We explained that this was our first night in the van so we could figure out what we'd need to get for it, just wanting to try it out for a night, and she really couldn't have been ruder to us. Kept asking what kind of van it was and I explained it was an MPV and that we were waiting on the conversion. Asked about cooking facilities and we explained we didn't have fixed ones just now until it was converted. She then demanded to look inside the van and said "this is just like sleeping in your car"! She also told us that this type of van did not "meet their criteria" but decided to let us stay "for one night only" due to the bad weather. I would have gone and told her to go and poke her criteria if it hadn't been for the fact our friends were meeting us there and the weather was really really bad. We listened to their dictator rules and drove in and parked.
Our friends in their Volkswagen were also spoken to rudely until our friend asked if we'd all done something to offend the warden and she finally eased off a little.
Despite the weather and rude warden we had a most enjoyable night - albeit very cold (so making thermal screens for the back and waiting til the temperature at night improves a little before our next outing!).
We weren't sure if it's a rule set by the Caravan and Motorhome Club that wee Bongo's don't meet the "criteria" but we won't be staying there again, and will probably avoid that club as well if we can help it. Although don't let me put you off going to Stonehaven - it's a great wee place with a fantastic chipper and ice cream shop, and some lovely walks along the beach, and of course Dunottar Castle! Definitely worth a lookie! But maybe just free camp at the beach side instead of spending a fortune trying to stay in a campsite where we don't fit in!
Spherical Visions
