Brecon Beacons National Park
On 3rd January 2007, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority provided the following information:
Referring specifically to the Mountain Centre (at Libanus), I can answer your queries as follows:
1) We have no height limit on the entrance to the car park, but owners of large motorhomes may like to be warned of overhanging trees (only usually a problem for coaches really) once in the car park itself.
2) Our car park is not marked out in bays as such, but the nature of its design does mean that we ask drivers of large vehicles to park considerately- i.e. to make sure that there is plenty of room for other vehicles (including coaches) to pass by their parked vehicle. There is more space available in our overflow carpark in peak season, which is a little more accommodating to longer vehicles!
3) Whilst we do have toilets on site (including a disabled access one which is open 24/7), we don't have facilities for emptying loos from campers.
4) We don't have spaces specifically for motorhomes, but do have spaces large enough to accommodate them (see above).
5) Unfortunately, we don't permit overnight camping here, although if you wished to walk from here and were concerned about being locked in, you could rest assured that we don't have gates that are locked when we close.
6) The entrance to the Centre is reached by narrow country lanes which are (as long as you come up from the A470 from Libanus) easily navigable by 12m coaches, so the average motor home shouldn't struggle. If you choose to come to the centre by one of the other small roads that lead to us, you should be aware of a very tight bend (both sharp and narrow) at Llanilltyd farm. I wouldn't advise motor homes to take this route- I've known minibuses come close to getting stuck...! Entrance to the Centre's car park though is wide enough for a coach, so should be suitable for most motor homes.
7) During the summer months, the Centre is reachable by public transport via the "beacons bus" scheme which operates every Sunday and bank holiday
between whitsun and the first weekend in September. More information on the website by following a link from Here.
In general, the National Park Authority discourages "wild" camping, but we do have a list of campsites that will accept motor homes on our website (see above link). We also have a list of more remote campsites. Whilst many of these cater primarily for tents, a few do also accept motor homes, so it's worth giving them a ring to find out. The file is downloadable from Here, as well as more information on the Mountain Centre and its facilities Here.
We also have a second visitor centre in the Swansea valley which, like us, has no height restriction, but does have the capability to lock its gates, although this is usually during periods of stormy weather for public safety, or during times when the Country Park is closed (these are few and far between- usually only Christmas Day!). I have passed your original email on to the relevant staff there, who will respond to you in due course. In addition to this, I've passed your email on to our Area Managers, who will be able to advise you on camping within their respective areas of the National Park.
Cairngorms National Park
On 10th January 2007, the Cairngorms National Park Authority supplied the following information:
Cairngorms National Park Authority does not own or manage any land within the National Park, including car parks and highways. Your enquiry is best answered by the local authorities within the Park (Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus and Highland). Information supplied by these councils will be found Here.
You mention 'wild camping' and you may be aware of recent legislation passed in Scotland that means Scotland now has one of the most permissive systems of outdoor access rights in Europe. Every one has statutory access rights to most land and water for recreation, education, passage and some commercial activities as long as they exercise their rights responsibly. Guidance on how to exercise access rights responsibly is given in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. However it is important to note that the rights do not extend to vehicular use unless the vehicle or vessel is adapted for disabled use and in use by a disabled person.
People also have the right to camp although roadside or car based camping do not fall under the definition of wild camping. ‘Wild camping’ in the context of the outdoor access rights assumes use of a tent or bivvy site and relates to non-motorised use, or people moving well away from their car to spend the night. I assume that ‘wild camping’ in the motor home sense would be that undertaken outwith formal sites and not supported by any external infrastructure such as toilets, electric hook ups etc, but presumably could be close to the road or utilising car parks, lay-bys etc?
The Code gives the following advice regarding wild camping:
“Wild camping is defined as lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two to three nights in one place. You can camp in this way wherever access rights apply but help to avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by not camping in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals and keeping well away from buildings roads or historic structures. Take care to avoid disturbing deer stalking or grouse shooting. If you wish to camp close to a house or building, seek the owner’s permission. Leave no trace by: Taking away all your litter; Removing all traces of your tent pitch and of any open fire (follow the guidance for lighting fires); Not causing any pollution.”
For more details on outdoor access rights and responsibilities in Scotland visit Outdoor Access Scotland Here.
Cairngorms National Park Authority has details of public transport services on its web site Here.
Dartmoor National Park
Exmoor National Park
On 9th January 2007, the Exmoor National Park Authority provided a map showing locations of toilets, car parks & narrow lanes in the National Park. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
Lake District National Park
On 15th January 2007, the Lake District National Park Authority provided the following information about their Pay & Display Car Parks:
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
On 31st January 2007, the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority provided a spreadsheet of information about Car Parks. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
New Forest National Park
On 9th January 2007, the New Forest National Park Authority replied that car parks within the forest are controlled by New Forest District Council (details Here) and by the Forestry Commission.
Norfolk Broads National Park
On 9th February 2007, the Norfolk Broads National Park Authority replied: "The parking of motorhomes does not seem to be an issue in our area (houseboats is a different matter). The car parks around the Broads are not under our responsibility nor are the facilities of waste disposal or toilets. Responsibility for the highways will come under Norfolk District Council and waste disposal and toilets come under the responsibility of local districts. Most of the large car parks are privately owned and people on boating holidays will have car parking at the boatyards. Due to the nature of the Wetlands there are very few places suitable for motorhomes except the campsites. If for instance you were to park in a Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park or RSPB it would mean getting their permission to stay."
Northumberland National Park
On 8th January 2007, the Northumberland National Park Authority provided a spreadsheet of parking information. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
North York Moors National Park
On 4th January 2007, the North York Moors National Park Authority provided the following information:
Peak District National Park
On 29th December 2006, the Peak District National Park Authority provided a list of the Authority managed car parks which shows which have toilets, pay and display and refreshment concessions.This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
On 5th January 2007, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority supplied the following information:
Snowdonia National Park
On 10th January 2007, the Snowdonia National Park Authority provided a table showing details of car parks in the National Park. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
South Downs AONB
Yorkshire Dales National Park
On 25th September 2006, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority supplied the following information:
Return to Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking home page.
Last updated: 7 March 2008
On 9th February 2007, the Dartmoor National Park Authority provided the following information:
1. Directing people to places appropriate for their vehicles:
The Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) run four information centres. Three are open in the months most people visit Dartmoor, and the fourth is open all year. The Dartmoor National Park Authority website www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
2. Steering people away from places which are inappropriate:
a. where problems might be caused by vehicle size.
Dartmoor is an ancient landscape where the road system has been in place since medieval times, consequently many roads are steep, winding and narrow. There are some ‘natural’ height limits on some roads where overhanging branches may be a hazard. In fact there is a Traffic Regulation Order which prevents long vehicles from crossing Holne Bridge and Newbridge both of which are on the road between Ashburton and Two Bridges. These roads are signed in advance to prevent people from having to turn around. Again on our website is a section on Getting Around Dartmoor which includes a coach drivers’ handbook Here which many non-car drivers find useful as it suggests 5 journeys and gives help on finding attractions and facilities - it even does it in French German and Dutch.
b. sensitive places within their areas where it is appropriate to discourage people from "wild camping".
The Dartmoor National Park is a protected landscape and has its own set of byelaws to assist in the management of its open spaces. The Byelaws are found on our website and many will be relevant to motorhome drivers, especially, numbers 3 concerning vehicles, 4 about parking, 6 referring to camping and Schedules 1 and 2 state where these byelaws apply.
3. Other specific questions:
a. Height restrictions in car parks. We know of only one car park with a height restricting bar - this is entering a National Trust owned car park at Hembury Woods (GR 728681).
b. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). There will be car parks where a visitor might find it congested due to the numbers of other visitors, but none of the car parks owned by the Dartmoor National Park Authority are fee paying. However, other local authorities and some private landowners that have car parks in popular areas do charge a fee. The three District Councils are South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon (details on the Devon page Here). As well as the National Trust, it is also likely that the Maristow Estate at Yelverton and the Spitchwick Estate at Newbridge will charge for parking either now or in the future. It is difficult to include all of the information one person might need here.
c. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. We do not know of any public facility for the disposal of foul waste from a motorhome in any of the car parks inside the Dartmoor National Park.
d. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. We do not know of any car park which has motorhome or caravan parking spaces inside the Dartmoor National Park.
e. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. All overnight parking is banned from Dartmoor car parks - specifically because of the response at 3c above and the Byelaws referred to in 2b.above.
f. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. Please see the response at 2a.above.
g. Park & ride/public transport facilities. There are no Park and Ride facilities specifically set up to visit Dartmoor, but there is a good summer public transport network including buses and trains. See our website for Getting Around Dartmoor Here. Dartmoor National Park Authority supports the Dartmoor Sunday Rover ticket which gives unlimited travel for a day on a whole range of buses and trains across the moor. A Dartmoor bus timetable booklet and a Dartmoor Sunday Rover timetable are available from the High Moorland Visitor Centre Here as well as a complete set of eight walks planned to link with local buses. There is also full information, including interactive journey planning is available from the Traveline website Here.
The National Park Authority also provided the following information:
I have attached a map showing all of the car parks owned by Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA). Motor homes are very welcome to use all of these car parks, none of them has a height restriction. However, overnight parking is not permitted in any of these car parks. We also do not recommend that people camp on the moorlands or other areas of the National Park, be this overnight motor home parking in parking bays or camping with a tent. We work closely with the tourism community on Exmoor and there are many approved camp sites taking both vans and tents at reasonable prices and close to the heart of the moorland.
Obviously with the permission of the relevant landowner people are welcome to park / camp on any land within the Park. Exmoor National Park Authority does not give permission for any motor home parking / camping on it's estate at present, although we do licence events on our estate and consider requests for recreational events when they are made.
With reference to your specific numbered enquiries:
1. Height restrictions in car parks. None of the ENPA car parks shown on the attached map have height restrictions. I am not aware of height restrictions in any of the others.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). This is not the case with any of the car parks owned by ENPA shown on the attached map.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. Exmoor National Park Authority toilets are shown on the map. None of these toilets include facilities for waste disposal for motor homes.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motor homes and/or caravans. None provided by Exmoor National Park Authority.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. No overnight sleeping in vehicles on Exmoor National Park Authority property is permitted without permission. I am not aware of any other car parks where overnight sleeping or camping is permitted inside the Park.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. Please see the map. Having had a discussion with our Facilities Management Officer we feel that it would be better to highlight the roads which are suitable for large motor homes, rather than those which aren't. All of the roads shown in red or orange on the map are suitable for medium / large motor homes (depending on their size, perhaps a huge Hymer would still struggle with one or two). All of the minor roads (black on map) are narrow in places and we have no data on the minimum width of each one. The highways Authorities (Devon and Somerset County Councils) may have this data. I have highlighted a few narrow roads on the map, but this is not definitive. A lot of the suitability depends on the confidence and ability of the driver of the vehicle to reverse in narrow lanes.
7. Park & ride/public transport facilities. For details of bus journeys see detailed information Here. Somerset County Council and Devon County Council administer the public transport in the National Park and would be the best people to contact for details. We hold the timetables in our National Park Centres.
Exmoor National Park Authority has details of public transport services on its web site Here.
1. There are no height restrictions at any of our pay and display car parks.
2. In car parks where we have marked bays, we require vehicles of any description to park wholly within the marked bay. Vehicles that have a large rear overhang i.e. motorhomes, we would encourage were possible, for that vehicle to reverse into a space where low grass verges are present. We do not currently charge mobile homes whose rear overhang extends into a second bay. However, some of the more considerate and civic minded drivers of motorhomes frequently do purchase two tickets when this occurs, which is greatly appreciated. We do not however, tolerate any vehicle, including motorhomes, parking in a coach bay without the express permission of a Car Park Officer present at the time.
In car parks where there are no marked bays we ask that all users park considerately and sensibly, not causing an obstruction or a nuisance to other users.
3. Toilet facilities are present or nearby at a number of our car parks, details of which may be found on our website. We do not have any waste disposal facilities on our car parks other that litter bins. We do however try to encourage people to take their own waste home with them for disposal as a matter National Park policy.
4. We do not have any provision of specific spaces for motorhomes or caravans.
5. Vehicles may park overnight, but the overnight occupation of those vehicles including caravans is prohibited. The same applies to camping.
6. There are no specific restrictions on access to any of our pay and display car parks, but larger motorhomes should avoid Beech Hill car park where there is a steep ramp and narrow entrance, and Dunmallard car park, Pooley Bridge, where the entrance is also narrow.
7. We do not operate any park and ride schemes, but all our pay and display car parks are close to public transport facilities.
Lake District National Park Authority has details of car parks on its web site Here. The web site also has details of public transport services Here.
There are no height restrictions at any of the car parks in the spreadsheet.
Robroy Viewpoint car park has a vehicle bridge which is 2.75m wide - don’t think anything longer than an estate car could get turned.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has details of visitor centres on its web site Here.
On 21st February 2007 the Forestry Commission provided the following information:
The management team based in Lyndhurst have responsibilities for the New Forest and FC woodlands in Dorset.
In the New Forest there are 10 campsites operated by Forest Holidays, a joint venture company of the FC and the Camping and Caravanning Club. All these sites welcome motorhomes but vary in terms of the facilties provided. For full details please access their website Here).
There are no campsites on FC land in Dorset. We do not allow overnight stops in any of our car parks. Anyone found in these locations at night would be asked to move to one of our campsites or a private campsite.
None of our car parks have height restrictions and all are open to the public. They can provide ideal stopping points for visitors during the day. Some car parks have barriers which are closed at sunset, to prevent anti-social activities at night, and re-opened in the morning.
Although 7 car parks have donation meters, only one, the Reptile Centre Car Park just south of Lyndhurst on the A35 is a small charge imposed for parking.
Further information from the Forestry Commission can be found Here).
New Forest National Park Authority has details of transport services on its web site Here.
Norfolk Broads National Park Authority has details of transport services on its web site Here.
Northumberland National Park Authority has details of car parks and public transport on its web site Here.
We have no designated spaces in any car parks but attendants may direct people to use coach bays at certain times. We do not have any electric hook-ups. Vehicles extending over the size of designated bays would be charged for occupancy of two bays (or more for really large vehicles) in locations where a charge is levied marked#.
Our car parks which Motorhomes could access are:
Our byelaws state no overnight parking or camping and Rangers do patrol at various times to enforce this.
North York Moors National Park Authority has details of car park locations on its web site under Visitor Centres Here and details of the Moorsbus services Here.
The Authority also provided the following information:
The Authority car parks are all rurally based many with an informal stoned surface and only one situated even within a village. They range from nothing more than a large roadside laybye up to a 90 space site. The average is probably about 35 spaces.
There are no height restrictions.
Many of the sites are not lined into bays at all and there is no provision for having to purchase two tickets at pay and display sites.
Toilets are shown on the attachment. There are no waste disposal facilities.
No provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes or caravans.
Overnight parking is an offence under the car park byelaws without specific permission.
Entrances are usually wide enough for motor homes but some are situated on narrow roads off the beaten track.
Peak District National Park Authority has further details of car parks on its web site Here. The web site also has details of public transport availability within the National Park Here.
On 10th January 2007, the National Park Authority provided the following extra information regarding park & ride/public transport.
Regarding park and ride, within the Peak District National Park, there are no services that run all year round, as the services that are provided are either for specific events, or they only run in the summer as they are aimed at reducing the impact of visitors to the National Park. To provide you with more details on the specific services:
* A park and ride is used for the Bakewell show, which takes place every August, and runs from the edge of Bakewell into the centre of town, which reduces the number of vehicles in the town centre.
* On the edge of the National Park, a park and ride is used for the Matlock fireworks display, which runs from the outskirts of Matlock into the town centre.
* There is a summer Sunday and Bank Holiday service park and ride that runs between Leek, Tittesworth and the Roaches. This provides people with the opportunity to park at Tittesworth Reservoir, and catch the bus to the Roaches, where parking is limited. This service operates from May to September only. Due to the limited time that this runs it is not possible to include a link to a timetable, but when the service does run, it will be listed on the links noted below.
* There is another summer weekend and Bank Holiday service park and ride that runs between Heatherdene and Fairholmes Car Parks, which is in the Upper Derwent Valley. This services provides public transport access to the Upper Derwent when the road is closed between Fairholmes and King's Tree. Again, this only operates to October, so it is not possible to include a link to a timetable.
Regarding your query about public transport, in terms of services, the most up to date information can be found on the internet. A useful link which covers public transport in all the East Midlands is Here. A similar site allows you to search in the West Midlands too, which is Here. These allow people to search for public transport routes between anywhere in the East or Midlands, and includes buses, trains, coaches and trams.
1. Height restrictions in car parks. No height restrictions except for Canaston Bridge Car Park where there is a height barrier and you would not be able to park a caravan or motor home.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). Drivers are required to pay the appropriate charge for the parking bay and bays occupied.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. None.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motor homes and/or caravans. None.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Complete ban on overnight camping under the Bye Laws and Car Parking Order, there are more than adequate camping provisions within Pembrokeshire.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. I am not in a position to be able to provide details of roads however most of the Authorities car parks can be accessed by motor homes.
7. Park & ride/public transport facilities. Tenby Park and Ride from Pembrokeshire County Councils Car Park at the Salterns. St David's Park and Ride from the Grove Car Park, the service is Park managed by Pembrokeshire County Council.
Puffin Shuttle, Poppit Rocket, Strumble Shuttle, Celtic Coaster, Coastal Cruiser all visit this Authority's car parks. The services are managed by Pembrokeshire Greenways Partnership within Pembrokeshire County Council. Telephone No 01437 764551.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has further information on car parks on its web site Here. The web site also has details of public transport availability within the National Park Here.
The Authority also provided the following information:
There are height restrictors on 3 of the car parks, namely: Morfa Dyffryn, Llanelltyd and Farchynys.
In a pay and display car park we would usually expect a vehicle to pay for the amount of spaces it uses.
There are no provisions for toilet disposals.
There are no specific spaces aimed at motorhomes or caravans.
We do not encourage overnight parking as it takes away business from local camp sites.
Many of the car parks are in rural areas where the roads are narrow.
There is a specific park and ride facility known as the Snowdon Sherpa bus, which services the car parks around Snowdon.
Snowdonia National Park Authority used to have details of public transport services (including the Sherpa bus) on its web site but these appear to have been removed. The web site home page is Here.
On 8th February 2007, the South Downs Joint Committee provided the following information:
I can provide information for car parks along the South Downs Way National Trail, which covers some of the car parks in the South Downs AONBs. Neither the South Downs Joint Committee nor the South Downs Way National Trail holds the specific information requested. The many car parks in the two South Downs AONBs are the responsibility of a variety of bodies including the County, District, and some Parish Councils, the Forestry Commission, Natural England, The National Trust and other NGOs, and some private landowners. The SDJC does not own any land. The SDJC does manage a few of the car parks on a day to day basis, however. The SDJC has no formal policy nor does it collect data one way or the other regarding motor homes and the regulations and charges (where applicable) for any classes of potential users which will vary from car park to car park.
The South Downs Way National Trail (which happens to run through the two South Downs AONBs) simply provides information to potential users and does not have any specific information regarding motor homes. I can however provide a list of horse box parking along the SDW - if you can park a horse box there at least you will know there's no height restriction barrier. The Horse Box parking list can be accessed via the SDJC web site Here.
Since we are not responsible for most of the car parks, and we are responsible for none of the regulations or byelaws affecting any of them, and since we do not happen to have the systematic information you requested about any of them, I can only provide that information which I happen to be aware of in the hopes it will prove helpful:
1. Height restrictions in car parks - see the horse box parking note for sites along the SDW. For car parks with height restrictions near the National Trail, and all car parks away from it, my best suggestion is to consult the relevant OS maps - we don't keep that information.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). We have no information about this, save that there are no such restrictions on any of the SDW horse box car parks in so far as I am aware.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. We have no information about this - a few may have public toilets nearby but most car parks do not.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. There are no such allocated spaces that I am aware of in car parks I am aware of in the AONB.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. We have no information on this sort of byelaw/regulations - you would have to consult the relevant Local Authority or other owners of the car park in question.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. I have no information about this except that all sites on the horse box parking list are accessible to horse boxes and hence presumably to motorhomes. The list notes a couple of sites with relatively restricted or steep access points.
7. Park & ride/public transport facilities. It is not our role to hold comprehensive public transport information. As far as I know only Brighton and Winchester have park and ride schemes near the AONB, and neither have schemes that operate with in it. The SDJC provided a copy of the SDW public transport leaflet pdf which may be a helpful place to start seeing where there are public transport links along the SDW. This can be accessed via the SDJC web site Here.
South Downs Joint Committee has details of public transport services on its web site Here.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park has an area 1769sq km and within this area are County and District Councils.
The National Park Authority itself provides car parks at the following locations: Castle Bolton; Linton; Kettlewell; Buckden; Aysgarth; Hawes; Dent (Although this site is leased to, and managed by, the local Parish Council); Clapham; Horton in Ribblesdale; Stainforth; Malham; Grassington.
1. There are no height restrictions at any site.
2. All sites are pay and display and where marked out in bays - if a vehicle requires two spaces then the charge is double.
3. There are toilets at each of the sites but no waste disposal facilities. These are generally provided at camp sites.
4. There is no provision specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans
5. The byelaws at Authority car parks prohibit overnight parking or camping
6. There is no restricted access to the car parks listed above although there, obviously, are narrow roads/lanes within the park boundary.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has further details of car parks on its web site Here. The page also has links to public transport availability within the National Park.