Magazine Feature:Cairngorms & Aberdeenshire
I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas?
The latest issue of the Club's magazine should be landing on your doorstep in the next few days. There's an interesting article on touring in Scotland - looking at Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Royal Deeside.
Has anyone visited or stayed in the area and if so what are your recommendations of things to go see and do?
If you want to stay on any of the sites featured you can find these and other sites in the area on our UK Sites section.
Comments
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Rowena, I thought it was a good article although it covered a big area, we did a similar tour in the early Autumn. We started in the borders first at Melrose and worked our way up to a site at Pitlochry then through the hills to Glenshee and onwards to Banchory. The Glenshee area is remote and beautiful and the drive towards Balmoral is equally interesting via Braemar. We did the trip in September when Balmoral was closed to visitors but there is a visitor car park and Crathie Church can be visited, I had it to myself when we went, some friendly locals where taking care of the church and doing the flowers from the estate.
After a short stay in Banchory we headed back inland and took the motorhome via the A939 (mentioned in the article, not really suitable for towing) over the "tops" to Tomintoul. In good weather this is a spectacular route, a get away from it all run through the Cairngorms National Park with wild life to spot en route. I would recommend anywhere in the Cairngorms, seeing the area from a car, a bike or walking is all worth doing. The two rivers, the Spey and the Dee are a great attraction, so are the whisky trails. Getting on top of Cairngorm itself is good, via the funicular railway, the arctic scenery on top is special. Lots of people head to these areas for outdoor pursuits all year round.
Photos of Glenshee and Crathes Church.
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Aberdeenshire is often overlooked which is a great shame. Lots to see and do.
We visit normally three times a year, using Stonehaven Club Site, Banchory Club Site and Smithy Croft CL outside Fraserburgh. All are highly recommended.
Things to do ...
Lewis Grassic Gibbon Centre
Fraserburgh Heritage and Lighthouse Centres
Aberdeen city has lots to offer from beautiful parks to a variety of shopping
Castle trail.
Dunottar Castle
Royal Deeside
Etc Etc
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Good article Rowena, we are touring Scotland for a month in May/June and I wondered if anyone knows if the road from Culloden to Braemar A939 is suitable for towing as some think not? We will be staying in the Braemar area for a few days then on towards Perth on the A93 then onto Stirling. We will then be heading homeward to South Yorkshire down the east coast.
Your article prompted us to visit the Braemar area.
Rob.
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It's not suitable for towing RobRita, it's quite restricted. Best to choose another route, possibly the A96 via Keith and Huntly etc and then, as you said, when you leave Braemar, the A93 to Perth, joining the A9 from there. The article was good but it covered a big area not easily accessible by the shortest routes, the mountainous Cairngorm National Park gets in the way.
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I agree with brue with regards to the route, RR. We towed that way last year without any problems, and will hopefully be doing the same this year..
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Hi RobRita, we have towed on the 939 from Nairn to Braemar. There are definitely some very steep and prolonged gradients. So a powerful towcar and a distinct car to van weight advantage is probably wise.
After the long pull up to the Lecht Ski Centre, we had to sit for a while to let our Jeep Cherokee, at the time, cool down. It was a bit of a concern. Some of the bends were quite tight too. Oh and there is humpbacked bridge to watch for grounding on. But other than that it was fine.
Cheers, Alex.
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I can’t remember if we've travelled that route or not. However, there aren’t many roads in Scotland that aren't towable. If your map doesn’t show gradient markers or other hazards then you should be OK.
We've toured Scotland for years with both Caravan and MH and have always planned the routes by what the map tells us, coupled with any site directions, and we haven’t come unstuck yet. Your map and common sense should see you through.
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Yes, we have towed on it, though not all in one go.
We came south down past Poolewe and continued south past Kinlochewe and further down the west coast about 12 years back. And on a different occasion, about 4 years back, we towed our twin axle from Inverness over to the Morvich site using the A 832.
It has been improved in more recent years, but still a few single track bits, but nothing to worry about.
I think you can see video of the route on U Tube.
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If you have a beefy towcar and a light caravan, the A 939 is OK for a caravan outfit. The road is fine, Buses and Lorries use it, but the gradients are fairly steep and relentless. A good alternative if you are uncertain is the A96 to Huntly then the A97 to the A93 to Braemar. It's a bit longer in miles but you can make good time on that route.
Braemar is one of my favourite sites there is loads of good hill walking in that area.
Enjoy your tour.
Regards K
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Rob, we've done it from Kinlochewe down to Poolewe and then back to Inverness by that route without any problems. There is a drop down from Kinlochewe on a narrowish road but no problem. It's not a very busy road so you shouldn't meet too much traffic. It's well worth spending a night at the CC's Kinlochewe site just for the views from the pitches especially up to Beinn Eighe.
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Thanks everyone, you have all been so kind giving us advice. We have adjusted our routes accordingly.
We are wondering whether to pre book the sites as we will be away for around four/five weeks in May/June. It's our first trip to Scotland with the caravan.
Rob.
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Coming a bit late to this thread, sorry.
The A939 is reasonable for the more modern, higher powered cars with just the two caveats
1) that blasted hump-back bridge which I seem to recall is on a sharpish bend and
2 ) those blooming great tourist coaches coming at you mob handed -- they take no prisoners !
Apart from that there are now very few roads which are out of reach of caravans but one is the 'short' route to Applecross over Bealach Na Ba. its steep, windy &, last time I went over, the surface was deteriorating quite badly.
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