Campervanning in Scotland with kids?
February 5, 2015 1:13 PM Subscribe
Taking the chirren (3 and 10 months at the time) for 19 days in Scotland, and wondering how to handle the logistics. Is a campervan a good idea?
We spent 30 days in NZ with the older when she was 2, and it was brilliant. Generally we stay in a place a few days and move on. Not too interested in cities as much as countryside, but we're definitely not tent-campers. The other option was a larger rental car, and self-catering. We like the ability to cook for ourselves and not have to drag the kids to a restaurant three times a day, and nap times are easier in a campervan. Is the camping infrastructure in Scotland as good as NZ? Any advice is welcome
We spent 30 days in NZ with the older when she was 2, and it was brilliant. Generally we stay in a place a few days and move on. Not too interested in cities as much as countryside, but we're definitely not tent-campers. The other option was a larger rental car, and self-catering. We like the ability to cook for ourselves and not have to drag the kids to a restaurant three times a day, and nap times are easier in a campervan. Is the camping infrastructure in Scotland as good as NZ? Any advice is welcome
I've never camped myself but can add another beautiful place to the list. I'd go with a friend to her parents place near by. Gorgeous place.
One thing I didn't expect was the relatively limited availability of fresh fruit, veg at the town shop (which I believe was in Lochinver). So if I was heading up with my two little ones in a camper, I'd stock up at the grocery in Inverness, or whatever largish town you drive through. We'd always do this when heading up. This was many years ago, so things may have changed.
posted by pennypiper at 1:45 PM on February 5, 2015
One thing I didn't expect was the relatively limited availability of fresh fruit, veg at the town shop (which I believe was in Lochinver). So if I was heading up with my two little ones in a camper, I'd stock up at the grocery in Inverness, or whatever largish town you drive through. We'd always do this when heading up. This was many years ago, so things may have changed.
posted by pennypiper at 1:45 PM on February 5, 2015
A few years ago we did a big circular tour in an ancient campervan - from Stirling over to the west, up the coast, from Oban over to Mull, Fort William, up the Great Glen past Loch Ness to Inverness, along the coast, Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews, back down to Edinburgh. No real problems, decent to excellent sites everywhere.
We joined the Caravan Club and used several of their sites; there's the Camping and Caravanning Club, too.
In summer watch out for midges - probably your worst problem.
posted by Segundus at 1:58 PM on February 5, 2015
We joined the Caravan Club and used several of their sites; there's the Camping and Caravanning Club, too.
In summer watch out for midges - probably your worst problem.
posted by Segundus at 1:58 PM on February 5, 2015
We never did it when we lived there, but a campervan would probably be a really good option.
One note: if you have options, you might want to avoid renting from Wicked Campers. Last summer we encountered a couple who got stranded because their dodgy camper's fuel gauge didn't work. They might have been an outlier, but the last thing you want to is to get stuck in the middle rural Scotland.
posted by Joe Schlabotnik at 2:27 PM on February 5, 2015
One note: if you have options, you might want to avoid renting from Wicked Campers. Last summer we encountered a couple who got stranded because their dodgy camper's fuel gauge didn't work. They might have been an outlier, but the last thing you want to is to get stuck in the middle rural Scotland.
posted by Joe Schlabotnik at 2:27 PM on February 5, 2015
Hiring a van can be expensive. We bought one and then sold it when we'd finished, actually turning a small profit, but you can't always do that.
posted by Segundus at 5:30 AM on February 6, 2015
posted by Segundus at 5:30 AM on February 6, 2015
ah yes, pennypiper is correct about stocking up in whichever place you drive through for Portban too (Lochgilphead or Tarbert in this scenario). Nothing has changed there!
posted by Kat_Dubs at 12:29 PM on February 7, 2015
posted by Kat_Dubs at 12:29 PM on February 7, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'm not an expert on the campervan situation but I see plenty of people with them and so would say go for it. Make sure you stop off here because it is one of the most beautiful spots on earth (in my opinion): http://portban.com/
posted by Kat_Dubs at 1:23 PM on February 5, 2015