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Discover a great motorhome trip through Scotland in 9 stages on an incredible route.
About @raulysilviaxelmundo
This couple are undoubtedly some of our favorite Instagrammers in the caravanning and campervan world . Their Instagram posts add value to the motorhome and campervan community and help inspire us to plan and decide on our next trips.
They are an endearing couple formed by Sílvia and Raúl, who have lived and traveled in their camper for a few years and whom we have followed for years.
Passionate about nature, heritage and discovering the world, at any time and time of year!
His quote: " If life is a journey, to travel is to live twice."
Today they tell you all about Scotland by motorhome or camper, a place they have traveled to twice and are all experts, do not miss it!
Guide to traveling to Scotland by motorhome or camper
Overnight in Scotland in a motorhome
In Scotland, overnight stays in campervans and motorhomes are permitted as long as it is not on private land (for which you should ask the owner for permission) and there is no sign indicating otherwise.
We were very relaxed and once on the ground we realized that there are quite a few prohibition signs in the more touristy places , but even so, by looking around a bit we didn't have any problems.
We hadn't heard of it yet, but there's a website ( https://www.britstops.com/ ) that sells a sticker and a guidebook for 35 pounds that lets you sleep in tons of places around the UK (pubs, farms, shops, etc.). We'll definitely consider this option next time.
Scottish roads by motorhome
The main problem is driving backwards in a left-hand drive vehicle , because in some places you have no visibility, but a good co-pilot fixes that.
Remember that throughout the UK you drive on the left.
The roads are great as long as you don't go into the Highlands or the Islands, where they're basically narrow and two vehicles can't pass each other . But don't worry, there are plenty of passing places and the drivers are very courteous. So, with caution and slow driving, there's no problem.
We suffered more on the motorway crossing England, because there was a lot of traffic, which took us forever.
Gasoline in Scotland
We used secondary roads a lot, so we looked for low-cost gas stations at supermarkets (Lidl, Aldi, Tesco…) where we also took the opportunity to do our shopping at a good price.
Currency and expenses in Scotland in motorhome
The currency is the pound sterling, but you can pay by card in most places. We exchanged about 200 euros in Spain and only withdrew cash once from an ATM (they charged us a fee, but it wasn't excessive).
Regarding expenses, keep in mind that everything is a bit more expensive: restaurants, shops, souvenirs, etc. We took advantage of this to eat lunch or dinner in the van and look for cheap supermarkets.
Plan your route through Scotland by motorhome in 5 clicks
- 5% Discount on your travel insurance here. The only travel insurance designed for motorhomes and campers that also covers theft of interiors, pets and covid-19
- Plan your route well so as not to find surprises, we help you with a route map with everything in just one click!
- Find and book activities at destination
- Buy what is necessary and useful for this trip by motorhome or camper: list of 50 useful things that we carry in our motorhome
15-day 9-stage route through Scotland by motorhome or camper
We have traveled to Scotland twice (I, Silvia 3 counting one as a family in a motorhome 20 years ago).
The first time as a couple we went for 3 weeks on a motorcycle and the second time with friends for 2 weeks in vans (3 vehicles).
Both times we have done a similar route so we will tell you about the experience of 15 days in a van and then we will add the extension that we did on a motorcycle because it is very worth it if you have time.
On our way up we decided not to take the Eurotunnel but the ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven, so we could visit the Normandy area.
We spent a day at Mont Saint-Michel to be able to see the change of tides and have time to walk through its alleys.
To sleep there are several options. The first is the Beauvoir motorhome area for 12 euros (with all services), about 3 kilometers and with public transport to the castle, but we found it full. The second is to sleep in the same parking lot, which costs 24 euros a day and from there the little train that takes you to the castle leaves.
We arrived in the morning and paid for only one day of parking (12 euros) and in the afternoon we did a little more kilometers and slept at a nearby gas station.
The next day, we visited Pont du Hoc and Etretat in the afternoon, which we loved by the way, and we already went to sleep in the ferry parking lot to board soon.
We made the trip to Edinburgh in a hurry, where we arrived busted after the ferry and the kilometers, so if you go early we recommend making a stop at Stonehenge and / or the Lake District. On our motorcycle trip we did stop at Stonehenge and it was well worth it.
After the pause of kilometers and a few days without a shower we urgently need a campsite, so we head towards Roslyn to the Slatebarns Caravan Park, we already knew him from the motorcycle trip and he is great. From there you can visit the Roslyn Chappel (famous for the book The Da Vinci Code) and it is very close to Edinburgh.
To visit Edinburgh we leave the van in a Park & Ride, they are bus stations where you pay to park during the day and take a bus to the center, we thought it was the best option not to enter the city with the van.
We visit Edinburgh in one day. We got off the bus at the Scott Moument and started the visit at the Edimburg Castle, we went down the entire Royal Mile to Carlton Hill and in the afternoon we do a Ghost Tour in Spanish (totally recommended, with a visit to the cemetery included). There is much more to do but we want nature. We recommend buying the Explorer Pass that includes visits to various castles and monuments.
Nearby we also visit Linlithgow Castle and Sitriling (William Wallace's castle and tower, which offers spectacular views from above).
On the way to Inverness we entered the Cairngorms area, where we began to find a lot of lakes and nature. We slept right at the top of Cairngorm Mountain, surrounded by other motorhomes and some reindeer! In the morning we rode the monorail to the Cairngorm Sky Area, but it was very foggy so we only walked around the area.
Very close we visited the Cardhu whiskey distillery, in a very small village. The visit includes a tour and tasting and is well worth it. For those who are very interested in whiskey there are a lot of distilleries but we only visited one (we also had Tobermory on the Isle of Mull on the list, but we didn't have time).
On the way to Inverness, we visited Elgin Cathedral and Fort George . Also in that area is Chancery Point, where you can see dolphins.
Also in the area is the Culloden battlefield . You can walk around the battlefield for free, where flags mark the positions of both sides. Several monoliths commemorate the burial sites of some of the clan members who lost their lives in the battle. Some of these sites are adorned with fresh flowers.
At this point, I recommend watching the Outlander series (or reading the books if you have time). It's a blend of fiction and history and is well worth watching to whet your appetite before you come and learn some details about Scottish history and traditions.
In the Loch Ness area, we visited Urquart Castle , which has wonderful views of the lake, and also the Loch Ness Visitor Centre, which has a very interesting documentary about Nessie (highly recommended, especially if you're traveling with children). A complete walk around the lake is well worth it, with countless spots to take photos of spectacular scenery.
On the way to the Isle of Skye , one of Scotland's gems, a stop at Eilean Donan Castle is a must . The interior is beautifully themed, but if you're short on time, you should at least admire it from the outside and imagine Sean Connery strolling across the bridge in the film Highlander.
We crossed to the Isle of Skye via the bridge and spent a couple of days visiting it, starting with a short excursion to the Old Man of Storr rock formation, the Kilt Rock waterfall , the Quiraing landscapes , the spectacular Coral Beach and the Neist Point Lighthouse.
We spent the night on a little roadside siding with spectacular views.
Besides strolling through the pretty town of Fort William, we went to visit the Glenfinan Viaduct , famous for the Harry Potter movies.
Here we were near Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest peak at 1345 meters. We climbed up to Glencoe Mountain Resort, enjoying incredible views, to take the chairlift and see even better vistas.
On the way down, we stopped at one of the many lakes in the area, Loch Etive . Honestly, while driving around, we kept stopping to take a million photos; each spot was more breathtaking than the last.
Oban was the last stop on our trip, from where we visited the islands of Mull, Staffa, and Iona . We left the campervan at the port and took the " Early Bird Three Isles Route" tour , which cost us about 60 pounds.
The route includes a ferry to the Isle of Mull, a bus crossing the island to the jetty, and a boat to the Isle of Staffa, also known as the Island of Columns due to its striking rock formations. We strolled around for an hour, and then the boat took us to the Isle of Iona, where several monuments can be visited: Iona Abbey, the ruins of Saoghal Nam Ban, and St. Oran's Chapel.
Despite the number of tourists, the island conveyed a great deal of peace to us; it is full of white sand beaches and we were finally able to greet the typical hairy cows.
In Oban we visited the port area and took the opportunity to try the famous Fish & Chips in a restaurant on the promenade.
During our two-week trip in a campervan, we didn't have time for much, but on our previous motorbike trip, we did visit the Ullapool area. It's a charming coastal town where the fish is fantastic.
From there we took a ferry to Stornoway and spent a couple of days visiting the Lewis & Harris islands. It's a much more remote area, with incredible white sand beaches, traditional houses, cliffs, cows, sheep, and a great deal of tranquility.
Also located there is the Callanish Standing Stones circle, more discreet than Stonehenge but with a much larger area, and much more charm in our opinion….
