'Caravaning,Camping,Motor Homes' etc

Kandy - thanks for the address. At the moment I'm planning to go round the mainland coast - and then next year try and get to as many of the islands as I can.So much to see

Thanks Dave for the link - it will be really useful when I get down to detailed planning.

Dendy - thank you too for the link, I remember it now. What a fantastic engineering achievement.

 

We invested in a tent and all the clobber a couple of years ago as a "cheap" holiday option.. Its a tunnel tent, and supposedly sleeps 8!!!! With 'im indoors being 6'3", we had to consider height, and as its so big, there is plenty of room for the little darlings and the dog. We have been to Cornwall and the Isle of Wight, and this summer are going to the New Forest. Even thought it is only 3/4 hour down the road!!!! We are going there Tuesday with all the bikes for a day.....
The only thing we don't have is a loo tent... the others don't worry, as they just stagger to the nearest bush (after waking me to hold the torch, of course!!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ), but I'm sure its a phsyco-sematic (???? all in the head) reaction, as I alwys need the loo at night when we are in the tent, and the loo block is ALWAYS the other side of the field!!!!!!!!!! When we went away last August, we manged to pitch under a tree which turned out to be the local meeting point for the Owl population, and boy, did they have a night-long party, every night!!!!!

 

All sounds very familiar, Honey Bee! There's nothing quite like knowing there's no loo around for making you need to go.......

 

We had a lovely old VW camper van in the early 1990s which I absolutely adored - though it constantly broke down, eventually I had to sell it. :( Reduced to pitching tents again now, and spend the summer holidays camping! (My son has just finished a 3 year long scout badge in which he (we) had to camp for at least one night a month - every month of the year,,I so enjoyed my first January in 3 years indoors this year!)

We haven't camped around the Scottish coast much - 9Mostly inland a bit) though there are a few lovely sites around Dumfries and Galloway. Let me know if you'd like details. Perhaps being coastal, the midgies wont be as bad - but I sincerely recommend you invest in a midgienet for each member of the party. There's nothing like them to ruin a camping trip!

When you reach the Moray Firth, be sure to visit Rosemarkie for fabulous close up views of dolphins! How long have you got for your journey? It's smething I'd love to do - but i find distance driving exhausting, especially with the knowledge that there is still a tent to pitch!

We spend a fair bit of time camping in the Lakedistrict, and frequent the Baysbrown campsite in the Langdales. I believe they have put in showers, which may mean we have less excuse to swim in the river!

 

Midge equipment purchased - but hopefully I'll be to early for them. One if the advantages of motorhome camping - is no set up time. Drive on, turn the gas on - and thats it. I really must get down to planning my route -any suggestions re coastal campsites would be valued. This is a first for me - and part of me is feeling excited, another anxious. Twill take as long as it takes - planning to stay two days at each stop -- so who knows.

 

Fran here�s some coastal sites we visited last year.

Jarbax has mentioned Rosemarkie, (C&CC site) it�s right beside the sea and as mentioned you have a very good chance of seeing dolphins. An easy walk to shops and eateries.

Brora (Dalchalm) a CC site, up the east coast from Rosemarkie makes a good transit stop for journeys further north and is a nice coastal site with a long beach about 200m from the 52 pitch CC site.

Dunnet Bay C&CC site is right on the northern tip and has an absolutely magnificent beach as well as offering some nice walks to the most northerly tip of the UK. A lovely site ââ?¬â?? we lingered for a week.

Carradale down near the south east of the Kintyre penninsula. Right next to a long sandy beach and dunes with some magnificent mixed woodland walks within easy reach.

Musadale, half way down the west coast of Kintyre. A small private site right on the beach which is mixed sand and rocks. Nice for a short stay, but limited unless you want to unhook and travel in the locality.

If you have the Microsoft Autoroute, route planning software for your computer (and if you don�t it�s well worth purchasing it) there is a site on the internet from which you can download a list of all CC and C&CC club sites and certified locations with their details. They show up on the map and when you click on them they show site details and you can easily plan routes from site to site.

The northern tip :

 

Handa Island!! Just off the mainland to see puffins, snipe, skuas, all sorts! And even the possibility of seeing porpoise - 15 minute trip across to the island - you'll love it!

http://www.swt.org.uk/wildlife/popup_reserves/north/handa.htm

BTW - Dave's place is Muasdale, a typo there! - it's great!! M-I-L used to live near there, so I know it quite well.

http://www.scotland-breaks.co.uk/PropDetails.cfm?PropID=3937

 

Fabulous Thanks- just the kind of thing I wanted. Dave have you got the link to the site you mentioned - whilst I've got the site books, it would be good to see them on a map.

I haven't got MS Autoroute - will invest. Thanks again.

 

For Fran and anyone else that can use it -

http://www.jollyinteresting.co.uk/pushpins/index.html

 

Thanks - much appreciated

 

I enjoy caravaning as well, long time member of the Caravan Club always stop on CL's.

Been as far north as Thurso and Tongue, but only done a small amount of South England.

Next trip out is to Malvern Spring Show from the Wednesday to the following Monday. I will be on a stand for most of the time, but do get chance to look around and spend some money.

 

I can't speak in this thread, only had holidays in caravans when LofL and I were kids and our Auntie and Uncle first rented and later on had a large one themselves.

I did want to say what an absolutly beautiful picture Dave. It would be something for one of our artists to sketch or paint, with your permission.

 

Oh, I did it again, only looked at the first page and replied, sorry about that. I meant the wonderful picture with the pine needles in the foreground with the lake and mountains in the background.

 

hi everyone, i have just bough a floding trailer tent it is great all ready to rock and roll should really be in it now but was fully booked only got it monday... cant wait any tips?

 

Hi Sammy,what sort have you bought and how old is it.We had a Combi Camp trailer tent for 15 odd years,before finally progressing to a caravan. Make sure that you buy Sleeping Bags or quilts with a good tog rating as it gets quite cold even in the summer.When we used to tour Scotland we used to have to turn on the cooker and sit in Parker Coats just to keep warm.

Failing that we went to bed early just to snuggle down and keep warm,and that was in
June :eek: We were young and foolish then,but couldn't afford Hotels and with a dog and a husband that smoked the cottages would either take one or the other,but not both.
The prices in the summer were very high anyway for all other types of accomadation.What better way of enjoying peace and quite and getting bitten to death by mozzies...bliss :D Also you don't have to get dressed up and talk posh if you aint that way inclined