New to the Club, from New Zealand

National Trust would give you the ability to see historic houses/gardens & walks from quite a few of their car parks.  You could check them out on line to see if they do a temporary membership.  As far as I am aware Supermarkets don't allow overnight parking neither do petrol stations provide facilities to empty toilet waste tanks but others may know different. Happy researching - part of the fun.

Hi Tijger, You've just got to visit the Lakes! If you love walking and the great outdoors then the Lakes is the place to be. But then, we live on a beautiful island and there are so many places to visit. Scotland is stunning, particularly over towards the west. Wales is lovely too- we only discovered it 3 or 4 years ago and are going back again with breaks planned for 2017 and 2018! Just have a great time both of you and you are more than welcome! 

If you don't already belong to the new zealand national trust i would join them before you come here.  Its a fraction of the cost of ours and you can use your membership here.

i'd be doing a list of your must see sites and joining the dots!  Kent, of course should be on the list with dover castle, leeds castle, canterbury cathedral!!  But we're all going to say that about our home areas.

if you can manage it orkney is well worth a visit.  If you don't have time to take the motorhome you can do a day trip from john o'groats.

Sadly I have yet to see a dump station not part of a site in the UK,  there is usually a charge, quite high I believe in relation to a nights stop, to use it. Wildcamping is not encouraged in England and lots of car parks have height restrictions, sometimes supermarkets. I'm on on here briefly at mo but there a websites for pub stopovers and motorhome friendly parking. There have been threads on CT but it has recently been upgraded and still doesn't have a decent search facility plus some threads have been lost 😉. I'd bookmarked such useful things but now get an error message. I think dump stations in towns and fuel stations  are brilliant idea you can also top up your water there too. Sadly another problem if you're not on a site 😉

Hi, Tijger.

It's rare to find anything like the overnight stops you describe in the UK. Although there are a few and some pub stops, it's best not to rely on finding anything like that. Personally, I would always seek out proper sites whether they be full facility all-singing-all-dancing type or more modest CLs. The holiday peak times have been pointed out in a previous post and you would probably benefit from booking ahead at those times.

I have never come across anywhere to empty toilets other than on campsites or at some docks/marinas.

The roads in Cornwall are fine on the whole. If a caravan site or village exists at the end of a road, it must be OK to travel that road. The biggest problem occurs in leaving the beaten track and heading down side lanes which can be very narrow. I just wanted to make you aware of a potential problem but Cornwall attracts many visitors with caravans and MHs without undue trouble. Never rely totally on a sat nav but back it up with a map and common sense.

Enjoy your visit.

PS how's the tooth space?

Excuse the slightly off topic comment Tijger. Thanks for your concern Bakers but things are progressing well and my tongue has finally ventured into the cavernous gap only to retreat in horror. You could park a decent size Motorhome in it. Like losing one of the family

Hi Tijger.  Welcome to Club Together and the Caravan Club from me.  I think the most important think while camping/ caravanning/ motorhoming in the UK is to book ahead to make sure there is a pitch available for you, whether it's a Caravan Club Site or not.  Some sites get booked up, even out of season, so better to err on the safe side.  All the best for your trip.

David 

Tijger, a couple of pointers (feel free to bin them)

1. As you like hiking try a website called www.walkinginengland.co.uk. Then choose a county from the list at the bottom of the page and check some of the walks in that area. Print them off before you travel over. We've found this site quite good.

2. You've been advised to join National Trust. I was recommended to another organisation that encompasses individually owned and run historic houses/castles by a regular contributor on here (NellietheHooker). It's Historic Houses Association, HHA. Check out the special offers available to CC members (see under Offers at top of page and go to Membrs Offers). Look at their website which is excellent for info and maps of where these places are found. Might interest you..

Welcome to CT Tijger. We don't have many stop off places for motorhomes but we do have CLs which are small five van sites situated throughout the UK. You should find plenty of these on your planned routes and if you want to have company look out for Centre Rallies, there may be quite a few happening in various places during your two month stay. You'll find good access on most Cornish roads and some will be a bit challenging! The gardens will be lovely in the Spring, my favourite is Trebah which goes down to the Helford River. Have a look at the video on the link. Good luck with the planning!

Welcome Tijger - I see you like seabirds etc - if so a trip to the Farne Islands is a must in the spring and there are some wonderful castles in Northumberland.  Your trip to York needs to be well planned in advance but one of the sites if probably booked solid by now anyway.  The Camping and Caravan Club do Temporary Holiday Sites that might appeal to you but that would mean two memberships.  They have THSs all over the country with basic water and emptying - but do not require booking generally.  Their Club Sites require a deposit which is why the Caravan Club is far superior on that particular issue.  Have a wonderful trip.