Need advice/help for motorhome holiday in Scotland

[SewingBees]

It's on my bucket list to go back to tour around Scotland, and my daughter desperately wants a holiday in a motorhome. Thanks to my cancer progressing the time for bucket list activities is now.

So we're planning to hire a motorhome for a week or ten days this Easter, probably from nearish Glasgow. Me, husband, daughter (age 7) and two dogs.

All good except I'm starting to get anxious about the logistics. We're experienced campers but have never been in a motorhome, let alone been on holiday in one. What do I need to know and where should I go for advice? Will the hire company tell us everything we need to know about how everything works?

I don't need advice on where to go - we know Scotland well - though information about hidden gems of campsites/spots to park up for the night would be welcome.

It's slower than a car (I'm sure you realise that but just worth stating as a friend found that unexpectedly frustrating)

You weren't planning to do any islands were you? It's not easy to get on and off ferries.

If you give a rough idea of route people can advise on specifics. I've a couple of places in mind but you might not be going anywhere near!

The main thing is regular stops on sites where you can empty waste and loo and fill water tank.
Luss campsite is a lovely spot with a short walk into village and a lovely pub at Inverberg, it's a nice first site to stop at once into Scotland.
Morvich caravan site is lovely too.

There is a Facebook group called nc500 the dirty truth that will give you useful information. There is another called nc500 the land weeps that you might also find of interest. My experience from those groups is that the hire company will tell you nothing!

Book campsites and don’t be tempted to just “park up” for the night unless you want to seriously piss off the locals! Wild camping rules apply to tents away from roads only and there’s been so much antisocial behaviour since lockdown from people parking up not in campsites that locals are rightly quite sensitive about it.
Easter could be cold, I’d find sites near a good pub!
bear in mind that unlike camping in a tent, if you want to go out other than on foot then you need to pack and secure everything away before you move off. You’ll also have to factor in that some public car parks have height restrictions and may not have bays big enough.

I am sorry about your diagnosis.

If you are heading anywhere more rural make sure you are confident reversing on a single track road. Local drivers will sit and wait for you to do so.

Stay overnight in proper campsites, spend locally, don't ditch your waste at the side of the road (yes people do).

The campervan company will tell you nothing useful. Plan and organise everything yourselves. It will likely be very cold overnight in April, but there will be great night skies. Or snow.

This post explains why motorhomes are not popular in much if Scotland https://www.facebook.com/share/p/BqYWy4GoSuj7esmE/

Find the campervan overnight parking group on Facebook.

All the info you could need re stopovers etc.

Have a fab time!

The hirer people will likely tell you nothing which can lead to things being a bit stressful. My advice is to book a local camper before your trip for a weekend and just get used to how things work/find out if you actually like driving one. I absolutely appreciate this is a bucket list thing and would love to welcome you to my beautiful country, but just do a wee trial run first and find out if a camper is really how you want to do it. You MUST be able to reverse, you MUST be prepared to pull in and let traffic pass and you MUST prebook slots. Please don't just park up and sleep.

Really, please don't.

I don't get why people would rather park up in a layby than support a local business by staying in a campsite.

DD did the NC500 a couple of years ago in a small car. She said the road really is unsuitable for motorhomes. They found the motor homes a menace on this road.

The page includes paying campsites as well as pubs (where you usually eat and/or drink) and other places.
What's your issue?

https://lochlomond-trossachs.campmanager.com/Closed/

You can stop for a night around Loch Lomond and see sunset on the beach then go onto Fort William!

They issue permits to camp in a motor home for the night 😃

Thanks everyone for your replies. They have clarified for me that I was getting a bit anxious about the idea and I fear that we will spend a huge amount of the holiday quite stressed!

Having talked it over with my husband we're probably going to change plans and book a holiday cottage or two in locations we really want to go back to, seeing the lovely scenery on the way. We know well many of the very small roads in the wilder places in Scotland, and although we're both confident drivers we're not sure about taking an unfamiliar motorhome down them, and we don't want to miss out on going to some of those places because our vehicle is too big.

The motorhome/campervan wish is actually my daughter's so we're going to try and make that happen in the summer somewhere local - we're in Northumberland so plenty of spectacular places within a short drive.

I do appreciate the replies though, they have been really helpful.

Great decision op!Didn't want to say don't but the truth is my friend didn't enjoy her trip at all. V anxiety provoking!

Sounds a good plan, OP. hope you have a great holiday wherever you decide to go.

I hope you have a lovely holiday .

Have a lovely holiday, and I hope the weather is kind.

I think that's a much better plan. Motor homes are also quite hard work - you've got water, waste, power hook ups, packing things away safely. Much nicer to go to a lovely cottage.

That’s a good idea. Hope you have a lovely holiday!