Scotland, two weeks with kids, bell tent and maybe the dog

[Smugfearnleyshittingstool]

Any ideas fellow campers. We have never been to Scotland, and after terrible weather in the south over the last few years, I don't care if it is wet and we fancy scotland. We have a lot of gear so will probably stay for two nights at each stop, but want to see as much as possible. We have done newzealand from top to bottom in three weeks so travelling is not a problem. any fantastic places or sites that we should see, please inspire me more.

Applecross and arisaig/mallaig are a must!! Dunkeld in Perthshire is lovely too campsite is in Inver less than a mile away.

Agree with Arisaig, we stayed at the Camusdarach campsite which is spectacular. Also highly recommend the Red Squirrel campsite at Glencoe.

A word of warning - pick when you go carefully or go armed with every sort of midge repellant that you can find, our camping trip was ruined when every inch of me was bitten. There were thick black clouds of them that you couldn't avoid breathing in in some places. I loved everywhere we went in Scotland but to be honest wouldn't go again in midgie season.

Thanks for your replies, I'll look up those places and the midge season now...I bet it's in the summer hols!

We go to arisaig 3 times a year every year for last 5 years and never once been bothered by midgies!!

Where do you camp in Arisaig? Is there a site or is it rough camping?

Wow red squirrel campsite looks fantastic, just our kind of place, thanks!

Woodlands in Carnoustie and Cairnsmill in St Andrews both very child friendly. Drive to Applecross not for the fainthearted lol

Avon Skin So Soft is pretty good for midgies, but not a fail-safe.

Are you going to any islands? Mull is stunning and Calgary Beach is a not-very-well-kept secret beloved of wild campers. (It's not as wild as it could be, there's a public loo on the road just behind the beach!)

Gorten sands is where we stay in arisaig. It doesn't have showers just toilets. But it is right on the beach and so fab for walks and there is a wee hotel close by for food and drinks.

Fort William, Kyle of lochalsh and skye

Stick to the East coast if you can't abide the wee beasties aka Midges. They eat me alive, and mysteriously leave DH and DS alone

Fife has a few nice sites around Elie and StAndrews. Someone ^ mentioned Woodlands in Carnoustie which is a fab site for little ones

The Red Squirrel is MIDGIE HELL and the toilets and showers are crap. However, the surrounding countryside is jaw droppingly awesome, so it's kinda worth it.

Hi - I'm Scots and also have-bell-tent-will-travel. We've done most of Scotland in a tent.

Arisaig is amazing - we have week booked up there in the summer.

Zgaze - we are booked into Camusdarach this year! Yay!

We had initially enquired after Invercaimbe - but changed our mind after reading a review detailing how half the campsite got wiped out due to strong winds a couple of years ago.
Right-on-the-beach campsites are windy windy campsites. Camusdarach is a three minute walk to a spectacular beach, but the camping field itself is sheltered by trees. I'm glad to hear you liked it.

OP - look up UK Campsite. It's quite brilliant and will give you a list of choices to explore.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ here

try again

Port na doran at arisaig is great, it's just a field and toilet block, it is a 2 min walk from a sandy beach. We had a gloriously sunny trip there last year, going again this year!

Lochinver. Wi try and find a link when I'm not on my phone. And skye is stunning too.

Ohhhh how excited am I?? This thread is making me all squirmy!

The first week we are taking oor Bessie (bell tent) off to Snowdonia, then the second week she travels to Arisaig.
Pic of Bessie on my profile.

God I love my tent.

Bit reluctant to give out this tip(want it all to ourselves!) but Comrie Croft Campsite is AMAZING. Good space for the Belltent and good price. We like the Lower Meadow the best as you are near the toilets, etc. and the chickens to keep little ones happy. No cars allowed on the camping field which suited us better with twin toddlers.

Also if you fancy a dog and kid friendly activity near Comrie there is an Animal Park that allows dogs which is unusual. It's called Auchengarrich.