Our first holiday in a motor home,

Daveportsmouth

Guest
Hi,

We (4 adults) are having our first motor home holiday this May & its our first time in Scotland as well. We have rented a 2007 Swift Kon-Tiki Vogue (24feet) for 9 nights and will be driving up from Portsmouth on the south coast.

I have planned a rough route with google maps, But as i have never been up to Scotland i am not sure if it is a good route around scotland or if it is to much for the 9 nights.

With two drivers we will be doing the drive up to Scotland in one hit, and will be arrive in the Loch Lommand area around 10pm.

If anyone would like to give any input on ideas for stop overs or places not to miss, or any roads i should avoid or roads i should drive, your comments or ideas would be most welcome.

Thanks

Dave

heres the link to my route map
 
Hi and welcome to the site. Lots of info for you in the forums.
Just browsing your itinerary, approx 1/4 mile passed Ardvreck Castle is a small laybye with a grassed area on the side of the Loch, I always stop on here, great view of the Castle and surrounding area, and no tourist to disturb you.
Have a good trip.

Happy Camping:)
 
May,start of the Midge and Mossie season. Make sure you have Avon Skin so soft on the list !!..

Channa.
 
I already thought of that, i managed to buy 8 bottles of it for £1.25 each in the avon sale..lol
 
Skin so Soft

I've meant to ask this before as we're going to Scotland later in the year too, which Skin so Soft? If you go on the Avon website there are lots of different types.

Thanks
Fiftysomething
 
Dave,

Looking at your Itinery it looks to be solid driving. I did a simliar tour the first time i went to Scotland.
I went from West Sussex to Rannoch moor thu Glencoe then to Fort William then upto the Black Isle, watched the Dolphins there, then upto Duncansby head, John o' groats, Dunnet Head. Balnekeil Bay in my view the best in Scotland.
Cape wrath then down thru Scourie, Assynt, Ullapool, Wester Ross, call into Plockton. Then the Isle of Skye.

Going thru Glencoe from Rannoch moor (East to West) is a must.
Go down to the very bottom of Glen Nevis and the walk around to Steall Falls (caution tricky footpath).
The drive along the roof of Scotland from East to West is great, Dunnet head being the most Northerly part of mainland Britain. Plenty of places to watch seals, depending on time of year.
Balnekeil Bay is just great, very exposed sandy beach, pic of the road leading to it and Faraid Head (parking for about 15 vehicles) as is Sandwood Bay further south. The trip out to Cape Wrath is worth the money if available.
Fgallery7-9.jpg


Plockton is very beautiful if a bit touristy, but worth the visit(midge hell in high season).
A trip around the Isle of Skye, well worth it. The River Sligachan at Sligachan looking towards the Cuillin hills. About 300 meters to the right and behind this view is the Sligachan inn. I believe they allow you to park overnight there if you use the Inn.
Fgallery7-1.jpg

Getting a bit late now.
So very briefly, about mid May the Fort William to Mallaig steam train runs well worth the £30 odd return trip About 80 miles and across the GlenFinnan viaduct
Fgallery5-4.jpg


As for the midges, May this year shouldn't be a problem as its been a very harsh winter up there.

Hopefully if no more snow i shall go up there myself this week............no heating in my van/tent.

There's far too much to see and do in nine days, I haven't even mentioned the walkin.....fantastic hills

I hope this helps

Paul

More Scottish pictures here The Visible Landscape
 
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Just a reminder i've posted it here before, if bitten by midges treat bite with malt vinegar. Apply often and generously it will prevent any scab forming and take away the itching.
 
Daveportsmouth said:
I already thought of that, i managed to buy 8 bottles of it for £1.25 each in the avon sale..lol
Click to expand...

8 bottles:eek: How long you going for 9yrs:D
My lonely bottle as lasted us 3yrs up to now and still going strong:cool:
Great stuff to use for the midges and for the skin, but doubt if you will need much in May, if any.
Have a good trip.


Happy Camping:)
 
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fiftysomething said:
I've meant to ask this before as we're going to Scotland later in the year too, which Skin so Soft? If you go on the Avon website there are lots of different types.

Thanks
Fiftysomething
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to know which one as well. I have a phobia of insect bites - as I get really bad reactions to them, and its the one thing puts me off going to Scotland.
 
Or......You could do a scottish island or two. Mull perhaps? Or what about the Isle of Arran. Im biased as Arran is like a second home to us. Loads of great wild camping spots on the islands. YOu can get hopscotch tickets and do 2 or 3

Just an idea.
 
jennyp19 said:
I'd be interested to know which one as well. I have a phobia of insect bites - as I get really bad reactions to them, and its the one thing puts me off going to Scotland.
Click to expand...

We use the bottle with the green top, as used by the Royal Marines when on training in Scotland. Does the trick for them and us:D
 
.

smothered my HID in the stuff last time we went up there for a round...:rolleyes:

they still bit her....:mad:


ladygolferwithmossiebites.jpg





right pain in the bum they are....:p


the nastids....:D

regards:eek:
aj
 
best is : cover the wife with jam (any flavour) the midges will be too busy to bother you.
 
Scotland in May we started here.....

This is exactly how we started look up my wedding pics from the first trip in hired van second year did same now we owners ourselves but it is to scotland from plymouth we do every May. Always do trip up in one hit and to loch lomond first night plenty of laybys half way along the loch for first night some are behind bushes and all on the right side so travel steady along loch. We have traveled so much of the area it would be impossible to tell all. The west coast is just so fantastic you will never fit it all in so just make for a finish before you decide to come back, we usually head for Skye it is far enough on nine days and if you try to do it all you will spend all time driving even with two as we always are. Make time to stop for longer, walk visit castles and ruins, on skye the pub previously mentioned now has great site on opposite side of road for parking all amenities and views to die for. Skye itself is totally in a world of its own so two days min is needed and you c an find plenty of wild camping there too as in nearly all of scotland. Try staying at Glen Brittle camp site on skye right on beach very basic showers small shop but the atmosphere there is brill climbers walkers photographers paradise. We also going up for 9 days in may probably early may, so if times cross happy to meet for coffee on route somewhere in our dear scotland paradise. Will keep in touch ask away any questions and dont be afraid to try some of those quiet tracks they can be great. As a thought also for all you others out in scotland great £6.00 night deep in the forest by a river forestery comission site half way along loch rannoch left and side small road Tay Forrest.
 
This is where we started....

First holiday in hired van three years ago (see my wedding pics on forum) then second holiday next year and now we smitten so bought our own van and on our way up there again this year early may also. Nine days dont even begin to try fit it all in make time to stop and look so very much to see just decide where you going to head to before you turn around Skye is a good first trip it is far enough up needs two days on it if you really want to see this piece of heaven. Nearly all the west coast is fantastic so just get the map out and pick a route. Glen coe a must and for your first night on Loch Lomond there are plenty of parking in laybys half way along loch on right hand side some even behing hedges. We do same from Plymouth all in one hit two drivers, another good site is on way to rannoch moor it is a forrestry commision site just toilets water and waste but right in forrest on river side very peaceful. I definately could give you so much to do see not miss but the list would be endless happy to keep answering any questions tho any time and if we up there same time glad to meet for chat and coffee. I know you will love it it is a world of its own and so many people dont bother it is truely a wild place.
 
As everyone has said Scotland is very special, west coast and western isles particularly. I just wanted to add as info for you That The first Monday in May is the start of the SSDT Scottish six days trials @ fort William so depending on your attitude go and see or avoid. Like others have advised also allow plenty of time to do other than drive.
 
wow thank you for all your replys,

I went to view the motorhome today to get an idea of the size what to take with me etc. The couple who own the motorhomes were really nice, ended up spending 90 mins chatting and drinking coffee with them. He also mentioned about Skye as well as did a few of you guys, They even offered for us to have a 4am pick up instead of the normal 3pm as we had a long journey to make.

So i have been looking around the sky area, which leads me to another question. Has anyone used the Glenelg-Skye Ferry with a 24 footer? http://www.skyeferry.co.uk/service.html

I sent off an email to them this was the reply i got.

"Hi Dave. Yes we can take motorhomes - the only issue is the overhang (distance between rear wheels and end of vehicle) because we load up a ramp but it should be OK if we load carefully. Cost would be £16 single. Look forward to seeing you."

Which worries me a little...lol

anyway thanks again for your replys they have been most helpful.
 
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