For anyone living south of the border, a visit to Scotland represents travelling abroad. Although English is spoken, the accents are entirely different, the people take pride in their particular history and culture, and the grandeur and variety of the scenery are probably second to none anywhere else in the UK.
That makes touring with a caravan such a satisfying and exciting adventure. Fortunately, there are campsites aplenty – and these you will need, of course, if you are towing a caravan, but if you are touring by motorhome or campervan and respect the local access code, wild camping allows you to overnight anywhere, for free, explains Camplify’s 2022 Guide for Camper vans and Motorhomes.
Here are just ten of the places you might like to visit.
1. Inverness
Inverness is regarded as the capital of the Highlands and an essential stopping off point for any tour of Scotland. It’s on the country’s northeast coast, where the River Ness – which flows from the famous loch of that name – meets the Moray Firth.
2. Culloden Moor
You don’t need to be a history buff to soak in the wild, desolate, almost plaintive beauty of this ancient battlefield – just outside Inverness – where the rebel Jacobite Army was routed by the English in 1745.
3. Dunnet Bay
Half-way around the North Coast 500 route, you will come across the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s most northerly campsite – where you can take in the stunning natural beauty of Dunnet Head.
4. Kinlochewe
Kinlockewe, on Scotland’s west coast, at the head of Loch Maree, which is described by many as the country’s most scenic loch.
5. Culzean Castle
Emjoy the romantic and stately – but purely fantasy – Culzean Castle, built in the 18th century and designed by the foremost architect of the times Robert Adam.
6. North Ledaig, Oban
Take your time travelling up the west coast of Scotland and you will come to North Ledaig, just short of Oban – the fishing port that has become known as one of the main gateways to the Western or Hebridean Isles.
7. Morvich
Continue north through the Western Highlands to the dramatic landscape of Morvich, Glen Shiel – the site of an ancient battle in 1719 – and the Falls of Glomach, Britain’s second-highest waterfall.
8. Altnaharra
Your tour of the rugged Caithness can also take in the small village of Altnaharra – between Lairg and the delightfully named Tongue.
It’s remote – beware that you and your caravan will have to navigate a number of single-track roads – and the lonely weather station has recorded some of the lowest temperatures in the whole of the UK (hopefully, not while you’re there!).
9. Aberdeen
From the coldest to one of the sunniest cities in Scotland, Aberdeen has so much to recommend it – and no fewer than 45 parks and gardens scattered throughout the city make the most of all of that sunshine.
Thanks to the Angus beef that is raised on the surrounding lush pastures and the freshest of catches from the seas along its coastline, Aberdeen has also become something of a gastronomic attraction.
10. Edinburgh
Do you ever get that feeling of having saved the best ‘til last? If the capital, Edinburgh, is your last stop, that will certainly be the case.
Edinburgh deserves a visit in its own right – for sure, it’s the capital of the country but a city that offers history, culture, and a rich tapestry of Scottish life you’ll find nowhere else.
Hitch up your caravan and head north across the border to Scotland. You’ll be immediately transported to foreign lands where the scenery, the history, the culture, and the people are refreshingly different to all that you’ll find throughout England.
We’ve selected just 10 destinations that are more than worthy of a visit – whether yours is a short or longer-haul tour. The Scottish adventure beckons.