First time to scotland for a week or so.

Dazzola

Dazzola

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Nissan NV400 self bu
Good evening, my wife and I have just finished our second camper build and are planning our trips out for this year, we have done lots of weekends in our old smaller van (a swb low roof vivaro) mainly around Yorkshire.
Our new van gives us scope for longer trips and we want to try scotland, for a week, maybe booking a couple of sites and an overnight stop or 2 off grid where legal.
Apart from wanting to visit Edinburgh Castle at one point, (probably on our way back down) we would like to stay away from the really busy tourist parts, but still see loch ness maybe.
The Highlands and Islands would be great, can you guys offer us advice on good places to stay / see / roads etc? Good routes that aren't too busy?
We are looking at may or early June.
Thanks in advance!
 
The North Coast 500 is a popular drive, but it's usually busy with rentals in the Summer which can be pain for people not wanting to get held up. I particularly like all up the West coast and Inverness for a night or two. There's a great site that I've not seen busy in a place called Achiltibuie (up by Ullapool, another lovely place). They have the village store on the site and they own the pub across the road which serves food. I've been there a couple of times now and I've not seen it too busy. Another nice site is Morvich which is by Eileen Donna Castle. That site can be busy, but the roads are superb up that way.

Wherever you go up the West coast, you'll find plenty things to see and do.
 
A nice route up to Kyle of lochlalsh via glen coe is nice then possibly over to Skye.
You could even take in Isle of Arran on the way up.
 
My advice if you only have a week is to forget the highlands, I'm assuming you are coming up from England. If coming up the M6 its 250 just to inverness, thats at least a days travel there and the same back. Your holiday is now 5 days and that wont do the highlands justice, plus if you want to visit Edinburgh and the castle allow at least a couple of days.

Why not pick an area near Edinburgh. like fife then you can visit Edinburgh on way home. Better still why not stay south of Glasgow and Edinburgh and either visit D&G or the borders, much quieter and a lot less driving.
 
lorger said:
My advice if you only have a week is to forget the highlands, I'm assuming you are coming up from England. If coming up the M6 its 250 just to inverness, thats at least a days travel there and the same back. Your holiday is now 5 days and that wont do the highlands justice, plus if you want to visit Edinburgh and the castle allow at least a couple of days.

Why not pick an area near Edinburgh. like fife then you can visit Edinburgh on way home. Better still why not stay south of Glasgow and Edinburgh and either visit D&G or the borders, much quieter and a lot less driving.
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I agree we forget how big Scotland is head out around the lochness area it has been said its the Highlands in miniature, unless of course your on a flying taster visit to see where you would like to return and spend longer time

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Agree with lorger. Even from Ayr it takes us 6-7 hours to get to our holiday house in the NW highlands. D&G is lovely Fife. Perth and Kinross and Aberdeenshire too. I think limiting the geographical area would give you a more interesting relaxing holiday.
 
Dumfries and Galloway - the highlands in minature. Lots to look at without the crowds. Edinburgh is great, but with only a week you can't do both the city/castle and the countryside justice. D and G is very motorhome friendly.
Sue
 
Totally agree with lorger - sadly you're being too ambitious, though I can understand why.
If you're set on seeing Edinburgh, mountains, and Loch Ness, I'd suggest heading first for the Cairngorm area (the site at Loch Morlich is great, or there's an aire on Cairn Gorm itself); then, go down the southern side of the Loch to Fort Augustus (try the new "Fort Augustus Caravan Park Loch Ness"); and from there to Edinburgh (probably park up outside the city & bus in). You'll be spending a lot of time on the A9 but there are worse roads to travel.
Or, find a route instead around Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Edinburgh - still gives you lovely lochside and mountain roads, and your castle.
I'd certainly advise leaving the Highlands and Islands for another time. It takes me over 6 hours hard driving with no 'tourist' stops to get down to Edinburgh. I take 3 days on the trip to Yorkshire; I can do it in two and have even done it in one day but wasn't fit for anything the next day or two. You need to keep the energy to enjoy your tour.
 
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Mortonhall campsite on outskirts of Edinburgh, bus stop at site entrance.
If in the Glencoe area then Invercoe campsite at Glencoe, or Aire down the road at kinlochleven.
If D&G then Aires at Kirkcudbright and Glencaple. New England Bay campsite if out west.

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Thank you for your advice everyone, that makes things much clearer for us, and I agree, we we're being too ambitious, it would mean constant driving and stress.
So we'll note your suggestions and make a plan of what we can and can't do, probably the bottom end of Scotland for a first attempt, then venture further when we have more time.
Again, cheers for all your help.
Daz.
 
I agree with scully dumfries and galloway are lovely ,kirkudbright is nice (didnt know there was an aire there) new england bay lovely in its remoteness, twynholm (there was a little motor museum there by that motor racer with square jaw but i cant remember his name🤷‍♀️)
and watermill with second hand bookshop further down the road at gatehouse of fleet,
one of my favourite places to visit D&G
 
Another vote for south west Scotland - Google SWC 300
 
Thanks again peeps, we have pretty much decided to choose the NE250 as our first venture, it's looking like our journey out will be the day before my 50th birthday, so I'll be at the half century In Scotland!
Found a site in cairngorm that we can book for the first 2 nights, then travel around the loop stopping off for a night at points around the route, then we will come back around to Dumfries and Galloway on our way home.
I absolutely can't wait to go.

You people are great, thank you 😊

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The NE 250 looks a good prospect for you, but to do it justice I am not sure there would be time to do Dumfries and Galloway on your way home.
Enjoy the trip where ever you go
Sue
 

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