Showers while wild camping?

[SteveParry]

Currently the shower at home is broken so Looked for local public showers. This is on the Wirral near Liverpool. I can't find any! In Germany all major rail stations have public showers... Is there a map of such facilities in the UK?

 

[Oldhippy]

I have a shower bag. Either leave the water in the bag to warm in the sun or boil water a pour in.

 

[Blue Hills]

Good question, for showers are the main/sometimes only reason for going to a campsite.
And good to see some camping/wild camping stuff on here.
I remember that when I inter-railed as a youth, many nights not actually under a roof, a fair few main italian stations had showers - don't know if they still do. Never seen such a thing in my entire life in this country.
I fear though that in a country where even truck drivers, the backbone of the nation's distribution, can't find showers, the answer to your question isn't going to be very positive.
I'll just live in hope of at least sneaky suggestions for getting showered when freewheeling on the road in the UK.

 

[mudsticks]

Currently the shower at home is broken so Looked for local public showers. This is on the Wirral near Liverpool. I can't find any! In Germany all major rail stations have public showers... Is there a map of such facilities in the UK?

Public swimming baths and council sports centres, are your best bet for 'public' showers in UK.

When proper wild camping I take a 1litre plastic pot,

Heat a bit of water and you can have a surprisingly decent clean down, with a microfibre cloth..

If you still have the shower cubicle at home, just fill a bucket with hot water and use a bowl to scoop water over you, soap up and then rinse of with a few more scoopfuls.

'showered' like that at home, for many years when other facilities were not available.

 

[Blue Hills]

Public swimming baths and council sports centres, are your best bet for 'public' showers in UK.

I have heard those suggested - what do you do with all your bike luggage when in the centre/swimming pool going through the motions of a swim? From what I remember of swimming pools (not a keen swimmer) the lockers aren't that big.

 

[alicat]

Head to your local swimming baths.

I never had a shower at home until I was 45. I managed with a strip wash and a bath when I needed it. Eeeh, times were 'ard!

 

[DRM]

I have heard those suggested - what do you do with all your bike luggage when in the centre/swimming pool going through the motions of a swim? From what I remember of swimming pools (not a keen swimmer) the lockers aren't that big.

Our sports centre have bike boxes outside, you give a deposit for the key, lock your bike to the rail inside, it’s bolted to the floor, and lock the box door, then go in for a shower.
if wild camping, with a towel you can use one corner with soap, one with clean water and the rest to dry yourself with for ablutions in the field.

 

[mudsticks]

I have heard those suggested - what do you do with all your bike luggage when in the centre/swimming pool going through the motions of a swim? From what I remember of swimming pools (not a keen swimmer) the lockers aren't that big.

I'll take the super valuable stuff indoors with me in a bag and leave the rest of the stuff attached to the bike.. lock up the bike.

I tend not to tour in very high population, or high crime rate areas , so I don't worry too much.
If it looks dodgy I won't stop.

Not had anything nicked yet.

Draping bits of clothing that look like they could do with a wash over everything helps ..

Although you'll often want to take those into the shower and stomp up and down on them to do your laundry while showering..
Saves on soap.

 

[slowmotion]

Yacht clubs usually have showers and laundry facilities for visiting sailors. It's worth asking nicely.

 

[cougie uk]

Mainline railway stations have shower facilities. Well Euston and Edinburgh do. Tricky to get your bike in there though.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Arrow Brooke farm till end of month. Just go to toilet block with confidence.

 

[Baldy]

I generally just go for a swim. But then I tend to go camping well off the beaten track.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

iOverlander is a very useful app for finding things like showers.
And wild camping spots

 

[roley poley]

The tap in a church yard or cemetery has revived this hot sweaty /dusty cyclist before meeting civilization many a time..not a shower I grant you but a quick spolsh and change of T-Shirt was all I needed

 

[Blue Hills]

I seem to recall that osmand has some showers buried in it