Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

A chance to meet up with friends and have a chat - a general space with the freedom to talk about anything.
Post Reply
User avatar
green_pea
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 9:52 am
Location: UK

Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237497Post green_pea »

Helloo, I'm aware this is a bit off topic but I don't use any other forums and I know there are quite a few Scots on here.

Anyway G and I are going to Scotland in a month, for two months in our camper :cheers: . We traveled in Scotland a bit last summer living in the car, which needless to say was rather uncomfortable (but rather MORE comfy than it was for the two months we lived in it in Europe :pale: ) so we're really excited about going away this time with more space! Anyway, we plan to just park up in lay-bys, overnight car parks, anywhere out of the way really.

So far I've been left in charge of planning (last time we didn't plan at all and missed out on lots of things just plainly because we didn't know they were there) and so far I have: Mountain biking in Galloway forest, then drive onward to Mull (ferry from Oban) then up to Skye (I think we will keep to the west side as we don't want to rush).

Anyone familiar with any of these areas? We go to Galloway quite frequently but never been to any of the Isles, ideally we want to stop along the way if there is anything worth seeing or doing? E.g. Fort William is on the way to Skye so we will stop of there.
Anyway does anyone have any ideas for places to park up, wild swimming, cycling, lochs, walks, museums, times/locations of local food markets, nice beaches, striking scenery, maybe a few mountains to stroll up?

Thanks

MuddyWitch
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 2460
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:13 pm
latitude: 52.643985
longitude: -1.052939
Location: Leicester, uk, but heading to Ireland

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237498Post MuddyWitch »

Can't help & deeply :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Have fun

MW
If it isn't a Greyhound, it's just a dog!

User avatar
RuthG
Living the good life
Living the good life
Posts: 241
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:50 pm
Location: Durham area UK

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237502Post RuthG »

Now if you were going to the east of Scotland, I could tell you lots.

Two things spring to mind - the Torridons and Ben Eigh national park - wobnderful if you like scenery.

BUT beware the midges. In June, July and August, the air is thick with them on the west - and they BITE! Stuff to help avoid it - Avon's Skin So Soft - you can get it in many of the shops around the west of Scotland.

Oh, just remembered, Ullapool is great for a vists. Tiny place, but you can go on boat trips from there to see the seals and if youre lucky, the dolphins. If you like Scottish music, the Ceilidh Place in Ullapool is great too. Then there's the village hall in Poolewe, where they have a ceilidh every Wednesday evening, costs about £5 but includes a really good supper, suppleid by local people and groups who 'host' the event each week. The proceeds go to that group, so your money is being spent locally.

I'll be up there myself in a few weeks, staying in Inverness, but visiting Ullapool and Poolewe. The latter will see me there every Wednesday about 7pm!

User avatar
kit-e-kate
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 174
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:06 pm
Location: Barry, Near Carnoustie

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237506Post kit-e-kate »

Top tip?
I'm certain you will be a good enough driver to know this one anyway, but; If you are driving at "sightseeing" pace then please please please allow overtaking! You will be astonished at the number of caravans and campervans you will see tootling about the highlands at 35/40mph apparently oblivious to the 20 vehicle long queues of irate drivers (a lot of them locals doing work driving) behind them! It's not always easy to overtake on those roads, and a little bit of thoughtfulness is much appreciated!

I'm sure you'll have a brilliant time, and I have my fingers (and everything else) crossed that you don't get stuck in any long queues at all during your adventures! (Avoid going up the side of loch lomond (A82) at any time over a weekend, or go really really early in the day!)

I hope you have a splendid time, and enjoy all the delights there are on offer. :icon_smile:

User avatar
Annpan
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5464
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:43 pm
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237508Post Annpan »

There is a bit of a distance between Galloway and Mull :mrgreen:

A wee drive up the west coast to Ayr and get the ferry over to Arran (not been there since I was teeny wee, but it is on the list for when we have a few days to get away) You could even pop over to the Mull of kintyre from Arran. [edit to add - the Arran Ferry leaves from Ardrossan actually]

You should spend a day in Glasgow seeing museums (Glasgow museums are free entry) Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries is pretty good, and there is a new museum just opened (riverside museum) that is apparently very good.

Drive from Glasgow up to Loch Lomond, if you take the East Road up to Balmaha (from where Conic Hill is a pleasant climb with gorgeous views) The Oak Tree Inn is to be reccomended for pub grub. You can drive that road as far as Rowerdennan there are some lovely places to swim in the Loch (the west side is too busy/ touristy for my liking).

Near Rowerdennan is Ben Lomond which is a days climb, as far as I know you should be able to wild camp/ park around the area (its a national park and I have only done it in the campsites, of which there are a couple)

That is as far as you can drive on the East side, you'll have to drive back round the bottom and up the West side of the Loch.

At the North West of the Loch You MUST stop in at the Drovers Inn (assuming it hasn't been refurbished) they have the most amazing (moth-eaten) stuffed animals in the foyer and a huge fire to have a dram by.

Not much further North from the top of the Loch is Rannoch Moore which is worth a wander around (if you can get onto the old military/drovers road that is now part of the West Highland Way) most stunning views ever...

I'd not bother too much with a visit to Glen Coe village... it is quite touristy and the massacre thing can get a bit much at times...


Similarly I wouldn't stay in Fort William too long.... if you like distillery tours maybe? You can drive up the Glen (to the foot of Ben Nevis) and take a swim in the waters coming off the mountains....brrrrr.... take a walk on the footpath up the Glen (it is signposted with 'if you walk this way you will die' (or some such) and several people have... so be careful.... because the sight at the end of the footpath, with the waterfall and the mountains and everything is just AMAZING!!

Go out of Fort William towards Mallaig and stop to take in the Glen Finnan Viaduct.... amazing when you see a steam train going over it (we stood at the view point for 2 hours watching them film a Harry Potter sequence, the train going back and forth, back and forth.... with the helicopter flying over to get the right shot... the novelty eventually wore off...lol)

Stop to take in the silver sands of Morar too, again there will be plenty of places to stop or camp.

If you can, take the ferry from Mallaig to Skye.... much more magical than the bridge, but I don't know if it takes cars


....


I'm going to leave it there but I might add more later

All my holidays as a child and young adult were spent visiting family and camping around the Fort William area, I've also walked the West Highland Way.... If I had had a holiday in the past 5 years it would have been back up there again.


Can I also add a plea (not directed at anyone in particular) please do support local business in these area and try to avoid the chains, these small businesses rely on the tourist income and support many more jobs and lively hoods in turn *stands off soapbox* and leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos x
Ann Pan

"Some days you're the dog,
some days you're the lamp-post"

My blog
My Tea Cosy Shop
Some photos
My eBay

User avatar
RuthG
Living the good life
Living the good life
Posts: 241
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:50 pm
Location: Durham area UK

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237509Post RuthG »

Best place to see the Glenfinnan viaduct is on the train to Fort William - the view is spectacular, looking at the viaduct while sitting on the train - suggest sitting towards the back end of the train though, so you can see the curve as you cross it.

User avatar
Green Aura
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9313
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:16 pm
latitude: 58.569279
longitude: -4.762620
Location: North West Highlands

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237529Post Green Aura »

Balnakeil Craft Village! Come and see me :lol:
Maggie

Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin

User avatar
green_pea
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 9:52 am
Location: UK

Re: Scotland (we're going on holiday!)

Post: # 237597Post green_pea »

Thanks everyone! Feeling so excited now, can't wait. Anymore ideas of places which wont be overrun with a million tourists? We got invited to go to Wales with G's brother yesterday so might take him up on the offer so we get up to Scotland more toward the end of August and then stay in Galloway until September (when, if anything like last year, everyone will have buggered off home).

Annpan: Of course we'll not be doing any poos in pringles tubes or the suchlike :pale: , and with regards to supporting local businesses, we do so at home so there is no reason to break that just because we're going away, we always make a point of doing so (and chain stores make me feel so miserable to buy from!) Please suggest more, very helpful!

GA: Durness does look bloody beautiful! :lol:

Post Reply