Campervan and Motorhome Professional Association

17/10/2024

Support CAMpRA and take part in this short survey to help the campaign to get more safe, authorised and affordable overnight stops and Aires throughout the UK. If you use a motorhome or campervan in the UK we need your views.
Take part in the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/campra2024
Join the campaign and find out more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/campra.uk

17/06/2024

If you’re visiting or planning to visit the Highlands and Islands, you’re probably coming to see the stunning landscapes and the popular driving routes through them. Many of the roads are narrow, winding, and technical. There are lots of unpredictable hazards on rural roads and the changeable weather conditions and high volumes of traffic can make driving particularly challenging. You need to be careful, considerate, safe and competent to drive on these roads and you will be expected to know and drive to the Scotland's road safety standards, rules and laws.

Unfortunately, we see a disproportionately high number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions on Scotland’s rural roads, particularly around the summer season.
• 62% of all deaths on Scotland’s roads happen in the countryside.
• Over 700 people were killed or seriously injured on country roads in 2020.

These collisions have a devastating effect on those involved and their families as well as an enormous impact on the local communities and road network. Most of these collisions are avoidable.

Here’s some essential advice to stay safe with links to this advice in different languages:
• Drive on the left, if you normally drive on the right, always be vigilant and take particular care when setting off and negotiating junctions – put something on your wrist or dashboard to remind you
• Plan your journey - Take regular breaks and only undertake reasonable and manageable journeys – fatigue is a significant factor in fatal collisions – check traffic and weather conditions https://orlo.uk/HUn1d
• Look out for vulnerable road users - motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders are particularly vulnerable and make up a significant proportion of those injured or killed
• Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs and drive
• Don’t use your mobile phone when driving
• Speed limits are in ‘mph’, drive at a speed that is safe for the road, weather and traffic conditions
• Find safe places to stop off the road, don’t stop on the road to look at views or take pictures
• If a queue builds up behind you on any two-way carriageway or single-track road, use passing places and laybys as frequently as necessary to allow others to pass
Most importantly, if you are not confident driving on technical rural roads, then there is many other great ways to travel round the Highlands and Islands.

Website - https://orlo.uk/fvkKs
European Visitor Leaflet https://orlo.uk/DIj31
Rest of World Visitor Leaflet - https://orlo.uk/mRWaF

Guidance videos:
English - https://orlo.uk/ggDka
German - https://orlo.uk/7tIA1
Dutch - https://orlo.uk/52MY6
Italian - https://orlo.uk/FfHcB
Spanish - https://orlo.uk/b8SGL
French - https://orlo.uk/NrlFp
Chinese - https://orlo.uk/Q2VKf
Hindi - https://orlo.uk/q9hlZ
Japanese - https://orlo.uk/FZ3EZ

Along with our partners we want visitors and residents to be able to use and enjoy the roads safely. Please be responsible.

VisitCairngorms
Venture North
Cairngorms National Park
Traffic Scotland
North Coast 500
HIE
VisitScotland
Road Safety Scotland
The Highland Council

18/03/2024

“Fire and BBQ locations can be identified and managed at campsites and car parks. If necessary they can be signed as not in use in high risk periods.” - National Park visitor.

Do you agree or disagree?

This is just one of over 300 responses to our survey on recreational fire management in the Cairngorms National Park so far, and we want to hear from you too 🔥

Which - if any - of the following options do you prefer, and why?

Option 1 – no byelaw, enhanced communication and education approach
Option 2 – high fire risk byelaw
Option 3 – year round byelaw

Have your say at cairngorms.co.uk/fires

01/11/2023

This is excellent news from FLS. See the links in the post for which locations are being trialled for staying open this winter.

Our popular Stay the Night scheme has been extended this winter!

Selected sites will remain open to self-contained campervans and motorhomes looking to spend a night in the forest.

Visit our website for more information on how to Stay the Night this winter.

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/news-releases/fls-stay-the-night-to-run-over-winter

29/08/2023

Hire Customers - Final chance to have your say on facilities for Motorhome visitors in Scotland! 🚐 Visit Scotland are particularly looking for views now from HIRE customers - so if you have hired a motorhome/campervan in the past 5 years and travelled to or within Scotland, we would really appreciate it if you could complete this survey. Thank you! https://visitscotland.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55MT1OGTu1mI8SO

15/02/2023

Beauly Holiday Park have produced a helpful video explaining the guidance for ‘wild camping’ in a motorhome (also known as off-grid or informal camping). 🚐 Whilst we also recommend visitors use formal facilities if possible (from 1* Aires to 5* campsites) 🏕️ sometimes plans don’t work out and this advice is very helpful for those situations. 🏞️

Is wild Camping / off grid camping allowed in Scotland?To clarify a few myths, and to give advice on being responsible if you have to camp outwith a campsite...

07/09/2022

The Highland Council have updated their guidance for Motorhome & Campervan visitors. It’s some useful information so definitely worth a peek when planning adventures!

30/05/2022

This is excellent news - well done Highland Council! https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/14590/overnight_short_stay_parking_for_motorhomes_in_designated_highland_council_carparks_to_be_piloted

Overnight short stay parking for motorhomes in designated Highland Council carparks to be piloted - Overnight short stay parking for motorhomes in designated Highland Council carparks to be piloted

27/04/2022

LIVESTOCK ATTACK AND WORRYING - NEW LEGISLATION

Did you know, those charged with livestock worrying can face a fine of up to £40,000 or face up to 12 months in prison?

The new Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill 2021 came in to force on 5th November 2021 and an official launch of the 'Your Dog-Your Responsibility' campaign was held at Harelaw Reservoir on 11th January 2022 organised by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC).

Whilst you are out and about this bank holiday weekend, enjoying the Scottish countryside, beaches and rural areas, please keep your dog under control by keeping it on a lead. If walking routes allow, please avoid walking through livestock-populated land.

Message Sent By
Lynn Black
(Police Scotland, National Rural Crime Unit, Police Scotland)

https://www.ruralwatchscotland.co.uk/Content/Pages/Advice-and-Info

The rural communities of Scotland are amongst the safest places in which to live, work or spend time. Much of the crime prevention advice available through Rural Watch Scotland is equally relevant to urban or rural areas, but there are issues unique to rural communities such as:

17/03/2022

VisitScotland have some inspirational driving routes that are worth a look for motorhome adventures this year! https://www.facebook.com/334250391467/posts/10160143897941468/

27/10/2021

The Campaign for Real Aires Group (CAMpRA) have launched a fund to help create more waste disposal points around the UK. This group do a huge amount of positive work, lobbying for Aires and more informal overnight motorhome stopovers, so the waste disposal initiative is great to support if you can. The link to the information and their webpage is below. If you haven't seen the work this group are doing then it's worth taking a look because it will benefit our hire customers too, so any support would be much appreciated. If anyone is thinking about creating a service point but isn't sure, I'm happy to chat to people as we've had one for several years now - it's simple but works well. https://campra.org.uk/waste-point-fund-donations/

This campaign is to encourage spending in the local economy by the provision of Aires

18/09/2021

21/08/2021

To avoid blockages in public toilets please do not empty toilet cassettes into them - there are lots of reasons that public loos get blocked, but let’s avoid giving anyone the opportunity to blame motorhome users - thank you!

If you are enjoying the Highlands in your motorhome or campervan please do not use public toilets for “black waste”. This can result in toilets becoming blocked and unavailable for use. Please only use a publicly available Chemical Disposal Point. To find the nearest one visit https://bit.ly/3gxcLAH

19/07/2021

Not just for the Highlands but the whole of Scotland - just check the map via the link for touring motorhome waste disposal points.

We welcome visitors to the Highlands, but improper disposal of human waste can lead to water pollution and spread disease. Please use a Chemical Disposal Point (CDP) for your motorhome black waste. To find the nearest CDP check https://bit.ly/3gxcLAH

01/06/2021

Some very helpful advice from Historic Scotland which explains why you can be fined for camping at scheduled monuments. ⛺️🚍 Enjoy viewing these sites during the day, leave no trace and help protect our historic monuments for future generations...https://assets.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/images/site_images/76301_camping_at_scheduled_monuments.pdf

04/05/2021

Here is some very honest and practical advice for those exploring scotland without the luxury of an onboard toilet.🚽 We’d add to the video that a roll of good quality dog poo bags 🐾 are super useful to keep in your camper - they’re excellent for bagging used toilet paper 🧻 and can also be great emergency travel sickness bags if you have children with you! 🚐

02/05/2021

Sometimes people deliberately break the law, but sometimes it’s just a case of education and understanding. If you spot others dumping waste illegally or leaving a mess, take as many details/photos/video as possible and report it. We all need to break the cycle of repeat offenders and help ensure that Scotland stays beautiful and accessible for everyone.

26/04/2021

Hurrah! It’s finally the 26th April and we can all head out and about again with overnight stays in our motorhomes and campervans! 🚐Please remember to follow the advice on the CaMPA website and be a responsible visitor wherever you choose to travel. 🏔 Don’t forget your Plan B in case the location you have headed to is already full! We also want to give a shout out to the locations that have installed motorhome service points over lockdown for touring motorhomes. Thank you and well done to Dornoch caravan park - it’s a great site to stay at, but if you are passing through and just need a service point, they have added an extra facility! 🙌