Scotland round trip - On the road in a camper

Scotland, as part of Great Britain, is an island - which means that in order to enter the country at all, you'll first have to cross the English Channel.

If you want to travel by land, you'll first have to take the train to England before you can continue your journey to Scotland from there. To get there, you will first have to travel from your respective location in Germany to Brussels or to Paris, Lille or Calais in France. From these cities, various Eurostar connections take you underground through the Eurotunnel to London. If you want to take your car or your own or rented camper on your journey, you can use the Le Shuttle connection, which runs from Calais to Folkestone.

Unfortunately, those who prefer to cross the English Channel by ship also have no choice but to head to England first before continuing on to Scotland. A popular connection for travelers to Scotland is the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle upon Tyne, as you get closest to the Scottish border when arriving at this port. For those who are prone to seasickness or want to take a longer drive to Scotland for a shortened crossing time, the connection from Rotterdam to Hull is recommended. It is possible to bring your car or camper on board of these two ferries as well.

One might think that free standing would not be a problem in Scotland, because after all, wild camping is explicitly allowed under the Scottish Outdoor Access. However, the catch is that this permission only applies to camping with tents, all motorized vehicles are excluded. Camping in parking lots is also forbidden in many places, corresponding signs will inform you if this is the case. Free standing is not allowed in Scotland, but since the vast majority of Scottish campsites are located in the middle of beautiful landscapes and there are also many places that offer only a very limited number of pitches, free standing is not absolutely necessary to avoid crowds and to be very close to nature.

Arriving in the UK, we get behind the wheel and head towards Edinburgh, the first destination on our round trip through beautiful Scotland. From Folkestone and London you can expect a driving time of 7 to 8 hours. If you prefer to split this longer drive into two days, you can spend the night near Leeds, about halfway through the journey, before continuing the next day with renewed energy. Between Leeds and nearby Harrogate, a number of campsites have been established, including the idyllically located Hawksworth campsite. From Newcastle, however, it's only a 2.5 hour drive to Edinburgh, from Hull it's about 5 hours. By the way, Hull is very close to Leeds, so even if you arrive here, you can spend a night at the campsite before you start your journey to Edinburgh.

In Edinburgh itself, a great offer of different activities awaits us. There really is something to do and see for everyone. The Edinburgh Castle offers the best view over the city, the numerous museums of the city cater to art and culture lovers and you will find nice cafes and good restaurants all over the city, which will feed you with traditional Scottish and international cuisine. You can stay on the outskirts of the city at the Campsite of the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club.

We continue to the largest national park in Great Britain, the Cairngorms National Park. In addition to great hiking and biking routes, you can look forward to castles, some whiskey distilleries and numerous other offers for outdoor and water sports. The selection of attractions and sights of all kinds is huge. Since the national park is also very popular with campers, the park provides an interactive map that will help you understand exactly where to find campgrounds, public restrooms, and day-use parking. We love it!

Who has not heard the legend of Nessie, the sea monster, that's supposed to hang around in the most famous loch in Scotland? But did you know that you can also marvel at several waterfalls around the loch? Hiking, cycling or water sports are also some of the activities you can enjoy in the beautiful green landscape around the loch. In the vicinity of the loch there are various campsites where you can set up camp. The Loch Ness Shores and the Loch Ness Bay campsite are located directly on the shore.

Loch Ness is nestled in the famous Scottish Highlands. The Scottish Highlands extend to the northwest of the country and are characterized by their mountainous, moorland and loch-strewn landscape. A real highlight for outdoor fans, hiking enthusiasts and explorers, and also very popular with campers. It's no surprise that you'll find numerous campsites amidst the landscapes of the Highlands, for example The Wee Campsite or Woodend Campsite.

Bonus tip for those with a little more time on their hands: The Highlands can be explored on the North Coast Route 500, which takes you further north of the country and along the coast. That's another round trip as your journey starts in Inverness and also ends here again. Along the route you will find many different campsites. Not too far from Inverness you can enjoy the proximity to the dunes at the Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park and further north you will find the Durness Campsite.

Continuing west, we explore the Isle of Skye, also located in the Highlands. On this island you can enjoy mostly untouched nature, visit sights like Dunvegan Castle and several whisky distilleries or enjoy the exciting wildlife (even dolphins can be spotted in the water around the island). Hiking fans will get their money's worth here. In addition to challenging mountain routes, there are a variety of more relaxed hiking routes, some of which you can find listed here - the `Fairy Pools` route has definitely made it onto our bucket list for Scotland. You will also find some campsites on the island. We are particularly fond of the Sligachan and the Portree campsite.

After our stay on the Isle of Skye, we'll pend a little more time in the Highlands and make our way to one of the most beautiful valleys in the country, Glen Coe. Here, idyllic hiking trails through the green hills of the valley await you, especially in the so-called Lost Valley, or you can go to Fort William to breathe a little city air for a change. Fort William is located at the foot of Ben Nevis and has a lot to offer: Sandy beaches, castles and distilleries are just waiting to be explored by you, or you make yourself comfortable in one of the restaurants or cafes in the city. Close to Fort William you can stay at the Glen Nevis campsite, but in the surrounding area you also have other options, such as the Lagnaha or the Creagan Station Tourers Campground.

We are moving away from the Highlands and slowly coming to the end of our round trip. A stop in Scotland's first national park, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, is a must do, because here you can discover very different landscapes on a hike. Vast green landscapes and valleys coexist here with rugged, rocky mountainscapes, bodies of water and islands. Information on how you should behave in order not to negatively affect this idyll, as well as other tips for your visit can be found here. In any case, we urge you to observe these rules of conduct at all times. As far as free-standing is concerned, you must first obtain a permit to set up camp within the permitted camping zones. Per camper, motorhome or tent such a permit currently costs 4 pounds per night. You are allowed to park at any spot within the camping zone for which you have a permit. More information about the camping zone system in the park can be found here.

There are also many regular campsites in the national park. Secure one of the scarce pitches at Gartfairn Farm for a little farm vacation, enjoy the location in the middle of nature and the many amenities of the Cobleland campsite, make yourself comfortable right on the shore of Loch Lomond at the Luss campsite or choose your own favorite from the list.

About an hour away from the national park is the culmination of our trip: The port city of Glasgow. The extensive cultural and gastronomic offerings make this city steeped in history a place worth seeing on your trip. Whether it's modern art at the Gallery of Modern Art, a relaxing day at the Botanical Gardens, or long nights at the pub - you're guaranteed not to get bored in this city. As for nearby campsites, we recommend the Red Deer Village Holiday Park or the Strathclyde Country Park of the Caravan Club.

We have reached the end of our round trip through beautiful Scotland and have covered some untouched nature and historical places. Maybe you could find some useful tips for your own trip? In any case, we wish you a great trip through this great country.

Adventures ahead!