Wild camping

We've always used this place if we're visiting the north coast, it's only about 20mins into Portrush.

John

Coleraine
Aghadowey: Brown Trout Golf and Country Inn, 209 Agivey Road, Aghadowey, Coleraine. BT51 4AD. Telephone 028 7086 8209. Free overnight parking in Golf Car Park, Maximum Two Nights. Fresh water available

I think every motorhomer who decides not to use a site will have a different view on what wild camping is. I think you've just clearly explained yours.

Perhaps my only fault here was posting this in the wrong section, again that's subjective. Maybe if it makes you feel better you could copy & paste it into the topic/area YOU think it needs to be placed in.

Maybe you should recount your paperclips while you're at it.

No need to be nasty and you are untitled to your opinion AND I wasn't getting at you personally but at the use of the term 'wild camping' to describe the activity which you subsequently mentioned as overnight parking.

'Overnight parking' and 'camping' wild or otherwise are two distinctly different activities. The difference is widely accepted by motorhome users who have spent time in Europe and been exposed to the regulations governing the overnight parking facilities offered there. The difference is drafted into local bye-laws and often displayed on the signs which regulate overnight parking there also.

Finally, please be aware that there is a group of motorhome users expending a lot of time and energy working in to try and get town and county councils to provide Aire de Stationnement type places for all motorhome users, including you, and it IS important that they don't perceive that they might end up with people treating such facilities like campsite pitches.

Thanks Mark,

I think the post by Jean-Luc HERE and in particular the attached photos of the signs in France and Spain sum the difference up quite well.

The point made by baguette was simply that overnighting in a pub carpark is not wild camping. I can see this is confusing to a newbie as there are no official guidelines for which phrase should be used when. As previously stated, I intend to rectify this soon.

We all post in the wrong place from time to time so don't worry about that. If I had been on the pc and not the phone that would have been more evident.

A couple of observations

The post is in the correct place.

Text has no emotion, no body langauage, so very easily taken the wrong way

"Back on my soapbox"

looks a lot different than

"Back on my soapbox "

That's why all forums contain emoticons/smileys

I am positive Baguette was not "having a go" but stating a valid point, in saying that it could of been directed better and especially at a "newbie" on the forum.

Now everyone lighten up

The definition of WIldcamping is not something I would of thought about either, to me Wildcamping was somewhere we stopped that wasn't a Campsite, and that was how we posted in this forum until Baguette made us aware that it might be an issue. I am new to Motorhoming.

I can see why we may need to stop calling it Wildcamping when it is Parking, even though I think it's ridiculous that people could be so narrow minded to make the assumptions they do. For me the jury is still out whether it will make any difference. But I am willing to try and help anything that furthers our cause. Hence why I changed the name of this section to "Wild Camping and Motorhome Parking"

Healthy debate on the subject is good.

Thank you for posting the spot and I hope you and everyone else continue to post more no matter how you define it. I doubt the authorities or campsite owners who are against us even read this anyhow.

As previously mentioned, we are trying to get an official terminology which will keep everyone happy and until then we continue to depend on members like baguette to correct all of us.

Yes spots like the one you mention are currently posted as wild camping and I can see why this is confusing.

I am sorry if you felt this was you being picked on or similar but I can assure you this is not the case on this forum. We are all here to offer assistance where we can..

Nipper,

Thanks for this thread.

Not for the location.... but for raising the point about wild camping and parking. Having come from a minimalist tent camping background, my definition of wild camping is a little different from the folks here. We wild camp WELL off the beaten track under canvas (well under high tech nylon/delrin mix if truth be told). Getting closer to nature and away from technology and modern conveniences. Our wild camping is just that, no imposed rules or restrictions other than our own understanding of the practise of camping in the wild - "ONLY take photos and ONLY leave footprints" kind of stuff.

Several of my friends who own motorhomes refer to wild camping in terms of parking for free, anywhere overnight. I have always kinda laughed at them for calling it wild camping as they have all of the facilities in their rigs... fridges, cooker, tv, generators, etc... That never sounded too wild to me.

I truly didn't realise there was an 'aires de camping' campaign underway in ireland and how sensitive folks can be about it.

But after reading this thread, it has dawned on me, the actual difference that the folks on this website hold in regards to both. I'm new to this motorhome lark and it seems I have alot to learn about the proper etiquette. Times have changed a lot since we used to motorhome back in the 90's.

I've taken some knowledge from moterhomecraic today.

It's important in Europe where both activities are separately defined (see my earlier posts on the issue) as 'camping' in areas reserved for 'parking' is expressly forbidden and is punishable under local bye-laws.

Here in Ireland it's important because we are trying to get local authorities to provide 'parking' and we don't confuse them into thinking they will be dealing with people who propose to 'set up camp' thus causing then to run a mile from the concept.

Lets go all posh and call them Overnight Restbite Areas No matter what we call them all fellow campers know what we mean .

After reading these posts I almost wish I had never taken the trouble to talk to the management of the Brown Trout, design the sign, get it made and screw it up. Lighten up everybody, until all motorhome users chill out and work toward a common goal not a lot will happen, there are many opposed to this fraternity, that viewpoint has been changed quite a bit however since that sign went up with many Councils and government officials now backing parking for motorhomes . and the new 21 bay parking at Portrush clear evidence of this. There will be others as well!
I hope I have demonstrated without offending anybody how many forums have been crossed over here. And I do hope that Nipper enjoys parking at the Brown Trout and many of the alternative stopover areas available.
I wish a website such as this had been around when I got my first motorhome, such a wealth of information for to use
Thank You Ally

Tell them to buy a torch or keep the MH Headlights on. Motorhomers with that attitude need a kick up the hole.