Touring Scotland - routes unsuitable for towing?
I took the precaution late last year of booking a tour of Scotland this summer. This was supposed to be plan B but is now looking likely to be what we end up doing - really looking forward to it as it turns out.
So my question to all you seasoned Scotland caravanners is this: how do I find out which routes are unsuitable for towing? I don't want to end up being the dumb Sassenach who had to unhitch and turn around or reverse down a mountain pass in the highlands.
Thanks for any information.
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You should be fine on pretty much all the A roads. Anything REALLY unsuitable for caravans will be signed as such.
For steep roads, like the Pass of the Cattle, not recommended for caravans, a good road map will show the slope, and you can check on Google Earth, plus google the road number.
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Look on a map and you will see which roads are single track with passing places and the gradient markers will show you the steep hills.
If you post your route here, I’m sure people will tell you if there’s anything unsuitable on your way. You've asked a general question without specifics and it's very difficult to answer in view of the hundreds of miles of roads in Scotland.
If you look through a few pages here you'll find other threads about touring in Scotland.
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For some 50 years I have travelled those roads in a Campervan. If the road is tarred it will be OK but you may be slow and have to reverse from time to time. I was last there 3 years ago and the road surfaces generally were poor. You may need your tracking checked post tour. Just remember your average towing speed will be 20/25mph when working out distances ( excluding stops which will be numerous to see the views)
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Overnight at Strathclyde Country Park, then a few nights each at Bunree, Morvich, Dunnet Bay, Maragowan and back to Strathclyde.
Caravan is normal width, just over 7 metres long. Tow car is a Skoda Octavia Scout.
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Sounds like all main roads en route.
Care is needed if you plan to take the road up beside Loch Lomond, mainly good but there is still a narrow, twisty bit near the top. Beware of tour buses and logging lorries.
Going to Maragowan, depending on your route, there are some roads of a less than generous width, we lost an extended mirror there, smashed by the local bus.
Morvich to Dunnet, some single track, but not narrow, plenty of passing places, and good visibility.
Pack your ear plugs for Strathclyde Park, the motorway nearby is noisy!
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We certainly intend to do that when the caravan is parked on a site... I was just a bit concerned about getting between sites, but it looks like we'll be OK if we stick to the main A roads.
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Thanks, that's really useful information.
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Kj has covered it, I think, but I'd go so far as to say avoid the A82 alongside Loch Lomond and go via the M9 Stirling route. It may be a bit further but it is a better towing road.
It's a fair distance from Morvich to Dunnet and be aware that journeys take longer the further north you go. It’s a bigger country than some people realise.
You'll be fine. Enjoy the trip
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Not sure were you are coming from D&L But if you have the choice I'd avoid A82 by Loch Lomond. Every year I go thataway I find that the Coaches and, especially, the timber lorries have had a session of bulking up. If at all possible I would head to Callender Then Crianlarich ~~ as we regularly tell folks "Its a Holiday" after all
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P.S. , { were should , of course, have been spelled "WHERE "
}One other thing, should you go near the Pass Of The Cattle, the road to Applecross [ aka Bealach na Ba ] as mentioned by KJ ~~~ Don't tow over it but stop and photograph the warning signs such as "Not suitable for Learners, inexperienced Drivers or towing" etc etc Saw it some years back on telebox when the snowplough driver got it stuck & needed a JCB to dig him out
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We did the NC 500 in May this year towing a caravan.
The sites you are looking at staying at shouldn't be a problem as they are all on main routes.
However I would agree with Tinwheeler that Morvich to Dunnet is a far haul. We did 2 other sites between these. I would consider putting at least 1 site between them as you will be on busy roads but not dual carriageways and a fair portion of them across the top are single roads with passing places. Not only that its IMO the best scenery.
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That's presuming that they are going to follow the West coast around to Dunnet. They could just come back East on the A87, the A887 to Invermoriston, then the A82 to Inverness and so onto the A9 all the way north. That route works out at about 178 mls.
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Pretty simple really keep to the main roads as much as possible , set your mirrors up well,take you time , ,be patient, ,give way when needed ,double check with a map where your Sat Nav wants to take you ,as the Sat Nav does not know the size of you vehicle or outfit, and will route you as if your driving a car
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Hi
Stathclyde a park is easy to get to straight off the motorway we use it often for weekends as it is only an hour from home and is a nice site. We often go to Maragowan and always go via Stirling and Callander which is a much better road than going up the side of Loch Lomond from Strathclyde Park to Maragowan on that route will take around 1.5 to 2 hours with the caravan on the back. Maragowan is a lovely site very peaceful and close to the village. Can’t comment on the other sites on your list as we have never used then
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Simply because you can't do everything in one trip? The Lad was very keen to see John O'Groats, hence the schlep north to Dunnet Bay being part of the itinerary at all.
Great route information, thanks everyone.
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Dunnet Bay is fabulous but Dunnet Head and Duncansby Stacks are more visually atteactive than J o'G in my opinion.
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Definitely second that, and Dunnet Head is the most northerly point of mainland Britain, not J o'G. Enjoy your trip.
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Depending how long you are staying at Dunnet you could take a foot ferry over to the Orkneys and a bus tour around the main island if you didn't want to take your car over.
Here is a link if you are interested. https://www.orkney.com/listings/john-ogroats-ferries
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I meant to suggest that but forgot. It’s worth the trip just to see the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers alone. Car ferries go from either Gills Bay or Scrabster and the crossing is about an hour.
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That is also true, Scotland is a lot bigger than most folk think, you didn't mention how long you have to do the trip or when.
While up at Dunnet if you have time you could quite easy travelling solo explore back along the top coast.
I agree with Tinwheeler that Duncansby Stacks are worth a look after seeing John O Groats, Dunnet Bay has a wonderful sandy beach. Given the weather its a great place to be and worth the drive.
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Just sticking to the main roads defeats the objective. You miss so much. I would recommend the following as musts. Rhiconich to Oldshoremore and a walk to Sandwood Bay. Altnahara and the lost village, but best of all Laide to Mellon Udrigle and sunset over the bay from the little site .Plenty more if you take your time.
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John O'Groats is a bit underwhelming. Duncansby Stacks is far more impressive. Lots more seabirds to see as well.
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