have now approved motorhome stopovers in the Hanley Road Car Park in Upton upon Severn, the facility will be introduced as soon as the Parking Orders have been amended. They also plan to install a water tap, toilet waste disposal facility, and picnic benches. We've been asked what else motorhome owners would like!

New 'aire de service' open in Northern Ireland
[28/6/12]
Located at The Commons in Donaghadee, the 'aire de services' allows motorhome owners to charge up their batteries, take on fresh water and dispose of waste water.

Motorhomes are also now permitted to spend the night at the site.

Installed by Ards Borough Council in response to an increase in the popularity of motorhome tourism, the new facility aims to attract some of the growing number of camping vehicles to the Ards area, helping also to boost the number of visitors using local shops, eateries and other attractions in Donaghadee and further afield.

Read more details on the Ards Council website

Stopovers for Scarborough
[13/10/12]
Update
We understand that the proposal to allow motorhomes to stay overnight in the Marina Back car park in Whitby are not going ahead. The head of tourism and culture Brian Bennett said: "Members have previously considered this option however it was felt that there were sufficient official sites within the borough that welcomed motor caravans and there was not a need for a facility specifically for motor caravans."

Hawick has the first official stopover in Scotland
[22/5/12]
Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, has dedicated spaces in one of it's car parks for campervans to stay overnight. This is a 2 year trial which, if successful, will be made permanent. There are toilets and a fresh water tap available.

The scheme operates from Easter to the end of September, stays are limited to one night and are free. It is not possible to stay on Friday nights because there is a Saturday market. Campervans will also not be able to stay in a 2 week period at the beginning of June each year because the site is used for a 2 week fair. It was instigated by the Hawick Welcome Initiative, see: Hawick Welcome Initiative

We understand they even have volunteers on site during the day to welcome campervans and provide information about the town.

Stopover near Yeovil
[18/5/12]
South Somerset District Council have confirmed to us that motorhomes may stay overnight at the Cartgate truckstop and picnic area near Yeovil. Located off the A303/A3088 roundabout about 4 miles west of Yeovil, the site has a 24 hour cafe, toilets, tourist information and wifi available.

Campsite owners force council U-turn on overnight charges at Hayling Island aire
[14/5/12]
Representations from the owners of Oven Campsite and Fishery Creek Campsite, claiming that the introduction of overnight motor home parking at West car park is having a detrimental impact on their businesses, were considered at a Havant Borough Council meeting on 10th May.

The meeting decided to raise charges from the originally published rates of £8 a night from September to May inclusive and £10 a night from June to August inclusive to £10 a night from November to February and £20 a night from 1st March to 31st October. The new charges will be introduced from 1st July 2012.

We understand the council's intention was to control and regularise an existing situation, where motorhomes were illegally parking overnight in local car park. However what the council and the campsite owners fail to grasp is that the overnight parking facility is an additional provision, to accommodate those motorhome users who would not be customers of the campsites anyway.

We think that increasing the charges, to what will be seen as an excessive level, will simply result in motorhome users staying away, rather than being attracted to the area and benefiting local business, or else taking the risk of staying overnight in other car parks - exactly the situation that the council is attempting to alleviate.

Surely it would have been better, rather than what will be seen as caving in to pressure from campsite owners, to keep the existing charges in place for this year, assess the effectiveness of the scheme and it's impact on the campsites, then decide on the level of charges for next year.

As far as we know the campsite owners have not substantiated their claim of reduced occupancy.

St Annes 'aire' open
Received from Fylde BC on 23/4/12:

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to submit your support and thoughts on this pilot phase to introduce overnight motorhome parking on the lower section of St Annes Swimming Pool Car Park. I can assure you that they are being read and taken into consideration. Special thanks also to Cllr Duffy who has been able to keep you informed of the decision making process and the progress we have been making.

I can now formally announce that the legal process to change the car park order has been completed. As such we will be able to start accepting overnight motorhome parking from Friday 27th April until Monday 1st October.

To reiterate the information supplied by Cllr Duffy, the conditions for using this car park for overnight motorhome parking are as follows:

- Fee will be £5 per night from 6pm to 10am the following day.
- If motorhomers wish to stay on the car park during the day then normal tariffs and car park conditions will apply per parking bay their vehicle occupies.
- Overnight parking motorhomes will have to keep to a set area in the central area of the lower section of the car park.
- Maximum stay of 3 consecutive nights. No returns within 5 days.
- Maximum vehicle length of 10 meters.
- No caravans or trailers allowed.
- No open fires or BBQs allowed.
- Visitors are asked to take all waste away with them.

Although no facilities are to be provided during this pilot phase there is a public convenience located approximately 300 meters along the promenade towards St Annes Pier. In addition the lower section of the car park where overnight motorhome parking will be allowed is flanked by a public leisure centre, a cinema, a carvery/public house as well as a RLNI visitor centre.

With regard the number of motorhomes that will fit within the designated area of the car park, the 'central section' is composed of about 26 double-length bays (ie two normal bays length-on) which is 10m. If motorhomes park with a space between them then a total of 13 motorhomes will fit. If the motorhomes are smaller in length (ie up to 5 meters) then they may be able to fit two motorhomes one behind the other and thereby increasing capacity. However, so long as motorhomes keep to the central area of the lower section then it will be for the discretion of users how they are sited.

We appreciate that the conditions set out may not meet the needs of all car park users but as this is a pilot phase we will be looking to obtain the views from all those affected. As such we will shortly be releasing details where visitors can post their feedback which will help us assess the success of the pilot phase and potentially lead to improvements next year.

Britstops
Britstops is an annual membership scheme which was launched in April 2011. In return for a payment of £25 you get a printed guide to stopovers that have agreed to accept members' motorhomes for an overnight stay. A windscreen sticker is included, and registering your email address entitles you to regular updates throughout the year.

Stopovers are for 1 night only and are free.

The sites are mainly farm shops, vinyards and pubs, over 180 are listed in the 2012 guide.

For details see the website: www.britstops.com

The stopovers are available to members only, we cannot therefore include any in our listing.

Motorhomestopover club
Motorhomestopover is an annual membership scheme which has negotiated permission for motorhomes to stay overnight at registered pubs. Members will be able to park up for the first night free. There are over 500 sites, listings are available to members only. For full details see the scheme website: www.motorhomestopover.co.uk

The stopovers are available to members only, we cannot therefore include any in our listing.

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.

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

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.

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.