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Hello Folks,

     We are fairly new to motorhoming and are planning to do a "Grand Tour of Scotland" in June and July mainly concentrating on the coast and including the Hebrides. Being retired we are not time-restricted and are thinking in terms for 5-6 weeks. We would like to follow our noses in the sense of not being tied down to pre-booked sites but do intend to make the odd reservation at stratigically placed points in order to use washing machine facilities etc. My question is how difficult will not pre-booking potentially make things? What exactly does one do if you cannot find a place for the night? Any information is gratefully received.

June should be fine, but in July the schools are on holiday so it will be busier.

As you have a motorhome you could wild camp if you cannot get on a site.  On leaving a site be sure to empty/fill all tanks just in case.

There are not that many sites on the Hebrides so wild camping there is not unusual.

Hi

we did a 'tour' of the Outer Hebrides last Sept over a 2 week period;

stayed at Balquidder & Bunroy sites on mainland going up and then over to Barra from Oban wild camped by airport for 2 nights, over to South Uist, Shell bay on Benbecula for 2 nights (laundry) wild camped North Uist overnight then over to Harris, Minch View site 1 night, up to Lewis, stayed at Shawbost 1 night (full service wash!) then on to Stornaway, Laxdale for a night. Moved over to Skye and used the following sites - Sligachan, Dunvegan and Uig. Started travelling back South, stayed at Balloch, Loch Lomond and then overnight near friends in Cumbria.

We hardly booked any of the sites, just the mainland ones, we had a list of possibles for each area and then narrowed it down nearer the time.

Wild camping on the smaller hebridean islands is easy and there are lots of spots just remember to arrive late, leave earlyish and tidy up after yourselves then you should not have any problems.

MorrisBob may also have lots of info for you too

regards

Jane

also look at the campsite search at the top of the page as there are reviews in there also

Jane

It's different in Scotland, you can wildcamp legally so I have been told.  You won't find it a problem finding a site if you're not choosy.  The distances are massive though so even in five to six weeks you won't get to see everything - you are lucky we are only going for just over a fortnight!

Deb

Thank you ladies for your advice.  I am beginning to realise that 5 or 6 weeks won't cover too much of Scotland unless you only want to stay one night at each place and spend the rest of the time driving and we definetly don't want to do that!  We flew to the Hebrides (Barra) last May and were totally blown away by the place (wild camping on Vatersay is a MUST.)  We want to concentrate on the more isolated places around the coast (hence avoiding midges hopefully) and this website is going to be very useful.  Once again thanks for taking the time to answer me.

Barra is beautiful and most people wild camp at the Airport. Water is available at the airport and CDP at Eolgarry were you can also wild camp. There is also a small car park some use at the foot of Heavel.

Camping at Vattersay is at the Community Hall (Motorhomes use the small car park) and they charge £4 a night the only other place on Vatersay is a small car park opposite the Annie Jane Monument.

If you get the time take a boat trip to Mingulay if the tide is right you go through the Gloups (flooded cracks) and it's unlike anything else.