Renting motorhome for the first time: Scottish Isles and West coast - any ideas/tips etc plus questions

[FandG]

Hello,

We're planning to set off with a rented motorome this Saturday for 2 weeks to do Arran, Islay, up past Oban and Fort Willian and then Skye. This will be our first time renting a motorhome so any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated. Also if there's any activities people have done up there and recommend would be greatly appreciated.

If we could ask a couple of (probably silly) questions:

1) Do all motorhomes come with a hose that can connected up to any outdoor water tap for example those you see at service stations? The owners of the motorhome asked if we wanted it fully topped up before we picked it up but noted this can add weight. We're planning on getting on a ferry the same day so if we don't top up to max, it would need to be in an accessible location before getting on the ferry to Arran.
2) Do people recommend any extra security for wild camping?
3) We plan to wild camp as much as possible but when at a camp site and hooked up - if you need to leave to get food or whatever, is it as easy as coming and goign as you please once you get your pitch? We don't have bikes so trying to work it all out.
4) As above, we'd like to wild camp as much as possible but know we will need to go to the odd campsite here and there. We'd like the flexibility of not pre-booking anything and just deciding as and when we need showers and hookups etc. But is it normal to turn up or call campsites the same day to see if they have availability? I'm a tad worried about this part because some islands (such as Islay) have limited campsites suitable for motorhomes but don't want to tie us into any bookings until we really need a campsite.

 

[Robmac]

Rented motorhomes should always come with a hose to fill the water tank but if not take a plastic watering can with the rose removed and use that to fill the tank.

Campsites will let you come and go as you please but some may have a barrier which cannot be opened after a certain time (usually 22.00 - 08.00 or thereabouts).

Campsites may be busy as the Easter holidays are starting but you may be able to get a pitch on the day but if not pubs are often motorhome friendly and will allow you to stay overnight if you have a mea or a few drinks there.

 

[Robmac]

...welcome to the forum by the way.

 

[Boris7]

Welcome,

1) Van SHOULD come with but CHECK, if its your first time then I would ask for the water tank to be full at the outset. we rented before buying and ran out of water on the first night, but soon learnt. Getting water on the Scottish west coast isnt too much of an issue (look for boat yards/local garages/parks etc but you MAY need a longer hose than supplied with the van hire. Many sites will let you use their facilities without staying overnight for a fee you can empty the cassette etc. Fairline Quay Marina will allow you to take on water and empty your cassette BUT PLEASE leave everything clean, such places get pissed off with wildcampers overtime if they don't show respect.
2) Yes, common sense. Just think about your surroundings, if it doesn't feel safe move on, but where your going you'll be fine.
3) Yes, just leave something (like a water container to let others know the pitch is taken, better still pre-book a site a few days ahead and pre-book a supermarket delivery.
4) You'll welcome 2 nights on a site once or twice as it means a day off and a chance to do all those little things, like have a beer (or three) (or 10 if your Rob!!) also remember people on this and other sites have in the main been wild camping for years, my van can pretty much survive off power indefinitely, I have various means of filling water (hose/pick up pump/etc) and we all work out how to dump the cassette contents discreetly and properly without causing issues or offence but a hire van will not have loads of additional solar, large lithium batteries, a second cassette, a generator etc.... So you should accept that sites are a good idea every few nights.

I always suggest everyone hiring or buying should spend the first night (or 2) on a site with EHU, but they should not use the EHU and not keep filling the water tank etc.. Then when the water runs out and the lights go off they can lean their limits in a "safe" environment.

Have a great time

 

[barryd]

Welcome. You picked a good place to start with Arran as it has two motorhome service points and an Aire (motorhome parking place) with a service point that anyone can use so dont bother filling with water but probably make sure you do before you leave the island. As you come off the ferry and head down the front through Brodick half way along where the boat launch car park is there is a tap but as you carry on beyond there and on the way out of Brodick heading north find the Auchrannie hotel. (Second entrance) and as you come in to their Spa complex there is a motorhome stopover and a free service point. Waste and water. There are also toilet emptying points at Whiting Bay and Blackwaterfoot to the south of the island.

There are plenty of places to stop over, mainly on the west coast of the island which is also quieter and a few on the busier east coast. You will find them easy enough.

I assume you will be leaving for Islay on the smaller Lochranza ferry. I would maybe travel full of water from there if you dont know where you are going to end up. Its a long time since Ive been to Islay but I think it was motorhome friendly.

I wouldn't worry too much about security on the islands at least. Just dont leave anything valuable on show when you are out.

Good itinerary. You will have a blast.

 

[liz]

Try enjoy your trip and no hurry to visit everywhere in 2 weeks ,
We did that on our 1st few trips.
Exhausting especially for the driver ,enjoy the scenery ,locals ,.
Welcome from Whitley Bay .

 

[CWH]

- Most ferries need to be booked in advance: you can't take a motorhome into the standby queue. A few are turn-up-and-go.
- You may not be able to get supermarket deliveries: here in Skye they deliver to 4 specific car parks and we have to collect
- "Wild camping" is not a free-for-all park-where-you-want kind of thing, despite what many people think: the SOAC is about tent camping and defers no rights on vehicles so be aware that you are only parking up with permission
- if parking up off-site, use your water sparingly
- more of an issue will be emptying your toilet cassette: you will need to use sites or other disposal points for this. Do NOT empty in public toilets
- use only septic-tank-friendly additives in your cassette: many of the places you plan to visit will be on tanks. If unsure, don't use any additive; I never do and it's not an issue.

In Skye :
- council black waste dumps at Bayfield car park in Portree and at the Old Man of Storr car park.
- CCC Skye at Edinbane allows freshen-up visits (pre-book)
- community-run Camping Skye (Broadford) and South Skye Motorhome Park (Armadale) allow drop-and-fill (pre-book) [thete's a shop and cafe on the same site as SSMC]
- some private sites also allow drop and partial fill eg Kinloch at Dunvegan (pre-book)
- if arriving or leaving via the bridge, there's an aire at Auchtertyre with all waste facilities, and a campsite at Reraig; coming/ leaving via the Mallaig- Armadale ferry there's a black dump, toilets and showers in Mallaig car park

 

[Thistle]

@FandG
Never assume a random tap dispense potable water, always check first and ask permission to take some.
Rental vans can be vile things they get heavily abused and damaged, inspect the vehicle’s condition thoroughly make sure every defect internally and externally is recorded on the paperwork otherwise you might lose a significant chunk of your deposit.

Make sure it’s road legal good tyres, check lights etc.

If you’ve hired but never driven a Tupperware before, remember they are extremely fragile and wide, slow down, don’t even attempt to maintain average car speeds the vans heavy so allow twice as much distance for braking don’t convoy with all the other sheep doing the same route definitely don’t tailgate and anticipate when to pull over at passing places.

Find a large area and practice reversing on the mirrors especially if it doesn’t have a reversing camera, many car drivers reversing skill are woefully inadequate and you could be doing a lot especially if you encounter someone that can’t even reverse their little car!

I’ve never ever assumed a pitch is mine at a campsite unless it allocated by number so if you leave don’t be surprised if someone in that spot on your return

There’s a lot of really stupid or selfish people in vans that freeload to excess arriving late and making a lot of noise when leaving early trying to avoid even paying basic parking fees.

They will cram into a parkup often annoyingly close to others, find a park up early park sensibly don’t get desperate leaving it too late and pull up right alongside another van, good etiquette as well as for fire safety is to be well distanced.

Alway always have a plan B and C when choosing parkups. Most of the sheep use the two major apps so park ups can quickly become full, five minutes applying at bit of intelligence using google maps and street view often finds somewhere better.

If you are using the apps don’t rely on the gushing reviews a busy dangerous noisy lay-by is not my idea of a five star stop but may be for others!

Have fun

 

[Robmac]

The Hire company will give you a demo of how the heating, water heater, water pump, fridge etc. etc. all work.

I would recommend that you film the demo on your 'phone in order that you can play it back if you forget where the various switches etc. are.

 

[colinm]

Looking at your itinerary you maybe need to consider cutting out an island, or you may find yourselves rushing around and not getting much of a holiday. So decide which ilses are your 'must do', with the option of the third if you have time.

 

[r4dent]

Maybe consider not getting a ferry on the first day.

That way if something goes wrong it will be easier to return to the dealer or for them to come to you.

Maybe do the trip in reverse i.e Go to Skye and then make your way South.
A site near Loch Lomond would make for an easy first day and an interesting first night.

Whenever you stay on a site with facilities make sure you empty waste and Toilet and fill water before leaving, you never know when the opportunity will next be available.

Enjoy.

 

[Fazerloz]

When wildcamping go easy on the electric. Your not at home with a endless supply.
Chill and go with the flow. Enjoy yourselves.