Looking to go for a long trip north of the border, late august with Mrs C, Junior C and dog. Wanting to do bike, walk,relax thing. Trails ideally suitable for a nine year old at times.
Share the knowledge please
David
Rothiemurchus campsite, Aviemore.
EVERYTHING you could want on the doorstep!!
Aviemore. Loads to do. Nice forest site at Rothiemurchus, or a bigger, more open site at Glenmore.
Same again, but book yourself into the one near the Hilton not the one nearer Glenmore. Very expensive for a campsite and I'm sure they ripped us off. They were also very fussy about where you could camp and where you could drive. I like my camping a little less regimented. Altenatively there is a very good one at Mabie or one of the campsites at Peebles was recommended on here recently.
Why use a campsite? Wild camping would be more fun.
What they said ^^^^
Remember to take your snow gear!
I second FoxyChick. Nice beach at Loch Morlich too. Carrbridge is up the road if you fancy a walk through the [url= http://www.landmark-centre.co.uk/Ropes.htm#RopeworX ]trees[/url].
Another vote for the rothiemurcas one, we were there last weekend, very good, location excellent, and £7pppn. Far less pikey than Glenmore.
Just to add a bit of balance. The campsite at Glenmore is run by FC, is quite large and probably aimed at the caravan / motorhome brigade. We stayed a couple of nights last year and whilst it was expensive, the toilet facilities were excellent. At Glenmore you also have the option of being in the trees or a bit more out in the open, which may be important to you if you land in the middle of midge season. There is also a kids playground just off the site, the nasty Glenmore shop with the dry ski slope (wtf is that about?) and the FC visitor centre with reasonable-ish cafe.
The Rothiemurchus site is completely wooded and much smaller in comparison. Better suited to tents - I'm not even sure you can take a caravan or camper. There is no shop and the toilet facilities are not as clean as at Glenmore IME. The Rothiemurchus site is nearer to Aviemore though and more cycleable than Glenmore - which can be a bit of a drag back up the hill from Aviemore.
There are trails right from both sites.
If you like it more basic / rustic / nearer to Aviemore then go for Rothiemurchus, if you want a shop, playground and cafe virtually on site and 4* toilet facilities and don't mind the longer trek into Aviemore, stay at Glenmore.
geoffj...when did you last visit Rothie?
We were there last August and there was a fantastic brand new toilet/shower block which was immaculate.
Why kids would need a playground is beyond me. Our 2 disappeared for hours on end making dens and riding their bikes around the site.
The site does accept caravans and campers.
[i]The campsite at Glenmore is run by FC[/i]
I have absolutely nothing to do with it!!! 😉
I'll back up what FC says about the toilets etc at Rothiemurchus. They're like little [i]en suite[/i] bathrooms and were immaculate when I was there last year.
Well it's been a couple of years since we stayed at Rothiemurchus. Sounds like it's improved since. I'm not knocking it, I just don't think that Glenmore is that much worse - just different and more expensive.
The extra would defo be worth it if you did run it though FC 🙂
According to website no dogs in camping area at Rothiemurchus, any good camping near Fort William?
I like the site at Glen Nevis. Not [i]quite[/i] so many options for the kids as Aviemore has, but you're within striking distance of the fabby beaches at Arisaig & Morar.
Not sure about pets though