I always wanted to do a van tour of the north west highlands, got 4 or 5 days to travel the coast road this month (I've never been before)
The catch is we now have a toddler in tow who needs lots of space to run around. So if there's much risk of being to confined to our van in the evening by thick black clouds of miniature vampires then I need to book accommodation instead
Can someone recommend me some breezy coastal van spots north of Torridon (not Torridon area as we're visiting that later)?
Or should I just book the accommodation?
There are thousands of campervans and motorhomes currently circulating the north of Scotland. Your chances of finding a lovely, lonely, remote spot are pretty much nil.
Achmelvich , Achiltibuie and Sheildaig all have sites and might be a good option.
Sango at Durness can be a but busier but gives you access to Balnakiel and Smoo
Coasts can be breezier, so reducing the issue.
Midges are never as bad as folk make out*. You do get a savaging now and again, but folk do live, work and enjoy themselves up here.
.
.
.
.
.
*Remember, two types of midging. One where you wonder if you are going to die, one where you hope you are going to die.
We stayed at Sands campsite at Gorlaich at the end of July, really nice spot right on the beach,
I barely noticed any midges except one night when there was absolutely no breeze, even then they were minimal
It’s proper campsite though so not exactly remote.
My previous experience of Highlands/Hebrides was that there are plenty of great places to camp outside of official sites - is that no longer the case?
To be fair my previous experience was that lovely lonely remote spots were two a penny so maybe things have changed...
Plenty of places but in peak season (now) they are all pretty much full by 4pm.
I avoid the place now at peak and just head up in the shoulder season +put up with the rain.
As above, every layby, forestry car park, village end and so on was rammed with folk in campers, not paying into local economy, likely bought fuel and food before they came and sh*tt*ng all over the place when they do stay 'wild'.
(grumpy of Dunblane today, sorry)
Way to go with the generalisation. 😉
My fridge is small I can't store enough beer I have to contribute to local shops 🙂
But I do get somewhat wound up by people who think it's alright not to use a campsite without an onboard bog. You wander round any popular stopping spot and you soon find their toilet. ****s.
Eee for gads sake. I'm not going to poo on your fine soil without digging a hole first, if at all, and even the stingiest camper has to buy fuel somewhere, though as it happens we've got a whole load of accommodation booked for after those 5 days... :rolleyes:
Midges are more pot luck with the wind speed. The last couple years has seen an immense increase in vans stopping overnight everywhere though so it's probably more a case of finding a space.
The Smidge website has a midge forecast map that includes the Highlands. No idea if it’s accurate mind.
The midges were fine out west last week...
Lovely minimal facility campsite at Mellon Udrigle, near Laide. Plenty of space to run around, including the beach. Pretty quiet right now (can see it out of the window). Usually enough of a breeze to keep the midges down