Cumbria to Arisaig overnight stop

eyebrowsb
eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
edited July 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi all,

As per the title, we will be travelling from Cumbria to Arisaig at the end of August.  Does anyone have a recommendation for an overnight stop?

Blair Drummond seems the most obvious choice, but expensive.  We are members of both clubs, so any CL, CS or commercial site recommendations? As it's just a quick overnight, don't want to be too far off our route.

Must allow dogs, EHU would be nice, but not essential.  Any ideas? 

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Comments

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #2

    Depends how far you are comfortable driving.

    Good sites at Callander, Killin (2) Glencoe, Onich (Bunree)  All ok for night halt or longer.

    Take military grade midge repellant.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #3

    Thanks Fysherman Smile  I think we'll be looking at stopping around the Stirling area .... maybe Callander area.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #4

    You are welcome.

    At Callander it's the Gart Caravan park. It can get busy so might need booking. Walking distance into town for a meal/drink.

    If anyone in the family is into fyshing you can fysh for Salmon from the site.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited July 2016 #5

    If expense is a problem, the second CC site at Killin ( The Clachan ) is considerably cheaper, Not far off your route and for an overnight would be ideal. A short drive into the village for an evening meal if that's what you want. 

    Like Fysherman, I would recommend a good supply of midge repellant up at Arisaig at that time of year. I would suggest you invest in a couple of midge nets as well. 

    K 

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #6

    Clachan is one of my favourite sites.

    Time I paid it another visit!

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #7

    Maybe think of stopping a bit further north as the first part of your journey is on straight(ish) fast multi-lane roads, and the second part isn't!

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #8

    Thanks for the suggestions both Smile  Expense is not really a problem, but Blair Drummond just seems a little pricey when we will only arrive
    late afternoon and leave the next morning.

    We stayed at Bunree (many years ago) and had a pitch on the second row back ..... no problem with midges that trip.  Do you really think the midges will be that bad at Arisaig?

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #9

    Yes, I am afraid so. A lot depends how windy it turns out to be.

    Don't want to put you off but they need to be taken seriously.

    Nav makes a good point by the way but it's your call.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #10

    Thanks for the warning Surprised  We do have Jungle formula spray and electric plug-ins ... and bog myrtle candles.

    The worst problem we've ever had with midges (apart from here in Cumbria) was in south west Scotland,on a CL near Newton Stewart.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #11

    I agree about SW Scotland, still have nightmares about a visit to Glen Trool.

    Try to source some proper midge netting to put on to the existing caravan window screens. Midges just walk straight through the usual netting.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #12

    Maybe think of stopping a bit further north as the first part of your journey is on straight(ish) fast multi-lane roads, and the second part isn't!

    Thanks for the advice.  Maybe we should get a bit further north.  When our son was at Uni in Stirling, we travelled there a few times a year for four years.  With a short stop (comfort break for us and the dog) it takes 4 hours from home to Stirling.  I'm
    not sure how much further north we would want to travel in one go.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #13

    I agree about SW Scotland, still have nightmares about a visit to Glen Trool.

    Try to source some proper midge netting to put on to the existing caravan window screens. Midges just walk straight through the usual netting.

    The problem is that whatever netting or screens you have .... the moment you open the caravan door, they're in Frown

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #14

    Another stopover idea would be CLs in the Falkirk area? Unless it's unusually warm in late August cooler weather will be setting in further north. I wouldn't worry about midges too much.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #15

    Another stopover idea would be CLs in the Falkirk area? Unless it's unusually warm in late August cooler weather will be setting in further north. I wouldn't worry about midges too much.

    Thanks brue Smile  We don't leave home until 30th August.  We are booked into Small Isles CL from 31st.  Right next to the beach .... looks perfect
    for us!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #16

    Have a good time, it's lovely up there! Smile

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #17

    Have a good time, it's lovely up there! Smile

    Thank you Smile

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited July 2016 #18

    I would go along with Kennine and suggest Clachan. It is reasonably close to the main road and with no resident wardens is a cheaper option and the village is within walking distance with a small Coop for supplies.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #19

    I agree about SW Scotland, still have nightmares about a visit to Glen Trool.

    Try to source some proper midge netting to put on to the existing caravan window screens. Midges just walk straight through the usual netting.

    The problem is that whatever netting or screens you have .... the moment you open the caravan door, they're in Frown

     

    Yup. Even with a screen door whey will get in but it's the best you can do.

    We usually end up with little blood spots all over the roof where I squash them before bed.Surprised. Use left and right arrows to navigate.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #20

    I would go along with Kennine and suggest Clachan. It is reasonably close to the main road and with no resident wardens is a cheaper option and the village is within walking distance with a small Coop for supplies.

    These days you have to go to the other site to book in.

    A bit of a pain for a quick overnight site stop when you are just wanting to get set up ASAP perhaps? 

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #21

    I would go along with Kennine and suggest Clachan. It is reasonably close to the main road and with no resident wardens is a cheaper option and the village is within walking distance with a small Coop for supplies.

    These days you have to go to the other site to book in.

    A bit of a pain for a quick overnight site stop when you are just wanting to get set up ASAP perhaps? 

    Write your comments here...You pass the door of the other Killin site on the way to Clachan - Booking in just puts a few minutes on your journey. 

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #22

    Thanks everyone Smile  OH doesn't really want to drive much further than Callander, so Fysherman's suggestion of The Gart is favourite at the
    moment.  

    We have also come up with another site at Blair Drummond called Burnside.  Has anyone stayed there?

    Fysherman, do you know if there is anywhere to give the dog a good walk at/near The Gart?

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #23

    Lots of walks in this area. It's worthy of a Holiday in it's own right..

    Don't know if there is a Dog walk actually on site though but the walk into town is on the flat.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited July 2016 #24

    I would go along with Kennine and suggest Clachan. It is reasonably close to the main road and with no resident wardens is a cheaper option and the village is within walking distance with a small Coop for supplies.

    These days you have to go to the other site to book in.

    A bit of a pain for a quick overnight site stop when you are just wanting to get set up ASAP perhaps? 

    Write your comments here...You pass the door of the other Killin site on the way to Clachan - Booking in just puts a few minutes on your journey. 

    I have to agree, it is not that big a problem. In practice other than turning round to move from one site to the next, and there is plenty of room, there is no real delay.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #25

    If LynR likes the idea of the Gart site there is a dog walk there, it's £26.50 per night. There is a CL near Denny that might also fit the bill, all en route for the north.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #26

    Thanks again everyone Smile  Seems The Gart isn't much cheaper than Blair Drummond (£27.10)  The other site we've found at Blair Drummond is
    only £15 per night with extra charge for electric used.

    We wouldn't usually mind paying upwards of £25 for a nice site with good facilities if we going to be spending any time there. But as it's just a case of legs down, walk the dog, meal in the van, bed, then off next morning .. was hoping for somewhere a bit
    less expensive.

     

  • thebroons
    thebroons Forum Participant Posts: 165
    edited July 2016 #27

    Thanks everyone Smile  OH doesn't really want to drive much further than Callander, so Fysherman's suggestion of The Gart is favourite at the
    moment.  

    We have also come up with another site at Blair Drummond called Burnside.  Has anyone stayed there?

    Fysherman, do you know if there is anywhere to give the dog a good walk at/near The Gart?

    We stayed at Burnside a few years ago and it's a nice small private site. We would gladly use it again. 

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #28

    Thanks thebroons Smile  Do you remember if there was anywhere nearby for dog walking?  Can't seem to find the answer on their website.

  • thebroons
    thebroons Forum Participant Posts: 165
    edited August 2016 #29

    Thanks thebroons Smile  Do you remember if there was anywhere nearby for dog walking?  Can't seem to find the answer on their website.

    Apologies for the delay in replying.

     

    The site is down a quiet country road so waking the dog on a leash should be ok. For anything else you would need to contact the site. 

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited August 2016 #30

    Thanks again thebroons Smile  I've emailed them to check availability.  If they are full, I think we'll just accept paying more and try the AS
    at Blair Drummond as we know they have a very good dog walk. The Gart also remains a possibility.  

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited August 2016 #31

    Another question which I hope someone can answer Winking

    Has anyone stopped recently at either Annandale Water services or Abington?  Last time we stopped at Abington was years ago, and caravan parking was very limited.  I think we did once pull into Annandale water ...... and straight out again Frown 
    Maybe things have improved now?

    We'll just need a quick stop for a coffee, stretch our legs etc.

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