Touring Scotland
Hello fellow members
We are hoping to take the caravan up to Scotland in 2023 (I know it's ages away - but we are so busy next year!). The main reason for wanting to tour Scotland is to give us a chance of spotting a Golden Eagle!
Any tips and suggestions would be gratefully received especially for avoiding the dreaded midges!
Thanks in advance to each and everyone. Stay safe.
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They are to be seen, although sadly not by us☹️, around Kinlochewe on the flanks of Ben Eighe. The CAMC have a site there, although it is popular as it’s on the NC500. We have always found May and early June to be fairly midge free and often fairly good weather.
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Check out Skye-I saw the white tailed Eagle(sea Eagle) & the Golden Eagle on Skye plus a bonus sea Otter👍🏻. West coast is where they’re quite abundant, a local told me over 30 pairs are to be seen. Your trip is a ways off but-good luck😊
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I'm not sure how far up you are travelling to get to Scotland, but we tipped our tow not far over the border at a lovely CL near Stirling this Sept and had a wonderful time. Location was excellent for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Stirling, Culross etc.
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/scotland/stirlingshire/Stirling/Carrs-Hill/
Colin
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We stayed at Bunree & Kinlochewe in the 1st week of June this year & were 'mullered' by the midges....
Totally unexpected as from previous reviews it was the 'safer' time of year
+ they'd had snow late May & on 5th June it was still -5*C at top of Ben Nevis with 2 feet of snow!So be prepared....
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We did the NC 500 in May this year.
We live in Scotland so no issues using days to get here. We drove from home to first stop between Oban and Fort William. Then up the west coast. Across the top then down the east.
We took just over 3 weeks, some stops 3 or 4 days others just 1 night.
Highlight for us was a place called Clachtoll, not easy to get to but we'll worth it.
Really mix of weather, from heavy torrential sideways rain, almost getting blown over at Dunnet head, to beautiful warm sunshine at Clachtoll, Brora and Dornoch. No frost or snow even coming over the Cairngorm, though there was still snow in the gullies. No midges anywhere on the trip but we did start on the West 10th May. We planned it that way as if we'd have gone East to West we more than likely would have encounter midges towards the end of the trip.
While we didn't see a Golden Eagle we did see a white tailed one and ospreys as well.
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I'm giving a LINK to the wildlife in the Cairngorms as there is so much to see if you're prepared to linger and explore.
There are some excellent bird spotting opportunities in many places in Scotland but I think the Cairngorms offer a good general wild life experience.
Other places to see birds fairly easily are numerous, eg the Mull of Galloway in the SW or Duncansby Head in the NE (choose your time in these places, to see them at their best.)
The photo here is Loch Morlich, beneath the main Cairngorm Range. The adjoining Rothiemurchus Estate has a lot of wild life to enjoy.
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We have toured Scotland a dozen times or more and loved each trip which was usually 3 weeks or more. Only once did we brave the dreaded flying Alligators and did so knowing what to expect, but we wanted to have the Jacobite Steam Train experience.......what a fabulous trip, Fort William to Malaig it will live with me forever. We were piped aboard the train by a Black Watch Piper and then the magic began, surely one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. We have used many sites and must say all have been lovely places, however on two occasions we have been lucky enough to have a Lochside pitch at Bunree, we just love that site and the surrounding views and nature.
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Here’s the Midge Forecast LINK. Obviously it’s not working at this time of year but it says it’ll be back in the Spring.
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The furthest north we have been was stopping at the club site at Morvich and a day out to Applecross so I would be interested to know what made Clachtoll the highlight for you. Can you inspire me that it really would be worth the six hundred miles journey for us to get there on another trip north?
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Have a great time in what's probably our very favourite country!
NW Coast in April 2017 was midge free as the wind was blowing way too hard and cold for them. But again, the warden in a Skye observatory said the eagles were more likely to come in late April / May.
In May 2019 on the Outer Hebrides, (still midge free and very well blown) there was a family of 5 Golden Eagles apparently just flying from the nest within sight of our site on the W coast of Lewis, roughly level with Stornoway. Sadly they conspired to fly when we weren't on site, and we were told of the spectacular air displays overhead when we returned from trips round, despite staying around 5 nights there.
Back on the mainland that May, there were white-tailed eagles nesting and visible around Ullapool.
Since our 2017 trip it's got busier with the NC500. It's definitely worth taking other diversions from that route, and from what I read, avoiding any time after May, when swarms of MH's and caravans, (less of those), clog everything, including the local people's arterial pressure!It's worth remembering when planning that miles to be covered in a day are realistically a lot less once you get off the bigger roads, largely because of the roads themselves, but also through the absolute need to stop and admire things.
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Having done most of the NC500 before it wasn't new to us but Clachtoll was.
The road to it is not easy, 5 miles of single track road that goes up and down with blind summits and lots of bends with drop offs. We had the caravan on tow so it was little more than 2nd gear for most of it. OH love's challenges like that, me not do much but the views were great.
Clachtoll itself, the site is mostly grass and tiered. Overlooking a beautiful bay of almost white sand.
You can see Skye to the left and behind that Gairloch, to the right is the Isle of Lewis.
Its very peaceful yet busy, the owner is a great guy and runs the site wonderfully. It's busy later in the day as MHs and tent campers stop in for an overnight. We had a front row pitch so the best of views.
Everyone that was there when we were, really appreciated the place. Nice walks or bike rides.
We were fortunate that we had great weather so I may be a bit biased. We found it such a lovely relaxing place.
MHs can travel the road north from the site but not caravans. We drove it in the car and it took over an hour to drive the 15 miles back onto the 'main road' we then drove south again and completed the circle back to the site.
Its not a place for folk who don't like peace and quiet, countryside and stunning views. There isn't a pub or hotel nearby but there is a small shop outside the campsite.
It took us an hour to drive from Ullapool, where we had stopped in for shopping and fuel.
Our next stop north from there was Sango sands and the Smoo cave.
All in all it was probably one of the best trips we have had in the UK. The Jacobite train to start with then Clachtoll, Sango sands, Dunnet head, Brora and Dornoch we loved them all, even the day we got blown to bits and had sideways rain
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I have to agree about Clachtoll. You don't have great views of the white sandy beach from all of the pitches. But the remoteness and effort needed to get there make it a very special feeling once you are pitched. It's not called a beach campsite for nothing. You are only 2 minutes to the white sandy beach. There is nothing around you for miles ( except maybe the offsite cafe and very quiet Drumbeg hotel and stores ) but Lochinver is just down the road for essentials.
Remote, peaceful, welcoming are all descriptions I would use. We have stayed twice. Kick off the Crocks and go go all Robinson Crusoe. We love(d). It.
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Brue has it right-Linger. You need to be flexible in your travel as the unexpected appears all the time. If I was concentrating on Golden Eagles then Ben Eigh- Kinlochewe or the CL at Elgin with access to Assynt. It always takes longer to cover the miles. Lots of stops and manouvers for passing taffic. Allow followers to overtake. Best bit of kit is a Midge hat.Cheap at about a fiver from outdoor shops.Plus throwaway gloves. You wil then be almost midge proof.Fuel will be expensive and garages scarce outside of any large town, work on a full tank.
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There was slightly less snow than in Brue's pic when we were at Glenmore at the end of May. Stayed away from the NC500 route too avoid the crowds. No ospreys at Loch Garten though.
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The Cairngorms pic was taken end of May, we've had snow in June up there, but it's not a frequent event. It's a good area to see a variety of birds, Ptarmigan, Capercaillies etc also Mountain Hares and deer. The Highland Wildlife Park, an off shoot of the Scottish Zoological Society, near Kingussie, is a good place to see a variety of creatures and conservation projects.
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Thank you Tammygirl it sounds just our sort of site and area. Unfortunately nowadays hubby is not up for a challenge towing although he used to be when younger so sadly I think we will have to give it a miss
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They had Ospreys visit the nest, CY, but didn't set up home, as it were. Hopefully a pair will make it theirs next year. One can see a pair nesting on Loch Inch, south of Aviemore, near Kincraig church.
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Depending on the situation "over there", we may revisit next year.
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Us too.
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However the breeding pair have not returned to the famous nest for a couple of years, ADP. There was an odd Osprey investigating the nest last year on and off, but they are not certain to return. Fingers crossed that they do and a pair takes up residence once again.
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If you are going to be around Aviemore area then a better chance of seeing a pair on the nest is at the north end of Lock Inch, just over the bridge across the R. Spey at Kincraig, before the church. The nest is on the small island to the South of the church
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Have not decided on the route as yet Nellie but thanks for the info. There are not too many places we have not visited in Scotland, so trying to sort out new sites and places of interest. I have Bywd- Gwylit -Glaslyn only 85 miles from me which we visit often when we are in Aberdovey and so able to see the Ospreys. I was area Sales Rep then Sales Area Manager for Lafarge then Tarmac and we had projects in worked out quarries whereby Osprey nesting platforms were erected. In fact one was installed only half a mile away from where I live at Bodenham Lakes .Trouble is the Ospreys don't know how bountiful the fishing is or else they would take up residence.
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That's a grand area you live in, ADP, we like to visit The Matches during the summer as it's one of the quieter regions during that time, and there's lots of interesting places worth visiting. Hope you are able to sort out a trip. Have you visited the East Neuk of Fife, a hidden gem?
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Thank you Nellie ,yes been there it was on our trip in 2012 Golden Wedding Anniversay holiday. When you are next in our area if you have not been check out Symonds Yat the RSPB usually have Spotting Scopes set up to watch the Peregrine Falcon hunting.
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