When you’re travelling Scotland in one of our motorhomes, you’re going to be pitching into quite a few campsites. These are great places to hold the vehicle for a while, form a base, and experience the nearby landmarks or cities.
They’re also perfect places to feel part of the Scottish motorhomes community and make a few more friends while on holiday.
But just as motorhome campsites are great, community-driven spots for you to stay, they must be treated and respected with that in mind.
While many of them are unspoken, there are a number of motorhome campsite etiquette rules that need to be followed. And we know what you’re thinking: how can I follow the rules if they’re unspoken?
Well, that’s what we’re here for. Being in the motorhome business for a while now, we think we know a thing or two about how to behave in campsites. With this in mind, here is everything you need to know about etiquette and how you can come away with friends, not enemies!
Check-In Like You Would A Hotel
Of course, staying in one of our vehicles is 100% better than changing between hotels and lugging all your bags around, but you still have to check into a campsite when you arrive. Make sure you don’t just waltz in like you own the place. Find a place to park, find the warden – there will either be a reception area or a warden’s tent depending on the campsite you’re visiting – and book yourself in.
Drive Carefully To Your Pitch
You will likely be directed to your pitch, but before you go storming excitedly towards it, take a step back and think for a few seconds. Again, this will all depend on the campsite, but many of them can be a bit of a maze.
We think it’s a great idea to walk to your pitch first, map out your route, and then get into the motorhome and do the real journey. That will spare you the struggle of making a wrong turn and trying to manoeuvre through tight spaces.
Don’t Go Knocking On Doors
There are loads of amazing motorhome campsites in Scotland, and it can be really exciting to be surrounded by beautiful scenery and fellow motorhome enthusiasts. The first thing you will want to do is say hello, but we wouldn’t recommend knocking on doors and saying: hello, my name is Sebastian, and here’s my story…
You will have an opportunity to meet people and say hello, but let it come naturally. Everyone’s got their own turf in a campsite. People might have sleeping kids, dogs, or they might just want to have some personal time. So, respect that and greet people when you see them.
Respect Everyone’s Space
Speaking of respecting other people, it’s also important to respect space in a motorhome campsite. As mentioned before, everyone has their own little patch, so the last thing you want to do is take out a load of deck chairs and set them up in a way that is not respectful. By that, we mean keep your things in front of your motorhome, not too close to anyone else’s, and don’t block anyone’s walking path.
Check Over The Rules For Barbecues And Campfires
What do you think of when you picture a motorhome campsite? Well, barbecues and campfires of course! While this is a common sight for campsites in Scotland, not every location allows fires, so make sure you double-check the rules and regulations before you spark up.
As well as this, try to pitch your fire away from other motorhomes and check where the wind is blowing – even for barbecues, they tend to smoke a lot before the charcoal settles down and becomes hot. Also, if you don’t know how to make a campfire, don’t try to learn on the fly, unless you want to smoke everyone out of the site!
Keep The Noise Level Down
This is the number one most important rule for people staying in a motorhome campsite. As we said before, everyone is there to have a good time and enjoy their holiday.
But that doesn’t mean you can be as loud as you want. You must respect the peace and your fellow neighbours. Try to keep the noise down during the day, and during the night, make sure the noise level is brought down even further to ensure you’re not waking anyone up.
Use Your Noggin!
Lastly, we should mention that a lot of the campsite rules are unspoken because they’re just common sense! This is about living your life and considering others. Make sure you read the campsite rules on their website, so you can get a good feel for the place, and then keep to those rules. Everyone wants to have a good holiday, and everyone deserves to have a good holiday. Be considerate, be kind, and have fun!
