Visitors Feedback on UK Motorhome Stopovers
We love to get feedback form anyone who has used the stopovers on our listing. Please send us your reports and we'll post them here. Reports are published 'as received' without correcting punctuation, spelling, etc! We are also keen to have information on new ones.
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Bideford and Appledore
[Easter 2013]
Stayed at Riverbank Car Park in Bideford & also Appledore car park near Bideford Devon over the Easter weekend. Brilliant stopovers for both places. Bideford is right next to the town overlooking the river, mostly level parking and quiet with lovely views. Appledore the same. Both car parks also have toilets open during the day. Both easily accessible.
Crediton - The Thelbridge Cross Inn
[October 2012]
Stopped here for a night whilst in the area for a few days. Pleasant country inn/hotel in a quiet hamlet off the beaten track. Enjoyed a couple of beers and had a quiet night.
Sadly the pub now requires payment up front of the £5 fee for overnight stays, as they have had some motorhomes leave early in the morning without paying.
Chard - The Green Dragon
[September 2012]
WHAT A WELCOME! MET ON ARRIVAL BY TREVOR,SHOWN A PARKING SPACE. FOOD BRILLIANT,IT'S A PITY A LOT OF SITES ARE NOT UP TO THIS STANDARD.WE'LL BE BACK.
Tarrington - The Tarrington Arms
[August 2012]
Stopped off at the Tarrington Arms on a weekday night, the building looks impressive but sadly the interior is a little 'tired', however the welcome was friendly enough and both the beer and the food was good. Car Park slopes slightly so levelling blocks might be needed. This is definitely a 'dog friendly' pub!
Chester - Little Roodee Car Park
[August 2012]
Stayed here one weekday night on the way to North Wales. Handy location and pleasant enough next to the river. The Car Park does slope but there are a few level spaces next to the river, sadly these were all taken up by other motorhomes when we arrived, but the rest of the car park was virtually empty. Had a peaceful night with no problems.
The tariff board is a bit misleading, it states that the overnight fee is £1.50 and that daytime charges start at 7.00am. So we got up at 7am to pay the extra, allowing us a bit more time before departing. However subsequent enquiries to the City Council confirm that the overnight fee covers you up to a 9.00am departure.
Millbourne - The Waggon Inn
[July 2012]
I've stayed here twice now and both times had a nice quiet evening despite being close to a main road. The food is excellent and I have no reservations about recommending it.
Brecon - The Watton Car Park
[June 2012]
Stayed here one weekday night on the way to South Wales. The long bays at the far left were already occupied by 4 other motorhomes when we arrived at around 6pm but the rest of the car park was virtually empty. Had a very quiet night. Overnight parking is free here but we paid for an hour in the morning to give us time for a leisurely breakfast.
Fishguard - Seaview Hotel
[June 2012]
We stayed here for a night whilst working round the coast of Wales, it would also be useful for anyone arriving on a late ferry or leaving on an early one.
We found it fairly quiet once the daytime traffic had died down, but the traffic from the ferry arriving at about 1am woke me. We didn't need to eat in the hotel and sadly they don't have any real ale available, but one or two bottles of reasonable beer were offered as an alternative to the Tetleys Smoothflow. A friendly father-daughter partnership run the hotel and they are motorhome owners.
Oldham - The Hawthorn
[June 2012]
We used this stopover while on business in the greater Manchester area. Steve and Julie were very welcoming and helpful, and there was loads of space. The picture of the boarded up pub looked somewhat off-putting, and although the address is Oldham, the site is right on the very edge of the town, almost out in the country. The staff and locals in the pub across the road were friendly too. We'll have no hesitation in going back to say hello and to break long journeys between north and south of the country.
Thanks very much Steve and Julie.
Portsmouth - D-Day Museum Car Park
[May 2012]
Stayed in car park on 22 Nov 2011 at night. Would not stay there again. Just got off boat from France 11.00pm, could not sleep because of young boys and there cars racing up and down from one end of car park to other end. If this car park as cctv no one was wachting it. Would not stay here again.
Taunton - Home Mead
(October 2011)
What a fantastic place for a stopover,Quiet site, perfect for touring around, Somerset, Cheddar, Glastonbury. Wells. Owners are very friendly and welcoming, they understand the need to have places like theirs so decided to use some of their land to set up an overnight site. cost is £5.00 per night , water is available. They make their own cider and honey, on sale for very reasonable price, along with fresh vegetables from their garden. Highly recommended!
Upton on Severn - Hanley Road Car Park - This site is no longer available for motorhomes to stay overnight
(August 2010)
Stayed here on a Monday night, in the company of four other motorhomes. The car park is just across the road from the river and close to the centre of this attractive little town. The toilets seem to be open all night, water can be obtained from a tap just across the road by the pedestrian crossing (container needed!). The car park is used by HGVs at night so some early morning noise from about 5.30 as they depart. Motorhomes generaly park in the longer bays on the right just as you enter the car park where there is room to overhang the grass (watch out for the little trees!). The remainder of the car parking area was almost completerly occupied by HGVs on the night we stayed. Interesting parking regulations which ban car parking betwen 4am and 5am, motorhomes pay the coach/HGV rate which allows parking for 24 hours.
Rhayader - Dark Lane car park
(July 2010)
Parking is on a very steep slope and the only two spaces we could possibly have used had been parked across by a car and refreshment caravan. There is level free parking down by the river which we felt we could have used, but when we had parked further out by the Elan Trail we were circled by a couple of the local boy racers with cars full of their mates, so we decided to move on, having explored the immediate area. The river and trail walks were lovely here, with the added bonus of good views of red kites.
Newtown - Gravel car park
(July 2010)
Almost-level parking close to the river, town and Macdonalds. The noise from the adjacent main road is not too obtrusive but the car park is a drive-through meeting spot for all the local motoring youth. The speed humps slow them down quite effectively and they were no trouble to us. Their comings and goings finished quite early and they weren't trying to demonstrate their audio systems, but I'm not sure what it would have been like on a weekend night. Nice old town centre with urban riverside walks.
Machynlleth - Maengwyn Street car park
(August 2010)
Stayed here on a Wednesday night, arriving at 6pm to find the car park virtually empty. As the previous comment says, there is nowhere to overhang the rear end, long motorhomes are allowed to straddle 2 bays but must then pay the 'over 3 tonnes' parking fee. Peaceful nights sleep after a few beers and a meal in the town. There is a free all night toilet available.
(July 2010)
A large, level P&D car park, but nowhere we could overhang the rear end, so we had to straddle two bays. On the Tuesday afternoon when we arrived it was almost empty but one or two white vans were arriving, so I checked to make sure we wouldn't be engulfed by Wednesday's market. No problem, it's a street market, so we spent a peaceful night - nice small town with lovely walking alongside the river Dovey. Next morning we moved the 'van early to park at the Leisure Centre car park where we could reclaim our parking against the cost of swimming. On our return through the town the market was in full swing and the car park we had spent the night in was absolutely full. Had we left it parked where it was we would have been most unpopular and possibly unable to get out.
Swanage - Main Beach Car Park- This site is no longer available for motorhomes to stay overnight
(August 2010)
Just visited Swanage and stayed in Victoria Ave car & coach park (also called Main Beach)overnight. There is a clear notice regarding payment of £5.50 from 6pm - 9am for motorhomes. It is only a 5 min walk from the beach and there is a great skate park and play park just behind. You can also stay at North Beach car park under the same rules. You have to move your van out of the coach spaces and into a car space at 9am and can buy another ticket at £8 for 24 hours. Make sure you stick to the rules though as the attendants came round at 10.45pm checking the tickets and checked again at 9am - all very friendly though. There are only a few spaces with overhangs in this car park but at North Beach there were several backing onto grass for larger vans.
Westbury - The Paddock, Brook Drove Cottage - This site is no longer available for motorhomes to stay overnight
(September 2010)
Spent a very pleasant night here on the way back from the Shepton Mallet Show. The site is excellent, with compacted gravel hard standings and neatly mown grass. There are electric hookups and water all laid on in the paddock. A shower, washing facilities and waste disposal are all just across the road alongside the house and are immaculate. Highly recommended.
(September 2010)
Have just returned to another fantastic week at "the Paddocks" CL site, such a lovely place! Would thoroughly recommend it to any visiting motorhome, lovely welcome assured, with the added bonus of facilities being the best you will find in any CL or larger site.
(July 2010)
We've just stayed at this stop over. Being motorhomers themselves the owners cannot do enough for you. It is off the beaten track but plenty of places araound it. Recommened it.
Brecon - Promenade car park
(June 2010)
We stayed here on a Friday night. A lovely spot right by the river and short walk into town. We were the only vehicles there apart from 4 or 5 boy racers who kept driving into the car park, back into town, into the car park again. This went on till about 11pm, then a group came back at 4am. I think this could be a regular weekend thing for them so you could get a disturbed night but we didn't feel unsafe at any time.
Windsor - Alma Road Coach Park - This site is no longer available for motorhomes to stay overnight but we understand that the parking attendants will usually be able to provide alternative spaces
(June 2010)
We had a fantastic stay in the coach park. It was fairly busy in the day by 6pm we were the only ones there. Very quiet, right by the park and the Thames, short walk to castle. Parking attendants were very friendly and happy for us to be there. Great place to take the kids too as there is plenty to do and an indoor pool just down the road.
Exeter - Matford Park & Ride
(May 2010)
Stopped over at the park and ride in Exeter, last week, arrived late car park was empty. It was well lit and lots of cameras. Within 10 minutes of turning up a security van arrived, to obviously check us out. Waved us goodnight and we bedded down. Final check during the night and the security cameras were in use, and we felt very safe.
Tintagel - Mayfair Car Park
(May 2010)
Stayed in mayfair grass over flow carpark , no parking lines , no noise , well worth £3.50 a night and £2.00 all day
Hay-on-Wye - Oxford Road Car Park
(June 2010)
By accident, we arrived here whilst the Hay Festival was on and the town was heaving. Luckily it was nearly 6pm so the car park was not so full. There were plenty of spaces for fairly large motorhomes down at the bottom of the hill which was nice and flat. We had a lovely fish & chip supper from the local chippy and a very peaceful night. We felt happy leaving the vehicle there whilst we went for a walk on the hills using the Offa's Dyke Flyer bus.
(April 2010)
Stayed here one night during Easter week, car park very busy during the day but we managed to get a bay down at the bottom so that we could overhang the grass and just fit into a single bay. Pleasant walk in to town to visit the bookshops and pubs. Peaceful night
Hull - Priory Park Lorry Park - This site is no longer available for motorhomes to stay overnight as it is closed at night
(June 2009)
We have just come back from staying at the Hull Priory Park and Ride "Lorry and Campervan" stop for a whole weekend. (two nights)
It was great. Only two lorries and we had the rest of the clean and secure park to ourselves.
The security guards could not have been more helpfull, everything from guiding us to find the place, to where and what to see in Hull.
The lorry park costs £8 plus a £2 refundable deposit for the security card, this includes use of the toilets and electric hook up.
The two showers housed adjoining to the security building were clean and functional but the shower costs £1 for three minutes. (hot and powerfull though)
Being on a park and ride we caught the bus to town for only £2.10 return per adults, kids (under 12) went free with an adult.
There is an Aldi and 24 hours Sainsburys only 200 meters away from the park and across the main road by footpath, there is a easy access to the Trans Pennine Trail along the Humber estuary in view of the Humber Bridge.
The only down side was the railyway line at the back of the park, but to be honest we hardly noticed it after the first couple of trains and they seemed to stop through the night.
We enjoyed our time in Hull, The Deep Aquarium was great and the Museum quarter with many free museums was worth a visit. Also the Fish trail was fun and I sugggest you start your tour with a visit to the Tourist Information.
This report was first posted to www.wildcamping.co.uk and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the author. |
