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For anyone intending to travel in Scotland, this link may be very useful, I'll certainly be printing a copy to take in August.

http://www.pixunlimited.co.uk/guardian/pdf/scotland.xls

Phil

I must admit to being a little bemused as to why anyone would feel the need to have a list of petrol stations with them.  We have travelled extensively in the more remote areas of Scotland and never had any problem finding petrol, the main problem is the price!!!

We are actually quite civilised up here these days, as was noted in a previous thread a while ago.  The main thing is not to let your tank get too low in the less populated areas, and don't hope to find cheaper fuel just along the road!

Ok, I've just followed that link and half a dozen I see shown have since closed down. That worries me if somone is planning their journey around filling stations. Although more and more of them are closing, there are still plenty filling stations up here but they are a bit more sparse in remote areas.

I dont like to rant on but when we are forced to pay huge prices at the pumps yet on most journeys can actually see the markers for the pipeline from the North sea, to say that it angers me is an undersatement.

I often go over to the west coast and the way I do it is to fill the car up in Aberdeen and fill a 20 litre jerry can at the same time. When I get to Inverness, I top up my tank and continue on my way. I keep a look out at the prices up there and will fill up if I see a good price. I leave the fuel in the jerrycan until we are ready to come home then stick that in the tank which allows the empty can to be packed wherever it fits instead of having to keep it upright which is always a boost when it comes to going home as everything tends to just get chucked into the car.

So, in short, my advice would be to get hold of a can. Dont bother with the wee 5litre size. You can buy then for about £12 from car accessory shops and dont forget to buy a spout for it if it doesnt already come with one. You might also want to check that it will fit your vehicle's fuel filler before leaving the shop car park as you may need to buy a funnel too.

Can you guess that I've had problems with getting fuel into a car out of a can before?

The top part of a Diet Coke bottle does work! lol

Hi Jennifer

We have less of a problem with the price of diesel/petrol in  rural Scotland/Wales than where we live. Our nearest BP insist on putting the price up every weekend currently 94.9 per litre for diesel.  This one is situated near the M60 and the Trafford Centre and is consitently dearer than rural ones in Mid Wales/Scotland.  We are happy if we had to pay extra there but find they are cheaper.  Perhaps it is "drive offs" or who knows what.

Agghhhh BP so infuriating

I guess I missunderstood the fuel station situation up there.

If it is only price to be concerned with, rather than quantity of stations, then I'm not too concerned. We are going for a holiday, not going to see how much money we can save.

Jana, you are absolutely right about the local BP's (that's 'our' local) they are horrendously expensive compared to many others, though the worst I've come across (and refuse to use) are in Ashton Under Lyne.... as high as 98.9 per litre.

I may well take your advice FCM, and take a jerry can of fuel as a reserve.

Finally, I hadn't actually planned our journey around fuel stops, but had decided to take the list as a guide, however, if there are more closing all the time then perhaps some of those on the list have now closed anyway.

Thanks all for your replies.

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by jennifernn on 17/07/2005

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I must admit to being a little bemused as to why anyone would feel the need to have a list of petrol stations with them.  We have travelled extensively in the more remote areas of Scotland and never had any problem finding petrol, the main problem is the price!!!

We are actually quite civilised up here these days, as was noted in a previous thread a while ago.  The main thing is not to let your tank get too low in the less populated areas, and don't hope to find cheaper fuel just along the road!

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Traveled the word and the seven seas but near ran out on the A9 had to do an overnight on a pay and display (didn't buy a ticket)

myself and my partner travel to burghead twice yearly and to north ledaig argyll twice a year from south yorkshire and have never had any problems with obtaining petrol or diesel. Like others have previously expressed if you make sure your tanks are full when facing the remote areas then there should be no problems at all.

vonne

I'm just back from a motorhome trip round the north west of Scotland and Orkney and while the area is remote there is no problem getting fuel if you're sensible as the distances between stations aren't that great. Many rural stations don't open late though so if travelling at night be aware. I've travelled the same area on a motorbike with a 150 mile tank range and had no problem finding fuel, so in a motorhome with a 300+ mille range there was no issue at all - in fact we only had to fill up a couple of times on the whole trip.

The most expensive diesel price we saw (but didn't buy!) was 103.9p per litre, but I don't recall having paid more than 94.9.