Motor home novice!

Chloe

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I’ve booked a motor home with my husband and baby (!!) and we’ve never done it before. We’ll be heading to Scotland and will be stopping off in Cairngorms, Skye, Mull and Loch Lohman’s. We have camped many times but are totally new to this. Any tips, advice and things to avoid would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you.
 
If you are going anywhere for the day check available parking for motorhomes and get there early before spaces are filled up
 
Chloe said:
I’ve booked a motor home with my husband and baby (!!) and we’ve never done it before. We’ll be heading to Scotland and will be stopping off in Cairngorms, Skye, Mull and Loch Lohman’s. We have camped many times but are totally new to this. Any tips, advice and things to avoid would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you.
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We have just come back from Scotland and I can tell you that the NC500 is absolutely crawling with hired Motorhomes and we heard some pretty awful stories while we were up there.
People who didn’t know HOW or WHERE to empty their toilet cassettes, a group of six Motorhomes emptied theirs into a harbour, folk setting light to shrimp nets to make bonfires, using PARKING areas as CAMPING sites and allround inconsiderate and selfish behaviour.
Please join this forum as a full member, and take advantage of the Location App to learn where to spend the night safely and also where to find drinking water and above all MAKE SURE that the Hire Company that you use show you EXACTLY how to empty the toilet cassette…… you will HAVE to empty it every two to three days while you are away.
Apart from that, have a thoroughly good time and lots of fun!
 
How old is the baby? Does the motorhome have sockets for 3 pin plugs? Formula or breast feeding?
 
RoaminRog said:
We have just come back from Scotland and I can tell you that the NC500 is absolutely crawling with hired Motorhomes and we heard some pretty awful stories while we were up there.
People who didn’t know HOW or WHERE to empty their toilet cassettes, a group of six Motorhomes emptied theirs into a harbour, folk setting light to shrimp nets to make bonfires, using PARKING areas as CAMPING sites and allround inconsiderate and selfish behaviour.
Please join this forum as a full member, and take advantage of the Location App to learn where to spend the night safely and also where to find drinking water and above all MAKE SURE that the Hire Company that you use show you EXACTLY how to empty the toilet cassette…… you will HAVE to empty it every two to three days while you are away.
Apart from that, have a thoroughly good time and lots of fun!
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Wow can imagine how frustrating it would be to come across inconsiderate people like that. Thank you for all the useful advice! Will be come a full member.
 
Tookey said:
How old is the baby? Does the motorhome have sockets for 3 pin plugs? Formula or breast feeding?
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Baby is 9 months so not too young and formula fed now which makes things easy! Yes we have three sockets 👍🏼
 
If you are using reusable nappies and wipes give yourself a break and use disposables. Take dog poop bags and put the nappy in that so you can use public bins regularly rather than trying to shove in a large bag full occasionally.

You will be surprised how quickly with baby related activities you will get through water so I would take a 6 pack of 2L bottles with you as well as keeping an eye on your water tank level.

The lights in your moho will likely be quite bright, take a suitable dim light (lantern type torch thingy) for night feeds/changes.

Obviously I don't know what your bed set up is it doesn't take much of a slope to find you move downhill in your bed so just be aware of that with your baby.

Ah, I think breastfeeding is easier in a moho! So with regards to formula make sure the moho woman/bloke doesn't skim over the the fridge bit. It is likely to be a 3 way fridge so don't let them finish the explanation until you understand what he/she means.

3 pin socket appliances can use a lot of power (hairdryer!), be aware of this and discuss power consumption with the letting people. I am not experienced with and unsure how power hungry your particular steriliser gadget is, maybe wise to ask if it's best used on 'hook up' and when the engine is running only.

That is quite a busy itinerary with a 9 month old (presuming a 14 or 10 day hire), try not to have a 'we must complete the route' attitude. The locations will still be there next year so nice and steady especially as when you drive a 9 month will likely sleep and therefore will be awake when you want to be relaxing!

Have a suitable product to help clean poo, wee and puke off upholstery.

If the moho has big lockers then take the pram but if it's a small one maybe consider only a carrier as a pram could easily get in the way and become a pita.

Have a great time and any issues dont hesitate to come the forum for advice.

Best wishes and post some piccys
 
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@Chloe, unless you know Scotland well already then don’t try and do too much or you will be spending all day driving.
We spent just under three weeks up there last September having not been back up there for about 10 years.

I made a conscious effort to avoid some of the usual tourist routes especially the nc500 because I suspected it was still very busy. The forestry overnight parking scheme was excellent and we didn’t have any problems finding other wild camping spots on the west coast either. It may have been a different story if we had gone a month or two earlier though!

If planning to wild camp Google maps is your best friend and for peace of mind still book the odd night at a campsite so you can empty the bog and fill up with water etc.
pitchup.com is very handy for seeing what’s still available.

I made this playlist which you may find interesting

 
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Chloe said:
I’ve booked a motor home with my husband and baby (!!) and we’ve never done it before. We’ll be heading to Scotland and will be stopping off in Cairngorms, Skye, Mull and Loch Lohman’s. We have camped many times but are totally new to this. Any tips, advice and things to avoid would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you.
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As others have said, learn to drive on single track roads, including reversing to parking spaces. Be considerate, I guess if your on a forum like this, then you are not one of the knuckle-dragging minority that annoy local people with their inconsiderate behaviour and thereby spoil things for the rest of us. Also, take your time and don't be too ambitious first time, we've made that mistake! Scotland is not only far bigger than most people imagine, it accounts for 32% of the UK landmass, the best places are down roads where you are lucky to do 30 mph, let alone 70.
You will also find yourself stopping A LOT to take pictures, so don't be disappointed if you don't get to see everything you planned first time, I'm sure you'll be back. The Kintyre peninsula down to Campbeltown is beautiful, especially if you take the tricky B842 down the east coast and then up the A816 to Oban and on to Glen Coe.
Just take your time and enjoy one of the most beautiful countries on the planet
 
Ferries are busier than ever this summer, make sure you book in advance. Please leave no trace and respect the locals to ensure the survival of the dwindling freedom to wild camp which we have in Scotland.
 
We've just arrived home last night from 9 nights in Scotland, never seen it so busy. Had 3 days in Skye, parking was hard to find. Tarbet pier on Loch Lomond was rammed, saw lots of hired motorhomes. As was said earlier, get to parking nightstop early, and enjoy yourselves. Scotland is an amazing place.
 
We don't use the blue chemicals in the loo, Dr Bronners castille soap is organic vegetable based soap, and we use it for everything & smells amazing. Steradent denture tabs also work well to keep smells at bay from grey water tank, drop 1 in after every empty.
 
Hi just to confirm that the NC500 is over-run with hire motorhomes, we have seen some in passing places with awnings and chairs out. We were on a large almost empty carpark and one parked 1.5m from us, put his chairs out then run his engine for his aircon.
Thinking about your baby gear it will be 230Vac so i doubt the MH will have an inverter so you either need a hook up or 12Vdc kit.
We are having a great time with good weather so enjoy.
😀
 
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