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Subject Topic: Roads with a caravan scotland Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonToon4949
via mobile 31/12/2022 at 7:07am
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Travelling to Scotland this summer with our caravan. Planning on initially start at Inverness as it's a relatively easy drive. I'm aware alot of the roads up north are very narrow with passing places which we wouldn't be comfortable doing with a caravan.
Where would people advise from Inverness? Anywhere further north? Ullapool looks like it should be okay to get to? Also fancy the Isle of Skye?
Any recommendations would be perfect thank you!


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PersonWendyhouse
31/12/2022 at 8:36am
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This is meant as a genuine suggestion.
Have a look at caravan sites around Inverness using the site reviews. They appear to be in clusters and it would seem likely that they have reasonable access. Many of the reviews do make statements about access.
I agree that some of the passing places can be a bit challenging with a caravan.

Ardmair point near Ullapool is rather nice.


PersonFiona W
via mobile 31/12/2022 at 10:00am
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Easy peasy to Inverness, as you say. Maybe pause to visit Stirling Castle and a stop in the Cairngorms on the way up.
If it’s an A road, you’ll generally be ok. I would base at Ullapool by the shore & radiate out north & south from there in the car, as the west coast roads are more likely to be single track with passing places & you need to be able to reverse the caravan if you meet a timber lorry. Maybe include a ferry trip from Ullapool. Photos on the NorthCoast500 website.
Or head east along the coast (Cullen, Pennan etc) & then down into whisky country with plenty of castles & gardens at Royal Deeside, Aberdeen is a fine city; you can come back in a loop past Dundee & Perth that way rather than the A9 again.
Skye will be mobbed. A day trip might be better, but you’ll have to go back to Inverness & go back out along Loch Ness (too touristy for me) to a west coast site - the coast road that’s the third side of the triangle might be not relaxing towing.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


Personmoppetsdad
31/12/2022 at 10:46am
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I've always found if the passing place is too small just park on the right and any cars will pass by going into it, it works fine unless you meet a lorry that's bigger than you but usually you can see them coming from a fair way off and dive into a large passing place well in advance which ever side of the road it's on.

Must have done thousands of miles driving in the highlands from top to bottom and never had a problem just make sure you don't go off road or go where signs say you shouldn't.

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David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


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Personbaddon
31/12/2022 at 11:25am
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Do NOT attempt the Applecross pass with a caravan. If in doubt use google maps with the street view to check how wide it looks (the little orange man)

Have seen some motorhomes having bother even the medium sized ones.

I was on a trike and camping at Applecross camp site, roads are stunning but slow due to heavily trafficked till you get north of the green welly. After that they open up and have less traffic with good overtaking potential for faster traffic.

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if your not living life on the edge your taking up tooo much room


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Personmoppetsdad
31/12/2022 at 11:55am
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The other road to Applecross isn't that wonderful either is it, a bit hairy in places with a van in tow but we did it

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David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


PersonFiona W
via mobile 31/12/2022 at 1:19pm
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Quote: Originally posted by moppetsdad on 31/12/2022

I've always found if the passing place is too small just park on the right and any cars will pass by going into it, it works fine unless you meet a lorry that's bigger than you but usually you can see them coming from a fair way off and dive into a large passing place well in advance which ever side of the road it's on.



If the passing place is on your side, go into it. If it’s on the other side, stop opposite it, don’t cross over to it. Oh I do miss Ficklejade who’d have given the link to online guidance about passing place etiquette & told us about the Mull situation.
And yes, stop well ahead of you can see big vehicles but that only works where the road is fairly straight & open; many west coast roads are bendy around rocky coasts, with trees obscuring sight lines. Verges can be soft.
I certainly wouldn’t tow on B or C roads, and I use all my map reading skills before taking our 5.8m Motorhome on them, as their passing places are farther apart.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


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PersonWeeAlD
via mobile 01/1/2023 at 8:34am
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I would suggest the CCC site at Dingwall as a base giving you great opportunities to explore, the Black Isle, Ullapool and the West, a trip to John O Groats and also along the Moray Coast.
Dingwall itself has Supermarket, Swimming Pool and plenty of cafe's and pubs.
It is also adjacent to the Railway Station if you wish to "let the train take the strain"


PersonSpeaker12
01/1/2023 at 3:35pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 31/12/2022
Oh I do miss Ficklejade who’d have given the link to online guidance about passing place etiquette & told us about the Mull situation.


I think it was the Visit Mull & Iona link that Ficklejade used to give, it includes a video:
https://visitmullandiona.co.uk/guides/driving-on-mull/


PersonScankguy
07/1/2023 at 9:53pm
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My first ever tow was at the end of the first lockdown with our old new caravan to the Arndnamuchan peninsula, with the little ferry. Scary but worth it. With a caravan take it steady, keep your eyes open and stop at the nearest passing place even if you think the oncoming traffic has one nearer.... Defensive driving! Since then I have been across highland and islands single track roads taking the same care and steadyness. OK you are slow, so every so often when you see cars lining up behind you pull over into a passing place and let them go on. West coast roads tend to be bendy and have hedges so hard to see too far forward. Highland and islands roads are more open and give much more of a look ahead. There are normally lots of passing places.

But fair enough if you really cant stomach it, turn right at Inverness and go along towards Elgin. Lossiemouth, (Hopeman caravan site is superb on the front pitches, lovely shepherd huts as shower rooms and fab sea food "van") lovely beaches or go further inland to Granton on spey. The east is pretty much midge free and the seems to be a micro climate in Morayshire.

Don't rely on all A roads in Scotland being dual lane. Check the little man in the google map and take a look on street view and do your research.

I have only had to reverse with the van once, and that was for a car that refused to pull over into the passing place on his side. Hence my comment to pull over even if its not your turn.

If you don't want to tow easiest way out is to base yourself within car drive distance of the things you want to visit and do day tours. This is the difference of the caravan and camper.

Enjoy. We moved up from the south 6 years ago and have all our holidays in Scotland. Still exploring.


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PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 08/1/2023 at 8:25am
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We wouldn't contemplate towing along single track roads, but the A9 north of Inverness is doable, albeit hilly and twisty. Plenty of sites to choose from.


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PersonScankguy
via mobile 08/1/2023 at 10:46am
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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 08/1/2023
We wouldn't contemplate towing along single track roads, but the A9 north of Inverness is doable, albeit hilly and twisty. Plenty of sites to choose from.


The A9 being the premier trunk road in Scotland is as good as it gets! The issue with this road is the delays with the roadworks as it is being duelled in many places. But don’t just think about the highlands and the west coast there is lots of Scotland and most of it is worth exploring.


PersonFiona W
via mobile 08/1/2023 at 3:50pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Scankguy on 08/1/2023
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 08/1/2023
We wouldn't contemplate towing along single track roads, but the A9 north of Inverness is doable, albeit hilly and twisty. Plenty of sites to choose from.


The A9 being the premier trunk road in Scotland is as good as it gets! The issue with this road is the delays with the roadworks as it is being duelled in many places.


We do have M-ways too…. A9 won’t be dualled north of Inverness until hell freezes over & many stretches of the A9 south of Inverness won’t be dualled for many years (if ever) because of the huge cost. I’ve found that active roadworks are well managed & don’t cause particular delays. The “average speed” cameras are effective at keeping traffic flowing & HGVs are allowed to go faster on the A9 than on other roads because they used to create queues which then encouraged dangerous overtaking.
We’d all agree that there’s much more to explore in Scotland than the west coast. Plenty of good suggestions here over the years, for another trip.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


PersonST CLAIR
08/1/2023 at 9:14pm
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For Inverness recommend Torvean which is located on the west side of the town. Located alongside the bank of the Caledonian canal.

Skye - beautiful in all weathers - Staffin Campsite a favourite just North of Portree, rural scenery is fantastic, peaceful and rurally quiet.


PersonRman
13/4/2023 at 8:52pm
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Just back on Easter Monday from 4 nights stay at the Glen Nevis site at Fort William. Been up that way many a time and we personally think it is one of the most scenic drives you will find in the uk when you come up via Crianlarich. Once based there you can do day trips out,the drive to Mallaig is also stunning.Or take the train there for the day and everyone can then take in the scenery.Council train is cheap as chips compared with the steam train (pushed along by a dirty diesel) From there you can day trip down to oban too which is worth a visit if your up that way.
If you wanted to head further north from there the road upto Inverness is good for towing as is the road to Ullapool.



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