Wild camping on Arran & Islay

[jagmanx]

Thanks again Bill

Don’t worry to much about when you visit, but do book your ferry tickets well in advance


Ferries to Scotland & Scottish Isles | Caledonian MacBrayne | CalMac Ferries[/QUOTE]

In one sense that is the final tick in the box..
It is just a matter of how we might fit it in.

Useful what you post about booking....
I have emailed Calmac asking them if I need to book

 

[Fisherman]

Don’t worry to much about when you visit, but do book your ferry tickets well in advance


Ferries to Scotland & Scottish Isles | Caledonian MacBrayne | CalMac Ferries

In one sense that is the final tick in the box..
It is just a matter of how we might fit it in.

Useful what you post about booking....
I have emailed Calmac asking them if I need to book[/QUOTE]

Yes you have to.

And the ferry to claonaig is a very small ferry.
It can only take about ten cars.
Our van is 6m and it cost only £47 return for us inc passengers.

 

[groyne]

Useful what you post about booking....
I have emailed Calmac asking them if I need to book

We did a few of the west coast islands last August, including Arran and Mull. We didn't book any ferries, just turned up. The only ferry we couldn't get on was Malaig to Skye (it was the last of the day, and next available was about lunch time next day), but the weather was turning anyway, so we headed over to the east coast. That's the beauty of motorhoming.

We also did the Mull of Kintyre and went to the lighthouse, the last few miles of road where very bumpy, but they don't like us there.

 

[jagmanx]

Mmmn !

We did a few of the west coast islands last August, including Arran and Mull. We didn't book any ferries, just turned up. The only ferry we couldn't get on was Malaig to Skye (it was the last of the day, and next available was about lunch time next day), but the weather was turning anyway, so we headed over to the east coast. That's the beauty of motorhoming.

We also did the Mull of Kintyre and went to the lighthouse, the last few miles of road where very bumpy, but they don't like us there.

View attachment 70328

So maybe not there !

 

[Fisherman]

We did a few of the west coast islands last August, including Arran and Mull. We didn't book any ferries, just turned up. The only ferry we couldn't get on was Malaig to Skye (it was the last of the day, and next available was about lunch time next day), but the weather was turning anyway, so we headed over to the east coast. That's the beauty of motorhoming.

We also did the Mull of Kintyre and went to the lighthouse, the last few miles of road where very bumpy, but they don't like us there.

View attachment 70328

We have seen car drivers not being able to get on board, being told they can only get a later ferry that day if someone does not turn up.
If you book and can't make it, they will allocate another ferry for you no problems.
Also make sure you turn up half an hour before the sailing.
Calmac have been known too give someone else your place if you are a bit late.

 

[Fisherman]

We did a few of the west coast islands last August, including Arran and Mull. We didn't book any ferries, just turned up. The only ferry we couldn't get on was Malaig to Skye (it was the last of the day, and next available was about lunch time next day), but the weather was turning anyway, so we headed over to the east coast. That's the beauty of motorhoming.

We also did the Mull of Kintyre and went to the lighthouse, the last few miles of road where very bumpy, but they don't like us there.

View attachment 70328

Its really sad, in Europe you would have somewhere to park up, but not in this country.

As I have said previously, those that put these signs up are only too glad to take our money, but not willing to spend any on us.
Were does all of the VAT go when we buy our vans:mad2:

 

[2cv]

Problem is that whilst the great majority would just park up and leave no trace of their visit, there is a small minority who will affect others visiting by for example setting up camp with chairs and awnings out, lighting fires or running generators. The actions of these few mean restrictions to all.

 

[Fisherman]

Problem is that whilst the great majority would just park up and leave no trace of their visit, there is a small minority who will affect others visiting by for example setting up camp with chairs and awnings out, lighting fires or running generators. The actions of these few mean restrictions to all.

So what happens in Europe, Canada, the US, New Zealand, Australia and many other parts of the world.

They don’t penalise law abiding tax paying members of their countries, because of a few idiots.
I bet you any money if you went to that carpark on a Sunday morning you would find litter strewn all over it by the boy racers who continue to abuse these car parks at all hours.

Many of the problems, are actually the result of a lack of facilities, creating areas that are overused. And reading posts on here it’s set to get worse.

 

[2cv]

So what happens in Europe, Canada, the US, New Zealand, Australia and many other parts of the world.

They don’t penalise law abiding tax paying members of their countries, because of a few idiots.
I bet you any money if you went to that carpark on a Sunday morning you would find litter strewn all over it by the boy racers who continue to abuse these car parks at all hours.

Many of the problems, are actually the result of a lack of facilities, creating areas that are overused. And reading posts on here it’s set to get worse.

Elsewhere these things are dealt with differently. For example the differentiation between parking and camping is adhered to in some countries even with legal definitions of each. Law enforcement varies also, with very heavy penalties enforced for littering in some places.
Better facilities would help, but it should be remembered that there are hundreds of small sites for those who wish to set up camp as opposed to parking for a night.

 

[Fisherman]

Elsewhere these things are dealt with differently. For example the differentiation between parking and camping is adhered to in some countries even with legal definitions of each. Law enforcement varies also, with very heavy penalties enforced for littering in some places.
Better facilities would help, but it should be remembered that there are hundreds of small sites for those who wish to set up camp as opposed to parking for a night.

2cv, if you are referring to CLs, most of them are booked weeks in advance.
Some of the caravan and motorhome sites are booked a year in advance.

The fact remains, if the Mull of Kintyre was in any of the countries I listed I have no doubt you would have somewhere to go.

Attitudes in this country are abysmal, penalising people like you and I, who have worked all our lives, paid all our taxes, and get treated like this by councils who are only to glad to take our money.

Someone on here (I think it was Channa) worked out that we contribute 1.5-2 billion a year to our economy, were does all of that money go 2cv.

Also we pay a lot more for our vans than caravans, to give us that freedom, for it to be removed by such action.

 

[caledonia]

So what happens in Europe, Canada, the US, New Zealand, Australia and many other parts of the world.

They don’t penalise law abiding tax paying members of their countries, because of a few idiots.
I bet you any money if you went to that carpark on a Sunday morning you would find litter strewn all over it by the boy racers who continue to abuse these car parks at all hours.

Many of the problems, are actually the result of a lack of facilities, creating areas that are overused. And reading posts on here it’s set to get worse.

Europe, Canada, New Zealand have got nothing to do with a small island like Arran.
The boy racers you dislike grow up and hire or buy campervans then continue to throw rubbish in the bushes and £$%^ behind the nearest tree spoiling it for you and I. Go to any spot frequented by Motorhomes and you’ll see toilet paper and worse. Loch Morlich is a good example. As you say things are getting worse hence the problems on Arran.

 

[Fisherman]

Europe, Canada, New Zealand have got nothing to do with a small island like Arran.
The boy racers you dislike grow up and hire or buy campervans then continue to throw rubbish in the bushes and £$%^ behind the nearest tree spoiling it for you and I. Go to any spot frequented by Motorhomes and you’ll see toilet paper and worse. Loch Morlich is a good example. As you say things are getting worse hence the problems on Arran.

I never knew the mull of kintyre was on arran.

I am talking about the whole of the UK.

And I don't have or ever have had any problems on Arran.

 

[caledonia]

I never knew the mull of kintyre was on arran.

I am talking about the whole of the UK.

And I don't have or ever have had any problems on Arran.

Arran isn’t on the Mull of Kintyre and I never said it was. It’s not you that’s having problems on Arran it’s the locals that have the problem with inconsiderate Motorhomes and the amount that visit.

 

[Fisherman]

Arran isn’t on the Mull of Kintyre and I never said it was. It’s not you that’s having problems on Arran it’s the locals that have the problem with inconsiderate Motorhomes and the amount that visit.

Does that include Sannox and blackwaterfoot were you told us all on here yesterday that the toilets were closed due to us emptying our cassettes in the toilets, when the toilets in Sannox were actually decommissioned 3 years ago due to lack of maintenance, and the toilet in blackwaterfoot was closed by the council to save money, which has now been reopened by the locals and available for use. Nothing to do whatsoever with us emptying our cassettes. And why would anyone empty a cassette in the toilet at blackwaterfoot when it has a chemical waste point.

Do you just make it up as you go along Caledonia.

 

[caledonia]

Does that include Sannox and blackwaterfoot were you told us all on here yesterday that the toilets were closed due to us emptying our cassettes in the toilets, when the toilets in Sannox were actually decommissioned 3 years ago due to lack of maintenance, and the toilet in blackwaterfoot was closed by the council to save money, which has now been reopened by the locals and available for use. Nothing to do whatsoever with us emptying our cassettes. And why would anyone empty a cassette in the toilet at blackwaterfoot when it has a chemical waste point.

Do you just make it up as you go along Caledonia.

You stick to your rose tinted glasses and I will stick to making things up as I go along. . I know the locals on Arran don’t want us there so will spend my time elsewhere. Enjoy your time on Arran.

 

[Fisherman]

You stick to your rose tinted glasses and I will stick to making things up as I go along. ��. I know the locals on Arran don’t want us there so will spend my time elsewhere. Enjoy your time on Arran. ��

You never answered the question Caledonia.
Why did you state on here that we emptied cassettes into the toilets in Sannox and blackwaterfoot.
When clearly that was a complete pack of lies, made up on a whim to prove your point.
let's face it you would just love that to be the case, as you have nothing but contempt for us.
as you have shown on here over the years.

Also you go on about the locals complaining about us.

Arran has a population of just over 5000, to date the council have received complaints from 12 arraners, and 8 of them live In Brodick.

I love Arran, and I go there three or four times a year.
I don’t spend a night in Brodick, I stay in parts that are void of residents, and I have never had a problem.
There are plenty of quiet parts to park up, no need whatsoever to park in front of homes etc..

And yes I will enjoy my three visits this year.

It’s a shame that you and others have decided to avoid what is a good wild camping environment.

 

[jagmanx]

Surely Arran

And more rely on Tourism.

Yes because we have our own accommodation we probably contribute to the economy less Than those who stay in Hotels etc.
But we but food drink and eat in Pubs etc
As has been posted the closure of public toilets is a health hazard (as on Skye) and forces normal tourists to (mis-use) facilities in Cafes etc..
I say mis-use as the cafe owner has to pay for maintenance of the facilities and council tax and they should only be use by patrons.
Yes toilets are expensive to maintain.
However the alternative is to go "Continental" and piss and £$%^ in car-parks
A) see the post re Little Rodee in Chester
B) whilst in Italy for over 2 months last summer this was a common occurrence AND littering was appalling

Let us not go into the thorny issue of how motorhomers dispose of both black and grey waste. That is simply a diversion.
I know councils everywhere are strapped for cash and vandalism is a huge problem

Inconsiderate motorhomers is a problem and I do not condone it but the scale of it is minimal compared with abuse and misuse by inconsiderate tourists and indeed "Locals" (whether they are "Boy racers" or not) many locals have a picnic and leave litter and worse !

 

[Fisherman]

And more rely on Tourism.

Yes because we have our own accommodation we probably contribute to the economy less Than those who stay in Hotels etc.
But we but food drink and eat in Pubs etc
As has been posted the closure of public toilets is a health hazard (as on Skye) and forces normal tourists to (mis-use) facilities in Cafes etc..
I say mis-use as the cafe owner has to pay for maintenance of the facilities and council tax and they should only be use by patrons.
Yes toilets are expensive to maintain.
However the alternative is to go "Continental" and piss and £$%^ in car-parks
A) see the post re Little Rodee in Chester
B) whilst in Italy for over 2 months last summer this was a common occurrence AND littering was appalling

Let us not go into the thorny issue of how motorhomers dispose of both black and grey waste. That is simply a diversion.
I know councils everywhere are strapped for cash and vandalism is a huge problem

Inconsiderate motorhomers is a problem and I do not condone it but the scale of it is minimal compared with abuse and misuse by inconsiderate tourists and indeed "Locals" (whether they are "Boy racers" or not) many locals have a picnic and leave litter and worse !

Good post jagmax, but you are wasting your time.
When folk post lies about us emptying our cassettes in toilets to justify their point.
The fact is the vast majority of us are good law abiding people, who don’t ask for much.

For years the arraners complained that they were not part of the RET scheme.
They complained that it was affecting their economy, now a few of them are complaining about a few Motorhomes. And they are being supported by some of us on here.

You will enjoy Arran jagmax, just don’t spend a night in Brodick, why would you anyway, Arran has so much more to offer.

 

[jagmanx]

Thanks Bill

I am keen to visit Arran and not put off by various posts..
Will book CalMac If we decide to go.
I say if ..
We have most of May all of June July and August and early September available...
We "live in" MoHo for 5 months most summers.
We have doctors check ups to fit in
We hope to go to Switzerland which will total about 2 months...
But we should have time.
Wilding in Scotland is great we have been 3x before.
Will keep you posted !

 

[caledonia]

You never answered the question Caledonia.
Why did you state on here that we emptied cassettes into the toilets in Sannox and blackwaterfoot.
When clearly that was completely wrong.

Also you go on about the locals complaining about us.

Arran has a population of just over 5000, to date the council have received complaints from 12 arraners, and 8 of them live In Brodick.

I love Arran, and I go there three or four times a year.
I don’t spend a night in Brodick, I stay in parts that are void of residents, and I have never had a problem.
There are plenty of quiet parts to park up, no need whatsoever to park in front of homes etc..

And yes I will enjoy my three visits this year.

It’s a shame that you and others have decided to avoid what is a good wild camping environment.

It was a sign on the toilet door at Sannox explaining why the toilets were shut but no doubt you won’t believe that. As I said enjoy Arran.
I like your signature by the way.