West Coast of Scotland

[JJM]

I am planning a trip up along the West Coast of Scotland next year. (including travelling out to several of the Islands) Could anyone advise me what the roads / ferries are like? Is the journey better suited to a motorhome rather than a caravan?
I dont have either at the moment so would appreciate advice from anyone who has made the journey. I would prefer a caravan as I think that would give me more flexibility to visit places around the campsite. However as someone with no experience I am a little concerned about narrow roads etc

 

[Dustydog]

Welcome JIJM.
One of the Mods will move your request to UK parks section for specific answers.

I will give you a detailed answer next few days.
I have done your proposed tour many a time once in a motor home most times in a caravan.Caravan every time in my book.

Cal Mac do period season tickets for various Island hops at reduced cost.
How long are you away?
None of the roads have ever caused me a problem towing a ta

 

[RogerL]

I am planning a trip up along the West Coast of Scotland next year. (including travelling out to several of the Islands) Could anyone advise me what the roads / ferries are like? Is the journey better suited to a motorhome rather than a caravan?
I dont have either at the moment so would appreciate advice from anyone who has made the journey. I would prefer a caravan as I think that would give me more flexibility to visit places around the campsite. However as someone with no experience I am a little concerned about narrow roads etc

I regularly tour Scotland, including the west coast, just recently from Sutherland in the Far North-West to Galloway in the South-West.
Scottish roads are generally better than in England, including the remaining single track which has plenty of passing places and long sight lines so no issues even with a caravan - but distances are long and fuel/shops need prior planning!
The ferries are generally fine - the nationalised Calmac has a virtual monopoly and despite huge subsidy the fares are still high - notably so for caravans where the total outfit length is used to set the fare - some routes are cheaper to go the long way round, eg Mull from Glasgow is cheaper to drive past Oban to Fort William, get the Corran Ferry to Morvern and then the Lochaline Ferry to Mull rather that the apparently obvious route of ferry from Oban - even taking the extra fuel into account, it's half the price.

Given a free choice of motorhome or caravan, I'd suggest a motorhome (I'm a caravanner!) - Scotland permits wild camping, unlike England and the West Coast and Islands actively encourage it - so there's plenty of places where a motorhome can overnight with zero impact to the environment - on the Islands, the ferry ports often provide water, waste, toilet emptying facilities and sometimes free showers.

Fuel can be expensive, even with their subsidy so consider taking extra (but don't tell the ferryman!) - if you want to go one place, go to Mull - but in reality the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) and Northern Isles (Shetland) are worth exploring just as much.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi JJM.
welcome to the forum, I concur with everything RogerL has wrote, and yes I have done this route many times in both m/home and caravan, for me personally I prefered the motorhome and did quite a bit of wild camping once out on the coast, rarely staying more than one night on any site,
the reason for this is obvious,, being on the move allows you to go to more places, and as there are a lot of windy roads up there (cos the Romans did not invade and build straight roads) places can be quite far apart, it saves going back to the van every night and saves huge amounts of expensive fuel.
as Roger says plan your route in advance as fuel stops and ferries can be problematic, fuel can be expensive, But fill up every time as the next fuel stop can be a long way away.
motorhomes are also better "imho" as you can take quite a few short cuts on roads that are not suitable for vans and you can stop anywhere anytime you please,
look also for places to avoid, traffic (not many) but there are some, for instance, catching the Calmac ferry from Gouroch to dunoon cuts off 70miles around Dumbarton and loch Lomond unless you really want to take that route.

OH. and before I go I suggest you plan this trip spring or autumn, as the midges in june, july and august will eat you alive no matter what cream you smother yourself in, :evil:

.

 

[pensioner]

Have to agree with Colin-yorkshire as regards the midges,,we spent a fortune on creams and candles and it took the wife 4 weeks after getting home to fully recover.
On one site we saw a guy "relaxing" in his chair wearing a bee-keepers hat with full mesh and wellies,,honestly.

 

[emmerson]

Agree re the midges, but I find Avon "skin so soft" beats them off, wherever you are.

 

[Supertractorman]

Very few midges on the East Coast if you find they get bad on the West Coast. Always fill up at the Supermarkets in Oban before heading out on the ferries and also the Esso station going out of Fort William heading North used to be at good prices. Another good stop off for fuel is Tesco at Perth which is just off the A9 at the first junction after the Broxden roundabout heading North and is about 1000 yards heading towards Perth turn left at 1st set of traffic lights.
David

 

[RogerL]

You'll find Asda Perth is always cheaper than Tesco - you need to go into the centre rather than use the bypass but it's no real hardship.