Easter Weekend in Glencoe ...

[Deleted member 95622]

We headed up to Glencoe for the Easter weekend and overall had a good time walking, staying overnights and so on. Slightly marred by the actions of a few motorhomers, sadly.

We stopped at Tyndrum on the way up - there's a big car park next to TJs diner and the Real Food cafe - it's technically a "BritStop" location (owned by TJs?) but they weren't too interested and were closing for the day when we got there anyway (5pm) so we just got on with it. Shame they were closing as we were really looking forward to their burgers - but unknown to us at the time, they're not dog friendly inside, so it might not have been an option anyway - however the very god friendly Real Food Cafe next door didn't disappoint and we're been there a few times in the past previously. Overnight was quiet despite being a stones throw from the main road.

Glencoe - busy as a busy thing with extra busyness. All the car parks were full when we drove through the next morning but we found a place at the end where we could park for some low-level walking - we did a local tour in the afternoon and got some shopping and water (All the toilets have been vandalised - the locals blame the tourists - we even tried the local church graveyards - some had taps that had been isolated from the inside - ended up at the toilets at the ferry terminal) anyway - we returned to the place we'd stopped in the morning to find several large motorhomes parked lengthwise in the bays that would otherwise take 3-4 vehicles so they could get their awnings out, light their fires and drink their beer - this is not our lifestyle, and I felt it was very selfish of them, but we managed to get parked and settled down for the night and amused ourselves watching some large motorhomes driving down the lane, then reversing back out...

We decided to get up early, move to one of the car parks in Glencoe so we could walk up the Lost Valley - so we set the alarm, moved at 7:30, then had a nice relaxing breakfast and off we went.

Next stop was Glen Etive (The "Skyfall road") Very busy and the car park at the end was full to the brim but we found a little space a mile or so back up the road - just big enough to back the van in, leaving the passing place without obstruction. Decided to spend 2 nights there walking and chilling out.

On the way home we stayed at another BritStop place in Bridge of Allan - which was OK but next to a building site, so we did the get up and go thing and had breakfast nearby before heading home.

So that was Easter in the van. Quite surprised by the traffic and high volume of campervans and motorhomes but the weather was good, so out everyone came. The West Highland Way was a motorway of people, as was the track up into the Lost Valley (but admittedly it's been 30+ years since I visited it last when I was the only one there)

-G

 

[barryd]

Why are some motorhomers their own worst enemy? Sounds like you had a great time but its such a shame that others have to behave like they do. All it will lead to is more no overnighting signs and more anti motorhome feeling. The NC500 FB group the land weeps makes for some depressing reading.

 

[Scotia]

As you head past the Bridge of Orchy through the white arch Bridge then through the twisty bends up the hill there is a car park on the right where there usually is a piper playing, continue to the far side of the carpark and there is a track with a few parking spaces far enough away from the road just below where the rowan is growing out of the rock, keep it in mind for your next trip. Or on the other side of the Orchy hotel there is a narrow road head down that and over the bridge there is a space on the right.

 

[Wully]

On our doorstep and we avoid that area especially at Easter and bank holidays. It’s the first port of call after a long winter for most motorhomers from the glasgow and central belt area doesn’t take a lot of vans to snarl that whole area up especially folk wae big stupid vans.

 

[Fisherman]

We headed up to Glencoe for the Easter weekend and overall had a good time walking, staying overnights and so on. Slightly marred by the actions of a few motorhomers, sadly.

We stopped at Tyndrum on the way up - there's a big car park next to TJs diner and the Real Food cafe - it's technically a "BritStop" location (owned by TJs?) but they weren't too interested and were closing for the day when we got there anyway (5pm) so we just got on with it. Shame they were closing as we were really looking forward to their burgers - but unknown to us at the time, they're not dog friendly inside, so it might not have been an option anyway - however the very god friendly Real Food Cafe next door didn't disappoint and we're been there a few times in the past previously. Overnight was quiet despite being a stones throw from the main road.

Glencoe - busy as a busy thing with extra busyness. All the car parks were full when we drove through the next morning but we found a place at the end where we could park for some low-level walking - we did a local tour in the afternoon and got some shopping and water (All the toilets have been vandalised - the locals blame the tourists - we even tried the local church graveyards - some had taps that had been isolated from the inside - ended up at the toilets at the ferry terminal) anyway - we returned to the place we'd stopped in the morning to find several large motorhomes parked lengthwise in the bays that would otherwise take 3-4 vehicles so they could get their awnings out, light their fires and drink their beer - this is not our lifestyle, and I felt it was very selfish of them, but we managed to get parked and settled down for the night and amused ourselves watching some large motorhomes driving down the lane, then reversing back out...

We decided to get up early, move to one of the car parks in Glencoe so we could walk up the Lost Valley - so we set the alarm, moved at 7:30, then had a nice relaxing breakfast and off we went.

Next stop was Glen Etive (The "Skyfall road") Very busy and the car park at the end was full to the brim but we found a little space a mile or so back up the road - just big enough to back the van in, leaving the passing place without obstruction. Decided to spend 2 nights there walking and chilling out.

On the way home we stayed at another BritStop place in Bridge of Allan - which was OK but next to a building site, so we did the get up and go thing and had breakfast nearby before heading home.

So that was Easter in the van. Quite surprised by the traffic and high volume of campervans and motorhomes but the weather was good, so out everyone came. The West Highland Way was a motorway of people, as was the track up into the Lost Valley (but admittedly it's been 30+ years since I visited it last when I was the only one there)

-G

The carpark at the rear in Strathyre is better than the one by the roadside, we always stop over in there when stopping in Strathyre. You have chosen some of the busiest honeypots up here, at a busy time of year. We now avoid such places during the warmer months preferring them in quieter times, when you can fully appreciate their beauty.

 

[Moonraker 2]

Gosh, puts me off going. One of the reasons I avoided Cornwall and the lake district.
You get a different type of grandeur in Lincolnshire, and, it's empty.

 

[caledonia]

As said by Big Wull you picked a busy time to visit the busy spots.
Lots of nicer places to park in the areas you visited it’s just a case of being adventurous and seeking them out

 

[mariesnowgoose]

There are always plenty of beautiful landscapes and hidden spots well away from the "honeypots".

Don't liked touristy places at busy times of the year. It's not that I'm anti-social, I just don't like overly crowded places.

Maybe it's all my Dad's fault? His idea of a holiday was as far away from the madding crowds and "laid on entertainment" as possible. The less people around the better!

I vividly remember hiking up to the top of the Cheviot with him when I was 6, saw adders and ravens and rare wild plants (and a couple of dead sheep!), but never met a soul all the way up or back down. Bliss!

Also camping in the back of a van (not a camper van!) at Druridge Bay next to the dunes on a cold and frosty New Year's Eve round about the same age (where the official "Country Park" is now, but still surrounded by open cast mining back then). Just me, Mam & Dad and a full English fry up breakfast on a little camping gaz stove to welcome in New Year's morning, then me running miles up and down the beach to the sea, collecting shells, seaweed, interesting stones, flotsam and jetsam ... Go there now during school holidays and it can be like Piccadilly Circus

 

[caledonia]

There are always plenty of beautiful landscapes and hidden spots well away from the "honeypots".

Don't liked touristy places at busy times of the year. It's not that I'm anti-social, I just don't like overly crowded places.

Maybe it's all my Dad's fault? His idea of a holiday was as far away from the madding crowds and "laid on entertainment" as possible. The less people around the better!

I vividly remember hiking up to the top of the Cheviot with him when I was 6, saw adders and ravens and rare wild plants (and a couple of dead sheep!), but never met a soul all the way up or back down. Bliss!

Also camping in the back of a van (not a camper van!) at Druridge Bay next to the dunes on a cold and frosty New Year's Eve round about the same age (where the official "Country Park" is now, but still surrounded by open cast mining back then). Just me, Mam & Dad and a full English fry up breakfast on a little camping gaz stove to welcome in New Year's morning, then me running miles up and down the beach to the sea, collecting shells, seaweed, interesting stones, flotsam and jetsam ... Go there now during school holidays and it can be like Piccadilly Circus

I had very similar. As a kid we we explored Scotland with parents in tents and touring caravans. Staying on farms and beaches. Very rarely we went to a caravan site for a treat. As an adult we explored Scotland with tents and touring caravans taking our kids to all the places and more that my parents had taken me. Now my kids are grown up and guess what?

 

[Fisherman]

There are always plenty of beautiful landscapes and hidden spots well away from the "honeypots".

Don't liked touristy places at busy times of the year. It's not that I'm anti-social, I just don't like overly crowded places.

Maybe it's all my Dad's fault? His idea of a holiday was as far away from the madding crowds and "laid on entertainment" as possible. The less people around the better!

I vividly remember hiking up to the top of the Cheviot with him when I was 6, saw adders and ravens and rare wild plants (and a couple of dead sheep!), but never met a soul all the way up or back down. Bliss!

Also camping in the back of a van (not a camper van!) at Druridge Bay next to the dunes on a cold and frosty New Year's Eve round about the same age (where the official "Country Park" is now, but still surrounded by open cast mining back then). Just me, Mam & Dad and a full English fry up breakfast on a little camping gaz stove to welcome in New Year's morning, then me running miles up and down the beach to the sea, collecting shells, seaweed, interesting stones, flotsam and jetsam ... Go there now during school holidays and it can be like Piccadilly Circus

Don’t get me wrong Marie, some of the honeypots are gorgeous, but not in the high season with all of the mass hordes tramping about. We were in Glencoe in the van in January, minus 6 through the night. The buccle etive Mor with snow on the top third, deer in the foreground, and what looked like a golden Eagle hovering above, was all the company we had that morning. Later on it did get busier, but nowhere near as busy as in summer. I have been told many times by folk that Glencoe is the most beautiful part of Scotland, my reply is always, “ it’s possibly the nicest place to can drive a car through in Scotland, but it’s far from being the most beautiful “ My personal favourite place is amongst the hills in Torridon. But that’s just my favourite, I am sure others have theirs.

 

[Scotia]

I had very similar. As a kid we we explored Scotland with parents in tents and touring caravans. Staying on farms and beaches. Very rarely we went to a caravan site for a treat. As an adult we explored Scotland with tents and touring caravans taking our kids to all the places and more that my parents had taken me. Now my kids are grown up and guess what?

They have gone abroad ?

 

[Obanboy666]

I travel up the west coast 6/8 times a year and avoid the Glencoe area like the plague. In fact I don’t stopover anywhere within 1 1/2 hours of any of the major cities.
A few years ago in my early motorhome days I was nearly put off wild camping for good after venturing down Glen Orchy. I’ve found cleaner cow byers, it was disgusting, sh@te and toilet paper strewn everywhere. Had son with me so moved onto Glen Etive, not much better and at the end there were more tents and sleeping bags abandoned than what go outdoors have on display.
if I’m Desperate I will stopover at loch Tulla viewpoint but normally I’m heading much farther north and use the A9 stopping over for the night near Dallwhinnie on a poi on General Wades military road. Always quiet and only the occasional motorhome or lorry for company.

 

[caledonia]

They have gone abroad ?

Nada. Stealth camping

 

[Moonraker 2]

Just me, Mam & Dad and a full English fry up breakfast on a little camping gaz stove to welcome in New Year's morning, then me running miles up and down the beach to the sea, collecting shells, seaweed, interesting stones, flotsam and jetsam.

What wonderful memories.!!!

 

[Scotia]

She sells sea shells on the sea shore! Difficult enough to type.

 

[Deleted member 95622]

We knew it was going to be busy and really didn't have much choice in when we could both go together due to work and other commitments but it worked out OK in the end although I was quite shocked at how just busy it was though. I only moved (back) to Scotland 2 years ago after 20 years in Devon so holiday destinations have been very elsewhere (and mostly abroad) for a long time now. I used to do a lot of Munroe bashing when I was younger and liked Glencoe then, but if I go back now it will be very much out of season.

It's the longest trip we've done together in the van and it worked well for us for 5 nights. We were able to cook outside for 2 nights (Cadac SF2 Gas BBQ thing) but it was a bit windy the other nights.

We did try to get into one park at the top of Glencoe village, but there's a 2.2m barrier and it seems the van is 2.3m high with the fan vent thing.

I've been using the van for work for 1-2 nights a week since we got it last November so have gotten quite used to it - wifey (and little doggie) hasn't done much in it - yet - but our plan is to try to get somewhere locally (say max. 1 hours drive from home) one night a week whenever possible, then do the longer trips together when we have holiday times that fit (we're both self-employed but also have part-time/fixed-time work)

Oh - forgot to add - the whining drones in the Lost Valley! I really shouldn't complain as I worked on a drone project some years back, but they're everywhere now. Grr...

Cheers,

-G