10 Night Campervan Tour – Glencoe, Skye, Loch Ness, Cairngorms
Day 1
From Four Seasons Campers head west towards Balloch and take the A82 north on the West side of Loch Lomond towards Fort William taking in the spectacular scenery of Rannoch Moor and Glencoe on route.
Things to see and do
- Supermarket (Co-op) at Balloch
- Stop at pretty village of Luss on Loch Lomond
- Get last minute suppliers at Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum
- Enjoy ‘healthy’ fish and chips from The Real Food Café in Tyndrum
- Stretch your legs along part of the West Highland Way at Bridge of Orchy and enjoy some great pub food at The Bridge of Orchy Hotel
- The Clachaig Inn near Glencoe for dinner
Walk
- Walk part of the West Highland Way from Bridge of Orchy over the hill to Inveroran and back to Bridge of Orchy along the road (relatively flat walk and approx. 6 miles in total)
Camping
Campsite Invercoe Caravan and Camping Park
Red Squirrel Campsite
Time to travel Four Seasons Campers to Glencoe 1 hour 15 mins
Day 2
From here continue along the A82 towards Fort William and pass Neptunes Staircase on the A830 towards Arisaig and Mallaig. The road runs parallel to the Jacobite Steam train railway line made famous in Harry Potter as the route the Hogwarts Express took. Pass the Glenfinnan monument which sits at the head of Loch Sheil and then turn off the A830 at Arisaig where there are an abundance of campsites and beautiful beaches that look towards the Inner Hebridean Islands of Eigg and Rhum. The Beach past Traigh was made famous in the movie “Local Hero.”
Things to see and do
- Stop at Loch Leven Seafood Café Stop https://www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk/ for seafood (highly recommended by other customers!) by Ballachulish Bridge
- Supermarkets at Fort William at roundabout on seafront
- Neptunes Staircase is a series of canal locks that link the Caledonian Canal to the open sea and is well worth a visit. At this time of year you should spot some beautiful Scandinavian yachts coming through the canal on their way to the beautiful West Coast and Inner Hebrides.
- Glenfinnan Monument erected in memory of Jacobite rising and men who fought for Prince Charlie’s cause and the Glenfinnan Viaduct – a great engineering construction
- Jacobite West Highland Line made famous in the Harry Potter films by Hogwarts Express. Runs from Fort William to Mallaig. Book now to ensure you get a ticket as gets very booked up!
Walk
- Walk along the Caledonian Canal from Neptunes Staircase in Fort William – you can walk as far as you like and turn back again.
Camping
Campsite: Arisaig Sunnyside Camp Site
56.931905787897485
-5.862036504907223
Time to travel Glencoe to Arisaig 1 hour 45 mins
Day 3
From Arisaig continue onto the fishing port of Mallaig where you can get the ferry to Skye. The ferry to Skye takes you to Armadale.
Things to see and do
- Visit Armadale Castle, Gardens and Museum
Walk
Walk to the Fairy Pools Pools which are located along the road from Merkadale to Glenbrittle is recommended. The walk starts at the Forestry Commision carpark signposted ‘Blumagan Na Sithichean.’ which are located along the road from Merkadale to Glenbrittle is recommended. The walk starts at the Forestry Commision carpark signposted ‘Blumagan Na Sithichean. It is approximately 5 miles https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/fairypools.shtml
Camping Campsite: Glenbrittle campsite in the west of Skye (highly recommended)
Time to Travel Arisaig to Glenbrittle Campsite 2 hours 21 mins
Day 4/5
Head to the north of Skye
Things to see and do:
- Visit Talisker Whisky Distillery
- Visit Dunvegan Castle in the north of Skye– lovely walks and gardens
- Eat at the Edinbane Inn for great food and music on some nights in the summer
- Edinbane Pottery
Walk
- Point of Neist around the Lighthouse and along cliff tops
Camping Campsite:
Loch Greshornish Camping and Caravan Club site in North of Island
57.48553079577058
-6.427510001562496
Kinloch campsite near Dunvegan
57.427431
-6.579266
Day 7
From Skye drive back to the mainland over the Skye bridge through Kyle of Lochalsh. Two options on route to Aviemore and I would recommend driving east from Skye and heading north up A82 past Loch Ness to Inverness
Things to see and do
- Visit the colourful town of Portree on Skye
- Eilean Donnan Castle just south of Skye bridge on mainland
- Fort Augustus for series of canal locks
- Loch Ness Visitor Centre Drumnadrochit
- Urquhart Castle – Loch Ness
- National Trust Culloden Experience https://www.nts.org.uk/culloden/
Camping Campsite: Ardtower Campsite next to Culloden by Inverness
Time to travel Uig to Inverness 3 hours
Day 8
Drive south from Inverness down to Aviemore or alternatively drive east along A96 and along to Findhorn then down A940 from Forres to Grantown-on-Spey
Things to do
- Visit lovely stony beach at Findhorn
- Eat at Seafood Café Findhorn or Kimberley Inn
- Visit one of the many Speyside whisky distilleries – personally recommend Glenfarclas or Glenrothes https://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/spey.html
- Take a short journey to the bottom of the Funicular railway at Cairngorm mountain range. There is a good café and access to walks at the top.
- KJs Both Bakery Aviemore for tasty fresh food
- Ski-ing Doo Restaurant Aviemore for great burgers and puddings
Walk
- Loch an Eilean – lovely flat circular walk round island with ruins on- beautiful woodland round loch
Camping Campsite: Glenmore, Camping in the Forest campsite near Aviemore
Time to Travel Inverness to Aviemore 45 mins or via Findhorn 2 hours
Day 9
Drive east to Tomintoul and then south to Crathie and west to Braemar
Things to do
- Look out for wildlife on road down through Tomintoul, particularly grouse and unsual moorland birds – loads on this road!
- Visit Braemar Castle
- Walk at Linn of Dee near Mar Lodge
- Crathie Castle and Balmoral Castle
Walk Around Mar Lodge Estate – stunning Caledonian pine forests
Camping Campsite: Braemar Caravan Park
Time to Travel Aviemore to Braemar 1 hour 40 mins
Day 10
Drive south over Spittal of Glenshee to Blairgowrie then west along the A923 to Dunkeld
Things to do:
- Birnam Arts Centre for music , theatre and comedy
- Visit pretty town of Dunkeld
- Taybank Bar for traditional fiddle music – check events
- Loch of Lowes Nature Reserve
Walk:
- Walk along the river by Dunkeld and watch the salmon fishermen
- The Hermitage by Dunkeld for forestry and waterfalls
Camping: Campsite: Invermill Farm Caravan Park by Dunkeld
Time to travel: Braemar to Dunkeld 1 hour 15 mins
Day 11
Time to travel: Dunkeld toFour Seasons Campers 1 hour 34 mins