Campervan versus B & Bs
 

We plan to travel in UK Oct Nov for 6 weeks. Campervan has been our choice in other countries where we have been able to free camp but suspect that this would not be possible in UK.
Would there be reasonably priced B & Bs available during those months - £50 - £100?

>>suspect that this would not be possible in UK. <<

Sure, it is doable. But in <i>Novemner</i>??? Not :)

Countryside B&B doubles run from about £60 (sometimes even less) up to the sky's the limit. Average maybe £70-£75. At that time of year you can pretty much stay where you want.

oops -- <u>November</u> . . . but still NOT

Free camping is a bit of a grey area in the UK, and you can be asked to move on, or even be charged with trespass. Most likely you'd end up in some grim long term car park, or a Tescos car park. Doesn't sound much fun in summer, and sounds worse in October/November.

Some B&Bs will be closed by the end of October, but there should still be plenty open and charging low season rates too.

" Most likely you'd end up in...a Tescos car park. "

Virtually all supermarkets and the like now have "max 2 hrs (or whatever)" signs up, with accounts of what will happen if you overstay (usually get debited £80). There are virtually no free public long-term carparks in the suburbs of places people want to visit, and camper vans won't fit under the gauge at the entrance of many that charge. Most heavily visited places have strictly enforced, 24 hour, "residents only" systems along suburban streets, and instant towing away for anyone trying to park on the street in the centre

They're not all enforced by cameras and licence plate recognition. But many are. If you can find a non-obstructing layby in the countryside, you'll generally be OK. But try parking on a country road and you'll be a danger to yourselves and others.

You really need to seek specialist advice from UK caravanning websites. Obviously some caravan camping sites close in November - but lots don't, and they're really your best bet.

janisj lives in California, where they take your citizenship away if you aren't covered in furs from October to March and don't yammer on endlessly about what a "perfect" climate their fog-ridden earthquake zone rejoices in. I suspect Aussies are a tad less wimpish, and find the thought of caravanning in November no more daunting than most hardy Englishpeople.

flanner - I don't live in the earthquakey/fog-ridden bits.

>> I suspect Aussies are a tad less wimpish<<

That's what they want you to think. Spiders and creepy-crawlies, maybe. British November weather, not so much.

<i>with accounts of what will happen if you overstay</i>

Unless it's issued by the council or police then what you do is put two fingers up to them as they cannot fine you, only give a charge which can only be enforced if they go to court and win.

I can see the point of a camper van in the wide open spaces of the US or Australia, but they must surely be a liability on the narrow country roads in Yorkshire, the Lake District, Cornwall, etc with stone walls or high banks on either side. When I pass people in those things I think they are completely barking - you'll be OK if you stick to motorways and A roads, but you'd be mad to attempt the pretty bits in anything wider than a 4x4.

Most B&Bs are open pretty much year round, and you can negotiate good rates at that time of year.

Not sure of the UK - but in the US stores own their parking lots - which are private property. And they can have anyone they want towed away at the cost of the car owner. Just as if someone had decided to park on your front lawn.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanks to all. It's 630am where I live so you've all been responding whil I've been asleep.

Your info has been most helpful. We're seasoned 'road lass travelled' freaks and spent sept, Oct, Nov in Canada and west coast (and deserts!) last year.

Happy travels.