I am looking at booking a holiday for around 2 weeks from the middle of August for myself, partner and our 2 year old son.
We would like to stay in the lake district for 3 nights and then head up to the West side of Scotland for 5 nights before driving to Aberdeen to visit family. We will be driving from Ipswich.
We would like to visit Loch Lomond and Glencoe where would be best to base ourselves and can someone recommend camp sites in these areas?
Ideally we would like to stay in 1 location rather than keep moving around.
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There’s a campsite at tyndrum, you’ll find it in campsite search. Not personally used it, but read good reports. It’s close to places to eat out, and of course the famous green welly stop!
It’s also good to use for visiting Glen Coe and Loch Lomond if you want to stay in the one place. Bear in mind though you will still have to drive to each place to visit and return to site at end of day.
I’m assuming you are tenting it? Not clear from your post what kinda camping you’ll be doing.
Quote: Originally posted by ficklejade on 04/4/2019
What do you need in terms of site facilities and what unit have you got? This is really important in terms of people giving advice.
Ideally showers, hot water, and preferably electrical hook up but not essential.
Will be taking our tent which is a berghaus air 8
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Quote: Originally posted by Lorfal on 04/4/2019
There’s a campsite at tyndrum, you’ll find it in campsite search. Not personally used it, but read good reports. It’s close to places to eat out, and of course the famous green welly stop!
It’s also good to use for visiting Glen Coe and Loch Lomond if you want to stay in the one place. Bear in mind though you will still have to drive to each place to visit and return to site at end of day.
I’m assuming you are tenting it? Not clear from your post what kinda camping you’ll be doing.
Remember it will likely be busy mid August.
Thank you i'll have a look at this camp site. We will be tenting it yes. Do you know how bad the midges are at that time of year?
It's a long time since my children were that age, but I recall that long journeys weren't the best idea. One thing you'll notice about Scotland is that travelling N-S isn't too bad, but E-W can be difficult. Distance can also be a lot longer than you might think. Glencoe to Aberdeen will mean quite a long trip. Mrs. Bonce is quite correct that two weeks might be pushing it.
I also avoid the West coast in July / August like the plague. Although the Scottish schools will be going back in Mid-August, it's the English school holidays that tend to dictate tourist numbers.
I usually go further north and while some people say that midgies don't trouble them, others will say that they make life pure Hell. I would certainly buy a mozzie net to protect your son.
Oh and take plenty of supplies with you - shops and petrol stations aren't too frequent.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Quote: Originally posted by Lorfal on 04/4/2019
There’s a campsite at tyndrum, you’ll find it in campsite search. Not personally used it, but read good reports. It’s close to places to eat out, and of course the famous green welly stop!
It’s also good to use for visiting Glen Coe and Loch Lomond if you want to stay in the one place. Bear in mind though you will still have to drive to each place to visit and return to site at end of day.
I’m assuming you are tenting it? Not clear from your post what kinda camping you’ll be doing.
Remember it will likely be busy mid August.
Thank you i'll have a look at this camp site. We will be tenting it yes. Do you know how bad the midges are at that time of year?
Midges in August? Depends on the weather and the wind but if you are a bit inland with no breeze then expect the worst.
You don't have to be inland to experience midgies. I've stayed round Morvich and Torridon and the midgies round the coast can be pretty bad. The wind is your best friend - they can't fly in anything more than a gentle breeze.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I googled Glencoe to Aberdeen as I was struggling to place the cross country route. The suggested route is back down & across to Dundee then up the coast. (I'd thought it might go up to Inverness & across.) Suggests almost 4 hours driving.
There's relatively little distance between the west (more accessible) side of Loch Lomond (Balloch, say) & Ballachulish (Glencoe), but the 70 odd miles aren't straight or fast - you'd need to allow 2 hours. Loch Lomond north of Tarbet is particularly slow as you'll have to stop at bends to let the tourist bus coming the opposite way get round.
I'd base myself at the south end of Loch Lomond (Lomond Shores at Balloch is acceptable), do a day trip up to Glencoe, or round to the east shore of the loch at Rowardennan (dead end), or west to Inveraray, or down Loch Long to Dunoon. Then you just head east on the fast roads to Aberdeen.
Could go A82 then A86 via aviemore going up Loch Lagan side to dalwhinnie way. It’s a beautiful drive. Is a bit longer, personally too beautiful rush and I’d do it with overnighting somwhere. Plenty to choose from in aviemore, and if you get a Loch morlich side pitch you’ve knocked it off lol
I'd go with Lorfal's suggestion if you have time. If you don't then, as Fiona W says, down A82 to Crianlarich, then A85 to Perth and up east coast.
I'd agree with Fiona W's suggestion of basing yourself at the south end of Loch Lomond. However, based on personal experience a couple of times each month, therefore knowing the road pretty intimately, two hours Balloch to Ballachulish is optimistic in August unless you travel at anti-social hours. Even knowing the road and the very few overtaking opportunities on the section between Tarbet and Crianlarich, I would add on at least 30 minutes and a shed load more if travelling southbound on a Sunday afternoon. On the other hand, if the bairn wakes you early and is good at travelling, leave early, find yourself a parking space in Glencoe and enjoy but be canny about parking or some numpty will have blocked you in!
Aside from anything else and not directed in any way on posters on here, the A82 is an inherently dangerous road - it's way too narrow and twisty in places for modern traffic and in others, over Rannoch in particular, even some of the straight sections are deceptive. It is the main route for many, be it bringing food to supermarkets or post or fuel and bringing produce out. It is a vital lifeline for many people and, of course, it's a tourist route because there are few alternatives. What it requires are people who drive sensibly to the conditions and who are totally aware of what's happening on the road around them.
I'm sorry about this rant, but we've had two major accidents (again) on the A82 today, one possibly fatal, and there was a fatal last week.
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
This is just a thought, midges are bad I believe on the west coast, normally I'm out of midgie season when I'm up that way, but yes they don't like the breeze.
If you're in Glencoe way, or could Re gig, seeing you're heading to Aberdeen, this is a thought, you could drive from fort Augustus to Inverness along the Great Glen, there is a fantastic site called Ace Hideaway near Forres, I've been there years ago. its a bit expensive for dogs, the walks and site makes up for it. Then the drive to Aberdeen.
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Lake District, Loch Lomond and Glencoe
via mobile 04/4/2019 at 9:38am
