Places Visited include: Glencoe; Arisaig; Skye; Ullapool; Lochinver; Durness; Loch Affic; Granton on Spey; Aviemore; Loch Lomond
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:
• Stop at pretty village of Luss on Loch Lomond
• Enjoy ‘healthy’ fish and chips from The Real Food Café in Tyndrum
• 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)
Campsite:
Invercoe Caravan and Camping Park
Time to travel: to Glencoe Four Seasons Campers 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
• 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:
Campsite:
Sunnyside Croft Touring Site at Arisaig
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Time to travel Glencoe to Arisaig 1 hr 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. The campervan is charged as a car so it is not expensive- it is 4.9m for booking. Book in advance or be prepared to wait a few hours at this time of year (there are restaurants in Mallaig where you can wait and wander around the harbour area) . Head to the west coast of Skye to Glenbrittle.
Things to see and do
• Talisker Distillery
Walk
• A walk to the Fairy Pools which are located along the road from Merkadale to Glenbrittle is highly recommended. The walk starts at the Forestry Commision carpark signposted ‘Blumagan Na Sithichean.’ It is approximately 5 miles
Campsite:
Glenbrittle campsite – highly recommended
Day 4
Head to the north coast of Skye
Things to see and do
• Dunvegan Castle – lovely walks and gardens
• Eat at Edinbane Inn (live music twice a week in summer and excellent food)
• Visit Edinbane Pottery
Walk
• Walk around Neist Point and Lighthouse
Campsite:
Kinloch Campsite near Dunvegan or
Loch Greshornish campsite (near Edinbane Inn)
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Day 5
From Skye drive back to the mainland over the Skye bridge through Kyle of Lochalsh. You can either take the A890 towards Wester Ross or take a slight detour north after the bridge round to Plockton which is a really pretty seaside village with palm trees and some great pubs. Continue round the coast to Applecross going over the Bealach na ba if you’re brave enough! It’s a windy mountain road but is absolutely fine for VW Campervans, a bit more hairy in a larger motorhome!
Things to see and do:
• Visit the colourful town of Portree on Skye
• Eilean Donnan Castle just south of Skye bridge on mainland
• Supper at Applecross Inn….not to be missed…amazing seafood and atmosphere!
Walk: Coral Beach by Applecross – 50 minute walk from car park and well worth it!
Campsite:
Applecross Campsite – recommend booking as very popular
Time to travel Loch Greshornish to Applecross 2 hours 30 mins
Day 6
Continue north to Shieldaig and onto Torridon then head east to Kinlochewe and north up the A832 along Loch Maree and onto Gairloch where there are some great beaches to stop at. Then continue round the coast to Dundonnell and onto the A835 to Ullapool for some lively music, great pubs and fantastic fish and chips! From Ullapool head up the north on the A835 to north, past Ardvreck Castle at Loch Assynt and continue to Achmelvic.
Things to see and do
• Visit Inverewe Gardens – a lush, sub-tropical style garden perched on a peninsula at Loch Ewe
• Visit the Ceildidh Place for music and food or enjoy Ullapool’s award winning fish and chips.
Walk
• Stop for a walk at Rogie Falls between Inverness and Ullapool
Campsite:
Badrallach Campsite by Dundonnell
Broomfield Holiday Park in Ullapool
Just north of Ullapool – Ardmair Campsite
Day 7
Continue into my favourite part of Scotland – Sutherland and Assynt
Things to see and do:
• Walk Stac Pollaidh on the road to Achiltibuie
• 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
• Climb Cul Mor by Knockan Crag
• Enjoy white sandy beaches at Achmelvich
• Stop at Ardvreck Castle on shores of Loch Assynt and wander around the ruins
• You have to try the Lochinver pies from the range of over 30 pies at Lochinver Larder – eat in or take awa
• Visit Lochinver Pottery either at Lochinver or Ullapool (the Ullapool shop is slightly larger)
Campsite:
Shore Caravan site, Achmelvich
Port a Bhaigh Campsite , Achiltibuie
Time to travel Ullapool to Achmelvich 1 hour
Day 8
Drive across the A836 through Bonar Bridge and onto the A9 near Dingwall and continue south onto the A832 at Tore then A862 through Beauly and on to Glen Affric.
Things to see and do:
• Take a detour round the Black Isle to Cromarty and Fortrose and look for dolphins
• Glenmorangie Distillery – north of Tain on A9
Walk
• Walk around beautiful Loch Affric
Campsite:
Cannich Woodland Camping by Glen Affric
Time to travel Achmelvic to Glen Affric 2 hours 45 mins
Day 9
Head east to Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness then north up the A82 to Inverness and visit Culloden then take the A96 east to Forres and detour to beach at Findhorn then south through Grantown-on-Spey to Boat of Garten and Aviemore or continue down A9 to Dunkeld
Things to see and do:
• National Trust Culloden Experience Very atmospheric walking across the battlefield and great indoor experience too
• Enjoy the miles of beach at Findhorn
• Visit one of the many Speyside whisky distilleries – personally recommend Glenfarclas
• Visit Landmark adventure park at Carrbridge
• Enjoy pretty village of Dunkeld (often folk music in pubs )
• Walk along the river by Dunkeld and watch the salmon fishermen
Campsite:
Glenmore Camping in the Forest campsite near Aviemore
Inver Mill Caravan Park, Dunkeld
Time to travel Glen Affric to Loch Garten 1 hour 30 mins direct or 2 hours via Moray Firth
Day 10
Drive south down A9 to Stirling then take the A811 towards Drymen and head north west to Balmaha on the east side of Loch Lomond .
Things to see and do:
• Visit Stirling Castle
• Visit Loch Katrine and the steam boat and hire bikes to cycle around Loch
• Climb Ben A’an – a small but beautiful mountain in the Trossachs for great views for not too much effort
• Oak Tree Inn for evening meal at Balmaha by Loch Lomond
Campsite:
Milarrochy Bay or Cashel by Loch Lomond
Time to travel: Drive south down A9 to Stirling and then to Balmaha (2hour 20mins from Boat of Garten or (1hr from Dunkeld)
Day 11
Time to travel 30 minutes from Balmaha to Four Seasons Campers