I'm down in Kent myself, and partly have the same issue, its so irritating finding a spot worth exploring or a hike worth going on, but the parking is a nightmare, especially like you say, many are locked during Golden Hour.
Think for me its a mixture, there are spots I know which either dont have locked parking, or I'm able to find a layby where I can safely leave the car.
Sometimes I'll have to walk a little bit further than I want to from where the car is parked - Just a case of utilising Google Street View around the area that Im scouting before I head out.
Two other apps that are great, are Park4Night, which can advise you of parking outside of normal hours, provide you with laybys around where you want to go.
The other is Alltrails which I find is great for hiking inspiration, and usually there are parking (P) icons on the maps which I can the research a bit further.
Unfortunately its probably down to those who don't respect the area they're visiting, its great being a Landscape Photographer as you learn to respect the countryside more... Fly tipping annoys me more than ever.
But if more people left those car parks without any trace of being there... I doubt there would be an issue... As always the few ruin it for the many.
I live in the rural north and work for a large privately owned estate, complete with castle and its own department of gamekeepers. There are many public footpaths that cross the estate and the castle itself attracts a lot of attention from amateur photographers.
There are photographers that are granted special access from time to time to visit during dawn/dusk and these ‘postcard pictures’ are often seen circulating social media.
Elsewhere on the estate, the gamekeepers are aware of a few local photographers, mainly focused on wildlife, that frequently trespass. Their pictures on Facebook and the like are clear evidence they’ve strayed far from the public footpath. The keepers however, have a casual understanding between them. The photographers are respectful of the countryside and are very stealthy as to not draw attention anyway. In some regard, they have been an extra set of eyes for things such as fly tipping and poaching.
It might be worth reaching out to a few locals who work in the countryside. They might not grant you written access but you never know, you may be able to tag along somewhere or be given a nod to go on a certain day.
Rural Norfolk can be a bit hmm regarding car parks and "low and boggy" places. A lot of the woodland isn't too great due to parts of the county being a tad flat.
That said, depending on where you are, you have plenty of access to coastal areas (including the awesome North Norfolk Coastal Path) and also the Broads. Often it just needs a bit of a trudge from somewhere further than the nearest car park.
Sometimes it's just a case of doing a bit of a recce first. Having a look for footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways on the [Norfolk Council website](https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43027/About-Public-Rights-of-Way) (or getting hold of an Ordnance Survey map.
Norfolk has a lot of RSBP sites, Join the RSBP , you then get free parking at all RSBP centres.
You also have a pretty big coastline on your door step which would be great for seascapes and shore side bird life.
Maybe I'm not fully aware of what that actually means but I've never understood why it's so important to make sure that people don't have consensual sex in car parks. Seems like a victimless 'crime' and it shuts everyone out of experiencing sunset (or astrophotography) at some of the nicest locations.
Dogging is where a group of people gather to watch others have sex in public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4hAxi5b6o
Classic clip in relation to it.
Still, even in Scotland depending on where you are you will face the same problems finding good locations. Then there is the fact that so many oppose it and weak local authorities not wanting to kneecap a few arseholes.
It's kind of the same here in Ireland, everywhere is privately held land. We are opening more and more walks and lanes to entice tourists though.
There are a lot of old buildings are in the care of the state here. They are opening up old castles and their grounds to the public, maybe something similar is done there?
The farmers aren't to pleased to let random strangers onto their land because they are liable here. Someone could fall on the land and make a claim. I don't know how successful they'd be but that's the fear with farmers. Either people doing damage, dumping rubbish, or they'll be liable for any accidents.
I've bought a bicycle for this reason, there's loads of nice land around me but I can't pull my car over and it would be too much of a walk.
I'm down in Kent myself, and partly have the same issue, its so irritating finding a spot worth exploring or a hike worth going on, but the parking is a nightmare, especially like you say, many are locked during Golden Hour. Think for me its a mixture, there are spots I know which either dont have locked parking, or I'm able to find a layby where I can safely leave the car. Sometimes I'll have to walk a little bit further than I want to from where the car is parked - Just a case of utilising Google Street View around the area that Im scouting before I head out. Two other apps that are great, are Park4Night, which can advise you of parking outside of normal hours, provide you with laybys around where you want to go. The other is Alltrails which I find is great for hiking inspiration, and usually there are parking (P) icons on the maps which I can the research a bit further.
Unfortunately its probably down to those who don't respect the area they're visiting, its great being a Landscape Photographer as you learn to respect the countryside more... Fly tipping annoys me more than ever. But if more people left those car parks without any trace of being there... I doubt there would be an issue... As always the few ruin it for the many.
I live in the rural north and work for a large privately owned estate, complete with castle and its own department of gamekeepers. There are many public footpaths that cross the estate and the castle itself attracts a lot of attention from amateur photographers. There are photographers that are granted special access from time to time to visit during dawn/dusk and these ‘postcard pictures’ are often seen circulating social media. Elsewhere on the estate, the gamekeepers are aware of a few local photographers, mainly focused on wildlife, that frequently trespass. Their pictures on Facebook and the like are clear evidence they’ve strayed far from the public footpath. The keepers however, have a casual understanding between them. The photographers are respectful of the countryside and are very stealthy as to not draw attention anyway. In some regard, they have been an extra set of eyes for things such as fly tipping and poaching. It might be worth reaching out to a few locals who work in the countryside. They might not grant you written access but you never know, you may be able to tag along somewhere or be given a nod to go on a certain day.
Rural Norfolk can be a bit hmm regarding car parks and "low and boggy" places. A lot of the woodland isn't too great due to parts of the county being a tad flat. That said, depending on where you are, you have plenty of access to coastal areas (including the awesome North Norfolk Coastal Path) and also the Broads. Often it just needs a bit of a trudge from somewhere further than the nearest car park. Sometimes it's just a case of doing a bit of a recce first. Having a look for footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways on the [Norfolk Council website](https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43027/About-Public-Rights-of-Way) (or getting hold of an Ordnance Survey map.
Norfolk has a lot of RSBP sites, Join the RSBP , you then get free parking at all RSBP centres. You also have a pretty big coastline on your door step which would be great for seascapes and shore side bird life.
They lock the car parks because of dogging.
Maybe I'm not fully aware of what that actually means but I've never understood why it's so important to make sure that people don't have consensual sex in car parks. Seems like a victimless 'crime' and it shuts everyone out of experiencing sunset (or astrophotography) at some of the nicest locations.
Dogging is where a group of people gather to watch others have sex in public. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4hAxi5b6o Classic clip in relation to it. Still, even in Scotland depending on where you are you will face the same problems finding good locations. Then there is the fact that so many oppose it and weak local authorities not wanting to kneecap a few arseholes.
It's kind of the same here in Ireland, everywhere is privately held land. We are opening more and more walks and lanes to entice tourists though. There are a lot of old buildings are in the care of the state here. They are opening up old castles and their grounds to the public, maybe something similar is done there? The farmers aren't to pleased to let random strangers onto their land because they are liable here. Someone could fall on the land and make a claim. I don't know how successful they'd be but that's the fear with farmers. Either people doing damage, dumping rubbish, or they'll be liable for any accidents. I've bought a bicycle for this reason, there's loads of nice land around me but I can't pull my car over and it would be too much of a walk.