Layby Parking.

[stantonks@hotmail.com]

Could anyone tell me if I would be braking the Law if I parked in a Layby and slept in my caravan overnight. Wagon drivers can do it so surely caravaners are allowed to. I,m not saying that we should pull into laybys on dual carridgeways. Only on A roads.

 

[mikeE]

A big problem would be the 'van being rocked by the bow wave of passing vehicles. I speak from experience of having to use the toilet whilst parked at the roadside.

 

[AnnM1]

Security is another aspect. Would you sleep easy?

 

[Tony A.]

STAN,

Stop being so tight and spend 5 or 6 pounds on a CL site, your never far from one where ever you are, you obviously dont require facilities so any one of hundreds will do.

Tony A.

 

[RogerL]

HGV drivers can do it because they can't be forced to drive on if their hours are up. Car drivers aren't restricted so can be forced to move on.

In England & Wales - laybys are part of the highway. You can park but must have lights on the car and caravan overnight and be prepared to move on if requested by police or highways agency officials. In Scotland the law is different, you're less likelky to be troubled but I'm not sure of the rules.

The main problem with laybys is the buffetting from HGV's. Even laybys on old sections of road, now bypassed, seem to generate enough traffic to give frequent disturbance.

The problem with CLs is that you can't arrive at 11pm and leave at 7am.

We've also tried supermarket carparks, eg Tesco Carlisle, but there's too many vehicle movements to allow a decent rest.

We've tried many different ways to tackle this problem, usually without success. The only one that works for us is to stop in the early hours of the morning on the A82 along Loch Lomond en route from the Midlands to the North-West Highlands. The breakfast view is fantastic and we can clear the narrow section of the A82 before the coaches get there.

 

[LadyMaureen]

To Roger L,

Instead of going on the A82 along the head of Loch Lomond where it is very tight in places,have you tried the following route?On reaching Tarbet ( A82 )turn Left to Arrochar and onwards to Inverary.This is a very scenic route....and then just as you enter Inverary turn right onto the A819.This is a good road with light traffic which will take you to the head of Loch Awewhere you join the A85 ( Left to the coast or right to Tyndrum )

We always use this route if going up to the Club site at Bunree.

I haven't done a mileage comparison,but just don't like the top of Loch Lomond with a caravan in tow.

 

[stantonks@hotmail.com]

STAN,

Stop being so tight and spend 5 or 6 pounds on a CL site, your never far from one where ever you are, you obviously dont require facilities so any one of hundreds will do.

Tony A.

Nobody,s been tight.

I was only asking a question.

Anyway Can I pull onto a CL at 1 or 2 am. I think not.

 

[RogerL]

Maureen the way to avoid the northern end of Loch Lomond is to use M73,A80,M80,A84, A85 to Crianlarich via Stirling and Lochearnhead.

Having said that, we always use A82 all the way up Loch Lomond without difficulties - the narrow parts are daunting for beginners, though.

 

[LadyMaureen]

Roger L,

Hi Roger,

We actually live not too far from Loch lomond so prefer not to have to trek out onto the motorways on you r suggested route.Each to his own as they say.Thanks for answering anyway....we are off up north tomorrow .....yippee.

 

[RogerL]

Maureen - of course if you live near Loch Lomond the Stirling is way out of the way - I was referring to the alternative for those of us coming up the A74 from Carlisle.

Have a good trip.