Touring Scotland
We are planning a tour of Scotland in June with our Coachman Pastiche 520/4 caravan. At the moment the itinerary is:
- The Woods - Stirling
- Bunree - Fort William
- Camping & Caravanning Club site on Skye at Loch Greshnish
- Culloden Moor
- Balbirnie
- Melrose Park
Thoughts on the sites and the routes to these sites would be appreciated. Any info on towing on the roads on Skye?
Comments
-
You’ll be fine if you stick to major roads but avoid the A82 alongside Loch Lomond if towing in that area. You’ve got probably a month's worth of sight seeing in that trip and journeys in Scotland can take longer than you expect.
0 -
AS TW says, you have lots of miles thro some gorgeous scenery in your Tour Guide, SCREENY, but for your own pleasure and delight remember it's not a military operation it is a Holiday so treat it as such. Despite the rantings from the First Minister it will still be there long enough to see the Ben Nevis Massif worn down to fine gravel
2 -
Looks like a well planned circular-ish route, taking in a few different types of area.👍
We've stayed at The Woods. It has some nice views, if you're on a decent pitch. However, we prefer the commercial site in Callander, in the area. Walkable to town, open feeling, nice facilities too.
Bunree really does have great views and is a favourite of ours. We were recently at North Ledaig, near Oban, a little further South. Not much between the two.
We stayed on Culloden, just the once. We felt that there weren't many pitches with views and the site felt a bit cramped. Can only suggest Grantown on Spey a little further South as an excellent alternative, if needed.
Melrose is a cracking site for access to all of the towns amenities. Not the most picturesque, but does what it says on the tin.
The Skye site looks to have a great position on the shoreline. Can't wait to visit it someday.
Lots to look forward to.👍🙂
1 -
Sounds like a good plan👍🏻
I'm not a fan of the Culloden club site either, unless there’s a specific reason for being in that area. We preferred the C&CC site at Dingwall and it’s far better if you have a dog to consider.
Incidentally, you can choose your own user name by visiting My Profile.
0 -
I've towed alongside Loch Lommond on the A82 a few times - we've stopped at a CL at Drymen ..... there are nicer/bigger roads to tow on, but I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it. As with many twisty A roads you just need to look a bit further up the road and keep left when HGVs are coming towards you
1 -
....unless you're passing a protruding rock at the time🙄
1 -
This year will be a first for us, taking the caravan to Scotland. Our daughter and son-in-law moved to the Outer Hebrides a couple of years ago, but when we've visited, we've usually taken others with us and have hired a cottage.
This year we're taking the caravan up to Grantown-on-Spey, near Aviemore... and we're popping in to Edinburgh on the way back. After coming home for two nights, we're then off to Devon and Dorset. Then we're back home for 3 nights, before picking up my sister and brother-in-law for the Lewis with Harris trip and our hired cottage! 😃😃
Enjoy your trip, Screen...... I'm also not a fan of the road that runs alongside Loch Lomond. The last time we came back they'd closed the road just south of the junction at Tarbet (nr Loch Lomond) and we ended up having to follow diversion signs which took us goodness knows where. Glad I wasn't towing!!
David
0 -
Do you know, after driving for 56 years I still can't see around bends in the road no matter how far I try to look ahead. You must have special Lanky powers😖
1 -
Hi DSB,
Grantown on Spey is an excellent all round site. Excellent facilities, short walk into the village with everything you need. Aviemore, Loch Morlich etc just down the road and deep in whisky country. Some nice pitches with views and different pitching areas too.
Enjoy your 1st Scotland caravan trip.🙂👍
0 -
Screen, sounds like a good trip although the comments about Culloden might change your mind, have you thought of the C&CC Black Isle and their site at Rosemarkie, a very nice village, it's right on the Moray coast and you can walk to see the Dolphins passing by at Chanonry Point. We've driven down to Balbirnie from there, it's quite a long haul and has a busy approach, we didn't find it particularly worth the effort in an urban area although the Fife Coast is always worth visiting.
We tend to use a mid point heading for the Borders from the north and like visiting Blair Atholl campsite or Milton of Fonab at Pitlochry. Just a few extra ideas, have a good time and DSB too!
0 -
Nearby Fortrose Bay Campsite (independent) is also a good bet, easy walk through golf course to Chanonry Point & Rosemarkie Village. Just a thought from someone who likes the Moray Coast… its not on your itinerary but to avoid the crowds and visit some great locations the Northeast 250 is a lesser known route.
+1 for Milton of Fonab site and Pitlochry.
0 -
Like E D I have used the route around Loch Lommond a few times depending what we have wanted to do and see, it isn't the most relaxing drive, but careful driving and a bit of thought well worth it, depending on how confident you feel. As far as I am concerned the blasted Midges would be more of a nuisance in Scotland during June than road conditions. However you have to use the Summer months to ride the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Malaig. We have done that trip 3 times and worth every Midge bite to do it...stunning.
0 -
The Culloden campsite isn’t that bad, particularly if you want to visit the battlefield and there are regular buses into Inverness. However, I agree with TW the Dingwall C&CC site is much preferable and our chosen on route site this year. It also has the advantage with age related discount of being £7.75 a night cheaper.
1 -
Ah, yes, the midges!
Skye and Bunree will be the worst places for them. Go prepared.
I find North Ledaig suffers less than Bunree because it is more open and gets a breeze from the sea which helps keep the beasties at bay.
2 -
The biggest danger is from white van man as Transit type mirrors are at the same height as my towing mirrors!So I fold the mirrors in whilst on the twisty bits ( It is unlikely that any body will want to overtake other than emergency vehicles and you can hear the sirens!).A lot of coaches use the road and they take great care to protect their very expensive mirrors so if you can,tuck in behind a coach!
0 -
Have stayed at all but one on your list.
The only one I wouldn't do back to is Balbirnie, in fact we left early. Nothing wrong with the site but too many trees and the pitches were a bit rough for our liking for a long stay - just our preference. It may have changed since our visit some years ago
Bunree is excellent but beware the midges, I though it was just a myth but if it rains and no wind they'll be out in force and you won't believe how bad they can be, really! In fact we left for Stirling and they really went for my daughter.
Have a look at Blair Drummond caravan site in Stirling, when we used it is was a club site and from a recent flying visit it appears the same.
From what I remember Culloden was good, a wide open site with spacious enough pitches to fit car caravan and awning. Views are limited south across the valley but its what lies near to site that important to me. Close to the battlefield and good for going north and eastwards and good access to Loch Ness. We looked in at Dingwall, looked good and a good location but not so many HS as I recall hence we choose Culloden. Also a day trip to Orkney is excellent. Melrose again is one of our top two favourite sites and excellent for all the borders and their abbey's. There is a good train to Edinburgh and the station is easily walkable from the site, or it's free parking.
Just one last point are you members of the National Trust and/or English Heritage? If so and you may be able if you've been a member long enough to get free entry in NTS and Historic Scotland and they'll be plenty of places to visit as we've found. If you're not consider joining NTS and HS, you'll easily get your membership back in a month's tour, especially at places like Stirling and Edinburgh Castle and after a year you'll be able to get free entry in England and Wales.
0 -
The only one I wouldn't do back to is Balbirnie, in fact we left early. Nothing wrong with the site but too many trees and the pitches were a bit rough for our liking for a long stay - just our preference. It may have changed since our visit some years ago
From your description, I wouldn’t say it’s changed. We used it on two occasions for a single night last year and for that it is very good. After pitching up you can go for a pleasant walk in the park, on our first visit the Rhododendrons were spectacular. We have considered it for a 2 / 3 nighter, as Edinburgh is easily accessible on the train from the nearby station and you get to cross the Forth rail bridge.
1 -
I've just read a new review of the Culloden site😱😱😱
0 -
I also have not toured Scotland for many years but as I recall where roads are narrow unlike those in the South West they are mostly open aspect with plenty of passing places. I have towed a caravan clockwise around the coast of Scotland without problems. I am currently put off touring there from the reports of excessive visitors.
peedee
0 -
What’s the mileage for this tour and how long have you got? And are these particularly interesting places you wish to visit, with things you want to see and do, or it just a list of caravan sites ?
0 -
The OP has answered about the time he/she expects.
or it just a list of caravan sites ?
What a puzzling thing to ask? And I'm not sure what the point you're trying to make?
I think it's obvious to that they are places they will be interested in and want to see along the way using the sites as bases moving on every few days or so, rather than just a list of sites.
As others have replied it's appears good plan to see Scotland.
1 -
Yes indeed, and also a new good review of Balbirnie.
0 -
We were at Balbirnie last year. Yes it is very heavily wooded but we were fortunate to get what was probably the best pitch for sun. It's at the top of the site on a small glade, all grass. pitches 80-82 if you can get them, nice and quiet too.
From St, Andrew along the coast to Kirkaldy are some very picturesque or favourite was Anstruther,
0 -
I live in scotland but am considering touring in northern englandshire due to the large number of visitors over the last couple of years!The scottish assembly seem to be welcoming all and sundry in the hope that the visitors will spend lots of money!!
1
