Scotland in a motor home

[thebluehen]

We have a motor home booked for a week in Scotland at the beginning of July.

We are camping and caravan virgins.

We initially thought we would just park up by the side of the road but now I'm not so sure that we can do that every day as we have water and electrics to think about (we have also hired a generator).

So I'm trying to plan an itinerary with various stops.

How feasible does this schedule look (other half thinks it's too much travelling for a week, but Google maps says no more than 2.5 hours travel per day)

Day 1 - Edinburgh collect van drive to Pitlochry
Day 2 Pitlochry to Inverness
Day 3 Inverness to John o groats
Day 4 John o groats to tongue
Day 5 tongue to Ullapool
Day 6 Ullapool to fort William
Day 7 fort William to glasgow
Day 8 Glasgow return to Edinburgh

Any advice gratefully received.

[Darklane]

MyOtherProfile That’s the best way to do it & what we always do when travelling in Scotland. That way you have flexibility to take in consideration unpredictable weather, any road problems etc. Looking online this year most of the sites are booked up already though so not so easy to do.There are lots of motorhome owners who usually take off for Europe in the summer & this year can’t so are touring in Britain instead. Then you have all the extra people who have decided this year to hire a van as they can’t go abroad the same as usual.

[MyOtherProfile]

We did campervan tour for a week in Scotland years ago. It was brilliant but we were very flexible. We set off on a Saturday with our first night booked and then each morning woke up and decided where to go that day. We went to pitlochry for the theatre, fort William, Skye and then Edinburgh for the festival. That was enough and we had a great time. No idea of you could do it like that now. We just called a campsite each morning where we wanted to head for and booked for the next night.

[Darklane]

Also need to allow time in your plans for the unexpected. Unlike most areas any reason for a road to become closed off can mean not just a short diversion. We’ve had at least half a dozen times when roads have been closed most often by an accident ( even minor ones can take ages to clear on narrow, remote roads) twice by a land slip & one was on the main west coast road to Fort William.This can mean a diversion of fifty miles or more as few roads cut through the mountains, so a long circuitous drive, especially ones suitable for large vehicles.

[Darklane]

Your second plan sounds better for a first time.
Have you any experience of driving a motorhome? Consider the width as well as the length, corners are a whole learning curve, even road junctions. We’re on our fourth one, had them for years, the big ones.
I always say once you’re in Scotland it’s wise to think of an A road as just “a” road. Till you’ve experienced some of them their narrowness can be a surprise & you can’t drive a motorhome like a normal saloon car, especially on narrow winding roads
You need to consider meeting a bin lorry or a distillery delivery one etc on single track roads.
They’ve clamped down a lot over the years on stopping anywhere except proper sites. Side of road or lay-by with a generator is a no no.
Where would you fill your water tanks, empty your grey & black water etc?

[Mysterian]

Zip wire just outside Durness. You'll also want to see Smoo cave, and Balnakeil beach just round the corner. (Although the village beaches are brilliant too.) Definitely more than a half day needed.

I wouldn't say the roads are small up there, but...I was held up trying to leave Durness on the A838 as the was a sheep sitting down on it licking it's bits, which blocked the whole road.

[LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow]

there's a couple of NC500 groups on fb which would be worth joining whether or no you van or car. You will certainly get a feel for the etiquette !

The roads up here really are NOT GOOD....once you are passed Aberdeen or off the A9 it's plain old two way traffic if you are lucky, so there's no overtaking no 50mph and often only passing places, which mostly folks do not understand. for the love of God let traffic by you from behind

We are going to try and do the NC500 but plan to do it in sections to really see it ...and I want to do the zip wire at Durness ( i think that's where it is, I have forgotten since half heartedly making plans last year for post lockdown!)

[DogInATent]

If you're new to this then book sites.

Pitching at the side of the road and in laybys sounds romantic, but I don't think you understand the legal side of things (legal wildcamping in Scotland is restricted to tents), or the practicalities - you don't appear to have scheduled any cassette emptying stops or water refills.

[Mysterian]

That'll be the way to "get Scotland done", but you'll have to miss a lot. Sounds more like work than a holiday. I've camped for 3 weeks up the West side and top, moving every 4 days or so. Seemed a good pace.

Wish I had a camper though.

[EvilOnion]

I must admit we've been lucky here and the numbers have been consistently low so it's just a delayed reaction I suppose. Not much to be done really.

One day at a time and all that.

[Happytentoes]

@EvilOnion sorry you have that to deal with. 🤞🏻 It can be dealt with quickly.
I am not far away from you ( Aberdeenshire). Its grim thinking of being locked down again.

[EvilOnion]

I know @Happytentoes, I'm in the area.

It's just something to consider as there's talk of a localised lockdown. Hoping nothing comes of it!

[averythinline]

Your new plan sounds more like a holiday!...... we drove from Inverness to Skye across the top of loch lomond....amazing but October so not so busy.....so if you wanted to do a motor home trip at some stage would suggest that time of year...
..in the summer would recommend SMIDGE insect protection....I'm an insect magnet and this is fab.....

[Throwntothewolves]

I think it's too much driving for one week, it's basically all you'll be doing.
Whether you decide to use a camper van or B&Bs/hotels I would try to book asap as everything, including camp sites will be booked up. It's the first week of the school hols in Scotland (not sure where you're from w
So sorry if you know that already) and pretty much everyone I know is hiring a campervan and touring Scotland this summer so it's going to be busy!

[Happytentoes]

@EvilOnion

I'd keep in mind that some parts of NE Scotland are experiencing a massive surge in Covid cases so there may be restrictions for what you can do/where you can go on your visit.

Hopefully there will be normality by then but something to think about!

The outbreak is in Moray, centred in Elgin but also spreading west to Lossiemouth and east to Keith.

Hoping it’s contained quickly as no-one needs more restrictions.

Enjoy your trip OP, just be sure to pack for all weathers 🙄

[Igotjelly]

You’ll need to be quick booking. We’re off to Skye in July and had to book air B&B’s over a month ago!

[denverRegina]

You need to get booking then. There's not much left!

Don't discount travelodge and premier inn either if you're struggling to find somewhere.

[Itwasjustresting]

That also sounds a good plan! And maybe less stressful in terms of driving time.

[thebluehen]

Had a complete rethink this evening and actually think we are going to scrap hiring the camper van and just book a couple of B and B's in Scotland. Maybe somewhere in the Trossach's and then onto Skye.

[YanTanTethera123]

@denverRegina

Why not collect the van and drive that day to Ullapool?

It's a 4 hour drive and you'll pass through Pitlochry and Inverness.

Spend a couple of nights somewhere near Ullapool and then check out and go over to Skye for a night.

Via Mallaig and past Glenfinnian to Fort William. A night there.

A couple of nights either Oban or Loch Lomond area and Glasgow.

Back to edinburgh with the van.

This is almost the route we did! And we could easily have spent three weeks there.

[midgedude]

How big is the motor home ?

Have you prior experience of driving single track roads?

Just returned from a run around in our van for the first time since covid .

It's pretty clear that over crowding & poor parking have caused problems last year in some communities, a lot of new" no overnight" signs up

It's also pretty clear that some people don't know how to drive single track roads( hints stop at wide bits if somethings coming your way, be prepared to reverse , let faster vehicles pass, don't park in the passing bays )

If you are on a campsite you don't need a generator

If you are parked at the road side you should not have an external generator connected to the van

It's nicest if you arrive somewhere, stay a day ( couple of nights) before moving on. Gives you time to explore

[denverRegina]

Why not collect the van and drive that day to Ullapool?

It's a 4 hour drive and you'll pass through Pitlochry and Inverness.

Spend a couple of nights somewhere near Ullapool and then check out and go over to Skye for a night.

Via Mallaig and past Glenfinnian to Fort William. A night there.

A couple of nights either Oban or Loch Lomond area and Glasgow.

Back to edinburgh with the van.

[capercaillie]

Wouldn't rely on parking up at side of road. There's a lot of tension around that at the moment - and local communities are frustrated with the amount of litter, toilet waste (including campervan waste) and blocking parking areas (sometimes sensitive ones like graveyards). Book into campsites. You're also going to spend a lot of time driving - won't have time to actually look round places or go on even short walks.

[FAQs]

It’s worth looking at this, this is one of the most popular motorhome guide books for stopovers www.britstops.com/