West coast of Scotland - any recommendations?

[Bears Dad]

Seasoned travellers...


We're aiming for the West coast of Scotland this summer for 10 days (it'll take a day or two to get there from here!)

Never been further than Oban and Mull.

Any tips...?

 

[jaybeeonline]

Plenty of gorgeous places up the west coast from Loch Lomond all the way to Inverness and the majority of good camping sites are listed for guidance here: http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/index1.php

If you get the chance, get an Island Hopper ticket and visit Arran, Islay, Jura and my favourite Iona.

Venturing north, Mallaig is worth a visit on the Harry Potter Express, with plenty of wild camping opportunities on the way, then visit Skye for its craggy but stunning scenery.

Time permitting, I would recommend heading for Ullapool, then across country to Dornoch then turn south to Inverness before travelling back through Perthshire.

Notable stops in Perthshire include Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Killin then onto Stirlingshire where you could visit Loch Katrine before visiting Stirling.

Enough of this, as I am making myself homesick :roll: :lol: :x :mrgreen:



J.

 

[Bears Dad]

Cheers - some cracking ideas and thanks for the camping link

I'm hoping we'll reach Ullapool and Skye is def on the list but I'd like take in the smaller islands too - I hear there's loads of Standing Stones up there...?

 

[jaybeeonline]

Take your pick :shock:


http://www.stonepages.com/scotland/scotland.html


J.

 

[Bears Dad]

...and the proximity of stone circles to distilleries?

 

[jaybeeonline]

Plenty on Islay, that's why I suggested it though you may not be able to drive for a day or 3 after sampling all of the delights.


J.

 

[Paulwillie1000]

Arran ! amazing place, we stayed at seal shore campsite, so called because of all the seals in the bay no less, what a veiw to wake up to.
Theres stone circles on the island and Arran distillery, still my favourite malt!
Just as we came out of the distillery the resident golden eagles were soaring above, absolutely brilliant!
they call it scotland in miniture as it has everything the rest of scotland has, all on a small island, highlands , lowlands, lochs , and that distillery again.
Go there, you wont regret it.

 

[Bears Dad]

Rather bizarrely I've just found the Explorer 361 Isle of Arran map in the cupboard!

Oh well - never too soon to start planning bus trips...

...now where did I put that single malt...?

 

[Sydney1]

Yes, take lots of midge repellent!

 

[Paulwillie1000]

midges werent a problem on the campsite at sealshore as it is right next to the beach and the wind blows them away!
we were lucky with the weather when we went, until the last day, never camped in wind and rain like it, it was bloody scary to be honest, i had to get the other half to keep going outside to check all was ok

 

[Mike F]

If you have time go all the way south to Machrihanish. You won't regret it!

http://www.campkintyre.co.uk/page4.htm

 

[Bears Dad]

Top tip - cheers bud

So far we're crossing to Arran then to Kintyre before moving up the coast - you've just sorted our pitch!

I like the quote "Virtually Midge Free"... better I find the "literal" bugger!

 

[JohnS]

If you want to visit the Outer Hebrides then this year is the time to go as Calmac are still offering their "Road Equivalent Tariff" fare structure which makes the ferry crossings a lot cheaper - the scheme is being reviewed in October so might not be available beyond 2011. My recommendation would be Oban to Barra and head north up the outer isles and come back on the Stornoway/Ullapool crossing. Spend time in Harris - out of season this campsite is great... http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=385&c=21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If that doesn't take your fancy then head for the Ardnamurchan peninsula - a true piece of wilderness. Good site at Resipole (http://www.resipole.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false or head for Kilchoan right at the end of the peninsula where there's a good site but with quite a steep entrance (not suitable for lowered vans) http://www.ardnamurchanstudycentre.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Great beach at Sanna Bay.

 

[Graeme]

if you're going as far as Ullapool, i'd recommend you carry on to Durness
http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&xhr=t&q=durness&cp=2&rlz=1R2ADSA_enGB344&wrapid=tljp129979617848104&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1345&bih=520" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .

Beautiful beaches, The campsite there is Sango Sands, sits on the beachhead.

 

[johnandkatrina]

Cant fault Your choice of NW Scotland I have been going up there for over 2 decades as I have family near scourie.As the previous post said durness beach is fantastic.make sure you get past ulapool its worth it. Lochinver is pretty dull apart from the icecream shop.try And explore some of the coastal roads as there are some lovely well hidden beaches. I hope to be up there myself in the summer hols if the van is fit. If you find yourself in the shorehouse seafood restaurant in tarbet say hi to my aunt and cousin's lol