Scotland

[LMH]

Hi

Any recommendations for sites in Scotland, I have no idea where, I've only been as far up as Scotch Corner.

Must take dogs, prefer a site on a lake/loch, easy access for caravan. Shops close by.

Is there much to do in Scotland?

Sorry for my ignorance.

Thanks.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Correction - I've only been as far up as Cumbria.

Lisa

 

[gavin_5121842]

What are you looking at doing? Walking?, fishing?, drinking?(hic), are there kids to keep entertained?

Is there much to do in Scotland? I'd say so, unless your after big theme parks.

Caravan Club site (North Ledaig),just outside Oban is a real gem, and right by the sea. Oban has everything you'll need.

Also a couple of sites on Loch Ness, not far from the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. Plenty to see and do here.

As for the dogs, they'll not miss out as theres plenty of Forestry walks amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain,

Gavin.

http://www.visitscotland.com/

 

[LMH]

Hi Gavin

We have a daughter who will be 15. We're not bothered about pubs, clubs, theme parks etc.

We like dog friendly beaches, the odd town or two for the daughter to go shopping.

We do like sight seeing as well and are happy to drive no limits.

We do like walking in forests too.

I'll take a look at the visit Scotland site.

Many thanks.

Lisa

 

[MonkeyHanger]

Hiya,

We stayed at a nice site at fort william not far from loch ness although there was only a castle to look around at a cost AND we NEVER seen any monster :-(.

The site its self was at the bottom of ben nevis and you could take a guided walk althiugh we NEVER done that either .

The town was only a short trip up the road and there was most high street shops there and some good camping shops.

There was a burger bar on-site or just down the road about 5 minute walk was a canny little resturant.

We also stayed in Balloch near loch lomand that was a nice site with jacuzzi and sauna the town was a short drive and you could go on the loch from there.THere was a big chinesse restarant on the roundabout just outside the camp site.

If you go further afield you can hire little boats and go windsurfing on the loch and there is a few little coves were you can just chill and even swim in the loch but beware the the water is freezing.

Go and enjoy the trip weve been going up there for year and myself i love it but the wife has now ripped it out of the atlas cos she wants to go somewhere else for a change.

 

[Val & Frank]

Try Easter Ross/ Dornoch/Brora/Culloden/Grantown on Spey/ Huntly/ Banchory (for Royal Deeside ) Braemar for hill walking/Aviemore ( for everything ) been mentioned Fort William. And think of all the places on the West Coast you can stop at on the way up. Hope you have a few months off !!!

Val & Frank

 

[LadyMaureen]

Hi Lisa,

Dumfries & Galloway is uncommercialised.

Brighouse Bay near Kircudbright is in the Best of British book ( and has a web site )....adjacent to a safe beach.Further along is the Caravan Club site at Drummore.....again right next to a very flat beach.It's a very quiet area,but still plenty to see. AND only a short way past Cumbria for you to travel !!

We are in the process of planning our 3rd trip to the very north of Scotland....but of course,we live here so that makes it easier.

On a serious note,when we were at Melrose during the summer we met a Geordie who had never been to Scotland before.He said he was really disappointed not to see mountains and lakes around him !!! Poor guy obviously had not done much homework before setting off on holidays.

How far do you want to travel ? and keep in mind the midge season is from the end of May to the end of Aug.

Let us know anything else you require.

 

[johnstafford]

Hi rty Edingburgh it has it all. Shops, beacher, hills you name it.

We have stayed at Drum mohr near Musselburgh.....very nice and Morton Hall....good for city accsess.

 

[Oklahoma]

Hiya,

We stayed at a nice site at fort william not far from loch ness although there was only a castle to look around at a cost AND we NEVER seen any monster :-(.

The site its self was at the bottom of ben nevis and you could take a guided walk althiugh we NEVER done that either .

The town was only a short trip up the road and there was most high street shops there and some good camping shops.

There was a burger bar on-site or just down the road about 5 minute walk was a canny little resturant.

We also stayed in Balloch near loch lomand that was a nice site with jacuzzi and sauna the town was a short drive and you could go on the loch from there.THere was a big chinesse restarant on the roundabout just outside the camp site.

If you go further afield you can hire little boats and go windsurfing on the loch and there is a few little coves were you can just chill and even swim in the loch but beware the the water is freezing.

Go and enjoy the trip weve been going up there for year and myself i love it but the wife has now ripped it out of the atlas cos she wants to go somewhere else for a change.

I've mentioned this site before as it's one of my favourites. Everything is in walking distance, the loch shore and visitor centre with great shops and cafes/restaurant are just outside the site. The town and country park are a little further along, but still walkable with lovely walks and views. There's a 20/30 minute walk along the old, hardly used old road to Duck Bay on the loch side.

It's great!!

 

[chelsea1]

I cant rate scotland enough. We have just returned from 16 nights up near Skye and cant wait to go back. If you can manage to get up that far (fort william/lochalsh/skye/applecross and beyond ) you will be amazed at the scenery - stunning.

no crowds when we went, free parking everywhere. We saw golden eagles, otters, stags and deer, seals.

highly recommended

 

[Val & Frank]

Caravan Club sites in Scotland

Balbirnie Park, Markinch

Blair Drummond, Stirling

Bunree, Onich

Carradale Bay, Campbeltown

Clachan, Killin

Craigie Gardens, Ayr

Culloden Moor, Culloden

Dalchalm, Brora

Dunnet Bay, Thurso

Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Garlieston, Garlieston

Gibson Park, Melrose

Grantown-on-spey Caravan Park, Grantown-on-spey

Grumore, Altnaharra

Huntly Castle Caravan Park, Huntly

Invernahavon, Newtonmore

Kinlochewe, Achnasheen

Lidalia, Newcastleton

Maragowan, Killin

Morvich, Shiel Bridge

New England Bay, Drummore

North Ledaig, Oban

Silverbank, Banchory

Slatebarns, Edinburgh

The Invercauld, Braemar

The Ranch, Maybole

The Woods, Stirling

Yellowcraig, North Berwick

Val & Frank

 

[Val & Frank]

Sorry hit the post key before I meant to. If you get your map out you should be able to plan a grand tour of Scotland from the above list. The CC sites are all of a good standard. Hope that helps

Val & Frank

 

[LMH]

GOSH

Thank's so much for all the replies. I'll have to surf the net on Saturday and check out these places, websites etc. I will have to research it quite a bit and plan the overnighters on route etc.

I really appreciate all the extremely helpful replies. I've never looked at Scotland before, my mum loves it and has been many times. I went back to my roots and visited Ireland a few months ago and that was brilliant.

The more I read the posts, the more I think we'll enjoy Scotland.

Just two more questions. Are the midges that bad? Do they bother dogs?

I lived in South America when I was a small child and the mosquetos (spelling) bit me to death and I ended up in hospital but my mum and dad were unaffected.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Caravan Club sites in Scotland

Balbirnie Park, Markinch

Blair Drummond, Stirling

Bunree, Onich

Carradale Bay, Campbeltown

Clachan, Killin

Craigie Gardens, Ayr

Culloden Moor, Culloden

Dalchalm, Brora

Dunnet Bay, Thurso

Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Garlieston, Garlieston

Gibson Park, Melrose

Grantown-on-spey Caravan Park, Grantown-on-spey

Grumore, Altnaharra

Huntly Castle Caravan Park, Huntly

Invernahavon, Newtonmore

Kinlochewe, Achnasheen

Lidalia, Newcastleton

Maragowan, Killin

Morvich, Shiel Bridge

New England Bay, Drummore

North Ledaig, Oban

Silverbank, Banchory

Slatebarns, Edinburgh

The Invercauld, Braemar

The Ranch, Maybole

The Woods, Stirling

Yellowcraig, North Berwick

Val & Frank

Thanks Frank, that's brilliant of you to list all those sites, I'm in the CC.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Hiya,

We stayed at a nice site at fort william not far from loch ness although there was only a castle to look around at a cost AND we NEVER seen any monster :-(.

The site its self was at the bottom of ben nevis and you could take a guided walk althiugh we NEVER done that either .

The town was only a short trip up the road and there was most high street shops there and some good camping shops.

There was a burger bar on-site or just down the road about 5 minute walk was a canny little resturant.

We also stayed in Balloch near loch lomand that was a nice site with jacuzzi and sauna the town was a short drive and you could go on the loch from there.THere was a big chinesse restarant on the roundabout just outside the camp site.

If you go further afield you can hire little boats and go windsurfing on the loch and there is a few little coves were you can just chill and even swim in the loch but beware the the water is freezing.

Go and enjoy the trip weve been going up there for year and myself i love it but the wife has now ripped it out of the atlas cos she wants to go somewhere else for a change.

Thanks Andrew, I'll look at the weekend, that'll be my first opportunity to surf the net.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Hi Lisa,

Dumfries & Galloway is uncommercialised.

Brighouse Bay near Kircudbright is in the Best of British book ( and has a web site )....adjacent to a safe beach.Further along is the Caravan Club site at Drummore.....again right next to a very flat beach.It's a very quiet area,but still plenty to see. AND only a short way past Cumbria for you to travel !!

We are in the process of planning our 3rd trip to the very north of Scotland....but of course,we live here so that makes it easier.

On a serious note,when we were at Melrose during the summer we met a Geordie who had never been to Scotland before.He said he was really disappointed not to see mountains and lakes around him !!! Poor guy obviously had not done much homework before setting off on holidays.

How far do you want to travel ? and keep in mind the midge season is from the end of May to the end of Aug.

Let us know anything else you require.

Thanks Maureen, I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks everso much, really appreicate it.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

I cant rate scotland enough. We have just returned from 16 nights up near Skye and cant wait to go back. If you can manage to get up that far (fort william/lochalsh/skye/applecross and beyond ) you will be amazed at the scenery - stunning.

no crowds when we went, free parking everywhere. We saw golden eagles, otters, stags and deer, seals.

highly recommended

Sounds brilliant, thanks.

Lisa x

 

[LMH]

Hi rty Edingburgh it has it all. Shops, beacher, hills you name it.

We have stayed at Drum mohr near Musselburgh.....very nice and Morton Hall....good for city accsess.

Thanks sconny, another place to look into. My mum used to go every year for the Tattoo.

Lisa

 

[Ewan_5130997]

Hi Lisa, Midges can be bad, however, there are many products on the market which will repel the little blighters.

A couple of other suggestions for sites........Linnhe Lochside between Fort William and Glenfinnan is superb, and Loch Ness Caravan Park, right on the shores of the loch is fantastic.

 

[John_5127317]

If you are worried about midgies, don't buy expensive repellants. Try Avon Skin So Soft.

Scotland is beautiful, but being a Scot, I am biased. The Caravan Club site at Oban has beautiful views over the sea and is well looked after. Stirling/Loch Lomand area is very central and give easy access to Edinburgh and Glasgow for sightseeing and shops.

 

[Ewan_5130997]

Lisa

Just to give you a flavour of Scotland check out the link below.

The guy who took the pictures runs one of the best snack bars with his wife near the top of Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead.

If you are passing, pop in and you will get a warm welcome and one of the best burgers you will have tasted. (My kids insist on stopping each time we pass)

http://www.glenogle.info/

 

[Angus1]

CC site at North Ledaig. Top notch. Just dont get up there enough......

Lots to do, good for dogs, you can easily get to Nevis Range (go up Ben),Fort William, or other direction down to Easdale and Seil Island. A bit further down is Croabh Haven and the Crinnan Canal where years ago we came across `The Vital Spark`, the boat used by Gregor Fisher ( Rab.C Nesbit) in some comedy drama whose name I forget. Showing my age....

 

[RobRoy]

Hi Angus,

Para Handy I think.

Rob S.

 

[Angus1]

Yes, I think thats the one Rob Roy.

I`d never have remembered it though!

 

[GrahamW]

Lisa

If you like quiet sites, try Invercoe at Glen Coe. This was the first site I ever visited with a tourer. The view over Loch Leven in the mornings (well any time really)is a sight to see and the area is outstanding.