Lone women smallmotorhomers

[jan]

Good morning all

I'm aware that there are some lone women motorhomers on here and wonder if you have any hints or tips or experiences to share with a firstimer. Safety is my main concern and although I'm not exactly a wimp I would be really grateful for any ideas you have found that give you peace of mind or just make your time motorhoming easier.

Many thanks

Jan

[fuzzy]

Hi Jan
I have recently bought a Romahome after tenting for @ ten years and have actually felt safer in a campsite than walking through some towns. I would avoid the big 'resort style' sites which have the mobile homes for rent because they tend to be a different type of people (I mean not 'real campers) but other than that most people camping are friendly, sociable people. I stayed on a site last week with only two other people - a man in his eighties and a man in his fifties and they both helped me with my tent (I can manage myself!). I am always on my own you just need to be sensible. Happy camping.

[jayjay]

I echo Fuzzy's comments, I'm a lone woman camper as well.

I just stay on campsites - I wouldn't camp wild (except for the highlands of Scotland) on my own.

If you need help, I've always found there's always someone who is willing to give you a hand ;D

Oh - and welcome to the site! plenty of advice and support here, the best on the net! ;D

[jan]

Thank you so much jayjay and fuzzy, both for the advice and the encouragement - really helpful. I can't wait to get going and it's great to know there are other women happily going it alone out there!

Jan

[karenw]

I'm a female solo-camper and seldom use campsites.

Before each trip I look at the area using Google Earth to look for possible overnight spots. On arrival in the area, I do a daytime 'reccie' then stay away until after dark. In the morning I usually leave by 8am or when ever the area is likely to be busy and move to another spot for breakfast.

Usually I'm never seen. I leave no litter etc (obviously!) and I've never had any trouble or been moved on.

If I'm staying in a small, friendly village community then I use the local shops, make myself known just so there are no suspicions if my tiny camper is seen in a car park or Neighbourhood Watch area. Because I'm not regarded as a 'threat' in any way, the locals don't seem to mind my presence and some have even been known to bring me a daily weather forecast!

With care, I would recommend it in suitable areas (but not busy town centres etc!!).

Enjoy!

[djsooz]

Hi All,

I agree with the comments so far. I used to camp in my tent often alone and used to choose my sites carefully. I always camped on a site and usually made friends with some of my near neighbours who, as is common in the camping world, kept an eye on me when they became aware I was alone.

Must admit I feel even more secure in Rhonda, and even off site, meet nice people.

I haven't camped on my own this year - my partner insists on travelling with me

My best advice is to use common sense and the advice on here. If you sense something wrong with the place you want to stay in, your're probably right, so move on. If on a site, make friends with other campers. Most are like minded and will look out for you and your stuff as you would for theirs.

Above all, enjoy the freedom and be safe.

Here's to more women (and men) feeling safe to go it alone.

Sooz.

PS When camping alone I always leave something to trip over at the door of the tent/van (eg dirty dishes, pans, etc). If someone tries to approach you'll hear them and at least get a warning. I hoped the noise would put them off. Fortunately no one ever tried. The trick is remembering this in the morning ;D

[karenw]

Sooz - Your 'early warning' system amused me.

It also reminded me of my tent camping days - I didn't use pans etc but instead took a large pair of well-worn workmens' boots picked up from a charity shop and left them in clear view in the tent porch. Sometimes I also addes a squashed beer can from a local bin.

Anyone looking in would probably anticipate the camper to be a big burly bloke and and think twice about approaching! ;D

[djsooz]

Hi Karen,

I don't need to pick up squashed beer cans from the bin as I usually have few of my own ;D

But I see what you mean. Another deterent for would be intruders.

All these wee tricks should help.

Sooz.

[pendel]

I realise this thread was started a while ago but someone sent me an email with advise for anyone driving alone and it can easily apply to lone camers.
When you return to your vehicle alone and there is a van parked next to you, then get into your vehicle from the side furtherest away from the van. People have been robbed of handbags and the vehicle, when someone slides back a van door and attacks while you are busy getting your key out and unlocking your door. Another one is , after you drive away, if you see something stuck to your rear door or window just drive away. Dont stop and go to look and see what it is because while you are doing that someone jumps in your vehicle and drives away because you left the engine running. Always lock your door when going to pay for fuel. Garages are an ideal place for someone to get into your vehicle while you re paying and this one has happened to a friend of mine . The guy was seen by the garage attendant getting into her car so he called the police and kept my friend in the shop till the police arrived. He was arrested but could only be charged with tresspass although he admitted his intention was much more serious . Dont get paranoid but just take care. So many nutters out there.

[Graham]

I suppose a lot of it is commonsense but it's easy to just be off your guard for a minute and that's all it takes.

As they used to say on Crimewatch things like this only happen to a small percentage of people so don't have nightmares.

Graham

[tentpeg]

Women spend a lot of time worrying about this however the reality is actually you are less at risk than a man statistically. Certainly as a women I do not believe I am anymore at risk than a lone male. Certainly with a son and a daughter I am MUCH more concerned about the saftey of my lad in todays current climate.

As a lone person I think I would be cautious about wild camping... Campsites are not a problem at all to me.. Motorway service station sleeping would not be something that I think I would be comfortable with.... But common sense is the key I think

[janeyjane]

Hi

Thanks folks. I'm new to all this and I'm so used to being perceived as 'odd' for doing things on my own, I thought being a lone female campervanner, (is that the right term??), was going to be perceived as yet another eccentricity. But now, I feel like I'm in good company!! :-)

Jj

[Graham]

Its surprising how many women "go it alone", we have quite a few on here, so as you say you are in good company.

Graham

[karenw]

Hi Janeyjane

Welcome to the forum.

I'm a frequent lone-campervanner, have travelled all over the UK and love the freedom and flexibility.

Enjoy your travels and let's wave to each other next time we see a solo female camper!

[jan]

...and hello from me too, I started this thread and am thrilled at both the advice and the other lone women campers who have emerged, though actually I'm not always entirely alone as I generally have a dog and an occasional grandchild who might have stowed away on board.

Can't wait till the end of the school hols to get going.

Jan

ps, and I love being individual!! (or eccentric, or odd or anything you like really)

[roamingsue]

Seriously considering joining your ranks...... Children about to set sail for university etc and life. Maybe time to trade in the trailer tent.

[martinw]

Hi and welcome, roamingsue

You wont be sorry if you do.

I wasn't.

Martin

[karenw]

Go for it and enjoy the freedom and flexibility. I'm heading up to North Wales next week then have a few more jaunts planned followed by a few days in North Yorkshire next month.

[jayjay]

Aug 3, 2008 22:04:38 GMT karenw said:

Go for it and enjoy the freedom and flexibility. I'm heading up to North Wales next week then have a few more jaunts planned followed by a few days in North Yorkshire next month.

Hey Karen, whereabouts in North Wales? thinking of a trip out that way myself shortly. I was trying to find something beside the sea, but the sites are costa-plenty in August, so I might wait until September!

This site looks fun!

www.graigwen.co.uk/modx-0961p2/camping_and_caravanning.php
and I'm tempted to give it a try! The prices aren't so bad either!

Also tempted by the Forest holiday site at Beddgelert, although I'm wondering if it will be all midgy and gnatty-fied at this time of the year.

[karenw]

I never make any definite plans but Snowdonia looks appealing - I'll probably just take off and see where I end up which is the beauty of motor-homing!!

I'll be avoiding the coast until after the school holls but hope to find a scenic inland spot to park overnight. I avoid campsites but on the link you provided it's good to see one which charges per person rather than per vehicle - the latter makes it expensive for solo campers.

We must also wave to each other whenever we see single campers!

[janeyjane]

Hi

I'm trying to sort out plans for my first trip in my Romahome that I should get any day soon..... and my friends have invited me up to Whitby for the weekend. That will obviously require the quaffing of ale. This gives me a bit of a quandry and I was hoping to hear the experience of others.

I seem to have the option of 'wild camping' in a car park near where we are meeting up, so I can stagger from the pub and, I'm told, where there are likely to be other people in motorhomes overnight, but risk not being able to 'move on' if the police check up on me as I'll be over the drink-drive limit. Or, I book into a campsite a couple of miles up the road, get a taxi home in the early hours of the morning, but then have to stagger across a campsite in the pitch black, trying to find my van, which doesn't sound really 'safe'. How do the other lone female travellers deal with this one?

Jj

[fuzzy]

When traveling alone you must be responsible and make sensible choices based on simple risk assessments. If you choose to drink to 'staggering' then as we know only too well your sensibility disappears.

Also consider the affects on your driving well into the next day

You pay your money you take your choice.

[janeyjane]

Aug 10, 2008 18:53:30 GMT fuzzy said:

When traveling alone you must be responsible and make sensible choices based on simple risk assessments. If you choose to drink to 'staggering' then as we know only too well your sensibility disappears.

Also consider the affects on your driving well into the next day

You pay your money you take your choice.

Good grief, the phrase was meant light-heartedly. I don't need to be patronised, thanks all the same. I'm perfectly capable of assessing risks:

a) walk 100 yards in well lit streets to car park, but risk police trying to move me on; or
b) get a taxi then walk probably several hundred yards, probably in pitch black with only a torch to light my way

I don't think there's a clear winner, even if completely stone cold sober.

Jj

[Derek]

I think you are worried about the wrong things. The risk is greater in the well lit streets where you can be clearly seen.

I would feel very uncomfortable camping in a public place such as a car park or layby, well lit or not.

If you get a taxi to a campsite entrance you are then on private property, only the site staff and the campers have a right to be there, anyone else is an intruder and risk being challenged. Many sites I have been on have lighting that is on all night. If not, carry a powerful torch.

[janeyjane]

Aug 10, 2008 22:07:43 GMT Derek said:

I think you are worried about the wrong things. The risk is greater in the well lit streets where you can be clearly seen.

I would feel very uncomfortable camping in a public place such as a car park or layby, well lit or not.

If you get a taxi to a campsite entrance you are then on private property, only the site staff and the campers have a right to be there, anyone else is an intruder and risk being challenged. Many sites I have been on have lighting that is on all night. If not, carry a powerful torch.

Which directly contradicts most safety advice given to women, i.e. stick to well-lit areas, where you can see as well as be seen. I also don't see much chance of intruders being challenged on campsites at 2am, which is the kind of time I'd be getting back.

I appreciate you posting, but I'm really looking for feedback on how lone women deal with the situation as women have typically been brought up with a whole different set of expectations and paranoias about their safety, compared to men!

Jj

[viv]

Hi,

Not a lone female camper but neither of us is young and fit !! Personally we have always used a site and have never wild camped as I like to have facilities and other people at hand. That having been said we do use some of the small CLs and these can be quite isolated and probably just as risky as a layby or car park, so if we feel nervous or uncomfortable we move on. We have also stayed in friends' drives on loads of occasions.

Bad things can happen anywhere to anyone but hopefully the majority of time things are fine.

Just a note on the car park, if the police did visit could you be charged with drink driving if camped in a vehicle in a public car park and over the alcohol limit? I am not sure. This could apply on the road or a layby though.

Good luck in your choice janeyjane, might be worth looking at the campsite when you get there to help you make the decision. Hope you enjoy yourself in Whitby.

[jayjay]

Aug 11, 2008 8:19:53 GMT viv said:

Just a note on the car park, if the police did visit could you be charged with drink driving if camped in a vehicle in a public car park and over the alcohol limit? I am not sure. This could apply on the road or a layby though.

Yes, it does apply apparantly and if you left your keys in the ignition or on your person, you're still in charge of a vehicle whilst under the influence of achohol! The trick is to put them away somewhere safe (but remember where you put them) and then they can't charge you if you can't find the keys. Sounds strange to me, but there you go, that's what it says on another site about this issue! ;D

[janeyjane]

Aug 11, 2008 8:19:53 GMT viv said:

Hi,

Not a lone female camper but neither of us is young and fit !! Personally we have always used a site and have never wild camped as I like to have facilities and other people at hand. That having been said we do use some of the small CLs and these can be quite isolated and probably just as risky as a layby or car park, so if we feel nervous or uncomfortable we move on. We have also stayed in friends' drives on loads of occasions.

Strange, isn't it. Getting the van for me was all about 'freedom', so I think I'll actually feel 'stifled' at a campsite, which is why I made sure that I had a van where I could be totally self-sufficient if necessary. I guess I won't know for real until I try it.

Aug 11, 2008 8:19:53 GMT viv said:

Bad things can happen anywhere to anyone but hopefully the majority of time things are fine.

You're right, but maybe I have a different attitude because I had my house broken into by, what the police described as 'professional' criminals, based on the fact they'd used professional locksmiths tools to break as supposedly high security door lock. Once your perception of being secure in your own home is exposed as a fallacy, perhaps you just learn that it's all relative and very subjective. I've travelled to very dangerous countries on my own and been fine, but been to what most people would consider extremely low risk places and found myself threatened at knife point. It sort of colours your view...

Jj

[karenw]

I've just returned from a few days 'wild-camping' in mid-north Wales. I drove past Graig Wen (above) but didn't stay because I prefer not to use camp sites if possible, particularly during school holidays.

I always seek small, quiet car parks preferably on the edge of a small village so I'm not completely isolated but am far away from busy town centres and the dreaded boy-racers. I've found the police often do a late-night circuit, they've seen me but just completely ignore me. They're more interested in criminal issues and moving on campers from Council-owned car parks is not one of their roles.

Given your Whitby dilemma, why not ask the pub landlord if you can park overnight in the pub's car park - this way you're on private property with permission and don't have to worry about driving.

However, I would never drink to the point where you're unfit to drive. If ever there should be an emergency of any sort at night when alone, I'd want to be alert and able to move on if necessary or if ever I felt uneasy.

Enjoy Whitby. I've wild-camped in North Yorkshire many times and never had any problems - and I'll be heading there again next month.

[janeyjane]

Hi

Thanks for that. Glad I'm not the only one who prefers wild camping!

As for Whitby, unfortunately the pub is right in the centre, so it doesn't have it's own car park. When I went by car, the choices were on-street parking, which I don't think is appropriate for a van, or a council car park 100 yards up the road. I was chatting to people who regularly leave cars overnight in that car park and pick them up in the morning, so leads me to believe it's fairly safe.

As for drinking, but not enough to be incapable of driving - that's a bit of a dilemma for me. If I know I'm going to be driving, I won't drink a drop, though obviously if it were life or death....

Anyhow, thanks for the feedback, much appreciated!

Jj