Hopefully, if we get the sheep sheared and the hay baled we are allowed to go camping in Scotland, west coast, Mull possibly, mid August. Do I book sites now or do I try when we are there? What is availability like, we are not fussy about all singing all dancing sites, have not planned a route so are fairly flexible BUT we have a large tent?? Is it normal to book before???
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I think if you are travelling the distance you are then I would book or at least ring up and ask , but then again I got two kids and they ask 'are we there yet ' enough without them asking ' is there any space on site' too
------------- Steven
If the answer may offend you then dont ask the question in the first place !!
We go up to Scotland camping a lot with our canoe and have never found too much trouble getting pitches. We rarely book, but then again we tend to stay in some out of the way places that you have to be fairly determined to get to (Quite often we wild camp on the shore of a sea loch, but you may be looking for more in the way of facilities!)
If you are intending to stay on one of the more accessible and popular sites then it might be worth phoning around a few sites first just to get a feel as to whether booking is a good idea - bear in mind that (for good reason) the west coast of Scotland is very popular with other European campers who want to experience some 'wilderness' and sites can get very busy. Mull especially, is very popular in the peak season - probably worth phoning to see how things are looking before you set off.
Oh, and take head nets for the whole family - the midges can (and will) drive you insane in August. A tent with a sewn / zipped in groundsheet and noseeum screens on the doors is a very good idea too!
best
Matt
Post last edited on 10/07/2007 09:29:14
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Thankyou everyone for the advice, we are the sort of family that will get by with very few facilities, but will phone and check with a few sites, don't really want to be tied too much as to where we go.
As to the midges, Avon skin so soft! Lets see if it works, you never know, weather may be too cold, wet/windy for the little devils??
Good luck with the skin so soft! - I've never found it to work very well - it only seems to work when you lather it on so thickly that it drowns the little blighters!
Have a great hol wherever you end up - God's own country :)
Just a heads up if your planning to stop anywhere roundabout culzean in ayrshire on your way back home. There is the Retrofest festival on 1st and 2nd september. I recon all the sites nearby will be fully booked round that time.
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I've camped both ways, booking and not booking. I've never had a problem finding sites with space. We used to have a book with loads of sites in and when we where in an area we fancied we'd just turn up and see if they had room. A lot of smaller sites don't take bookings anyhow so if you are happy with basic facilities it should be OK.
By thre middle of August the Scottish schools will be back for the start of term so you will find it much quieter and I think it's unlikely that you woulds need to book. We are going away on 25th August and won't be booking but as already mentioned it never does any harm to give them a phone. Enjoy your time in Scotland.
I would book. Last year we went to camp at Stratford racecourse only to be told that we had to take our tent down whilst the racing was on. We weren't prepared to do that as it's a right old pain, so we looked elsewhere. That night we spent our first night at a b&b, which I hated. We ended up on this campsite which had the worst showers & dirtiest toilets one could imagine. Pity, it would have been great otherwise.
I think enquiring now is a good idea- your Diablo 900 is a bit od a big 'un and I know that friends of mine with a Diablo 600 had some problems finding Scottish sites to accommodate them last year.
Some sites on the Western Isles can also be quite exposed and may advise against big tall tents for that reason too.
So to avoid diappointment I would make those enquiries now; ring and ask about booking AND whether they can take a tent that size..
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