Highlands West Coast in September

Stevesie
Stevesie Forum Participant Posts: 73
edited March 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Despite concerns about language issues and age old national rivalries, we are considering visiting Scotland this year rather than taking the safe option and heading across the channel 😉.  I know we won't experience the 30 deg C temperatures of late summer in the Languedoc, but what sort of weather and site availability can we expect in early September?

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2

    Availability good. Weather mixed, we have had everything from cool wet to moderately warm, with the odd 60 mph+ gale. However, at least when it is cold or windy it keeps the midges away, which can be a bit (lot) of a problem. However, the scenery on the west coast more than makes up for these few little detractions.

    However, from choice we would visit in May, when the weather is often better and the midges are not much in evidence. 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #3

    Beautiful place to visit. I echo SteveL comments, but in September you will begin to see the changing colours. Avon skin so soft blue dry oil and lots of it helps smells more pleasant than some insect repellent. You maybe lucky and the wee beasties may not like you but folks like that are few and far between. On the Bunree site the wardens wore hats with netting on bad days 😯. Covering exposed skin is best, a good breeze or rain will stop them coming out to play! Don't let that put you off it is beautiful and if they annoy you in one place you can more somewhere else - beauty of having your own bed with you 😉

  • Unknown
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    edited March 2017 #4
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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #5

    surprised  Language issues?  

  • Stevesie
    Stevesie Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited March 2017 #6

    You have not tried to converse with some of my Caledonian customers!wink

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2017 #7

    Never  had  any  problems  with  the  Lingo  north  of  the  border  !!  All  I  have  to  do  is  produce  a  bottle  &  they  are  there  like  Huskydog  when  there  is  a  pile  of  Bonio's  on  offer  !!

    The  Weather  is  no  worse / better  than  anywhere  else  on  these  Sceptred  Isles  i.e.  it's  as  likely  to  be  30*  in  the  shade  as  it  is  to  be  -10  &  snowing  surprised

    As  for  the  sites,  if  you  want  C & MC sites  just  peep  at  the  Holiday  pages    --  you  should  find  enough  room  for  the  whole  family  to  take  individual  caravans  assuming  YOU  are  paying,  of  course  wink

  • Broadside
    Broadside Forum Participant Posts: 125
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    edited March 2017 #8

    Last September/October we did a 4 week, 2500 mile tour of Scotland in our caravan. It was our first trip to Scotland and we were not disappointed, it was beautiful, enjoyable and midge free. We stopped at Strathclyde (overnight stop) Bunree (west coast) Morvich (west coast) Brora (north east) and then homeward, Grantown on Spey, The Woods.

    Our favorite sites were Bunree and Morvich on the west side, so beautiful, quiet and easy going, (despite some single track roads) So much to see and do. We are going back to Scotland next year and will return and stay longer on the west side. The weather was good for the time of the year, in fact it was very pleasant until the day we went to Orkney!! Not sure what you mean about the language issues, all the people we met were lovely, no problem.  Not sure how long you are going for, I suggest as much time as you can spare. You can not go wrong by choosing the west coast. Plan well and enjoy.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2017 #9

    That's  a  nice  tour,  Broadside  !!  Even  if  its  pouring  down  outside  a  couple  of  Hours  at  the  Italian  Chapel  on  Lamb  Holme,  Orkney  is  enough  to  raise  a  person's  spirits  no  end  !

  • Broadside
    Broadside Forum Participant Posts: 125
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    edited March 2017 #10

    Yes it was a great trip, its what caravanning is all about, that ability to go for a trip like that or a short weekend. We wanted to go back there this year but other plans do not allow it. I enjoyed the day trip from Brora to Orkney, I had always wanted to see Scappa Flow as Naval history is one of my interests. We did not have bad weather until the day we went to Orkney, it was very wet and vey windy, I feared for our lives as we crossed the Pentland Firth, I then knew what all the buckets were for down the middle of the ferry!! Having now toured a lot of Scotland on this trip we now know our favorite areas and we look forward to going back, maybe next year.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2017 #11

    I  rather  like  Scapa  too,  but  it's  the  variety  that  comes  in  a  bottle embarassed !

    Orcadian  Whisky  is,  er,  shall  we  say  'Rather  Tasty'   !

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #12

    I might be one of your Caledonian customers!

    Think what it is like for us up here trying to understand some of you down there!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2017 #13

    I  recall  the  tale  told  by  Michael  Bentine  whose  family  ran  the  Peruvian  internal  airline  I  believe  :--

    When  he  was  a  University  Student  he  was  invited  to  the  Air  Traffic  Control  covering  Glasgaes  main  airport.  He  said  that,  having  heard  a  real  Glaswegian  trying  to  talk  down  a  Pakistani  aeroplane  he  never  flew  again  !!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
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    edited March 2017 #14

    You will be welcome in the area and there is no language problem.

    The sites will have room but the weather could be anything but you should miss the midges.

    The roads are generally quite slow going so allow for m ore time being needed when traveling. I would avoid the A82 though alongside Loch Lomond as it is very narrow and twisting and take the A84 from the M9 Stirling. It is far quicker and safer.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2017 #15

    And  there  you  have  it,  Stevesie,  Wildwood's  answer  is  both  accurate  &  concise  laughingcool

  • Stevesie
    Stevesie Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited March 2017 #16

    Thanks, as you have probably guessed, my post was a little tongue in cheek!  Prior to our 20 yr break from caravanning we were regular visitors to Scotland and loved the Western Highlands (and its inhabitants!). Our trips to Scotland used to be late June early July until the kids came along and moved them back into August, so we have no experience of late summer/early autumn.

    We had planned to return to France this September and revisit Scotland in the early summer of next year, but having blown the ferry money on a bit of health care queue jumping ☹️ we are thinking of heading north.

    I have to concur with the A82 comments, even as a fearless 30 something, used to towing and driving coaches, I've had a few heart in mouth moments Meeting logging trucks on there!