Scotland advice please!!

Stacetop

Guest
We are planning to go to Scotland for a week wild camping in a few weeks. Due to time constraints we may have to stay in the Ayrshire/Dumfries area. I intend to travel to Largs and the isle of cumbrae but I am unsure of good wilding spots in this area. We ideally like spots where we could park for a day or two to enjoy the local area or coastline, with possibly walking/cycling opportunities but would like to be in a quieter area not town centre style car park but not totally/completely isolated either but at the same time don't need buildings in line of sight.
We are still new to wild camping and nervous as we have a toddler with us.

Does anyone have any good ideas of where and what we should do we will be crossing from north east into north west then heading into Scotland!! Oh and the Arran ferry looks too expensive.

Thanks
 
Don't know much about Scotland but enroute try Penrith and camp free in the town centre (you mentioned town centres as a negative but this worth a try) behind the co-op shop at the side of the bus station, nice town, chippies, curry house, chinese and good pubs what else do you need (even a clean toilet on the bus station).
 
Stacetop said:
We are planning to go to Scotland for a week wild camping in a few weeks. Due to time constraints we may have to stay in the Ayrshire/Dumfries area. I intend to travel to Largs and the isle of cumbrae but I am unsure of good wilding spots in this area. We ideally like spots where we could park for a day or two to enjoy the local area or coastline, with possibly walking/cycling opportunities but would like to be in a quieter area not town centre style car park but not totally/completely isolated either but at the same time don't need buildings in line of sight.
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There are lots of spots in the POI Downloads for this area, including 5 on Cumbrae.

I suggest you start by looking at the POIs :)

Regards

Chris
 
Hi Stacetop,we went last weekend,had a night in Gretna railway station.
Not much to do there but it was just a night stopover.
Next 2 night`s we stayed in Saltcoates,theres a car park on the front near to an Aldi.
A 2 minute walk into town found us a "Wetherspoon`s" called The Salt Cot,
The Salt Cot, Saltcoats | Our Pubs | J D Wetherspoon What a great start to your week !
 
Thanks for the tips I have used the poi and will be stopping in cumbrae but would also like personal recommendations of where other members have had a good time.

I will research Saltcoats thanks for tip!
 
Hi for largs you can have a night at Aubrey crescent. Ten mins to nardinis, famous ice cream, also all usual sea front stuff for kids.
 
Arnold said:
Hi for largs you can have a night at Aubrey crescent. Ten mins to nardinis, famous ice cream, also all usual sea front stuff for kids.
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Thanks for this info - I've added this spot to the POI Downloads :)

Regards

Chris
 
Thanks Arnold I know exactly share you mean and wondered if you could park there!
 
The forest at Dalbeattie - you can camp there, in the carpark, plenty of walks, not far from Sandyhills beach, nice little town - leave your van in the forest and walk into the town - 5 minutes away, and a lovely play park for children.
 
The Isle of Arran ferry should be about £108 this time of year. Without a shadow of a doubt it is well worth it! We usually go there a few times every year. The wild spots on the island are probably some of the best in Scotland, if not Europe and there is something for everyone there.

If I were you I would offset the cost of the ferry against the fact that you will have a week of free camping in superb and safe surroundings. There is a section in our blog with photos on Hank the Tank Motorhome website.

If you decide to go, PM me and I will tell you the best locations as well as where to get water, empty the loo etc.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions I am researching all of them as this will be the first time we will be holidaying for over a week and not on a site so want to make it fun and enjoyable, but also safe areas for our toddler to play.

Dalbeattie looks like a good option too, Is it dalbeattie 1 or 2 with the play area I can only see a picture of Dalbeattie 1 for some reason??

I did price the ferry to Arran but it was around the £150 mark which is a bit much as we are saving up for 3 weeks in france, but if we change our minds I will pm!!

Ive also looked at Loch Ken and Loch Doon, there are just too many poi's!!!

thanks again everyone!!
 
Barbt said:
The forest at Dalbeattie - you can camp there, in the carpark, plenty of walks, not far from Sandyhills beach, nice little town - leave your van in the forest and walk into the town - 5 minutes away, and a lovely play park for children.
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Agreed....Dalbeattie woods is a marvelous spot. The trees are so big I couldn't get me arms around them to give em a hug!:p
Finart's Bay is a nice secluded spot, and not a public car park. Just off the A77 north out of Stanraer, about three miles north of Cairnryan ferryport ....turn left just as the road heads inland, on the bend that turns away from the coast.... go past a little factory unit and a cottage then over a narrow stone bridge. Bear left and the rutted track will lead you right on to the beach. If you are worried whether you are allowed to stay or not...go and knock at the cottage door and ask the lady who lives there or (I think it's) her dad.

Picture 1 of 8 from Round Britain Sorebumathon
 
Rubbertramp said:
Finart's Bay is a nice secluded spot, and not a public car park. Just off the A77 north out of Stanraer, about three miles north of Cairnryan ferryport ....turn left just as the road heads inland, on the bend that turns away from the coast.... go past a little factory unit and a cottage then over a narrow stone bridge. Bear left and the rutted track will lead you right on to the beach.
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Is this the spot? 55.009348,-5.049355 - Google Maps
 
As an Englishman living in this area I would strongly recommend not coming up till around may, the weather this time of year is terrible.
 
Rubbertramp said:
Yes Chris..... My van is 7ft wide and I was easily able to squeeze between the two posts and the parking is at the head of the beach.....the big branches were in the same position when I was there.
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Thanks ... I've added it to the POI Downloads :)

Chris
 
As said the POI give a great start. Plenty in Dumfrieshire & Galloway. Lots of spots in the Galloway Forest.

Stayed at the front at Troon - a few folk around in the evening looking at the view but it quietens down later.

The lay by with the Varyag memorial on the A77 a few miles south of Girvan is lovely.

But the top spot for me in this part of the world is the car park by the lighthouse at the Mull of Galloway (viewable on Streetview). 330 degree sea views of England (on good vis days), Isle Of Man, Ireland & Scotland. Spectacular.

Enjoy.
 
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