Touring Scotland Advice

[nigelmarston]

In October, I'm going to be touring some of the more remote areas of Scotland including some islands. As a relatively new motor home owner, it will be the first time that I have not used a site. I'm looking for advice on how to find suitable places to pitch up and how I go about emptying the toilet cassette and replenishing the water. Any other relevant advice would be most useful too

 

[CWH]

This is a good start for toilet waste

Waste Disposal - Campa

Whether travelling in your own campervan or motorhome, or in a hire vehicle, it is your responsibility to ensure you leave no trace of your travel and dispose

www.campa.org.uk

 

[CWH]

There are a decent number of private aire-type facilities around as well as campsites but be aware that many places will have closed for the season.

 

[CWH]

If you're thinking Outer Hebrides, this is helpful

Motorhome and Campervan Guide

We welcome responsible caravan, motorhome, and campervan visitors and we want you to have a fantastic holiday and keep coming back! We have some great resources in this section with maps,…

www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk

Many of the other islands have something similar, just google the island name and "motorhome"
If you're thinking of Skye, there are a number of sites that stay open all year either for staying over or just stop-&-drop visits (by prior arrangement)

 

[PP Bear]

There are lots of places to pull over for the night and has been stated above, lots of aires are appearing as well as farms opening up their land for use.

It will also depend if you’re planning the journey, roads and stops, or just going for it and seeing where the journey takes you. Water would always need planning. Never travel empty and fill at every opportunity. I carried an extra 80 litres in 4 x 20litre jerry cans. I also had to fill the tank once with Highlands best bottled water in 5litre bottles, but it’s all doable.

I always carry my old military burgan that’s the perfect size to slip the toilet cassette into with a heavy duty plastic liner. I then emptied in supermarkets etc. see this thread

Broken Link Removed

I only use bio wash tabs, which we pump down the waste water with our washing machines etc, so if you use this in the cassette then there’ll be no nasty stuff going down the loo. Also fetches a laugh when you’re in the cubicle and 15 litres is gushing down the loo in swift time. Other places like Applecross have toilets that are owned, maintained and cleaned by the locals. These normally have an honesty box on the wall and I always put in a £2 coin everytime either of us used the facility.

We also took those sexy mosquito hats, but in all our time of touring, we never saw one, let alone got bitten. The high winds might have had something to do with it

Just remember that there is a lot of bad press reported about motorhomers, either from idiots on YouTube, or Europeans who don’t seem to give the area and the people the respect they deserve. To combat this, we both ensured that we were the politest, kindest and most considerable motorhomers who ever visited the beautiful country. Pick up litter, even if it’s not yours, as some will believe it was you that left it and only let the grey water go where its over a drain that’s suitable for it or in a grey waste on site. If you’re caught short and the waste is full, pull in somewhere suitable, decant into your container and put in a ditch, or similar.

Lastly, enjoy the amazing journey and post lots of photos please

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[CWH]

We also took those sexy mosquito hats, but in all our time of touring, we never saw one, let alone got bitten. The high winds might have had something to do with it

Midgies should be gone by October even in the west, but worth carrying a can of Smidge anyway

 

[Gellyneck]

Midgies should be gone by October even in the west, but worth carrying a can of Smidge anyway

They'd better be gone by September!

 

[zaskar]

If you,re on a single track, use passing places properly.
Never pull into one on the opposite side of the road to you. Pull up opposite and allow the vehicle on that side of the road to use it. Fell foul of that some years ago just trying to be helpful but there,s an unwritten etiquette to follow.

 

[PP Bear]

If you,re on a single track, use passing places properly.
Never pull into one on the opposite side of the road to you. Pull up opposite and allow the vehicle on that side of the road to use it. Fell foul of that some years ago just trying to be helpful but there,s an unwritten etiquette to follow.

Good shout. We also pulled over to let the cars pass us when ever possible. We got many thanks and waves for being thoughtful which all helps keep our good name.

 

[CWH]

there,s an unwritten etiquette to follow

"drive on the left"!

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[The general]

Never pull into one on the opposite side of the road to you

You do pull into those if you come across a logging truck /artic coming towards you , like on the B371??? a major timber truck route

 

[The general]

Just checked B871, a fantastic drive across the peat bogs etc

 

[nicholsong]

If you,re on a single track, use passing places properly.
Never pull into one on the opposite side of the road to you. Pull up opposite and allow the vehicle on that side of the road to use it. Fell foul of that some years ago just trying to be helpful but there,s an unwritten etiquette to follow.

I find that does not always work if the oncoming vehicle is longer than the passing place, e.g. a bus or truck. In that case it is better to get my 7m MH into the passing place on my offside and let the long vehicle have a straight run past.

[EDIT - The general beat me to it]

 

[The general]

Another 2places rannoch station /and single track road to sky fall (nothing there ) location worth the trip remoteness

 

[Rosemary1]

They'd better be gone by September!

Hubby could do dot to dot on me at the moment. Spent too much time in the shade at the bottom of our garden changing the plant borders!

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[MrPG]

Take a spare toilet cassette.

 

[Gellyneck]

Spent too much time in the shade at the bottom of our garden changing the plant borders!

Stoap fibbin!
It's never sunny in Stranraer! Well not when we're there anyway!
And, I get shouted at for parking too far away in Lidl's car park!

 

[The general]

Ok haven’t been to Scotland sinc 2019 but I remember a lot of villages etc have public toilets that , as said , the locals maintain

 

[Verteuil Man]

We did the east side first in October which has a lot of deciduous trees which where a lovely palette of reds, oranges and yellow.

A nice place we found to stay on the way back down the east side is in the old harbour at Kinlochbervie. The run in follows the water which has the salmon farms.

 

[Gellyneck]

You do pull into those if you come across a logging truck /artic coming towards you , like on the B371??? a major timber truck route

Probably carrying trees planted as a tax incentive in the 70's that had a significant impact on the Flow Country!

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[Coolcats]

They'd better be gone by September!

Looks fine except a couple of areas.

The Scottish Midge Forecast

The Scottish Midge Forecast uses data from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across Scotland to give you a view of midge levels in Scotland.

www.smidgeup.com

 

[Gellyneck]

Looks fine except a couple of areas.

The Scottish Midge Forecast

The Scottish Midge Forecast uses data from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across Scotland to give you a view of midge levels in Scotland.

www.smidgeup.com

You wanna have a guess who's going to the 3 and 4 areas next week?

 

[Coolcats]

You wanna have a guess who's going to the 3 and 4 areas next week?

Hopefully it will have calmed down or just cover yourself with smidge

 

[CWH]

You wanna have a guess who's going to the 3 and 4 areas next week?

yup I'll be in a level 3 area next week - just hope the wind picks up a bit!

 

[Gellyneck]

yup I'll be in a level 3 area next week - just hope the wind picks up a bit!

Just 'cause we like to help out other Funsters. Here you go! Free of charge.

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[WillH]

Been in the Highlands for a week now, have yet to see a midge.

 

[CWH]

Been in the Highlands for a week now, have yet to see a midge.

Been in Highland for all but 3 weeks of this year, only been properly invaded once! (and that was at a bbq). Seems they're having as much trouble with the weather as everybody else.

 

[irnbru]

If you,re on a single track, use passing places properly.
Never pull into one on the opposite side of the road to you. Pull up opposite and allow the vehicle on that side of the road to use it. Fell foul of that some years ago just trying to be helpful but there,s an unwritten etiquette to follow.

Here's a wee video to support your comments although I agree on the rare occasion it is easier to cross if something is much larger.

 

[Speve]

Take a look on this site they have a list of Aires

Campaign for Real Aires UK - CAMpRA

This campaign is to encourage spending in the local economy by the provision of Aires

campra.org.uk

 

[PaulC70]

In October, I'm going to be touring some of the more remote areas of Scotland including some islands. As a relatively new motor home owner, it will be the first time that I have not used a site. I'm looking for advice on how to find suitable places to pitch up and how I go about emptying the toilet cassette and replenishing the water. Any other relevant advice would be most useful too

Some good suggestions so far though I don't think anyone has suggested the searchforsites app or the park4nights one. I always found myself going back to the former for my 2 weeks round Scotland 8 weeks ago including Orkney.

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