Well done Moray.

[Fisherman]

It’s not profitable for the bigger sites to open over winter but there are some smaller sites open all year.

Yes Cale, but those that would love to ban us seem unaware of the fact that sites close in winter. Many think we don’t go out in winter. It’s all part of the ignorance out there about us.

 

[barryd]

All responsible motor homers know the local economy improves if a town car park allows overnighting, for instance we usually go out for a drink or a meal in the town of an evening.

And the Dornoch people are well known for campaigning against wild camping. Their hostility for me, means their site is on my black list.

But wild camping for us is not about being a cheapskate and not wanting to stay on a site, it is about wanting to stay where we happen to be at any time. We use the MH for touring, if there is a convenient site that has a vacancy we will use it, but more often than not they don't have space (can't book in advance as we never know where we will end up) so the only option is wild camping.

This is what they still fail to seem to grasp in the UK. A lot of motorhomers just want a place to park up for maybe 12 hours before they move on for another day on the road. Its not what we do but it is what a lot do. Who is going to want to fart on with booking, checking in and paying £40 a night for parking space?

My biggest gripe with Scotland is there seems to be a lack of CL or CS sites and particularly off grid ones. I like to stay places for a few days or even a week or two but I don't want to be on sites, you can't really wild camp for that long in one spot and I don't want to use a site if I can help it. Thats probably just me though. The majority will be like you.

 

[ProDave]

Before buying the MH, for 40 years I towed a trailer caravan. For that my choice was a CL (but as you say not many in Scotland). It was a totally different sort of holiday. A portable holiday cottage that you parked on a site for a week while exploring that area then moving on. Our use of the MH is much different, rarely wanting to be in the same place for more than a night, and each night wanting a place to stop for the night without miles of extra travelling.

 

[barryd]

Before buying the MH, for 40 years I towed a trailer caravan. For that my choice was a CL (but as you say not many in Scotland). It was a totally different sort of holiday. A portable holiday cottage that you parked on a site for a week while exploring that area then moving on. Our use of the MH is much different, rarely wanting to be in the same place for more than a night, and each night wanting a place to stop for the night without miles of extra travelling.

Because our trips are primarily biking trips (Scooter) they are very much like yours were when you had the caravan. The bike usually does more miles than the motorhome. I often don't move the van for days, sometimes weeks. This presents a problem in some parts of the UK at least. We are all kitted out for solar so April to October I don't need hookup, our onboard facilities like the shower room are fantastic so I don't need showers. I just need a field and preferably a tap and elsan point. I'm not paying £40+ a night for that. Some of the Aires and forestry stopovers are great but some of them are one night only I believe. No good to me really.

 

[Jo001]

Just heading back from a wander in Europe and , as you say , many sites do this . They then , potentially, capture all of the market . Often , depending on layout , sites can shut the actual campsite in winter and provide an aire . Virtually no overheads but some income off season .
Seems sensible.....

We stayed on the municipal site at Quiberonand thats what they do. It is a fabulous location, right on the beach, and we'd definitely use something like that off season if it was available.

 

[Robmac]

Because our trips are primarily biking trips (Scooter) they are very much like yours were when you had the caravan. The bike usually does more miles than the motorhome. I often don't move the van for days, sometimes weeks. This presents a problem in some parts of the UK at least. We are all kitted out for solar so April to October I don't need hookup, our onboard facilities like the shower room are fantastic so I don't need showers. I just need a field and preferably a tap and elsan point. I'm not paying £40+ a night for that. Some of the Aires and forestry stopovers are great but some of them are one night only I believe. No good to me really.

Have you ever thought about converting to Lithium Barry?

 

[Robmac]

Campsites here are bonkers. I don't know the layout of their site but they could set aside a car park, paint half a dozen motorhome spaces a couple of metres apart and charge them a tenner a night including services. A fiver just for services. This happens in Europe quite often.

Yes indeed Barry, I don't understand why sites go unoccupied during Winter.

The Applecross and Durness sites do this (unless it has changed). I haven't used the Applecross site but at Durness you 'phone the Warden when you arrive and he drives down and collects payment, the toilet/shower block is closed over winter.

 

[1807truckman]

We have relatives up in Moray so this is good to hear about, we'll use the parking area at Cullen as well or relatives drive when there's space.

 

[barryd]

Yes indeed Barry, I don't understand why sites go unoccupied during Winter.

The Applecross and Durness sites do this (unless it has changed). I haven't used the Applecross site but at Durness you 'phone the Warden when you arrive and he drives down and collects payment, the toilet/shower block is closed over winter.

I Can't find anything on the Applecross site about Aire type parking. Looks like for when we would want to go it would be £33 a night, £39 if you want hookup.

Tariffs 2025 – Visit Applecross

visitapplecross.com

I've never been but I seem to remember there used to be more wilding opportunities on the POI and SFS up there. Looks like they have all gone and the site is the only game in town. I suspect that means it will be rammed. I'm sure there are places you could pull in at dusk and leave early but thats not what we like to do and I just can't get my head and wallet around paying nearly £40 a night for parking. I would spend that and more on beer and cheese but not parking.

 

[Robmac]

I Can't find anything on the Applecross site about Aire type parking. Looks like for when we would want to go it would be £33 a night, £39 if you want hookup.

Tariffs 2025 – Visit Applecross

visitapplecross.com

I've never been but I seem to remember there used to be more wilding opportunities on the POI and SFS up there. Looks like they have all gone and the site is the only game in town. I suspect that means it will be rammed. I'm sure there are places you could pull in at dusk and leave early but thats not what we like to do and I just can't get my head and wallet around paying nearly £40 a night for parking. I would spend that and more on beer and cheese but not parking.

I'm lucky in that I have 2 private permissions at Applecross Barry so I've never had to use the campsite. I think the site there has changed now as they have camping huts and static caravans. The place gets a hell of a lot of very bad reviews though!

Just been on their website and looked at the tariffs, these are obviously not correct??

EDIT; I've worked out the pricing now!

 

[barryd]

I'm lucky in that I have 2 private permissions at Applecross Barry so I've never had to use the campsite. I think the site there has changed now as they have camping huts and static caravans. The place gets a hell of a lot of very bad reviews though!

Just been on their website and looked at the tariffs, these are obviously not correct??

EDIT; I've worked out the pricing now!

What did you work it out at as it looks like £15 per adult, £3 for the van and £6 for EHU? I don't fancy it anyway reading some reviews. There is just nothing else anywhere near. Looks like it might be Arran again

 

[Robmac]

What did you work it out at as it looks like £15 per adult, £3 for the van and £6 for EHU? I don't fancy it anyway reading some reviews. There is just nothing else anywhere near. Looks like it might be Arran again

I didn't include the £15 per adult charge Barry so thought 3 quid for a campervan seemed a tad low!!

 

[Jo001]

£15 per adult, £3 for the van and £6 for EHU?

Given that you are paying for EHU anyway, what difference does a second adult make?

 

[barryd]

Given that you are paying for EHU anyway, what difference does a second adult make?

I suppose they assume you will use the showers etc so more cleaning but I agree. If there is four of you its going to get expensive. Sounds sh*t anyway.

 

[runnach]

I'm lucky in that I have 2 private permissions at Applecross..................................

Rob, I remember back in the day being able to park at the top of the bay, nice walk to the inn for food and a few wet ones, then a nice stagger back in the dark back to the van. If October time, stags bringing their hinds down from the hill to forage the bay at low water. To be wakened by the roar of the Stag at 2am in the morning. Then the boulders closed off access.

After the boulders went in, my go to was Toscaig, my auld clam hunting ground. When I first visited Toscaig, motored round in our boat from Plockton, the original pier was still there, see pic below. Nice safe sea loch for canoeing, Sea Otters, Sea Eagles, and seals to be seen. Last time we stopped at Toscaig was 2017, we stopped at the inn for late lunch before heading down the Bealach, last person I spoke with was Ali, a few month later, he drowned, RIP Ali MacLeod, who has gone to the land of never ending prawn fishing.

 

[TJBi]

Given that you are paying for EHU anyway, what difference does a second adult make?

£15

 

[mark61]

Given that you are paying for EHU anyway, what difference does a second adult make?

Plenty of places do that throughout Europe.
Always seems a bit funny when 3 of us go in one van with a tent, and pay pretty much the same as 3 in two vans.

 

[Robmac]

Rob, I remember back in the day being able to park at the top of the bay, nice walk to the inn for food and a few wet ones, then a nice stagger back in the dark back to the van. If October time, stags bringing their hinds down from the hill to forage the bay at low water. To be wakened by the roar of the Stag at 2am in the morning. Then the boulders closed off access.

After the boulders went in, my go to was Toscaig, my auld clam hunting ground. When I first visited Toscaig, motored round in our boat from Plockton, the original pier was still there, see pic below. Nice safe sea loch for canoeing, Sea Otters, Sea Eagles, and seals to be seen. Last time we stopped at Toscaig was 2017, we stopped at the inn for late lunch before heading down the Bealach, last person I spoke with was Ali, a few month later, he drowned, RIP Ali MacLeod, who has gone to the land of never ending prawn fishing.

View attachment 147461

Such a shame Terry, as you know I knew Ali well such a nice man.

The Stags were often in the village late at night but last time we went we only saw them at Sand Bay. I've been to Toscaig a few times for a bit of fishing but never overnighted there.

I have seen the Otters Sea Eagles and Seals at Applecross and Sand Bay but not at Toscaig so far. Perhaps when we go up in January we will spot them.

 

[runnach]

Such a shame Terry, as you know I knew Ali well such a nice man.

The Stags were often in the village late at night but last time we went we only saw them at Sand Bay. I've been to Toscaig a few times for a bit of fishing but never overnighted there.

I have seen the Otters Sea Eagles and Seals at Applecross and Sand Bay but not at Toscaig so far. Perhaps when we go up in January we will spot them.

Aye, Ali was a real gent and sage with his knowledge of the sea, Rob, and a huge loss to the local community.

Are you back to Eagle Rock, lovely abode, I had a look from a distance?

 

[Robmac]

Aye, Ali was a real gent and sage with his knowledge of the sea, Rob, and a huge loss to the local community.

Are you back to Eagle Rock, lovely abode, I had a look from a distance?

No, we'll be in the van as part of a wider tour Terry.

My Daughter has mentioned booking it again for all of us soon though, loved it there last time.