Camping etiquette

[canina]

We have been travelling in Scotland in our small motorhome, spending nights not in campsites but in large picnic ateas off the road. The last 3 nights we have arrived first and been joined later by one other campervan (3 different) who has parked right beside us so close to obscure our view
This is so weird to me but we are new to this and wondered what the correct etiquette is?

We are friendly but we would like you to chose the other end 😀

Sounds like you're a bit too uptight for the travelling van life

Just move your van if you're not happy that's what I would do instead of moaning about it

Have I emphasized that enough?

I'm only looking for manners, and hate the bullying ways of others who don't understand the Scottish culture.

There was a car fire at the weekend in a pull-in. Motorhomes were parked up inside, very close together. All of the proper laybys were full of motorhomes, and as a consequence there was nowhere suitable for drivers to get off the road in an emergency. A car pulled in and burst into flames. The motorhomes, presumably with gas on board, were trapped in the area with no escape. Those people in the motorhomes are very lucky. There was no firebreak between them.

It's perfectly legal to park in a lay-by no matter what type of vehicle though, and there is no rule about leaving room in a lay-by for any emergency that might occur - not sure why "lay-bys being full of motorhomes" is worth the comment ?

Do people unerstand the concept of manners anymore though?

It’s getting harder and harder to find overnight parking spots. Lost picnic areas and beauty spots say “no overnight parking” around Scotland now. So, the places that allow it will be getting busier.

Motorhome camping is not the Scottish culture. Walk in-walk out wild camping is.

I didn't say it was - I said manners was the scottish culturre.

Did you move your van OP? I would have. Sounds very annoying!

Haha, yes, half a length backwards to get them out of our view - was all the space would allow. We were in the best space and the other van were trying to muscle in. Barky dog, loud music, fug of dope, WHY would you push into the space of a van already there?

People astound me with how rude they are willing to be, I have never experienced this before and wonder how this can be remedied?

☝️This. That's what I'd do- to leave some space for later arrivals. It is a free park up after all, so 🤷‍♀️

Using designated campsites would help solve this. You can't really park up for free and try to dictate how others use the space. Picnic areas are for picnics, not freebie 'campers'.

Picnic areas are for all , even if the picnic is breakfast 10 hours after you arrive

in Scotland it is normal to allow camping / overnight parking from those areas

There are some areas - the trossachs where the use of picnic areas etc is not allowed during peak holiday season because in recent years numbers have exploded. Even there however , a normal lay-by can legally be used to sleep in

The traditional etiquette would be park neatly, typically not on top of the only other vehicle

There are times when it's everyone on top of each other - I am forever grateful to the hoards at st Mary's loch who jiggled everything around to make a space just big enough for me

I find haphazard parking in busy areas very irritating - I recently saw a lorry driver unable to pull in because of poor parking - but it wasn't the case in the OP

I'm Scottish.
I'm aware of the issues.

So you know picnic areas are not just for car drivers?

Would you be happy at your picnic in an empty field if the only other group sat right next to you or would uou say you should just have had the picnic in your back garden ?

I wouldn't set up a picnic in a field, as most fields tend to have crops or animals in. My point really is that you cannot control who parks next to you if you choose not to use a campsite.

Not quite the same thing but we were once on an almost empty beach when some people rocked up and sat down about 3 metres away. They then proceeded to play a ball game and they were so close their ball kept landing in our picnic!

Why on earth they did this when they had miles of beach to choose from I have no idea.

I get what you’re saying OP and I’d feel the same. I would probably have knocked at their door and asked them why!

In my view the same way some men have to dominate public spaces - all about control, trying to be the 'Alpha' etc.
I also think a lot of people live in places and spaces where they are cheek by jowl with the neighbours, so they feel intimidated without that proximity.
I am another campervanner here who is fed up of the increasing number of numpties who spoil things for others - some proper lack of regard for landowners, locals and other users, and a growing sense of entitlement. Arseholes in every walk of life.