7 Night Campervan Tour – Hillwalking and History tour of the West and North Coast of Scotland
Places Visited include: Glencoe; Loch Ness; Ullapool; Lochinver; Durness; Plockton; Skye; Arisaig; Loch Lomond
Places Visited include: Glencoe; Loch Ness; Ullapool; Lochinver; Durness; Plockton; Skye; Arisaig; Loch Lomond
Day 1
From Four Seasons Campers head north on A82 towards Glencoe and camp alongside the River Etive – lots of places to pull over along the single track road. Kids can paddle or if brave enough enjoy a swim! Great for having fires (suggest you stop on way to get firewood or drive to end of glen to get it as not many trees along the river Etive).
Things to see and do
- 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
- Great photo opportunities around Glencoe with several view points along the route
Camping Red Squirrel Campsite – Glencoe
Time to Travel Four Seasons Campers to Glencoe 1 hour 40 mins
Day 2
From Glencoe drive north on the A82 through Fort William and up to Fort Augustus, then continue to Drumnadrochit and then past Ullapool onto Achmelvic by Lochinver. Here there is a small campsite beside the most beautiful white beaches. The sea is lovely and shallow for paddling or swimming in – it’s stunning! Enjoy two beaches and scramble over the rocks to the Hermits Cave. The campsite does Fish and Chips or you can visit Lochinver for the most amazing Lochinver Pies – choice of over 30!
Things to see and do
- At Fort Augustus you can enjoy the yachts sailing through the locks that make up the Caledonian Canal
- Enjoy the Nessie Experience at Drumnadrochit or visit Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness
- Stop for a walk near Garve between Inverness and Ullapool
- Stop at Knockan Crag National Nature reserve between Ullapool and Achmelvic to view the rock formations (this is part of the North West Geopark rock route showing the story of how Scotland was formed – even if the kids aren’t into Geology – it’s really interesting!) (free)
- Stop at Ardvreck Castle on shores of Loch Assynt and wander around the ruins (free)
Camping Shore Caravan site, Achmelvic – opens 1st April for the season
Time to Travel Glencoe to Achmelvic 4 hours 45 mins
Day 3
Drive north through Scourie and Kinlochbervie and then on to Oldshore Beg and to Blairmore Car Park. Then walk to the beautiful and remote Sandwood Bay.
It really is worth the long walk into it…the kids won’t be disappointed! After this, continue on to Durness or return to Kylesku depending on what you are looking to do the following day.
Things to see and do
- Sandwood Bay walk
- Kylesku Hotel for good food
Camping Sango Sands, Durness
Time to Travel Achmelvic to Oldshoremore 1 hour and 25 mins
Oldshoremore to Durness 35mins
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Day 4
If in Durness, walk up Ben Hope – its steep but not too long – a good one for kids. If at Kylesku head south. Just past Elphin at Drumrunie, head west towards Achiltibuie. You can either walk up Stac Pollaidh which is a great small mountain with stunning views over the lochans of Assynt or continue to Achnahaird Beach. Then either wild camp or camp at Port a bhaigh campsite overlooking the summer isles or continue onto Ullapool.
Things to see and do
- Ben Hope – most northernly Munro
- Smoo Caves in Durness
- Summer Isles Hotel for excellent food
- Boat Trip to Summer Isles
- Walk along beach at Ullapool and climb on old shipwreck
- Visit Rhue Lighthouse by Ullapool near Ardmair
Camping Ullapool or Port a bhaigh
Time to Travel Durness to Ullapool 1 hour 45 mins
Day 5
Take the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway on Lewis then traverse to west coast to Uig Bay- on Isle of Lewis. Continue down to Tarbert on Harris and get the ferry to Skye.
Camping Loch Greshornish Skye
Time to Travel Ferry time Ullapool to Stornaway on Lewis 2 hours 45 mins
Driving time Stornaway to Tarbert 1 hour
Ferry Tarbert on Harris to Uig in Skye 1 hour 40 mins
Day 6
Visit Dunvegan Castle and head east towards the pretty town of Portree on Skye, then south towards the Skye Bridge. Drive over to Plockton and head back south towards Eilean Donan Castle. Alternatively head south west to Armadale to get the short ferry to Mallaig and head south to camp at Arisaig. You could take in Plockton then drive back over the bridge and take this second route. If you prefer to stay on the mainland, from Eilean Donan Castle take the A827 east towards Invergarry and head south towards Fort William.
Things to see and do
- Visit Dunvegan Castle – lovely walks and gardens
- Eilean Donan Castle on mainland
- Plockton – great seafood at Plockton Inn
- Visit the colourful town of Portree on Skye
Camping Sunnyside Campsite Arisaig
Glen Nevis Campsite Fort William
Time to Travel Dunvegan Skye to Armadale Skye 1 hour 15 mins
Ferry Armadale to Mallaig 1 hour
Dunvegan Skye to Glengarry 2 hours 30 mins
Day 7
Whether camping by Fort William or at Arisaig, head towards Fort William thensouth along the A82 towards Loch Lomond and continue round the south end of Loch Lomond to the Stirling Road. Head north up the east side of Loch Lomond to Balmaha and campsites beyond. Alternatively take the A832 at Ballachulish bridge and head south west down to Connel bridge and then south east towards the town of Inverary and the beautiful Castle here and famous Inverary Jail.
Things to see and do
- 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
- Stop at Loch Leven Seafood Café Stop https://www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk/ for seafood (highly recommended by other customers!) by Ballahulish Bridge
- Visit Camusdarach Beach made famous in Scottish film ‘Local Hero.
- Climb Conic Hill by Balmaha – 30 minute climb for great views
- Eat at the Oaktree Inn Balamaha
- Eat at The George Hotel Inverary for lunch
- Visit the pretty village of Port Appin and walk round the headland then eat at The Pierhouse Restaurant for lunch
Camping Milarrochy Bay
Time to Travel
Fort William to Loch Lomond Balmaha 2 hours 15 mins
Day 8
Time to Travel
30 minutes to Four Seasons Campers