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Only one problem this week it is forcast to rain and heavy in the loch lomond area and i will have my little girl with me for company

But thanks for that Lobey ps have you read the snow is coming post?

niall

Quote: Originally posted by Lassie on 04/10/2009

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Lobey, my worry would be being disturbed by any 'undesirables', have you ever had trouble makers spoiling your 'stay'? Hubby fancies doing some 'wild camping' but i always say ooh i don't know, what if ...

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Yes I have come across "undesirables" and "trouble makers" and all of them have been on caravan sites!!!!

Your average trouble maker is drunk and is in no fit state to go roaming around the countryside looking the odd caravaners when there is plenty of opportunities for his needs closer to the bars and clubs where he got that way in the first place.

However, I do tend to pick my wildcamping sites carefully, usually off the road where I cannot be seen from passing traffic and I always drive past the site I have chosen to check what is around the next few bends, before returning to my chosen spot.
I'd hate to park up somewhere for the night, only to find later in the night, that I was parked within a couple of hundred yards of a hotel or caravan park or the like.

I look for sites where I am, at best, on my own, or parked beside other campers doing the same as I am.
Often I will arrive at a nice spot and within an hour or so, be joined by other like minded souls. Such is the nature of wild camping.

Quote: Originally posted by Niall24 on 04/10/2009

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Only one problem this week it is forcast to rain and heavy in the loch lomond area and i will have my little girl with me for company

But thanks for that Lobey ps have you read the snow is coming post?

niall

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HERE is the Loch Lomond weather forecast and I do not see any heavy rain.

Anyways, look on the up side! It'll drown the midges.

Hi Lobey

we are coming up tomorrow dont know where we are stopping yet.

Either near Loch Lomond or a CL. Gartfairn farm http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/CaravanClubApps/Applications/Certificated%20Locations/site%20details.aspx?csid=2254601&town=-1&county=Stirling&facilities=

The weather forecast from the bbc said rain all week yesterday

If you know somewhere else to stop wild style please email me

Niall

If you have Google Earth, look at the west bank of Loch Lomond about halfway between Luss and Inverbeg and directly across the loch from the large promontory on the east bank, and you will see the lay bye that has spaces for caravans.

Personally though, I would stay away from the A82 as it is the main road for north/south traffic and the fish lorries come thundering down it early each morning, follwed throughout the day by Tour Buses and sightseers.

If I was going anywhere in this area I would recomend the C&CC Site at Gatocharan.  
Set in the Queen Elizabeth Forrest Park and close to Aberfoyle, the area around is just magical.

Take a drive east to Stronachlachar on Loch Katrine (Glasgow's water supply) and then onwards to Inversnaid on Loch Lomond. There is a nice tea room there.

Or travel north via Aberfoyle then over the Duke's Pass and down to Brig o Turk and Callander.You could then return to Gartocharn by Port of Menteith and see the only Lake in Scotland; Lake of Menteith.

Wildcamping is a great way to tour Scotland but unless you are used to it and know the score, such camping is really for the wilder and more remote areas where traffic is less and caravan sites are scarce.

Places like Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are tourists traps, close to major towns and usually hoching with day trippers and the like.

This wild camping lark is just something i have to get out of my system along with this trip.

I have even thought of the Meadows carpark in Callander but i will more than likely stop at the CL Gartfairn farm only £8 compared to cc-c £14ish for Gatocharan.

May even stop on one of the lay byes on the drive round  Queen Elizabeth Forrest Park.

Re the lay bye on the A82 i would only stop in that in an emergency or if i was in my wagon.

The drive via Aberfoyle sounds nice and would like to do a walk but i have a two year old in tow.

We did that drive in August this year just looked it up on google earth and there is a ew places to stop for the night

Anymore advice welcome lobey

Thanks Niall

There used to be a railway line from Glasgow to Aberfoyle and it passes through Gartocharn campsite.
Although derlict now, it is still possible to walk from the campsite into Aberfoyle, along the railway route.

There is a lovely walk from Aberfoyle to Brig 0 Turk and this is called the Brig 0 Turk Access Path.

This path passes the David Marshall Lodge which is a visitor centre and it has a play area for the younger kiddies.
This lodge can also be accessed from the road by car and is a must for anyone visiting this area. The Rangers at the lodge are the best people to ask regarding walks in the area.

By the by, Jules Verne (20,000 legues under the sea etc) wrote a book called "Child in a Cavern". It was based on a large cave outside Aberfoyle above the Stronachlachar Road and many moons ago myself and several others set out to find that cave.
Well it is a long story but in fact that cave had existed and it was exactly where Verne said it was and the entrance was exactly as he had described.
The strange thing is, he had never been to Scotland!!!!!

The cave entrance was blown up about 60 years ago because it was so extensive that cattle and sheep kept wandering into it and getting lost.

Do enjoy the area but please keep oot o the caves!!!!

Been there too lost one of the boys on the walks.

It also had modern art in the woods at the time we went and just a bit further on there is laybyes to stop over night i think

Thanks again Niall

When I was a slip of a lad I took my girlfriend camping in that area and we pitched on a flat bit of ground just off the Duke's Pass but hidden from the road by Bracken.

In the morning we were have a bit of how's your father in the grass outside the tent when the lass looked up and screamed.

A bus full of tourists had stopped on the roadside and being up high, they were watching our antics from the bus windows!!!

Now thats wild camping good style

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 05/10/2009

In the morning we were have a bit of how's your father in the grass outside the tent when the lass looked up and screamed.

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