The Most Romantic Places to Visit in Scotland in a Campervan
Every year we have dozens of proposals in our beautiful luxury campervans with starry eyed couples coming back from their campervan adventure and showing us their beautiful photos of the momentous occasion. Many too have come back to us for their honeymoon and even subsequent anniversaries.
So with this in mind, it feels like January is the perfect time to put in some dates for some romantic breaks away with our partners. So where are the most romantic places in Scotland and what constitutes a romantic place? As an outdoors lover, for me it’s simple. A romantic spot should be off the beaten track; it should have a magical view; it should be awe-inspiring for its natural beauty – be it a sweeping remote beach, a majestic mountain top, a cascading waterfall, a mystical glen, a clear star- lit night sky, or a mysterious forest. Your romantic location in Scotland should also be somewhere not too hard to get to so that you have time to simply be together and enjoy the moment, for as long as possible.
Scotland is well known for offering stunning landscapes and romantic settings that are perfect for a campervan getaway. Here are some of the most romantic places to visit in Scotland in a campervan:
1. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
Known as the “Gateway to the Highlands,” this national park offers romantic lochs, dense woodlands, and charming villages. The lochs around the park became a popular tourism destination in the Victorian age when people clamoured to see the lochs that Sir Walter Scott had written about in The Lady of the Lake one of the seminal works of the romantic movement.
A favourite loch of mine is Loch Katrine where you can take a romantic trip back in time on the Sir Walter Scott steamboat! You can either drive to the far end of the loch to Stronachlachar, through Aberfoyle taking in beautiful Kinlochard and Loch Chon; or you can park up at the main boat harbour to the south of Loch Katrine.
Here you can either hire a bicycle and cycle 13 miles to the end of the loch; or for those looking for something more sedate you can take a cruise up the loch like the Victorians would have https://www.lochkatrine.com/
Places to Stay in Loch Lomond
Camp the night at Loch Katrine by booking one of their two loch side campervan spots. You can also camp the night in the car park but it’s not so scenic!
Out of season you can informal camp in the national park beside Loch Chon or Loch Katrine but during the season (1st March to 30th September) you should visit the Loch Lomond National Park website and pay a token £4 to pitch up at an allocated campervan stopping points https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/things-to-do/camping/get-a-permit/
2. Loch Tulla by the Black Mount on Rannoch Moor
Located off the main A82 that sweeps through magical Glencoe, Loch Tulla is located on the West Highland Way, Scotland’s 90 mile hike between Glasgow and Fort William.
Definitely one for the quieter months of the year when there are less walkers but it made the cut for this blog due it’s a fabulous barren location.
Nestling within the magnificent landscape of Rannoch Moor, Loch Tulla nestles amongst purple coloured heathered moorland beside a multitude of lochans surrounded by the majestic alps of Glencoe.
A romantic trip through the more remote train line that sweeps between Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Station is a must for those who love the old fashioned image of elopement by train.
This stretch of the West Highland Line is to my mind the most beautiful – it really does feel like you are in the middle of nowhere with your beloved!
Places to Stay near Loch Tulla
Camp the night in the informal camping areas at Bridge of Orchy and further along near Loch Tulla out of season
Alternatively you could camp the night along Loch Rannoch and then get the train down to Bridge of Orchy for the 6 mile round trip walk to Loch Tulla before your return to Loch Rannoch
3. Old Castle Lachlan on Loch Fyne
Located on the southern shore of Loch Fyne, the single track road down to Old Castle Lochlan takes the road less travelled and away from the hoards of tourists heading for Inverary Castle and the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar .
Reached by some well maintained board walks from the road at The Inver Restaurant, the castle is a relatively small, ruin set on this picturesque and romantic setting. Imagine sitting together upon a rock in front of the castle imagining a forgotten time as you look out across Loch Fyne. Castles such as Eilean Donan Castle and Inverary Castle may be larger and more intact but the beauty of Old Castle Lachlan is in its crumbling walls set within glorious scenery
The new paths to Kilmorie Chapel offer bays along the loch to explore, teeming with wildlife and spectacular views of Loch Fyne with the ancient settlement and ruins of Kilbride Chapel at the far end. The Inver Restaurant and Rooms is a must for lunch or dinner. Overlooking the castle, this cosy and characterful Scottish restaurant offers a la carte lunch menus featuring simply prepared fresh seafood and native meat and game in season. Their cosy bar serves pre-dinner craft ale and natural wine while in the evening a six course tasting menu is on offer offering a contemporary take on traditional and forgotten Scottish dishes.
Places to Stay near Loch Fyne
Portavadie Marina offers a campsite 9 miles south of Old Castle Lachlan with beautiful views across Loch Fyne to Tarbet where you can still take a small car ferry to
4.Gairloch Beaches
The pretty little west coast village of Gairloch is located west of Inverness in romantically named Wester Ross.
Our most remote location on the list, it has a surprising number of facilities and restaurants as well as spectacular scenery!
The drive up to Gairloch is one to be savoured with the supremely beautiful Loch Maree on the final stretch before you head down the coast to Gairloch itself. White beaches with clear crystal water lapping up onto them are in abundance in this area offering both blustery walks with mesmerising scenery as well as an array of watersports in parts.
Perfect for stargazing, this dark sky spot can be a truly magical experience.
I highly recommend visiting late autumn, through winter into early spring for a chance to see the Aurora borealis as I did on one incredible trip last year. It felt like a once in a lifetime experience watching the heavens ablaze with green, red and yellow and every colour in between as I stood on a cliff top looking out to the Outer Hebride islands and Skye!
Places to Stay near Gairloch
There are a number of informal camping spots along Loch Maree and beyond Gairloch heading east around the coast towards Altbea as well as Firemore Campsite on the westerly side of Loch Ewe which is open in the summer months. For more facilities, the campsite on the northern side of Gairloch called Sands Camping and Caravaning Campsite is in our top 5 of the best campsites in Scotland- offering beautiful pitches with stunning views looking out across Skye and beyond to the Outer Hebrides. Sands opens from the opens from the end of March until the end of October. For those visiting in the winter months there are a number of toilet facilities open around Gairloch as well as waste disposal points.
5.Comrie Woods, Perthshire
Home to The Deils Cauldron and Wee Cauldron waterfalls, Comrie Woods offer a spectacular and romantic ramble up this beautiful mysterious oak forest with a variety of paths cutting down to the bubbling falls below.
Stroll along the well-maintained paths surrounded by the shadows of these ancient trees creating a romantic and ethereal atmosphere.
Stop along the way to get coffee and sandwiches to go in Comrie’s lovely deli Hansen’s Kitchen or pick up a selection of cheeses, biscuits, bread, olives and wine for a romantic picnic or evening supper in your campervan.
Places to Stay Near Cromrie Woods
Located not far from Loch Earn and Loch Rannoch, there are numerous informal camping spots nearby as well as the campsite to the east of Comrie at Comrie Croft which also offers mountain biking hire and trails for those seeking a more active romantic break! Along with a farm shop and a great outdoor café, Comrie Croft is ideal for those looking to be around fellow outdoor lovers.
Always check for local camping regulations and guidelines when informal camping and ensure you leave no trace to preserve the natural beauty of these romantic destinations