"fell out of love with vanlife" in Snowdonia
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2023
- May bank holiday weekend, we made the stupid decision to try a wild camp in our VW California campervan, high up in the mountains of North Wales, during a long spell of summer weather... bad move!
We arrived at a small remote park up where I'd stayed before and just secured the last spot. We soaked in the peaceful surroundings and the views of the sea and mountains whilst watching the sunset but then, it all went south and we had to move on. Problem was, EVERYONE else was camping in Snowdonia and all usual available spots were overflowing with vans.
We always make a point of not travelling on bank holiday weekends for numerous reasons but this secured the fact, we will never repeat this experience!
We totally understand, the national parks and other locations are there for everyone to enjoy but this felt like, everyone was enjoying it at the same time which isn't our bag so we headed to stay with parents in Conwy where we could relax in the sunshine and take the dog to a quiet beach nearby.
There was no drama here, no major catastrophes just pure and simple shock. The vans we seen camping weren't necessarily doing anything wrong, just doing things differently to how we'd do it.
Whilst driving through, I genuinely said "this makes me fall out of love with vanlife" and for a brief moment, I actually thought about our future in a campervan coming to an end but my brain soon realised, this isn't a regular occurance and we'd just need to be a bit more selective with our timings and location in the future.
Hopefully, next weekend at Vanlife festival will help us to forget this less than perfect weekend.
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These are the type of people who have helped councils make a decision to introduce height barriers and banning campers. It was so very different a few years ago. I don't blame you for bailing.
Just found your channel as we want to go to Switzerland in the van. Now subscribed 😁
Switzerland is 100% worth the drive/cost!
You can only truly appreciate it with your own eyes 🤩
Yeh unfortunately there’s a trend where people camp where they want to, despite the consequences.
Thanks for joining us 🙏🏼
Me and my Mrs always turn up to a spot at 10pm and leave by 7am. Maybe with it being dark now we will sleep in till about 8am. No pop top up unless we are in a big layby like the ones lorrys use.
Love your videos! Currently binge watching them at work!
100%. If you’re parking up, the less attention drawn, the better.
Thanks for joining us, now get back to work!! 😄
You answered your own problem we don’t usually do bank holidays! Your lucky to have your parents to go to it doesn’t get much better, wish I had mine still. Chin up keep going ….👍
100%
We knew we shouldn’t have gone but we stupidly went anyway 😄
We are very lucky… thank you 🙏🏼
@@Professionalmoochers yeah we all push the boundaries even though deep down we know it could be grim 😁
You just never know 😉
If we listened to the weather forecast, we’d hardly leave the house. Sometimes you just got to see for yourself 👍🏼
Last time I went to Snowdonia, I couldn’t find anywhere to park, I think I drove for about two hours in circles trying to find somewhere and eventually found a layby just down the road from mount Snowden, turned out, pretty good 😊
It’s no surprise it’s so busy as it’s a stunning area 👌🏼
That was a lovely sunset. We live in north Wales and we don’t venture out in school holidays! That doesn’t sound like a great experience. I hope you’ll come back when it’s out of season or end of season. Sounds like your neighbours should have been on a campsite! Cheers 🍻
100% we’ll be back! Absolutely love wales 🏴 😍
Cheers 👍🏼
When people say they dont turn up till late and go early, it makes me think, well you have to be parked somewhere before you go to your park up, so how do you know the people dont mind where you are parked before you go to your park up, and where you park after you leave your park up early in the morning, just a thought 😮
I’ve been using a little portable bug zapper/ lamp, £15 Amazon jobby and it’s been fantastic for in the tent or camper van, makes all the difference for midgefest
Keep saying we’ll get one then end up forgetting 🤦🏼♂️
Great to see you guys again 😘
Absence making the heart grow fonder? 😁
I was at Bala this Saturday, it wasn't a bank holiday but it's still school holidays and I've never seen it so busy. We go often as it's only 45 minutes away and I'm beginning to see why locals in the area and across North Wales are starting to really turn against campervans and motorhomes. I know that most campsites in the area that weekend were fully booked, so I guess some of those that were there decided they'd wild camp instead, obviously must be new to it and don't know how to behave. I guess this is the downside to it's popularity.
Unfortunately, we often all like the same things, beauty spots, easy access etc. this causes chaos.
As you say, “some” don’t know the etiquette and it creates the wrong kind of attention, rightly so, from locals.
We’ll have to get creative with our trips from now on 😄
If you’re near Bala Louise, pop in to the Bryntirion Inn to say hi
I completely agree with Sarah, I just stick to campsites now. I seem to enjoy the odd wild camp when i get the opportunity. Like you, Alan, no disrespect to anyone and not judging anyone who wants to do that, but it seems there are too many now wanting to do the same thing but with no consideration for their surroundings. I just make sure i have several back up plans. Don't do school holidays and avoid the dredded bank holidays. Still loving the great outdoors just make sure I do it differently to everyone else.
Couldn’t agree more!
We’re exactly the same and going forward, these kind of camps may be saved for winter, certainly not summer Bank holidays 😂
Please don’t stop, mooching. You do a brilliant video which completely suits me. Having said this I could not park up with a crowd and noise etc. Keep searching for that idyllic spot. Love you guys. 💚
Thanks Michele 🙏🏼
Don’t you worry, we have no plans to stop, we’ve just learned when to leave the popular beauty spots to the crowds 😁
It is a nightmare, we went up gerionydd last week just for a swim arrived early, about 10 am it was a huge traffic jam people parking on verges and in passing places. We ended up going early because of that. Wales is too small and where we were going years ago and no one was there is now rammed with vans.
UK is too small mate, and it’s us van dwellers who are part of the problem but, I think it’ll soon settle down as some will get fed up of it.
Certainly can’t blame everyone for visiting beautiful places but as you say, it’s the excessive/creative parking that can be the problem.
Another top vid, heading to Switzerland in sept after watching yr films , getting our camper in July ,few trial runs at pooley bridge and Keswick then off ,hope u don't mind if we send u a few questions about Switzerland in the coming weeks .
Brilliant! You couldn’t have chosen a better place!
I guarantee, it’ll blow you away.
Not a problem, ask away 👍🏼
Really enjoyed this one, hearing about your experience and it’s good to have an honest video showing that things don’t always go great….hope the next one is a better experience 👍
Life is like that though isn’t it?
I guess you just make the most of it and hope it’s better next time.
Glad you enjoyed it though 😁 it’s an amazing area, especially that spot we parked at, just a shame some others know about it.
@@Professionalmoochers Hi we often drive through the Ogwen Valley in our van and it's always packed with vans especially on Bank Holiday's. The council have now put double yellow lines down the road to stop anyone parking on the side of the road as it used to be. Like you we try and be discrete when parking up and leave the pop top down anywhere other than a site.
@@iandennis6232 in our opinion, that’s how it should be done.
Locals are less likely to have a problem with van’s which simply look like they’re parked.
I guess we’ll just leave the masses to do what makes them happy and we’ll return when it’s a lot quieter 😁
Sounds like a nightmare and horrendous situation in those parkups. I personally couldnt think of anything worse than what you described, but it also feels to me like the exact reason Wales, and so many places, now are very anti-vans.
100%
Can’t blame the locals of any popular tourist spots.
Certainly reminded us, free/wild camping is best in winter 👍🏼
Hey Profs, if it ain’t feeling great, change direction. Good for you friends. Lovely to watch one of your vlogs. ❤
Thanks you two!
Absolutely, just move onto the next amazing experience hey? 🤩
We were in snowdonia that weekend too. Weather was amazing but it was shockingly busy everywhere. We usually don’t bother over the bank holidays because it just ruins it. Nothing against anybody but yeah, yer alright. 😅 95% of the time we wild camp in our Cali but that weekend was a nightmare.
We’ve never been so shocked in all our years of traveling!
Fair play to those who are enjoying themselves, just hope it doesn’t have repercussions 🙏🏼
Hi guys, sorry your weekend didn't go as planned :(. Sounds strange but I think I'm lucky to have a job working weekend's. I get Monday to Thursday off every week. I went to the lakes just after the bank holiday weekend and stayed at high end farm near Thirlmere. It was nice and quite. I went fishing like I said I would in an earlier comment to you guys but didn't catch any Trout, only Perch. I hope your next trip is a lot better :).
That sounds like the perfect solution Darren!
Didn’t know there were perch in thirlmere, used to catch those spikey buggers as a kid 😁
Nice to catch up with you both. I haven't been on CZcams much for a month or so, so I will spend the day on here. Sorry to hear about your experience. We had a similar one in Wales actually. Parked up and at about 9pm a car full of lads pulled up, stuck the car stereo on full blast. Opened the boot and had a 50" TV in the back to watch boxing. Big camp fire and they were loud until the early hours. Woke up in the morning and I was surprised how clean it was... I was wrong! Took the dogs for a walk and found 2 bin liners chucked in the bush... Twats! I was always particular about where we parked up because of all the dogs. Frustrating when some bell end comes along and ruins a nice spot! Stay safe and I will catch up on your next adventure when it comes along! 👍
Hello mate!
One of the reasons we had to leave is, I have no manners. I’d be straight out telling them what they’re allowed to do 😂
Gutted we didn’t do a dramatic shocked face thumbnail 😂😂😂
Hope you’re starting to settle in over there 👍🏼
@Professionalmoochers Yeah like Sylw does 😅 So many times she has done it. Worst one was a transfer on holiday in the early hours. 4 woman were laughing really loud and I knew she was going to snap. I just put my headphones on and pretended to sleep! 😂 I have quite alot of patience in those situations. But your right, it's disrespectful an ultimately they are the type of people that spoil it for everyone else! Hope you are both well 👍
@vanlifetravel I think me and Sylw will get on just fine 😄😄😄
@Professionalmoochers Yeah I think so. Obviously she also enjoys a tipple... Everyday at the moment!
@vanlifetravel 😂😂
Such a shame your weekend was Ruined, Recent visit to Isle Harris really opened my eyes to how welcoming a whole island can be for vans, loads of park ups dotted a will either a honesty box or a number to text and pay a £5 or £10 depending on the spot, some with toilets showers, always bins, always spotless,, i thought skye was good, but harris was different gravy,,well worth a visit and plenty lessons to be learned from councils around the uk on what could be, and a little bit of cash to be made for up keep
Sounds like heaven!
We visited Lewis before we had a van and always said we’d return along with Harris, it’s up there at the top of our list as we’ve seen images of the beaches on Harris 😍
It’s a shame your weekend was spoilt.
We have never gone anywhere on a bank holiday or during the school holidays, we can’t stand crowds or people disrespecting the countryside.
We do our vanlife out of season, and if there’s someone already stopped where we were going to, we move on.
We’re exactly the same and this trip simply reminded us, to avoid popular areas during the busy times 😁
Oh dear. Sorry that didn’t work out so well, but thanks for sharing. We can deffo take a lesson from you there. 😕.
You certainly can, don’t be an idiot and visit a busy national park on a sunny bank holiday 😂
It's really sad what you said about Ogwen. For years I would drive over and go hillwalking in the Ogwen Valley and between Capel and Snowdon. Have given up now. Luckily I and involved with scouts and we have a couple of centres in the mountains over there and I can go there, park and still go walking or Mountain biking. Local press if full of the parking issues in snowdonia. Police towing people away.
It’s a real shame mate but, it’s kind of expected.
An outstanding looking landscape which is so accessible is always going to attract crowds, sometimes the wrong crowds too.
Sounds like you have a great option to enjoy the peaceful side of the park 👌🏼
I love the temporary holiday sites - cheap and normally no facilités but some you still feel like you are wild camping. Hope Sarah is ok - you seemed a bit quieter than normal in todays video x
We’ve never experienced a temporary/pop up type site but will look out for them 👍🏼
Sarah didn’t feel too comfortable there as there were a number of questionable characters visiting this beautiful spot, because it was out of the way.
Both good now as we’ve just returned from a festival in the sunshine 🤩
@@Professionalmoochers Camping and caravan club have an app for members. There are hundreds in lots of different locations. Normally about £10-12 per night. Pateley Bridge is my absolute favourite. The field is massive and you can park yourself away in a quiet spot. I recently went and did a fab circular hike up to Brimham Rocks (North Yorkshire). Glad you enjoyed Vanfest. I missed this one as heading to France tomorrow after work 👍
Brilliant we’ll have a look!
Thanks 🙏🏼
We don’t do bank hols, school half terms or school summer times, i left Conwy on that Saturday as only went for the day and the motorway was absolutely rammed with long weekenders. Conwy i enjoyed never been before but i wouldn’t have gone normally, only was a day trip and straight back home to chill 👌👍
Neither do we Paul but, we hadn’t been away for a few weeks (other than a festival) and stupidly decided to chance it 😄
Conwy is gorgeous! My parents live 10 minutes walk from the castle so we luckily, visit regularly.
The best chippy down on the harbour 👌🏼
@@Professionalmoochers loved the smallest house too, that is small.
i was in Snowdon near you that weekend wow it was nasty fall of people..
You’re not wrong Paul!
Definitely a lesson learned there 👍🏼
We love doing park ups and in a big motorhome but we don't do camping behaviour big no no. Sorry you didn't manage to get a good night. That's life though sometimes isn't it xx
Absolutely, it doesn’t always work out.
Completely our fault for taking a risk in a busy resort on a busy weekend but, we learn from these experiences 😁
Hi guys. Thanks for posting. I missed your weekly VLOG. You mentioned Vanlife Eats….. We are thinking of going this year as we are not into large festivals and like the smaller stuff (God I sound old - only 48!!!!) Would you recommend it and what is the format. Any thoughts or comments would be gratefully received.
Thank you.
Kev
Thanks Kev 🤩
Van life eats big picnic is certainly smaller than the more established large events.
It’s primarily food demonstrations, live music, vans and relaxing.
There’s some well-being things too but the atmosphere is just so relaxed, it’s a small site so no big walks 👍🏼
Brilliant-thanks for getting back. Will look into booking it up. 😋 🍱 🚐 🎶
Hi, ive recebtly got a van this year and been out in it a few times with the misses , i cant think of anything better than a van life meet up with aload of people and food beers music ect ect obviously im clueless to this but there will be a few could you please let me know of a few good meets thst happen and the name of the festivals/ meets so i kmow for next year , we live in devon but don't mind travellint a van meet up with so many like minded people would be amazing!!
Brilliant!! It’ll be the best thing you ever bought, aslong as you keep using it.
Have a look at Facebook groups, there’ll plenty near you, especially being in Devon.
Busfest is one of the largest and oldest and in the Malvern area so not too far but, it is later in the year.
Vanlife eats big picnic is great and you could also try international Campervan and overland show which is also southern.
Enjoy your van future 👌🏼
@@Professionalmoochers cheers bud got them names locked in
General rule of thumb for us is no bank holiday camping ⛺️ too busy too pricey too much traffic 😳😜
If only we’d listened to you beforehand 😄
We normally abide by that rule too but the mind allows you to do stupid things sometimes 🤦🏼♂️
I’m like Sarah I like campsites. We have never wild camped so can’t comment on that. However I like all the footage when you wild camp …I’m just a coward lol
Nothing wrong with abiding by the rules Jeanette.
Wild camping for us, has its place but you can’t (shouldn’t) spread out, relax outside your van.
Campsites are easily the best option for people who aren’t living in their van full time 👍🏼
That bacon sarnie looked top drawer
Can’t go wrong Graham 😉
It’s the only thing that should be on any list of van life essentials. Do you butter or not butter?
I butter but Sarah the weirdo, only butters if it’s toast 🤦🏼♂️
You have the patience of a saint putting up with that
😂
Chin up Moochers. Better times to come.
Absolutely! Already forgotten 😉
Are you going to camper jam ?
We were tempted but we have recently attended 2 festivals with another coming end of August so gave it a miss this year 👍🏼
Hi guys. Cannot believe how mad busy it was, shit for you, that’s the trouble with lovely places, everyone thinks the same, we NEVER go out on bank holidays but we are gonna try a little wild camping & see how we get on. I’m a bit anal & regimented so like campsites & rules 🤦🏻♂😂🍻
We only have ourselves to blame 😄 bank holiday is a firm no in our house, especially now!!
YNWA
🙏🏼
CZcams has made vanlife so current and popular and the negative affect is rammed wild camping spots. 🤷🏻♂️😉
😂😂 guilty as charged!
Luckily, most of our spots are paid locations and campsites 😁
This is what you get which gives a bad names for proper campers who don't leave a trace makes me mad as you say why would you want to be like sardines we are like you like space x
Our opinion is, let them get on with it.
Aslong as they’re not upsetting anyone then why not, just hope the large numbers of vans don’t spoil it for everyone else in the future 🤞🏼
Yea I agree with you there we are going away sat for 2 weeks from Portsmouth to Scotland stopping a sites on the way up and down the other side
Ooooo nice!!
Enjoy 🤩
Agree, stay at home on BH especially when the weather is good! Yeah, seems strange that some folk like to park within a foot of each other, was like that at Ribblehead viaduct and annoying when campervanners get blamed for rubbish etc when day trippers or youngsters in cars for overnight partying sessions can also be the culprits. Cameron McNeish has also put a vlog on recently with a similar theme. 🚐
Guess we all learn from these scenarios Fiona.
Oooo I’ll have a look, I like Cameron 👍🏼