Finally booked our grand tour of Scotland, but..
My better half has always wanted to tour Scotland and after much 'discussion' and a lot of planning we have finally finished booking it all up this morning. The only problem is I am not sure if we taken on to much with regard to the amount of sites and trying
to cover to much distance.
We have booked (outward) Richmond, Strathclyde, Bunree, Morvich, Bora. (homeward) Grantown on Spey, The Woods, Durham Grange and home.
Approx 25days and 1300miles. This will be September/October and we are now looking forward to it but again, I am unsure if we are trying to fit to much in. We hope to ferry over to the Islands and also a nice whisky trail, walking and sight seeing.
I am sure all will be well once we get there.
Comments
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You'll have a lot of driving between the Scottish sites, Broadside, and journeys take longer the further north you go. However, I reckon you'll be spending around 3-4 nights on each Scottish site which should provide time for relaxation.
The islands easily reachable are Skye from the Morvich site and Mull/Iona from Bunree (although North Ledaig is closer). I'm not sure if you'll make a day trip to Orkney from Brora and the Dunnet Bay site is handier. Don't forget to allow extra time for road journeys.
Give it a whirl and treat it as a taster trip. If you find some areas more pleasing than others that will help you plan next time's trip. In my opinion Scotland gets better the further north you go and the extreme north west is stunning. We're tentatively planning to visit Orkney and Shetland next. Enjoy your holiday.
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It's not the distances which alarm me, or the state of the roads, it's being "locked into" a pre booked itinerary which I wouldn't like. But I'm told that's inevitable in this country. Have a great holiday. Take care.
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The roads in Scotland are no worse than England, Euro. There's good and bad.
A pre-booked itinerary isn't inevitable in this country, other than at peak times, but some people prefer to do things that way. It's personal preference.
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Yes thanks TW, I agree with what you say. As we have not toured Scotland before, this trip will be a tester (possibly in more ways than one) I have tried to keep the distance between the Scotish sites down but is not easy when you want to fit so much in.
I also take the point from Eurotraveller regarding the pre-booked itinerary, we considered 'winging it' but for this first trip we wanted the security of the pre booked sites.
Thanks for your assurance and happy caravaning.
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I think the security of knowing you have a pitch for the night on your first trip is good, Broadside, especially when towing a caravan. Bunree is notoriously difficult to get on without booking.
If you drive past the North Ledaig site between Bunree and Oban, pop in for a look around (with permission, obviously) as it's a good site in a superb location and may suit on another occasion. I actually prefer it to Bunree. While at Brora I recommend a
stroll across the golf course to the beach - magic!0 -
Other than Bunree, I would think it would be possible to do the Scottish sites without booking too far ahead. However, if you do want/need to make any adjustments as you go along that should be OK for the Club sites.
Don't know how flexible the AS ones would be.
I take it you are not going right up to the north coast as you go from Morvich to Brora? I would say you should manage your planned route quite easily in that time.
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You can wild camp on some of the islands I believe. I think you can buy a rover type ticket for the ferries to the islands too.
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Enjoy your trip, Broadside. It certainly looks doable within your time frame, especially if you're using Richmond & Durham as single night stops going and returning home.
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Thanks all, I feel more confident about it now. You have made me think about touring Scotland without booking and I think it might be a more relaxed way of doing it, especially this time of year but I will stick to the plan now and use the experience for
next year. I don't think I could get 'the winging it' plan past the better half but maybe next year. Actually I think that 'roaming' is a good way to caravan, its a pity we don't do more of it.0 -
It always used to be the way of caravanning, Broadside, but the hobby has become a victim of its own success. With more and more vans in use it's often difficult to get a pitch except at quiet times.
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Why did you bother booking all those sites. There will be plenty of room and I would have given myself a lot more freedom nd chances to alter the itinery. That iswhat touring is al about. Are you in time to canel some?
Write your comments here...Hi Fiserman, I take on board what you say regarding the amount of sites but the main reason for this trip was to tour and see as much of Scotland as possible (over the 25days) and as I said in previous posts, I wonder if this is
to much. After ideas from other members on the forum I agree that possibly to tour 'un booked' may have been better but it's booked now and my better half prefers it that way. At the end of the day I consider that we are fortunate that we can have the freedom
and time to enjoy 25days in a lovely part of the country, we are really now looking forward to it.0 -
Broadside, you do what suits you best. None of us need to explain our choices.
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You should be able to do a day trip to Mull from the Bunree site and Skye from Morvich, I would think your three week plus visit will give you enough time to enjoy the sights and see an island or two as planned.. I expect you'll want to go back for more.
edit you'll enjoy the Speyside whisky trail from Grantown too, the tasting bit is good!
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Other than seeing Skye 'a la Lewis Hamilton', it will take at least three days to meander round it.
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You have given yourself some lenghty drives between sites - depending on which route you take. If you go round the top from Morvich to Brora (sic) you'll encounter a good deal of single track road. No real problem - just takes time. If you go that way,
I suggest a stop over at Dunnet bay. It's also a bit of a trek from Brora to Grantown, but it's a very nice site there.So, good luck and enjoy yourself. Avoid Scotch pies , butteries and Lorne sausage and you'll be OK.
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You have given yourself some lenghty drives between sites - depending on which route you take. If you go round the top from Morvich to Brora (sic) you'll encounter a good deal of single track road. No real problem - just takes time. If you go that way,
I suggest a stop over at Dunnet bay. It's also a bit of a trek from Brora to Grantown, but it's a very nice site there.So, good luck and enjoy yourself. Avoid Scotch pies , butteries and Lorne sausage and you'll be OK.
Thanks g wagon, I am not so sure about the single track roads, and you have got me with a 'Scotch Pie' and what makes a Lorne sausage
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He just wants all the pies and sausage for himself!
Very wise to have bookings when the next site is over 100 miles away should you turn up on chance and find one full.
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