Our wee trip up the west coast (2 Viewers)

[lorger]

Normally this time of year we’re heading over the water to warmer climates, however this year for various reasons we decided to stay in Scotland and do some of the west coast we haven’t done in years or not at all.
We headed off on Saturday forgetting it was a bank holiday, I’ve never seen so many Motorhome’s and camper vans in my life, not even at the NEC show. We planned to stop at a little spot we’ve used in the past for one of my races and training runs, Sod’s Law there’s an event on plus it’s bank holiday so not a hope in hell.
After a quiet night wild camping on a hikers car park we headed for Fort William, again loaded with MHs and CVs and some just abandoning them as car parks were full. Warden was having a field day with tickets, we stayed about 20 minutes and left heading west. We’re now on Mull were it’s quieter but still full of vans, some places have been set up for parking with donations of £10 suggested which I’ve been happy to pay as we’ve only used one and some locations have been stunning, however I think the charge of £10 just to empty your toilets is a bit much and will not encourage users, one place with no facilities wants £15pn plus £5 to empty toilet and they don’t supply water or grey waste emptying for that.

Anyway some photos of our trip so far
First night near Glencoe

On the shores of Loch Ailort

 

[Jo662]

Lovely photos, I hope the sun shines for you,and look forward to following you journey

 

[Grianan]

Wonderful … I’ve not been to Mull since my cousins wedding 25 years ago! Wall to wall sun, white sand beaches, fresh mussels with white wine and cream, lively pub … what’s not to love! Enjoy …

 

[bigtree]

€11 tonight In Tavira, including hookup and empty/fill plus WiFi.
Forgot to add 26 degrees.

 

[Gellyneck]

€11 tonight In Tavira, including hookup and empty/fill plus WiFi.
Forgot to add 26 degrees.

But the Mull natives are much more friendly!

OK, who's there? Ah cannae see nowt!

Taviramory just doesn't have the same ring to it as Balamory!

Damn! Broke the egg.

Much less noise from the neighbours, as well!

Spent much less to get there and still got 28° F (better than your 26°!)

and you don't keep bumping into other Funsters!

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[IRHP]

Been in Spain and now Portugal for the last week. Been on a site for 2 nights at €19 a night with ehu. The rest have been free Aires. Now sitting by the beach in Costa de Lavos ( free again) all services except ehu. Plenty spaces everywhere we've been. It's 0850hrs and the only thing I've heard outside is the birds and the odd dog barking. Just waiting on the bread van coming. Beats Scotland with sites at £35 a night and every morning someone trundling a toilet cassette past your van at 0730hrs. Must admit thought it's not cheap getting here

 

[lorger]

We decided to leave Mull a day early as forecast wasn’t great today, tomorrow is better so less travelling on a nice day.

Really enjoyed the scenery on Mull, had a lovely fish supper in Tobermory before heading to Calgary bay for the night. It was £10 suggested donations for parking there overnight, in my view well worth it just for the view alone.

After a quiet night spent in the company of another 5 vans we headed off for a tootle round the west coast of the island, all single track so no where fast but then why would you with the views.

Traffic jam in town

Our spot for the night alone in Forrest

Waiting on ferry to mainland

Spent a couple of hours in Oban before heading to a lovely spot 12 miles away, £12 for the night including water and emptying. As were the only ones here I assume others don’t think it’s worth it but personally as we needed to refresh our tanks it was worth it plus it’s a lovely quiet site.

 

[bigtree]

Great photos.

 

[dash300]

Nice pictures thanks for posting loved the west coast when we did it too!

 

[bigtree]

Been in Spain and now Portugal for the last week. Been on a site for 2 nights at €19 a night with ehu. The rest have been free Aires. Now sitting by the beach in Costa de Lavos ( free again) all services except ehu. Plenty spaces everywhere we've been. It's 0850hrs and the only thing I've heard outside is the birds and the odd dog barking. Just waiting on the bread van coming. Beats Scotland with sites at £35 a night and every morning someone trundling a toilet cassette past your van at 0730hrs. Must admit thought it's not cheap getting here

Excellent place on the edge of a tourist village.

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[scousebird]

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Grianan]

Looks great. Glad to see there are places to park up on Mull …

 

[DavidG58]

I am really pleased that landowners are setting up the places to park and hope more do and that MHers use them for the sake of £10, keep everybody happy , we certainly will use them

 

[Jo May]

Dang! Some lovely photos here. I've been toying with the idea of cycling Fort William to Inverness and you've further whet my appetite.

 

[Gellyneck]

...... before heading to Calgary bay for the night.

Some cracking (pun intended!) photos there, Gerry.

Can get real drafty there if a strong wind from the south west!

I see you found the cracked egg rock, as well!

OK, so what constitutes a "large camper van"? Anything over 6.9m I'm guessing.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

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[poppycamper]

I am really pleased that landowners are setting up the places to park and hope more do and that MHers use them for the sake of £10, keep everybody happy , we certainly will use them

Agree wholeheartedly with this comment,
I would gladly pay, however we all know even £10 is too much for some and they will continue to park where ever they want, sometimes in unsuitable locations.

 

[lorger]

OK, so what constitutes a "large camper van"? Anything over 6.9m I'm guessing.

This is about 400 yards from where we stayed and due to gate and slope would be tight, we’re 7m and I’m confident I’ll get in most places but not here. The other place by the cafe is where we stayed, bit of a slope but great location.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Some cracking (pun intended!) photos there, Gerry.

Can get real drafty there if a strong wind from the south west!

I see you found the cracked egg rock, as well!

OK, so what constitutes a "large camper van"? Anything over 6.9m I'm guessing.

View attachment 895286
Enjoy the rest of your trip.

I was thinking our 6.3 Ducato might be considered a large campervan.

 

[lorger]

I am really pleased that landowners are setting up the places to park and hope more do and that MHers use them for the sake of £10, keep everybody happy , we certainly will use them

Yes I think that’s reasonable at £10 the only one I thought wasn’t a great deal was £15 plus £5 to empty toilet, with no fresh or grey facilities.
They have also done some Aires with full facilities including EHU for £25, again I think is worth it when you see the location.

 

[lorger]

I was thinking our 6.3 Ducato might be considered a large campervan.

If it’s a PVC then no issues as a couple where parked there.

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[scotzsue]

Oh dear doesn’t bode well for our June/July trip and our 6M van is a coachbuilt. Are these places on park 4night and search for sites lorger
Loving the photos and glad you are having good weather

 

[engelside]

Who are the wee midgies at this time of the year? We were over on Skye at this time of the year about 5/6 years ago and in the week we were there it went from midge-free to midge central.

 

[Scotty Ian]

Normally this time of year we’re heading over the water to warmer climates, however this year for various reasons we decided to stay in Scotland and do some of the west coast we haven’t done in years or not at all.
We headed off on Saturday forgetting it was a bank holiday, I’ve never seen so many Motorhome’s and camper vans in my life, not even at the NEC show. We planned to stop at a little spot we’ve used in the past for one of my races and training runs, Sod’s Law there’s an event on plus it’s bank holiday so not a hope in hell.
After a quiet night wild camping on a hikers car park we headed for Fort William, again loaded with MHs and CVs and some just abandoning them as car parks were full. Warden was having a field day with tickets, we stayed about 20 minutes and left heading west. We’re now on Mull were it’s quieter but still full of vans, some places have been set up for parking with donations of £10 suggested which I’ve been happy to pay as we’ve only used one and some locations have been stunning, however I think the charge of £10 just to empty your toilets is a bit much and will not encourage users, one place with no facilities wants £15pn plus £5 to empty toilet and they don’t supply water or grey waste emptying for that.

Anyway some photos of our trip so far
First night near Glencoe View attachment 894820

On the shores of Loch Ailort
View attachment 894821View attachment 894822

View attachment 894826

HI, May I ask which Web site or publication did you use to find your wild camping places, looks like you found some good ones.

I love wild camping, away from the crowds, etc but SHMBO prefers the security of a camp site which makes the holiday more expensive. I'll easy pay £10 to £15 to fill up drain down and refresh toilet since that is 1/2 or a 1/3 the cost of 1 night on a site.

 

[lorger]

Oh dear doesn’t bode well for our June/July trip and our 6M van is a coachbuilt. Are these places on park 4night and search for sites lorger
Loving the photos and glad you are having good weather

You’ll be fine as ours is 7m coachbuilt, plus if you’re doing the lowlands as I noticed it will be even quieter.

HI, May I ask which Web site or publication did you use to find your wild camping places, looks like you found some good ones.

I love wild camping, away from the crowds, etc but SHMBO prefers the security of a camp site which makes the holiday more expensive. I'll easy pay £10 to £15 to fill up drain down and refresh toilet since that is 1/2 or a 1/3 the cost of 1 night on a site.

We use search for sites as a guide and use common sense to decide where to stay.

 

[scotzsue]

Thanks lorger may well still head further north, will be weather dictated, so might end up on the wrong side of the border, where i live now.

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[VXman]

Oh dear doesn’t bode well for our June/July trip and our 6M van is a coachbuilt. Are these places on park 4night and search for sites lorger
Loving the photos and glad you are having good weather

We did Scotland in a 7.5 metre this time last year and never had a problem finding space to park up.

 

[lorger]

After leaving Oban we headed for Loch Lomond and due to the lovely weather stayed a couple of nights, we have now moved down the west coast to Grivan for a couple of nights.

Had a meal out at The Tullie inn Balloch, it was ok as far as pub food goes but the service was awful.

 

[Gellyneck]

After leaving Oban we headed for Loch Lomond and due to the lovely weather stayed a couple of nights,

Way back when in the day when I was of a size that wouldn't capsized the dinghy the jetty and compound outlined used to be used, along with Hogganfield, by Glasgow Schools Sailing Club.

Think it's a wee cafe now.

Represented Glasgow on a couple of occasions in the national championship here! Never won but we had a great excuse in that we stopped racing to rescue another crew who's dinghy had capsized and they couldn't get it righted. The safety boat was already attending another such incident.

Racing was called off for the day after that so we adjourned to a wee chippy down close to the Torpedo Factory before heading home.

 

[scotzsue]

Girvan was one of my favourite places as a child, fish and chips and a go on the boating pond.
Was at The Maidens during covid, lovely area.

 

[lorger]

Tonight’s view

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