Great video and explanation of how to do a location recce before going. On the safety side of things I would say another tip would be to park your van so it's facing the exit, that way if there's any issues you just have to drive out without having to reverse etc.

Absolutely agree on all points! Thank you for voicing it. - Solo female motorhome owner

Lived in my van for 3 years and not once have I had any trouble or anyone trying my doors. House dwellers usually watch too much television it plants seeds of doubt and fear

My wife and i live in Bozeman Montana. We are surrounded my mountains with great boondocking spots. We use a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder with 4x4, which is necessary with the rugged backcountry roads. Because we camp and rock climb in grizzly country, we sleep in the rig. It may not be the most comfortabe sleeping quarters, but it feels much safer. Cheers!

Spot on Pippa, People do need to understand the different contributions van dwellers make. It appears to be an underrated aconamy.

This is exactly what I do- seems obvious to me! My wife thinks I’m mad but I’m glad to know other people do it too!

Government should make a park up available in or near every town with toilet and water. An app where people can offer their spare land or a drive, free or for a small fee could work well.

Cool video great helpful information, last year we did an RV relocation trip from Toronto to Vancouver and did lots of Boon docking (wild camping) in Walmart’s and other places. As you said the beauty is you can always just drive off if you don’t feel safe. Enjoy your weekend Cheers 🍷🌺🇨🇦

As usual, common sense prevails & if it doesn’t feel right, move on. I’m having to sell my large campervan because my husband passed away last Oct & it’s too big for me to drive. I am looking to get a much smaller one which will fit under barriers because I promised him we would still go on trips together. Hugs 🦆💕

You talk great sense..love your few uploads that I have watched and look forward to watching more x

Love what you’re doing it’s great, seems to me that you’re in touch with the dangerous side of it awareness is what it’s all about keep up the good work Peter

I use much the same methods as you for finding park ups plus the wild camping forum members app. I also check campsites for bargain out of main season rates. I just had 9 days at Parkdean Lizard Point for 7 quid a night inc EHU.

Great video and great build. Good tips for my own van life experience 💙❤💙

That's really helpful about the parking signs. I hope Google try to keep them clear in the images for reasons like this.

Excellent video presentation and advice, thank you. When discussing with others don't forget to mention all the fuel, gas, servicing and other vehicle equipment we need to buy. I feel like I'm spending a fortune on that 'stuff' so it must be ending up in someone's pocket. Happy and safe travelling. G

I'm very tempted to get myself a van and go on trips. Weekend trips when I'm not working just driving to different places and staying over night. Your video has given me some great advice on how to find places etc. I don't be living in the van as I still live at home and am hoping to get a mortgage. But I really do wanna get a van and just go where ever I want weekends! Explore parts of the UK and enjoy life.

Pretty convenient tools! You have to wonder if the random bad review is someone trying to keep it to themselves! Solo camper here to, but on a motorcycle, or in a pick-up and tent. Thanks for sharing your tips!

You mentioned studland. There is a long road that goes from the ferry to swanage that has dozens of laybys and grass verges to park on.

G8 tips ta. The park4night light blue icon with orange P indicates "Daily parking lot only" according to the filter list. Which organization can we support/join that works with councils etc on our behalf, worth us paying a monthly sub for sure.

Hello again. You are lucky that you have so many lovely places to pull over and spend the night. There is really nothing like that here, unless you want to go up some forestry rd where the mountain has been logged. But we do have WalMart that allows free overnighters.. ha Great info.. thanks for sharing . ⛺💟

Suggestion. What3words app. Check your location on arrival and set a message with your "words". Will send a precise location to within 1sqm. Emergency services also use this, so it's ideal to get them to you if you don't know the area. You could even choose a "safe" spot to inform the recipient of your destination if you leave your camp in a hurry. "Leaving driving to "

Thank you for your video, I found it very informative and interesting. I have always wanted the van life but cannot afford the van! But I love watching everything van life. Who knows? I found it interesting that the council down south (I live in Bournemouth and was interested in your search for Studland) that they should start to attract van lifers. Maybe a system that you register (like the national trust) and pay an annual subscription, that allows mature and sensible people (like yourself) to use empty spaces for a minimum stay. I have met many travellers (gypsy's), and although I have found them very polite , spoil it for everyone else. If said travellers where respectful of their surroundings, and cleared up after themselves, they would be more welcome by land owners. Maybe they could contribute by giving their time to the land owners by doing some work for them? Then again not everyone is like you and me. Stay safe and well. Paul

It's getting like that in other countries too. The lazy campers seem to ruin it for everyone. Even when I'm at a paid campsite I leave it as clean or cleaner. I have stayed at ones that let me leave later in day because I've been there before and leave it very clean. It really only takes a minute to clean up after ourselves. It was interesting on hearing how you find your spot. Thanks for sharing and take care.

Might be worth also getting one of those really powerful cree torches from Ebay, only about a fiver they can be used to temporarily dazzle (blind) someone in case of emergency. They're also damn useful as the beam can be adjusted. In a pinch I used to park in well lit industrial estates, off road and especially during really bad weather, and many premises had CCTV for a bit of extra security, as I was usually gone by 0600 anyway, it didn't really matter if I was on the edge of their car park or close to the building.

Hi lovely Just found your channel again after years of not watching it but hey Ho, I’ve been having big problems anyway so much has changed since I seen this video. I hope you’re doing right I’ll have to catch up on some of your videos see what you’ve been up to take care

Love you’re video and yes we want our country back ✌🏼

What a fantastic video - thank you. I'm heading over for a 3 week holiday departing Australia on Christmas Day and picking up my rented motorhome on Boxing Day afternoon. I'm travelling alone. You may ask yourself why I would want to travel to the UK over December and January. The reason is that I hate heat. Obviously January in Australia is the hottest months and we can get weather as hot as 48 degrees. I'm originally from Herftordshire and have not been back to visit for 4 years now because of Covid. I thought it would work out cheaper to rent a large 7 berth camper rather than rent a car and pay for accomodation. Therefore videos like this gives me an idea what to expect - especially as I'm travelling on a budget and want to try as hard as I can not to stay on powered camping grounds too often.

Thanks interesting how you do it. I wouldn’t park near electricity pylons. I do it by intuition ie drive out of the town look for some quiet roads and places to pull over not in a passing place. Did that recently in Croyde where overnight parking is firmly discouraged drove out mile and half or so on straight wideish very quiet country lane near to a massive solar farm. Two free nights no problem just couple of oiks riding past saying wakey wakey at 7.30am. I enjoy the adventure of trusting my intuition and the universe to provide a safe quiet place. If any problems like you make sure I can drive off immediately. Spent nice 4 nights in Lymington as above great spot next to nature reserve near beach make sure go off during the day. Happy campervanning

Excellent 👌 video full of great advice . I'm very keen on personal safety . Thanks for sharing 👍🇬🇧

Been all over the uk in my van and tbh u can pretty much find wild camping spots all over but Cheshire and northeast they were pretty scarce,Stayed 3 weeks in Scotland and only used a campsite 5 times for laundry shower and charge batteries etc,can definatly reccommend the highlands .

thank you so much!! We must meet up sometime next year when I get my van x

I use a similar method ....I also take notes on my phone when driving and see a wonderful spot.

Using street view is a good tip. However in some areas and on lower grades of roads you might need to check the year the street view was actual taken. The street views might be a few years out of date. Restrictions are becoming more prrvelant. But it gives you a very good indication of the locality.

Always reverse into a space on arrival so if you need to make a hasty exit when you are half asleep during the night then you are giving yourself at least a better chance of not reversing into something or someone.

We do use P4N but tend to GMap more these days. Good video for people who are wondering how to find spots. Cant wait to start watching on a telly again rather than phone. Hope now and Keith back in work pants😂

Cool and informative video, Thanks Pip! And the thumbnail image is also excellent!

Unfortunately, in Wales and England it is illegal to park up and stay overnight outside of official places and official campsites. You can get hastle from yobs but more likely will be moved on by the police. When I was wild camping I went into the site Moonfruit/wild camping where you can find pubs that will let you stay for one night if you buy a meal or a couple of drinks in their carpark. This is a good choice I have found.

if ever you are stuck there are plenty of pubs that will let you use their car parks for 1 night just make a small contribution to the pub perhaps buy a meal there and a glass of wine perhaps

Good Points Pip. Yes, What's good about Spog. Jump in the seat and go!

Well said ! and Well put ! It takes allsorts to build economy NOT niche.

Pippa goes high tech camping. See, that's why we love you, pretty and smart.

Great message so good words

Thanks interesting video and a great way to find places to go.

Super interesting video, a topic I don’t see enough of on YT...we’ve only ever hired a van twice and then we had the luxury of touring Scotland, the choices of quiet park ups were greater than England, but we were still very mindful of our surroundings, plus as you say, we left the place untouched the following day! Unfortunately it’s the minority of idiots who ruin it for the majority of responsible and passionate campervaners 😀👍

Oh wow! You now have a van! This is amazing! 😁

David still needs his t-shirt, Google Earth is my best friend lol.. don't use Park4Night as they tend to use a lot of laybys very near busy roads and even a few passing places.. take care Pippa and stay safe all xx

Hopefully one day soon Americans will be allowed in the UK again and I will come to contribute to the local economy! 😊

Really helpfull thanks

Great tips, thank you!

Great blog very informative 👍stay safe 🙏🏻👍

Some good tips there, some of which can make a bug difference when driving a high top.. 👍 I totally agree with the parting sentiment about tourism. I'm looking to full time, eventually and as such I'm aware that it gets difficult. THere is a campaign for UK Aires, like in Europe on FB as local councils NEED to move with the times..some places are having their eyes opened to the benefits.. If the UK was more welcoming and tolerant towards campervans, then I'm sure that we would also get more foreign tourists, when the borders allow more freedom to move..

i come from germany and stayed in GB for 3 months and it was no problem to park up

Really helpful vlog, thank you.

Do all the things you said plus if I find a pub or hotel car park I ask if I can park if we eat never been refused one hotel this year let us stay even though they hadn't the staff to offer us any food!

You mentioned that there are problems parking up for free in the U.K.. This is true as I have stated, as it is illegal to park up virtually everywhere in Wales and England and it does not matter if there is no sign saying "no overnight parking" or not, it is still illegal and if found by the police you will be moved on. However, you said U.K. which at present also includes Scotland so your statment was not totally true as in Scotland provided you do not leave a mess, you can park nearly anywhere.

Great vid. Well said (the end bit!) Ju 🙂

Lynn on Hubby's phone mines playing up 😏, Hi I've just found. you while watching Carol and Ken from Life's Too Short 🤗, Tell me cause I'm rubbish with tec 🤔, How Long have you been doing this ? and how do I find your play list to watch you from the beginning?, Thank You , looking forward to your videos 🤗👍

Try the Location app on Wild camping for Motorhomes.

Warning to uk vanlife community… DO NOT go with the AA, they picked our vehicle up, put it on a truck to go home (2hrs) but then abandoned it half-hour up the road, at the side of the road. Then left it for two days, each time telling us it was being picked up in an hour or two, went on for 45 hours and the vehicle got smashed into, left somewhere we would never had left it. We got AA cover so a broken down vehicle was NOT left on a road. Now won’t take any responsibility for their negligence and liability. Beyond stressful and left us totally abandoned!!!

Thank you so much for the help and advice as I’m trying to workout what’s ideal for me? A van or woodland? And am just concerned where and not to park

Great advice

Unfortunately if councils get involved with anything you will have little hitlers making life harder for you, and you can guarantee that by the time they had finished charging for everything it would be cheaper finding a campsite! 😆

Great info thanks!

Fantastic

Great vlog pip👍

I spend hours doing this Pippa it works doesn’t it 👍 ... ❤️👵🏼🐾🐾🤠 x

I search for wild or beautiful locations, and these tend to have no WiFi signals and often zero phone signal. Apps can occasionally be helpful, but more often you are shooting yourself in the foot, because everybody and their dog will be using the same app and heading for the same spot!😂 I rarely tell anyone where I'm going or destination. More often I don't know myself until I arrive... 🙂 That's a positive aspect of the adventure.

Great info

What do you do for toilets & food & security for your van when you have left it?

I find this video quaint - I am 52 - who could have 'survived' the last ten years without ggl,maps? - a customer calls us, and while I talking to them I am furiously looking-up their building on maps, "OK, pretty big facility, these people might be worthwhile." My Parents need this - they are 75. They've got a phone that has buttons, they don't turn-it-on unless they want to make a call, they do a covid-check-in on a piece of paper, they don't use a GPS, they don't look-up places on here-maps and they don't watch youtube. It's a bit sad that they are so-far out-of-the loop, and I struggle to get them to try these things.

Great app! (the first one) Haven't seen the others yet...

Good information.👍💕😊

Thought I saw my van in this video I am quite often at cheese wharf as its only 5 minutes down the road from where I live have found loads of places locally

I live just down the road from lechlaide lol 👍🏻

Yeah

Trouble is with apps and KZfaq is everyone knows about every park up including the local authorities.

High level top secret stuff? Google maps, street view and park4night🙄. I’d of never thought of that😳

nice one luv very helpfull

What about if u wanna spend like few nights or even longer periods of time, offgriddy, away from others, how do you look for such places ?

Locals like us cleaner types... well done x

It was ok in the past, but these days too many people are travelling around in vans, like anything too many destroy it. You have seen how people flock to the south coast during the epidemic. Big cities used to be nice to visit, but these days they are just full of too many tourists and all the mess and costs that comes with it. Lets face it the UK is too overcrowded.

Totally agree about buying from local shops ect. I done a bit of van park up. I don't mind paying for reasonably priced camp sites. But most are so expensive I can't afford them which is a shame . Yes I know they have to make there money when they can. And due to covid it's been very hard. But they still charged the same when you could not use there toilets and showers .

Would live to travel with a camper but so worried about not finding a toilet

Governments are useless .. Europe. Cater for campers .. at garages you can empty & fill up with water .. Empty toilets .. this country is slow ... good vid .. cheers Chris & Sam

How do you dump your dirt water? Can you dump it in the sewers in the street?

New subscriber lets c what u got best south africa

I am fearful of the future of free parking with vans in the UK. Recent legislation seems to show an interest in home conversion, and councils hate anything they can't issue a license for, or a fine. Vans Rob the local economy of accommodation costs and still require toilet and garbage disposal facilities, all of which need paying for.

well informed video was that, wot wot

What if they block you in and can’t escape? And there’s no phone signal?

It is now July 2024 - Are you still making van life videos?

I wouldn't park at 11 mins 50 far too many WiFi towers for me ✌️👍

Park4Night is free.

Hiya Just got my VW transporter and will be travelling around the UK soon, found your Vlog really helpful thanks, New sub here. (your cute too :))

Unfortunately in England we are ( some of us ) complete A$$holes .. using the countryside as a toilet. Dropping litter everywhere.. isnt that the main reason why overnight restrictions are in place ? On top of that you may come across groups of teenagers whilst parked in a secluded off grid location . So youre isolated and possibly may encounter issues ... A minority of the British people have nil respect for others. If everyone looked after the local environment and all people had respect we wouldn't have this problem.. Nice thought but will never happen Unfortunately.. and yeah I am English

Did you used to be on the telly?

Couldn't agree with you more Pippa i have been saying for years that Aussie Travellers other have Caravans or Campers and we live in a seaside holiday Town so the Caravan Parks fill up quickly in the Holidat season yet still no official Free camping sites they are loosing Money by their Stupidity well i suppose that's Councils for you

Hi new to your channel im also looking forward to my van life 😊

My drive is always free and wild lol

🤣🤣I've experienced faeces🤣🤣

Now everyone knows where you hang your keys.