Motorhome booked - Scotland next year, all tips welcomed

tdm900

Guest
Well Motohome hire all booked :dance:. After thinking I get a 6m van got tempted by a Swift 664, so not quite 6m long then. Just got to get use to then.

Booked for June 1st to June 14th nest year, very rough plan is the Caringorms, Trossachs then Skye thyen hopefully head up the west coast and back down to the middle, thats If we got the time.
Went on the motobike a few years back but thats the only time I've been so very open to suggestions, ideas and tips would be great (hopefully save myself making a total twat of myself.)
Joined the site and downloaded the POI.
 
When you take over the Motorhome be sure to walk around it with the Company Rep and take note of any damage however slight and make sure it is recorded so that YOU are not held responsible for any defects prior to your use.This applies to any hired vehicle, be sure the mileage recorded is also noted if you have limited mileage in the contract, that done off you go, don't try and see too much, take your time and enjoy the journey. Scotland is a great place to visit when the Midges are not around, take some Midge replant and something to rub on if bitten, Have a great time.
 
vindiboy said:
When you take over the Motorhome be sure to walk around it with the Company Rep and take note of any damage however slight and make sure it is recorded so that YOU are not held responsible for any defects prior to your use.This applies to any hired vehicle, be sure the mileage recorded is also noted if you have limited mileage in the contract, that done off you go, don't try and see too much, take your time and enjoy the journey. Scotland is a great place to visit when the Midges are not around, take some Midge replant and something to rub on if bitten, Have a great time.
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Agree with that. If possible take video footage of the vehicle on collection so that you can prove that previous damage was not caused by yourselves.
 
Hi tdm,

We took our Swift Escape 664 on a tour of Scotland in 2009, just after buying it, a great van for touring with the fixed bed, but it is over 6 metres,at 6.72 metres/22ft 1".We stared by heading up the A1 from Hertfordshire telling wife we don't need maps to get to Scotland, took a wrong turning and ended up on a beach camp site on the dunes near Berwick on Tweed.Next morning on checking the weather the we found the weather bad on the east coast so headed across country to Loch Lomand National park staying at Balloch at the bottom of lake in sunny weather.from there to Fort William staying at Glen Nevis camping park. On to Inverness then across to Dingwall on the Cromerty Firth off Black Isle Wester Ross and on up through Helmsdale and up the east coast to John o Groats staying at the ferry port.The A836 to Durness on the top road across the top of Scotland towards Cape Wrath staying at Sango sands.Now on the top western corner of Scotland we headed down the west coast, and I think the the best and wildest part of Scotland.Next stop was Loch Inverewe with a hotel meal of Langosteins to die for. Applecross bay is a must if you are Ok with narrow roads and heights, a very peacefull place to stay.Travelling south to Sky and Loch Gresharnish, we toured Sky but it does not stand up to west of Scotland for views.Heading south again we stopped at Perth for the Scone palace tour to see the copy of the Stone of Scone the British took to London. We then travelled down to Moffat and on to Pawsfoot at Oueens ferry bay on Scotish side of the lake District.We moved down to the lake District.A great holiday we will return very soon.

Snowbirds.
 
I think the best thing I could suggest to a newbie to Scotland is this.
On your map, Yellow B roads are almost always single track!!! in rural parts of the north, so are the red A roads.

Also A939 & A93 are a great touristic alternative to the A9
 
touring scotland

hi where abouts are you picking up motorhome
as really need a starting point.
 
Snowbirds I did realise it was 6.7 metres long just got tempted by the extra space or to put it truthfully the wife did, at least it the wider than most of the 6 metre coachbulit ones (fingers crossed).

Will do the video bit, Im a keen photographer and the camera does have video built in.

Should have put a starting point, obivious now you mention it. Picking it up from Aberdeen.
Just looking over the wildcamping POI on Goggle Earth, wets the appetite even more.
 
Highland Gathering

We will probably be hosting the 2013 Highland Gathering in June - so if you are interested in it, let me know. Date is not yet fixed.
We have had 2 meets/gatherings a year for the last 3 years and every time they are different, anything from 6 - 15 vans, a good mix of people (expecting the Piper back from Holland again next year, and Otto from Germany has been twice), good food & drink, and lots of tips and advice.
If you can't make the gathering you are welcome to come and pitch overnight, anyway.
 
If you can afford the ferry fares hop over to Islay. Fabulous place for a motorhome, plenty of wild camping spots, amazing historical sites, terrific wildlife, lovely deserted beaches & great walks. Oh & there are loads of top quality Whisky distilleries!

Laphroaig was one of the most welcoming, we got a couple of tots without even paying for a tour! Bowmore is probably the least welcoming as it seems to be set up to cater for paying tourist trips whereas many of the others will welcome you as a visitor & the trip is optional. Coal Isla charge for the trip, but you get a free nosing glass as well as the usual tot. Kilchoman is the newest & smallest & is the only distillery where (for at least one Malt) all of the processes including growing & malting the barley are carried out on the same site.
 
magbrin said:
We will probably be hosting the 2013 Highland Gathering in June - so if you are interested in it, let me know. Date is not yet fixed.
We have had 2 meets/gatherings a year for the last 3 years and every time they are different, anything from 6 - 15 vans, a good mix of people (expecting the Piper back from Holland again next year, and Otto from Germany has been twice), good food & drink, and lots of tips and advice.
If you can't make the gathering you are welcome to come and pitch overnight, anyway.
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When do you release the date - Hope it doesn't clash with Portsoy harbour day - can't miss that !
 
Brochloon said:
When do you release the date - Hope it doesn't clash with Portsoy harbour day - can't miss that !
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Not sure yet, when it will be, but if you let me know when the Portsoy Harbour day is, I will try to avoid it. I will post dates for Gathering and Mini-meet (which will be later in the summer) as soon as they are confirmed - probably early next year.
 
Been making some rough plans. We pick up the vab in Aberdeen on June 1st, My idea is to head through the bottom of the Cairgorns, down to the trossachs up to Glencoe (which does appeal) and then either round Oban before heading up the west coast or straight up the west coast.
Hopefully wild camp most of the time, any suggestions of where to vist/go (or not to go), best/worst places to try and wild camp and good camp sites.

Many Thanks
Graham
 
tdm900 said:
Been making some rough plans. We pick up the vab in Aberdeen on June 1st, My idea is to head through the bottom of the Cairgorns, down to the trossachs up to Glencoe (which does appeal) and then either round Oban before heading up the west coast or straight up the west coast.
Hopefully wild camp most of the time, any suggestions of where to vist/go (or not to go), best/worst places to try and wild camp and good camp sites.

Many Thanks
Graham
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too many places to mention, my favorite place is up round Kyle of Tongue, simply stunning, you will be spoilt for choice, i hate to burst your bubble though, if you are hiring the van, check out your agreement, most hire company's do not allow wild camping :cry: your insurance will be void if anything were to happen
 
kimbowbill said:
too many places to mention, my favorite place is up round Kyle of Tongue, simply stunning, you will be spoilt for choice, i hate to burst your bubble though, if you are hiring the van, check out your agreement, most hire company's do not allow wild camping :cry: your insurance will be void if anything were to happen
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Ah B*****r if that's the case, well I looking for some lovely campsites then
 
kimbowbill said:
too many places to mention, my favorite place is up round Kyle of Tongue, simply stunning, you will be spoilt for choice, i hate to burst your bubble though, if you are hiring the van, check out your agreement, most hire company's do not allow wild camping :cry: your insurance will be void if anything were to happen
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That's also one of my favourite places on the whole planet, but now you've gone and spoiled it by telling everyone else! :(

And there I was thinking that me and you could have that area to ourselves sometime, without the unwelcome attention of all the gooseberries on here!! :):):)
 
kimbowbill said:
too many places to mention, my favorite place is up round Kyle of Tongue, simply stunning, you will be spoilt for choice, i hate to burst your bubble though, if you are hiring the van, check out your agreement, most hire company's do not allow wild camping :cry: your insurance will be void if anything were to happen
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Good news just checked with the hire company, covered to wild camp :)
 
scampa said:
That's also one of my favourite places on the whole planet, but now you've gone and spoiled it by telling everyone else! :(

And there I was thinking that me and you could have that area to ourselves sometime, without the unwelcome attention of all the gooseberries on here!! :):):)
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yeah but there's plenty more places, but we will keep this secret :rabbit:
 
kimbowbill said:
too many places to mention, my favorite place is up round Kyle of Tongue, simply stunning, you will be spoilt for choice, i hate to burst your bubble though, if you are hiring the van, check out your agreement, most hire company's do not allow wild camping :cry: your insurance will be void if anything were to happen
Click to expand...

Just dont go when the annual causeway bonfire party is on...we stopped on the Talamine road just up from the graveyard with a french van for company but at 6am next morning some drunk tried to break into the van....luckily we had a phone signal so dialled 999....police came eventually and found him asleep on the rocks....a worrying time but all was well and hasnt put us off wildcamping.... alovely area but not for one night a year!!!!!
 
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