I'm starting to plan a trip up from Cheshire (home) up, across and down the other side... Cumbria, Scotland, Yorkshire, Northumberland etc. I'm trying to decide if we should head up M6 (storage is near M6) into Cumbria and go clockwise or whether to head over to Yorkshire and go anticlockwise (if that makes sense). Not sure if it makes much difference but would welcome any thoughts/ideas/experiences. We are looking at spending at least a month touring.
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Won’t make a difference but cyclists are advised to go north up the west coast (your clockwise) to have the prevailing wind behind them.
You don’t say when you’re going, but midsummer in the far north means you can read a book outside at 11:30 (even at Ullapool, which is a day’s drive south of the north coast) & sunsets are glorious but late in the evening. So anti-clockwise to catch those later in the trip?
Or toss a coin… You’re not going down the middle of Scotland, so you don’t need to worry about snow in spring or autumn.
And I’ll put in a recommendation - please don’t drive up the M74 straight to Loch Lomond: Dumfries & Galloway has much to offer (but very few Club sites, if you’re limiting yourself to CCC and CAMC).
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 23/9/2025
A lovely CL at Sanquhar, hopefully still going. We used it en route to Arran There are others.
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Not my favourite road Mrs B, maybe because it’s neither coastal nor upland nor lochside & every time I go that way, there’s yet another wind farm going up. But the CL is still there & I’m glad you enjoyed it (and pronounced the town Sanker). It’s a surprisingly interesting wee town, especially during the annual Riding of the Marches.
The benefit of Scotland is the generally quieter roads mean you can set up a base and do lots of exploring each day, so there is no real need to move that often.
Over a month a week or so in Fife, Speyside, Torridon, Argyll and Bute will allow you to cover much of the country, including some of the islands.
Quote: Originally posted by daveyjp on 24/9/2025
The benefit of Scotland is the generally quieter roads mean you can set up a base and do lots of exploring each day, so there is no real need to move that often.
Over a month a week or so in Fife, Speyside, Torridon, Argyll and Bute will allow you to cover much of the country, including some of the islands.
That’s what we’re hoping to do. We are heading up early to mid September.
Thanks for your replies and recommendations, I will take a look. I love Dumfries & Galloway. We will be stopping there . I’m not planning to use club sites.
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In early - mid September,you should be able to miss the midgies.
I would definitely take a clockwise route, and as I always put in a word for the East coast, consider the Spey valley if you like whisky and Royal Deeside for history and castles.
------------- 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 Mrs. Bonce on 24/9/2025
Of course Sanker, I didn't have a Scottish Dad for nothing!
It was in case others decided to stay there, Mrs B. We used to joke at work that people only climbed Munros that they could pronounce the name of, otherwise they can’t brag about it at the pub that evening.
Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 27/9/2025
In early - mid September,you should be able to miss the midgies.
I would definitely take a clockwise route, and as I always put in a word for the East coast, consider the Spey valley if you like whisky and Royal Deeside for history and castles.
I am the whisky drinker -single peaty malts! We are both history buffs, so thanks for the tip about Royal Deeside.
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No peaty malts in Speyside (I know because I like Speyside: Balvenie especially, because they are not peaty).
Islay for peaty: Laphroaig, Lagavullin, Ardbeg. OH chooses those; the other Islay malts are not peaty, Bunnahabhain (boona-harven), Bruichladdich ( broo-ich-laddy), Bowmore. And my favourite: Caol Isla (cool eela).
However, a snag: there is only one campsite on Islay, I am pretty sure.
And the best time is when the geese are there, they overwinter on Islay (breed on Svalbard); you go to a hide by the shore to hear 50k geese come home to roost, awesome. Hairs up on my neck just thinking about it.
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: North and Scotland
via mobile 23/9/2025 at 3:56pm
