Our First Trip To Scotland

This discussion was started by a newbie with a genuine request for information about travelling up to Scotland for the first time.

I hope the warnings about midges haven't put The Nerms off. I've already put in my comments but I could put in many, many more positive comments about the uncrowded, spectacular roads and the sites in Scotland.

Just one more for The Nerms. If you are now thinking of postponing your trip to Bunree, whatever you do, don't go to Kinlochewe in July and August!!

Most of the sites will not be booked up in April as long as you avoid Easter. Basically if you go without booking you should get in most sites.

As for the midges they do exist and can be a nuisance but with the right protection you should be OK. Some people are more affected than others though so it is difficult to give firm advice. I am not trying to put people off they will be very welcome but at the same time the question has been asked and I do try to be honest about it.

We're wondering how flexible the sites are at that time of the year, whether they get booked up or if there's a degree of last minute availability - the weather's going to play a part in how much we feel like moving on, or coastwards, or further inland, and that's not predictable from this far ahead.

If they are CC sites rather than AS sites why not book Friday/Saturday nights in advance when sites are near large town/cities as you can always change your mind. I doubt that you will have a problem however. 

We were surprised though last year on the Culloden site which we were on from 23rd April for 5 nights. One of the nights it was pretty much full if not completely so. This was due to a cycling event around Loch Ness. One reason why you can sometimes be caught out by a local event. I expect local events also effect the likes of Bunree if events are on in nearby Fort William or the likes of Ayr. 

Good advice about possibly booking weekends - and there is a bank holiday at the end of April as well as Easter in the middle.  I am going to arrive in Scotland just after Easter and intend being careful about weekends and the bank holiday. 

Yes, not Scotland, but a few years ago we stayed on the Cheddar site and was surprised to find it full. It was because of people meeting up there prior to going to the Glastonbury Festival.

north  of  the Clyde == Forth  Central  belt  there  are  no  motorways

That will be apart from the M9 and the M90 of course!!

Things should be easier getting in and out of Strathclyde Park now as the underpass on the roundabout at junction 5 of the M74 has now opened and traffic should be far easier there.

It should be but unfortunatly it isnt. The roundabout is just as bad, the "rush" hour is just as long, as are the queues to get onto the roundabout.

Something to do with there being 30 possible routes through the roundabout complex, and only two have benefited from the multi-million pound spend.

Come  along  now  Navigateur,  you  know  full  well  what  I  mean  about  The  Central  Belt  --  I'm  using  that  term  to  separate  the  Southern  Lowlands  from  The  Highlands  as  understood  by  many,  if  not  most,  Tourists

{ Altho'  I  grant  you  I  was  being  very  free  with  my  terminology   !

Embarrassed  A B M

P.S.  Thanks  for  the  comments  about  Strathclyde,  I'll  try  Lydalia  A.S.  for  a  change  !!

B

Since this is turning into a growing thread of advice on touring Western Scotland, & I'm mighty grateful to The Nermes for starting and sharing it, please may I ask another West Coast roads question?

We too are going to Bunree ... we have to, we met at Onich some 45 years ago!... then planning to pause at Sheil Bridge, thence to Gairloch before further stations North.

So for now, the route from Bunree to Sheil Bridge looks like A82 past Fort Bill, Invergarry onto the A87, without much option.

From Sheil Br to Gairloch would be onto the A890 just before Kirkton, complete with arrows, then either way it's passing places stuff, according to my map. The options are A896 via Lochcarron & Torridon, or sticking with 890 to Achnasheen before the 832 past Kinlochewe, where the other route rejoins, and so on to Gairloch.

I'm new to caravanning but used to towing a smaller trailer, and gaining confidence by playing with local roads, though Northants isn't just quite the same as the W Highlands looked last time we were there! The van is 5m long in total and barely wider than the car.
Are there any particular horror spots on my plan so far?

Many thanks to any who have passed that way and have The Knowledge!

As these roads are the only roads they carry buses, coaches and all sizes of lorries. Consequently, the passing places are frequent and large.

Just remember you stay on your "own" side for passing.  If the passing place is on the other side, stop opposite.