A leading campervan owner fears parts of North Wales are being made to feel less welcoming for motorhome owners. Bristol businessman Neil Marsh loves visiting the region but he said measures being taken to curb campervan excesses are counterproductive and could cost local businesses dearly.
He lashed out following a decision by Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) to introduce overnight parking bans in 11 car parks. This followed a monitoring exercise that revealed “unauthorised campervan use, informal camping, littering…. and anti-social behaviour”. The authority rejected accusations Eryri had become a “no-go zone” for campervans.
Neil, who has a large online following under the guise of Nemo’s Camper Adventures, said a “small entitled minority” of owners were ruining campervan freedoms for the majority. He said a more co-operative approach was needed, not sweeping bans.
He called for better facilities and management, including improved engagement with campervan owners. Patrols and fines were also needed to crack down on the “1% of idiots who have now ruined it for people exploring North Wales”, he suggested.
“I just really can’t understand why the majority of being punished because of the minority,” said Neil. “Councils should set up meetings for campervan owners highlighting local businesses and showing beautiful places to visit. They should also give them parking hints and tips rather than just go for automatic bans.
“Councils could mount patrols to enforce these rules, fining people if necessary. Or they can put a contract out to tender to a security company to do it instead. It seems to work well in Mid Wales. You have car parks down there where you can stay one night in every seven.
“Most of these car parks have CCTV and ANPR and I’ve also seen some of these car parks being patrolled by the police. People do respect it – but the minority do take the p*** and stay longer.”
Littering at car parks such as Llyn Tegid is one reason why overnight restrictions were introduced by Eryri National Park Authority(Image: Fly-Tipping Action Wales)
Mindful of their tourism value, local authorities have begun setting up overnight stopovers specifically for campers and motorhomes. Cyngor Gwynedd led the way with six “Arosfan” sites. Anglesey Council is currently piloting the use of three car parks on the island.
Last week Denbighshire Council announced it would be establishing six stopover sites in the county. Conwy Council has non-provisioned motorhome bays in some car parks but otherwise bans overnight parking.
Critics argue this response is too little to cater for surging numbers of campervan owners, especially as increasing numbers of people now have vans as their main vehicle. Online, a man condemned ENPA’s stance and added: “Down the line the decision will bite them in the backside as tourist numbers dwindle.”
There are concerns that overnight parking bans at some of Eryri’s most popular car parks will curtail the dawn hiking sector. Increasing numbers of people are climbing peaks like Yr Wyddfa in darkness to reach the top by sunrise
It’s also feared Eryri’s ban could encourage parking in residential streets and country lanes. “I think this ban it will simply push people to park on verges and side roads rather than tackle the problem,” said a Gwynedd woman on social media.
Overnight parking in laybys has long been banned in Gwynedd, such as this spot near Dinorwig quarry(Image: John Horrigan)
Yet there is plenty of support for the overnight ban. Often it’s local people who are left to deal with the less savoury aspects of campervan tourism. While many vehicles are fully self-contained, some are not.
A Tanygrisiau campervan owner said: “Some of the walks I go on are near lay-bys that are full of human faeces and emptied toilets – self contained or not. I’m not talking a little bit of mess, it’s bucket loads.”
Places like Llanberis have long been burdened by littering and inconsiderate parking. A local woman said visitors also emptied their toilet cartridges or washed their dishes in Llyn Padarn, one of the largest natural lakes in Wales.
She added: “My partner drives to work over Pen-y-Pass to Betws y Coed every day and she has seen a lot of inconsiderate, stupid and downright dangerous parking and driving. But I don’t believe bans change behaviour. Better facilities and tourism management are needed.
“Part of the challenge too is the attitude of people when asked politely not to do something. The amount of times I’ve been told to “f off” and mind my business when trying to explain to people not to wash their oily bike in a llyn (lake) that has one of the most protected underwater grasses in the world, use a BBQ in a meadow of special scientific interest, is unbelievable.
“Or not to park so a car, never mind an ambulance or mountain rescue team, can get past.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Locals and visitors are often irritated by motorhome owners parking over multiple bays such as this example at Nant Gwynant viewpoint(Image: Andrew Forgrave/North Wales Live)
Neil said he was “disgusted” by these types of selfish and disrespectful owners. Last year he posted a video of himself clearing bags of litter from farmland below Nant Gwynant’s spectacular viewpoint, Eryri.
But he insisted they were a minority and that broad-brush bans weren’t the solution. “I’ve done a lot of work highlighting the beauty of North Wales on social media,” he said. “But I now wonder what’s the point of ever going back up there.
“Locals are worried that if you take away the campervans and motorhomes, you will take away a massive chunk of incomes from businesses. I don’t want to see that happen and I’m pretty sure the people of North Wales don’t want that to happen as well.”
Critics argue that campervan owners should bite the bullet and use campsites. For many campers, this defeats the freedom to roam promised by campervans ownership. Others argue campsites are too expensive and regimented.
Nevertheless, a Derbyshire motorhome owner said campsites were increasingly becoming the only option. “I have started to look for basic sites and pub stopovers,” she said. “There is no such thing as a hidden gem anymore.”
What Eryri National Park said
The authority’s overnight curbs in 11 car parks has been misreported as a ban on all campervans or motorhomes in the national park. ENPA stressed all its car parks remained open to all users during the day.
At nine of the affected car parks, the restrictions are from 10pm–3am; at the two Llyn Tegid facilties, Bala, they are from 10pm-6am. ANPR cameras will shortly go live at the Bala car parks.
ENPA said the restrictions were imposed at car parks “where pressures have been greatest”. A spokesperson added: “These measures have been introduced following a period of monitoring and data collection, in response to increasing issues linked to overnight stays, including unauthorised campervan use, informal camping, littering, environmental impacts and some instances of anti-social behaviour.
“Importantly, many car parks remain available for use during the day (for up to 17 hours), and some key locations continue to operate on a 24-hour basis. Our car parks are designed primarily for daytime access to leisure opportunities and are not equipped with facilities for overnight stays by motorhomes or campervans.
“Our position has not changed in regards to overnight camping at our sites, the new operating hours is a formalisation of our car park use. We continue to welcome these vehicles during the day, but encourage those planning to stay overnight to use official campsites, designated motorhome facilities or Arosfan sites.
“These provide appropriate amenities while also supporting local communities and reducing pressures on sensitive locations.
“We recognise that the majority of campervan and motorhome users behave responsibly. However, the restrictions are aimed at addressing the cumulative impact caused in specific high-pressure areas.
“The measures will be kept under review and any necessary adjustments will be implemented over the summer. More broadly, these measures are about balancing access with protection.
“While some recent comments suggest the area is becoming a “no-go zone” for campervans, this is not the case. Visitors travelling by motorhome remain very welcome, and there are ample facilities both within and just outside the National Park to support overnight stays in a more sustainable way whilst contributing to the local economy.”