In May 2020 me and the wife were all set to go up the west coast via Glencoe, over to Skye and to Torridon in our T5, making it up as we went along staying in a mix and campsites and ‘wild’ spots. Wanted to do this for years but obviously it never happened due to Covid and we decided last year wasn’t right either. We were set to put it off again this year but a friend said Friday to just do it this year - don’t put it off. Got me thinking…we have time off in April and would pre-book into sites beforehand. Takes away the more sporadic feel the initial trip would have had but I’ve heard about ‘wild’ campers messing areas up and spoiling it for others. What are your thoughts on whether the trip is good to go then or whether the time isn’t right and leave it til next year? What issues am I likely to have if we do go for it this year? TIA
Early April or later? Some stuff might not be open prior to easter.
It will be quieter at that time so that's a win but as ever it's the actual weather you get at the time which will make it. Last easter had some good weather but it was still pretty cold and there was quite a bit of snow on the hills.
May/June usually best for weather IMO. April could be great but I'd want a heater in my van.
Just booked similar.
Starting 28th April through to 8th May. Only staying on proper sites though, as dont want to bother with wild camping. Tour of the highlands with a bike on the back.
I went same time last year and was lucky with the weather, plus its Pre Midge season. Only slight issue was waking up to snow on the ground at Altnaharra. Otherwise it was the perfect trip.
Do it.
I would happily go this year but please use campsites or some of the new "aires" that have been set up
People in vans roadside camping is causing huge issues in places up north and is really upsetting locals
A spot I used to use that rarely saw more than one van at it - last time i went there was over 20 and the bushes and beach were full of shit
Its unfortunate but IMO the roadside camping in vans has been ruined by too many folk trying to do it and too many folk acting entitled. Now i am not saying you would act irresponsibly but what you need to look at is simply the pressures than people roadside camping in vans bring
Please be part of the solution by spending money locally and using campsites. Don't be part of the problem by roadside camping and not spending anything locally
I am sure i will get a kicking on here for this but its an honestly held view based on real life experiences of friends and my own experiences
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-53713593
I agree TJ, it's certainly changed a lot for the worse in the last few years, and the last two summers have exacerbated it.
Even locally here in Aberlour there was an idea to make a local carpark an official stop over, it's been met with howls of (unjustified imo) derision. The few have spoilt it for the many.
Even in October I was surprised at how busy it was with wild campers!
April might be glorious might snow! It's half the fun!
Do it, but I agree with the comments above! We were up there August last year and I was absolutely blown away by the shear number of vans parked up (I have spent a lot of time on the NC500 for work, before it was a thing so know how quiet it could be). We had WAY more space at an official campsite, than the wing-mirror to wing-mirror parking I saw at nearly every pull in around Torridon. As soon as you got half a mile away from the roads on the bike/foot, the place was super quiet.
This is a great little site: https://www.shieldaigcampingandcabins.co.uk/ - so much so we extended our stay whilst we were there. The garage/coffee stop at Kinlochewe is worth pulling into for a cake/bacon sandwich https://goo.gl/maps/UnmoktwYakYU4gyh7
We always carry a portable toilet with us on trips like this. Even though we used sites for our entire trip in the end, it does mean you can be more socially responsible in these wild locations with limited facilities.
Do it.
( no midgies)
might be glorious, might snow
...might be foggy, might be a force ten gale, might be thunder.
Might all be on the same day.
Just go. No midges not school holidays, I sleep in my van in January with no heater. Put a hat on.
It'll be grand. Do it
It will be great, get it done.
But, I agree with:
I would happily go this year but please use campsites or some of the new “aires” that have been set up
People in vans roadside camping is causing huge issues in places up north and is really upsetting locals
A spot I used to use that rarely saw more than one van at it – last time i went there was over 20 and the bushes and beach were full of shit
Although I would say is honeypotting and to have the imagination to stay a mile or three off the main roads / NC500 route means you will have the place to yourself.
Great time to go, school hols here are roughly 2-19th April but nowhere will be busy. Many sites open early April as well.
Cheers all - good replies!
We'll be going up Weds April 6th and have all the following week off too which includes the Easter BH weekend (Fri 15-Mon 18) so could be as much as 12/13 days away. I would rather wing it using more discreet 'wild' camps/stopovers/aires rather than being governed by having to be in a certain campsite on a certain day if poss thus taking away any spontaneity. I'm on a FB Scottish motorhome group which publishes good spots to stay where there are toilets etc and we'd def be putting money into local shops and pubs etc. Shitting in a lay-by with a load of other vans ain't my idea of fun! Will def use some sites but kind of hoping they won't be busy so we can just check in as we feel like it - this is what we did in Dumfries and Galloway 3 years ago and that worked a treat. Having said that, the campsite in Sheildaig looks great so will use that for a few nights. Any other sites get a good recommendation so at least I can look into them? Prepared for the weather to be anything really though we don't have a van heater. Not sure ATM if taking the bike or not as the plan in May 20 was to do some Munro hikes (Blaven on Skye/The Buachaille in Glencoe and/or Beinn Alligin in Torridon) though earlier April snow might scupper that. The bike will be in the van and takes up a fair bit of space will all the kit needed etc - boots and a rucksack far less room! Really looking forward to this and now it's full-on getting a rough plan tweaked...been long-overdue but it's finally going to happen
Do it. Use campsites. You don’t always have to book - you can often just rock up.
The dates your proposing are the school holidays though - everywhere will be rammed.
Great time to go, school hols here are roughly 2-19th April but nowhere will be busy.
The dates your proposing are the school holidays though – everywhere will be rammed.
Only on STW could you get such conflicting info!
It will be busy then; combo of school hols and so many people new to van life, trying to get their own slice of the wild parking pie. The numbers of white vans now thronging the wee roads all across the Highlands are going to be a shock to anyone who has not been up north for a year or two. They are literally everywhere; if you can see a mile worth of public road, there'll probably be a van on it, moving or parked. It really is that busy in many popular places.
You'll maybe see a pet hate of mine up there too; van people taking their porta potty into the public lavvies to empty it, ignoring the problems that this causes. It's just a few quid as a casual visitor to pay to empty at lots of commercial sites; spend tens of thousands on a van and cannae stomach a tenner to empty the loo. grr....
Anyway, on the other hand, somewhere like Glen Cassley will be completely empty and with a bit of thought, you can get to Ben More Assynt at the head of the glen on foot and I'm sure the Rosehall Hotel at the Cassley/ Oykel junction would appreciate some trade. Go have a prowl about the Chanel House if you're up that way too.
I sleep in my van in January with no heater. Put a hat on.
I don't mind cold camping for a night or two but it gets a bit miserable for an extended period imo. YMMV.
The numbers of white vans now thronging the wee roads all across the Highlands are going to be a shock to anyone who has not been up north for a year or two.
This is really depressing.
I was gonna go up in my white van this year.
Not to sleep in a lay-by, before anyone shouts at me.
Love how the OP has clearly said he's using proper campsites - and half the responses are telling him to use campsites.
Not to sleep in a lay-by, before anyone shouts at me.
Sleeping in a lay-by, fine. It is the twunts that park in the passing places on single-track roads that are a bother.
As the new plan was to go in April when the Scottish kids are off and it's the Easter weekend we've delayed it slightly to go in early May instead so hopefully less bods on the road and at campsites.
Ardmair Point campsite (a little north of Ullapool) is nice, as is big Sands at Gairloch
There are lots of nice places not on the NC500 or head out to the islands - just book your ferries in advance.
If you plan on buying food at local stores, be aware that we do suffer shortages of even the basics on the islands - we had 10 days without eggs. If you fancy anything fresh that isn’t a root vegetable, then you might be going hungry or get a recipe book where the ingredients are potatoes, onions, carrots and neeps…
However, if you have a taste for rancid cider and most flavours of alcohol you will be well-served, including ice-cubes!
OP here - I couldn't remember if I'd actually posted this as it was so long ago but I just found it! We go on Thurs 27 April for 9-10 nights. Plan is still very lose - in the van mixing 'wild' (we're getting one of those collapsible bogs) with sites/aires though I'm chancing it and not pre-booking anything. I have a hook up lead with sockets on that I can use at a site if it has juice so we can charge devices etc and run ceiling spots. Still debating whether to get a split charge relay system and leisure battery put in beforehand, or just get some a good capacity powerbank we can charge up when we're back on the road.
The rough plan is stop somewhere near Loch Lomond (Arrochar?) on the way up, then head up via Glencoe, Fort Bill, over to Skye either on the ferry via Mallaig or over the bridge though I haven't looked into the ferry at all. I'd like to do the boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk, staying down at Camasunary Bay (if a LWB lowered T5 can get down there - anyone know what the road is like?) or near Bla Bheinn car park as I want to do Blaven. Then Glenbrittle campsite and the Fairy Pools for a night. Not sure where else on Skye yet. A couple of nights at the campsite in Sheildaig sounds good - I'd also like to go up Beinn Alligin if enough days rest between that and Blaven - if I had to chose just one...which one? Return route possibly across to Inverness and down via Pitlochry/Perth/Stirling. We have cooking facilities but happy to use pubs/eateries as we go. That's as much of a plan as I have ATM though need to pull my finger out and tighten it up as it'll soon be here! I know I won't be able to appreciate the area fully given it's a short period of time but that's where I'd like to go. Suggestions/tips/pointers all welcome
FWIW book your ferries as on certain routes you can no longer rock-up in a camper or motorhome and get a crossing on ‘standby’ - you have to have a booking.
If you have time on your drive down from Inverness, you could take the scenic route via Nairn, Granton-on-Spey, Tomintoul, Braemar and Spittal of Glenshee rather than the A9
There's a really good site at Broadford in Skye. Super pizzas just across the road - sit in or take away.
Blaven or Beinn Alligin? The former for the best view of the Cuillin Ridge.
There is no road to Camusunary Bay - or have I misunderstood?
The Coral Beach north of Dunvegan is worth it. A short walk. Handy if you just want a wee leg stretch.
There's a brill stopover at Tarbet that would fit the bill for your Arrochar stopover. Aire at Kinlochleven too, which is fairly handy for Glencoe and Fort William. You can stay on the main car park at Ben Nevis in a campervan but it's fairly expensive given that there's zero facilities.
if I had to chose just one…which one?
Bla Bheinn.
Also, worth the gamble not booking campsites but definitely worth checking they are open. Most mainland ones should be.
Scotroutes is right, there's no road over the hill to Camasunary Bay & bothy; the track over is very much MTB, not gravel bike. It's a great day-walk to head in that way from the public road, past the bothy and round the corner to Coruisk via the em, 'narrow' path on the coast. From Coruisk, loop clockwise north and up over the ridge, then descend back east to rejoin the trail on the floor of the glen, return south to Camasunary and back to the Elgol road the way you came in originally. Proper day out in a stunning location with dramatic scenery and it'll be really quiet round at Coruisk. Views are better than you'll get from the boat and you can work the day to to your own schedule.
Yes, book the big boat from Mallaig- Armadale as early as you know you're heading that way.
If you've a spare day around Mallaig, take the scheduled boat over to Inverey and head to the Forge, now in community hands.