On 13th March 2009, a request was sent to North Yorkshire County Council asking if it was possible to park a motorhome at the P&R sites in the county. On 24th March 2009, the council replied:
Currently the County Council operates two Park and Ride sites in Scarborough, the first is based on the A64 Seamer Road and has approximately 600 spaces, the second is based on the A165 Filey Road and has again approximately 600 spaces.
Motorhomes are not allowed to use either of the above Park and Ride sites and there are informatory signs at the entrance of each of the Park & Ride sites indicating this.
As a result of the Council's response the following message was sent to them:
Having visited Scarborough by car many times and knowing, therefore, of the traffic problems within the town I am most surprised that the County Council should exclude motorhomes from the P&R sites - and thus forcing day visitors in such vehicles to negotiate the crowded streets of the town, rather than be able to park safely outside.
Could you please, therefore, supply:
1) details of the reasons why the authority decided to ban motorhomes from the P&R sites
2) copies of the evidence on which the decision was based.
and on 14th April 2009 the Council replied:
A165 Scarborough Integrated Transport Scheme
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request relating to motorhome parking at the A64 and A165 Park and Ride sites. The Council has reconsidered its position regarding motorhome parking and will remove the word "motorhomes" from the signs at both park and ride sites which will allow daytime parking. The Council will closely monitor motorhome parking at the park and ride sites for future reference. This position relates to the park and ride sites only, in Scarborough.
Details of the P&R sites can be found on the Scarborough Council web site Here.
Craven District
On 22nd April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, Craven District Council provided the following information (update of information originally provided on 14th September 2006):
1. Height restrictions. Within Craven the only Council car park with a height restriction is Cavendish Street, Skipton - 6’6’’.
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). All car parks require vehicles to park wholly within a parking bay. However, should a vehicle require two bay lengths and only one bay width, this would be permitted provided a parking ticket was purchased for each parking space. This would only be permitted in a double row. Coach bays are reserved for coaches only.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities.
Toilets Skipton - Coach Street, High Street, Keighley Road; Recycling Skipton - Coach Street, High Street.
Toilets Settle - Ashfield, Whitefriars; Recycling Settle - Ashfield, Whitefriars, Greenfoot, Sowarth Field.
Toilets Ingleton - Community Centre; Recycling Ingleton - Community Centre.
Toilets Bentham - Grasmere Drive; Recycling Bentham - Grasmere Drive.
Recycling Embsay - Main Street.
Toilets Gargrave - North Street; Recycling Gargrave - West Street.
Recycling Hellifield - The Green.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. None
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Parking is restricted to a maximum of 23 hours in any one day. Overnight camping is not permitted.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. None.
Craven District Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Malham
Main car park in Malham behind theYorkshire Dales National Park Centre. On the left just as you enter the village from the south. It says you have to pay if you use 2 bays, but there is plenty of space for you to reverse in round the edges over the grass so you only use 1 space! (Thanks very much to AK-M for this information, received 29 October 2009).
Hambleton District
On 13th October 2006, Hambleton District Council provided the following information:
Information regarding Hambleton District Council's car parking facilities is contained on our website (see link below).
I would advise that there are no special facilities for motorhomes in any of the District Council's car parks at this time, this does not prevent use by motorhomes except that the motorhomes should fit within a standard parking bay, i.e. 4.80m by 2.40m.
There are no height restrictions anymore, the height barriers were removed 6-7 years ago.
Weight wise the limit is generally 3.5t, excepting Stokesley High Street which is 7.5t.
On 22nd August 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
The information that was provided in October 2006 is still applicable.
Sleeping and eating in Motorhomes and other vehicles is not permitted within Hambleton District Council Car Parks.
There are public toilet facilities at our Applegarth Car Park – Northallerton, Market Place and Millgate/Marage Car Parks – Thirsk, High Street Car park – Stokesley, Bridge Street Car Park – Bedale.
Hambleton District Council have further details of parking on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Sutton Bank, Thirsk
A Cautionary Tale. We found a lovely quiet little car park, with no restrictions mentioned, next to the glider centre at the top of Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire. Although there appeared no issues with us parking there overnight, we became very unnerved when our motorhome was attacked with bricks by local youths in a black Peugeot car. It was quite apparent that we were not welcome in this car park as we were obviously interupting something! I would never go back to this or any other car park in the area and would not recommend anyone else to. Our motorhome is our pride and joy and is only six months old but we have had hundreds of pounds of repairs and a new windscreen to show for a decision to park there. (Thanks very much to VP for this information, received 18 February 2008).
Harrogate
On 25th October 2006, Harrogate Borough Council stated "The enabling traffic regulation order prohibits the parking of Motorcaravans and Caravans in all car parks in the Harrogate district."
On 30th September 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
No further action has been taken in reviewing the parking of motorhomes in the Harrogate Borough Council district off street car parks since the last request received from you in 2006.
The following car parks can be used for the parking of motorhomes during their operational hours but restrict overnight parking: Conyngham Hall slcp, Knaresborough (picnic area only); Waterside slcp, Knaresborough; The Coach Park, Pateley Bridge; York Place, Knaresborough (non surfaced area only). There are no height, weight or length limits on the four car parks suitable for motorhomes.
Harrogate Borough Council have further parking details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Boroughbridge
Morrisons at Boroughbridge has a height barrier. (Thanks very much to MN for this information, received 25 February 2007).
Harrogate
The Waitrose car park has a height barrier to stop tall vehicles as the car park is built on top of a railway tunnel and they’re afraid that heavy vehicles might cause a collapse. You can park outside on the opposite side of Station Parade on the road, but it’ll cost you. (Many thanks to A&CH for this information, received on 15 August 2007).
Harrogate & Knaresborough
Many thanks to HW for this information, received on 27 October 2009.
Forwarding a reply I had from Harrogate/ Knaresbrough yesterday re my email asking about parking facilities in the area:
In reference to your request for parking a motor home at the above location. We have York Place in Knaresborough and Conygham Hall. In Harrogate we have Dragon Road where you would have to park over two bays and pay the appropriate fee. All our details are on our web site, if you follow the links for parking it will lead you to details of all our facilities. (See link above to web site, GJH).
I hope the above is of help to you and that you have a pleasant visit. Should you require any further help or information please call 01423 556693 Mon-Sun 7am to Midnight where a Duty Supervisor will be able to advise you.
Knaresborough
York Place, on A59 from York. (Thanks to SL for providing this information on 19 July 2006).
See information provided by Harrogate Borough Council (above) for details of part which can be used.
Masham
1) May 2008. Whilst out in the car we found a great picnic site on the A6108 from Ripon just before you get to the village (beside the bowls and cricket clubs). There is a car park with hard standing and a mowed field next to it onto which people had driven to have their picnics. There was a camper van parked in the hard standing area. Later we moved into the village and parked in the market place. No MHs there but a few large delivery vans so it should be OK to park a MH. Both places run by Masham Parish Council with honesty box payment system.
2) We were there in the latter half of September this year and found lots of unmarked space in the main square. There is an stone-built honesty box in the middle of the square and no anti-motorhome notices! No doubt in the high season or a market day the square would be full and parking a motorhome would be difficult or impossible. (Many thanks to M for this information, received on 1 October 2008).
Ripon
Lightwater Valley, Ripon. Free parking for Lightwater Valley Theme Park and Shopping Village. Plenty of room for the largest RVs. Shopping village open all year. (Many thanks to RG for this information, received on 22 March 2007).
Ripon
I rang the local authority number which is posted on the board in the Ripon (North Yorks) car park right in the city centre. I explained that I had a motor home which would not fit into their car park. I was informed that I could park in the coach park opposite at No Cost. Pretty good!! (Many thanks to RC for this information, received on 21 May 2007).
Richmondshire
On 18th September 2006, Richmondshire District Council provided a spreadsheet of car parking information. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
The Council also provided the following information:
1. Are there any height restrictions for vehicles using Council car parks? Richmondshire District Council's car parks do not have any height restrictions.
2. What are the requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that is overhangs a second bay at its rear). All of the Council's Pay and Display car parks have restrictions that vehicles must park in designated parking bays, except at Round Howe car park and Yorke Square car park where there are no marked bays.
3. Is there any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities? The Council has public toilet facilities at Nuns Close car park, The Fosse car park, and Round Howe car park, all in Richmond.
4. Is there any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans? All of the Council's car parking bays are standard bays for cars and disabled persons, there are no specific parking bays for motorhomes or caravans.
5. Is there any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking? The Council's parking order operates from 8am to 6pm, with no camping or staying overnight.
6. Is there restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances? Leyburn car park is the only car park with restricted access.
On 13th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
The Councils parking charges apply from 8.00am to 6.00pm 7 days including Sunday. Motor homes can park in the unmarked car parks, which are at Round Howe and Yorke Square car parks Richmond; however, we have no designated parking bays for motor homes within the marked car parks.
Vehicles that use the Councils pay and display car parks must be able to park within a standard size parking bay (4.8m x 2.4m), or pay for the extra bays used.
Richmondshire District Council have no designated parking areas where overnight parking for sleeping/eating is allowed other than the lorry Park at Colburn.
Richmondshire District Council Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
Ryedale
On 28th September 2006, Ryedale District Council provided details of car parking information. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
On 27th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the information that charges on RDC off street car parks from 1 April 2008 will be:
Short Stay: One Hour £1.00 No change; Two Hours £1.80 No change.
Long Stay: One Hour £1.00 No change; Two Hours £1.60 No change; Three Hours £2.10 20p increase; Six Hours £3.40 50p increase; Twenty-Four Hours £4.80 30p increase.
7 day permit: £13.50.
Rydale District Council Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Pickering
Ryedale Car Parks, no height barriers. (Thanks to SL for providing this information on 19 July 2006).
Pickering Tourist Info said: "None of our Ryedale Car Parks have height barriers on them so you will not be restricted in that respect. There are however a couple of things I would like to point out which may be of help to you. If your motorhome overlaps the conventional length of a car parking space, then I am afraid you will have to pay for two bays, also, please do not park in a Coach bay, as this is not allowed. The Eastgate Car Park would be the best one for you in Pickering, as this is by far the largest park. It is situated just by the roundabout on the junction between the A169 Malton to Whitby Road and A170 Helmsley to Scarborough Road. Parking Charges are as noted above (this sentence updated 27 March 2008 to remove out of date charges). If it is of interest to you we sell a Weekly Car Parking Permit, this allows you to park in a Short Stay Car Park for up to 2 hours or in a Long Stay Car Park for any length of time, (not overnight) so if your motorhome overlaps a bay it would work out cheaper for you as you would then only have one bay to pay for". Received July 2006. (Anon)
Thornton-le-Dale
Thornton-le-Dale has a large car park in the village centre with an attendant until 4.00pm and an honesty box after that. Plenty of coach parking and easily accessible as on the Moor bus route. (Thanks to BS for providing this information on 11 September 2009).
Scarborough
On 12th October 2006, Scarborough Borough Council provided a spreadsheet showing height restrictions on car parks, toilet provisions (there are no waste disposal provisions on any car/coach parks) and car parks were larger campers may have problems accessing the site. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from Here. On 5th January 2008, the council confirmed that this information still applied. In addition the Council provided copies of three parking leaflets covering Scarborough, Filey and Whitby. These can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from the council's web site (see link below).
The Council also provided the following information:
Payment is required per space that a vehicle occupies.
There are no spaces specifically aimed at motor homes or caravans.
The Borough of Scarborough Off Street Parking Orders state that cooking, camping and overnight parking is not permitted on any of our car parks.
Scarborough Borough Council have further details of car parks on their web site Here.
See top of page for Scarborough P&R sites.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Filey
1) June 2006. North Cliff Country Park - no height restrictions.
2) We parked at Filey as recommended and bought a Coach ticket for £5. We discovered that the rule for parking in any Scarborough Coach park for one £5 fee actually covers the entire Scarborough District , not just the town. So we were able to move on through Scarborough and up to Whitby all for one fee. (Thanks to BS for providing this information on 11 September 2009).
Goathland
1) May 2008. Visited in the car and saw a motorhome parked in the National Park Authority car park on Beck Hole Road. The bays are only standard sized but there was an attendant on duty so it must have been OK. Next to that car park there is a privately run facility where there was a sign saying motorhomes could park all day for £3.
2) The attendant at the National Authority car park in Goathland was very helpful and had coned off one exit which provided two spaces where you could drive in then move the cones to drive out without reversing. The fees in the authority car park are now the same as those in the private facility next door. (Thanks to BS for providing this information on 11 September 2009).
Scarborough
1) No barriers according to the Local Authority. But "there are two car parks which you may find difficult and are best to avoid" (!!!). They continue "These are the underground car park in the South Bay and the St Thomas St car park in the centre of town". Received July 2006. (Anon)
See information provided by Scarborough Borough Council in October 2006 (above) for details of restricted access.
2) Having just returned from a weekend away at Scarborough I have been able to ascertain some parking information that may be useful for your Motorhome Parking website. I contacted Scarborough council parking department prior to my departure seeking clarification on the use of coach bays (my motorhome is 27ft long); particularly those at the Sea Life centre Scalby Mills. I was informed that I could park in the coach bays at Scalby Mills providing I paid the £5.50 fee for 24 hours. I was also informed that the ticket obtained at Scalby Mills was transferable and could be used in any of Scarborough's coach parks during its valid time. Therefore, anyone wishing to spend a morning at Scalby Mills could then move onto any of the other coach parks without incuring further parking charges! (Many thanks to AS for this information, received on 2 June 2009).
Whitby
(1) West Cliff road side parking - soon fills up in the morning. No height barriers in car parks except AUGUST. (Thanks to SL for providing this information on 19 July 2006).
(2) No height barriers except in August (!) according to Whitby Tourist Information Centre. Why August? Who knows! Received July 2006. (Anon)
(3) 4th August 2007. Visited Whitby today. Several MHs parked on the roadside (free) at West Cliff - but need to get there early at busy times. There are signs all over town saying no camping & sleeping in vehicles 11pm to 6am. There was at least one MH parked up at the Abbey and a number of MHs parked in the car parks at the marina and even one small coachbuilt in the Co-op car park there. We were told, though, that when the marina development starts all those car parks and the adjacent coach park will disappear.
(4) A couple of weeks ago we visited Whitby and found that there is a block of about 8 spaces which have very long grassed overhangs (so much so that our Compass Drifter 460, at over 7mtrs, reversed in quite nicely) in the large park at the end of Langborne Road (Marina, on past the Co-op) right over in the far right hand corner adjacent to a fenced off "council employees car park". Now it ought to be noted that the "terms and conditions" board does state that no vehicle with a gross weight of over 30cwt is permitted, but, when I quizzed the attendant at the ajoining manned car park, I was told that as long as we'd payed & were within a marked bay we would be O.K. and anyway "lorries park in there overnight regularly" he said. There were a few large vans & a couple of campers in there also. We spent a couple of hours there and had no problems. (Thanks to DS for providing this information on 3 September 2009).
5) Parking at Whitby Abbey is plentiful and easily accessible by a 20ft motorhome along a country lane although there are 199 steps to the town. (Thanks to BS for providing this information on 11 September 2009).
6) On Saturday 17th July we parked in car / coach park in Whitby at right hand side of Marina, past Co-op store. We asked advice from parking attendant. To park our 23.5ft Avantgard would be £10 in coach area, till 6pm. To park in car area £3 for 4hrs till 6pm, then free overnight parking till 9am. He even found us a space to park, when we thought it was full. We asked can we sleep in van, he said no. Great Guy though. (Thanks to BM for providing this information on 21 July 2010).
See information provided by Scarborough Borough Council in October 2006 (above) for details of restricted access.
Scaling Dam
Free car park at Scaling Dam on the A171 Teesside to Whitby road, on the North Yorkshire Moors, good place for a picnic or for a walk. Latitude: 54.50523680075829; Longitude: -0.8349180221557617. (Many thanks to RG for this information, received on 22 March 2007).
Selby District
On 15th September 2006, Selby District Council stated "Unfortunately we do not have any suitable parking here in Selby for motor homes. Whilst there are no height barriers some of the car parks are quite small and turning etc would be a problem. Larger vehicles do have to purchase a ticket for each bay used if the vehicle overhangs, and we have no waste disposal facilities available.".
on 31st March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council stated:
The District Council has a number of pay and display off street car parks. The Council does not have any responsibility for on-street parking as a second tier authority in North Yorkshire. Motorhomes may use the Council's pay and display car parks provided a pay and display ticket is purchased for each bay used i.e. if 2 bays are used 2 tickets are required. Some of the Council's car parks are relevatively small and manoeuvring would be difficult so I enclose a list of the larger car parks that may be more useful: Portholme Road and Back Micklegate.
Selby District Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
York
On 23rd October 2006, York City Council provided the following information:
The Council has height restrictions on all of its city centre car parks and so motor homes are not able to park on them.
However, there is room for approximately eight motorhomes in a special on-street pay and display area on Foss Islands Road. The charges are as follows: Up to 2 Hours £3.30; Up to 5 Hours £5; Up to 12 Hours £8. A map which shows Foss Islands Road is available on the Council parking web site Here.
Also motorhomes may use the park and ride car parks at Monks Cross and Rawcliffe provided that the driver uses the park and ride service, or uses a pedal cycle to travel away from and return to Monks Cross, or visits the nearby country park when parking at the Rawcliffe car park. No overnight parking is allowed and the car parks shut at 8:30pm. Further information about the park and ride sites is available on the Council website Here.
On 24th September 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council confirmed that the above information was still valid.
York City Council have further parking details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
(1) Grimston Bar park & ride; Monks Cross park & ride; Rawcliff Bar park & ride - staff will lift barriers on request. Received July 2006. (SL/Anon)
(2) See information above from York City Council for maps of York park & ride locations and other information.
(3) Take care if using Rawcliff Bar park & ride in icy conditions as the approach road is somewhat sheltered and it can take some time for ice to melt. We visited in a car once and ended up on the grass verge even though driving very slowly because of ice on a bend.
(4) We have a 28ft Odessa plus 8ft box trailer. Yorks north P & R (Rawcliffe Bar) has an area for motorhomes and caravans, they open the barrier for you. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 23 March 2007).
(5) 15th June 2007. We used Rawcliffe P&R today (albeit by car) and saw very clear signage directing "Camper Vans" to the area where larger spaces have been set aside.
(6) Foss Islands Rd; Post Code YO31 7UL; Longitude 01 04 15 W; Latitude 53 57 27 N; Approach from Foss Islands Rd; Side of Rd, opposite Kwik-Fit; Caravan/MH specific. (Thanks to AL for providing this information on 11 September 2007).
(7) I've received confirmation that we're allowed to use the York lorry park. Details on York City Council web site Here. (Thanks to SS for providing this information on 23 February 2009).
Return to Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking home page.
Last updated: 21 July 2010