Well I've managed to buy a Suzuki VanVan, to carry in my Hymer, but its owner lives on Orkney mainland, but is willing to put it on the ferry for me, so I can collect it from Gills Bay. So I'll be travelling from Norfolk to collect it and not having been to Scotland much at all, let alone in a motorhome I'm asking if anyone has any suggestions for any special stopovers en-route on the East coastal route (A9) And while it would be great to take our time over what will be a 1200+ mile return journey we do not have a great deal of time to spare.
Orkney-Gills Bay from Norfolk. (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Westbarn1
- Start date
so are you after stops to simply stop/sleep/shit&go or have you time for somewhere nice.?
That's a hell of a trip.
There are a few guys up near Wick that do a good trade in organising the transport of pedal bikes back down to England after folks have cycled Land's End to John O' Groats. Why not contact them and ask if they could organise the transport of your Vanvan to Norfolk?
There are a few guys up near Wick that do a good trade in organising the transport of pedal bikes back down to England after folks have cycled Land's End to John O' Groats. Why not contact them and ask if they could organise the transport of your Vanvan to Norfolk?
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Westbarn1
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Westbarn1
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Agree with that, just wish I had more time to make a good trip of it, I have just posted up for quotes on Shiply, but then I do quite fancy doing the journey myself, have only been up that way once on a motorcycle ride (NC500)
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Westbarn1
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Was a rash moment on eBay, needless to say, due to the location I was the only bidder!
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- Feb 24, 2013
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Gellyneck
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Have a look at Loch Leven Larder at Kinross. Overnight parking and a decent breakfast.
If you fancy bypassing Kessock Bridge and going around The Firth of Beauly you could have a look at The Old North Inn pub stopover.
Also, think you can still overnight in Golspie Beach car park (middle of the village).
There's a number of "stopping places" on the A9 between Latheron and Thurso but right next to the main road.
You're about level with me at Bedford. I've personally done Bedford to North Berwick in a day which is just over 6 hrs / 340 miles, also Bedford to the Kelpies at Falkirk which is 6.5 hours / 380 miles. The Kelpies is a tenner overnight, but North Berwick rugby club car park is free, neither have facilities.
After that you're about another 6.5 hours / 300 miles from Gills Bay but thats a very different drive to the previous day as it's going to be mainly single carraigeway and even harder after the previous days drive, when I did it last year on my trip to Orkney my next stop after North Berwick was the Cairngorms (3.5 hours / 170 miles) which has a great motorhome stop, gated and needs booking pre 11am, £12, bins and water available too and fantastic views. https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=26231
Then my next stop was Helmsdale Harbour https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=23403 no facilities but great wee stop and nice food in the village. From the Cairngorms this is only 110 miles / 2.5 hrs drive so a lazy day and then up the next day to get to Gills Bay and pick up the bike ( now only an hour and 20 mins / 55ish miles) handy if the bikes coming on the early ferry as you could pick up and head straight back to Helmdale to head home.
However, from the Cairngorms you could head straight to Dunnet Head https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=22792 which is 160 miles and just less than 4 hours. I stayed here too and loved it, no facilities and costs a tenner but great views and loads of puffins about! Youre only 12 miles / 20 mins from Gills bay now.
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CWH
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'Taste Perthshire' is just off the A9, at Bankfoot just north of Perth PH1 4EB. Road noise if you're ok with that, nice flar car park. Hot food 8am to 8pm including takeaway. Shop, Fuel.
www.tasteperthshire.co.uk
Taste Perthshire - Bankfoot Shop and Restaurant
Visit Taste Perthshire, Bankfoot shop and restaurant, near Perth for a unique shopping experience and an all day family restaurant.
Puddleduck
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Puddleduck
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Agreed it is a good stopping point. We have used it a few times.'Taste Perthshire' is just off the A9, at Bankfoot just north of Perth PH1 4EB. Road noise if you're ok with that, nice flar car park. Hot food 8am to 8pm including takeaway. Shop, Fuel.
Taste Perthshire - Bankfoot Shop and Restaurant
Visit Taste Perthshire, Bankfoot shop and restaurant, near Perth for a unique shopping experience and an all day family restaurant.
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Usually do the drive to Thurso in a day - just 9 hours or so - so my only advice would be fill up at Asda Tain. It's only just off the A9 and is cheaper than most places on the way for food and fuel! Although I have parked the MH at Duncansby Head for the night once.
Gellyneck
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Or Morrisons in Alness as that has a Lidl's next door whereas the Lidl's in Tain is at the other end of the Burgh.
There’s a good selection of stopovers on Search for sites app
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Gellyneck
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If heading as far as Dunnet Head I think you can actually overnight at the Gills Bay terminal. Not the same views right enough!
Ahh I didn't know you could I have to admit.If heading as far as Dunnet Head I think you can actually overnight at the Gills Bay terminal. Not the same views right enough!
Ps....if passing stop in at Castletown Harbour. It's the only drystone harbour you are likely to see! Thousands on Caithness slabs piled on one another to make a harbour.
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From Norfolk (Dereham) I drive the pretty way to see family in Teesside (Boston, Horncastle, Caistor, Humber Bridge, Wetwang , Malton, Helmsley, Stokesley): 5 hours compared to 4h up the A1.
By the end of the day I’m parked at my favourite BritStop close to Bamburgh: get there late but enjoy a good breakfast.
Then Edinburgh bypass and onto my second favourite BritStop between Aviemore and Grantown.
A steady drive to JoG
We stayed at The Crofters Snug: CAMC CL with great views BUT CDP at the top of a hill (trolley provided to get it up there)
Gordon
By the end of the day I’m parked at my favourite BritStop close to Bamburgh: get there late but enjoy a good breakfast.
Then Edinburgh bypass and onto my second favourite BritStop between Aviemore and Grantown.
A steady drive to JoG
We stayed at The Crofters Snug: CAMC CL with great views BUT CDP at the top of a hill (trolley provided to get it up there)
Gordon
Gellyneck
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Last time we went over both the Gills Bay and Scrabster ferries were off due to bad weather.
When we turned up for our booking, the day the Gills Bay sailing recommenced, there were a number of motorhomes there who had arrived a day or two before. Don't think it was special dispensation for the cancellations as a couple of them said nobody had bothered with them.
One of them was actually from New Zealand in a hired van! The one that reversed on after us.
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Westbarn1
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Come on then Gordon, I signed up for Britstop this year, let me know where your favourites are
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NE83/23
A lovely farm shop just 100 metres from the A1 but very quiet. Mainly flat carpark. Often closed if I’m doing a long drive north but I phone ahead. Good food and good coffee
S48/23
Garden centre and farm shop (we tend to avoid pubs) with red squirrels in abundance. Park among pine trees for a peaceful sleep but only 100 metres from a main road (we followed the satnav from the north first time: big mistake). Small friendly cafe although they were building something new last time we visited so it may have changed.
[S13/23 is another garden centre that we have used: huge place in a nice situation but it had bird scarers going off every few minutes. I asked to move from where they wanted us into the walled garden and it was much quieter, although they weren’t keen on my move.]
Hopefully next year’s app will have different categories marked with coloured symbols.
Gordon
A lovely farm shop just 100 metres from the A1 but very quiet. Mainly flat carpark. Often closed if I’m doing a long drive north but I phone ahead. Good food and good coffee
S48/23
Garden centre and farm shop (we tend to avoid pubs) with red squirrels in abundance. Park among pine trees for a peaceful sleep but only 100 metres from a main road (we followed the satnav from the north first time: big mistake). Small friendly cafe although they were building something new last time we visited so it may have changed.
[S13/23 is another garden centre that we have used: huge place in a nice situation but it had bird scarers going off every few minutes. I asked to move from where they wanted us into the walled garden and it was much quieter, although they weren’t keen on my move.]
Hopefully next year’s app will have different categories marked with coloured symbols.
Gordon
you picked a great week to do it to be fair!
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