First trip to Scotland
We want to travel to West coast of Scotland in recently purchased VW camper around middle of August. I understand you can stop overnight anywhere put would prefer club sites. Recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.
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The wiildaboutscotland.com website is a good starting point to whet your appetite and give you advice for touring up there with a VW Camper.
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1) Where are you coming from ?
2) Strathclyde Club Site is great for a stop after motorway drive
3) Bunree Club Site - just south of Fort Bill { Fort William to you }
4 ) Kinlochewe and Morvich are both club sites
All highly recommended by A B M BUT BUT BUT remember that's the school holidays & high season everywhere so, as a personal suggestion Get in there & book them especially Bunree
I've deliberately refrained from asking what your personal interests are 'cos I'm assuming you will work out what's of interest to you before turning that ignition switch on.
Others on here will have different views, but I'd not stop just anywhere until I knew the country better, and it's a BIG COUNTRY !!
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P.S. The roads up north are, in general, narrower than in England but lorries, coaches etcetera cope more than adequately and quickly. The one proviso I'd throw in is, unless you have nerves of steel, avoid the A82 from Glasgow north past Loch Lomond until you are happy with the traffic
Please let us know what you decided to do, and how the holiday went
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And in August on the West Coast, remember the MIDGES....They dont get mentioned much in the brochures...but they can, and do BITE. Avon Skin So Soft is(or was) good as is Smidge spray.
Can recommend Resipole Caravan and Campsite on Ardnamurchan just cross the small ferry across the Corran narrows near Onich. Can get midgy, but they have 'midge eaters' onsite. Giant Vacuum machines that puff out Carbon Dioxide to attract them. Anyone for a Midge Burger !
have a memorable time !
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With a VW camper you should be OK with the A82. It is I agree a dicey route with larger motorhomes and caravans though.
If you are looking at wild camping this is far more restricted now than it was and I would agree check out the position first and do not forget the midge repellent. I have heard that the Avon Soft Skin has changed its formula and is now less effective, but have not tried the new version.
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I don't know which part of the west coast you are aiming for but you might enjoy this motorhome site run by our family friends. It's in a beautiful spot, the owners have a lot of local knowledge and this area is full of ancient history. The Kilmartin Museum is close by and there is much to explore before moving on to other places.
Ardfern Motorhome Park LINK
You can reach this area by taking the A82 Loch Lomond route, head off west at Tarbert, onto Inveraray (worth a stop and look around.) Then on to Lochgilphead on Loch Fyne and then north towards Oban. There is some wonderful scenery en route and it's a good starting point for the west.
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The west coast is simply wonderful whether it is the south west (Galloway/Solway coast), Kintyre or Wester Ross and beyond. I have visited just about all if it repeatedly over 60 years. HOWEVER the natives are not the fans of wild campers they once might have been. Unfortunately the increase in visitor numbers on the back of the NC500 and SW300 has lead to a big problem with occupants of m/homes, camper vans abusing the wild camping. Even in April the roads and campsites were busy and most good ‘wild camping’ spots (and some not so good) were often occupied, so book ahead. If you take just one tip please note contrary to rumours tap water is NOT free to business and many remote toilet locations rely on a stream or well supply and drain into sceptic tanks. Last summer many toilets got blocked, sceptic tanks filled up and supply ran dry as a result of what is effectively water theft such the authorities have had to close many permanently.... however enjoy your trip, take your time and once you have been captivated by the scenery you will want to go back!
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There is no right to camp in a motorhome "anywhere". You may be thinking about Access Legislation which gives rights (and responsibilities) to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, canoeists etc to roam almost "anywhere" and to wild camp for a day or two in remote locations using tents. That said, (and I live and have lived in various parts of Scotland all my life) "wild camping" in motorhomes is tolerated in many areas, but as others have pointe out, some folk are getting fed up with anti-social and irresponsible behaviour by motorhomers (as indeed they are in Spain).
August wouldn't be my choice, if I could choose the time - May, June, September, October would be quieter and less midgey.
We used to live at Dornie, home of the world famous pastiche of Eilean Donan Castle, and some fantastic scenery, with the bridge to Skye just along the road and the postcard village of Plockton nearby. The Club site at Morvich, which we visit each year since we left, is in a fantastic location, good facilities and great walking right from the site. You won't be disappointed.
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