View Full Version : Camping & Walking in Scotland
For those "in the know" im looking for some ideas
Im looking to go away with my girlfriend just the 2 of us camping next month around about the 20th May for about 4-5 days in Scotland.
Ive done a lot of the area but much of it when I was younger and its probably 10 years since I was beyond Edinburgh.
We're looking for somewhere we can use as a base for those days, with basic but clean amenities, somewhere we can access from Middlesbrough without travelling all day. That would mean a cap of say Pitlochry over to Glencoe (No higher)
I like a good walk and I want to get a taste of Scotland as its been a while since I was there last so I want some fairly high terrain so I can differentiate from the Lake District.
Going up in the car as we usually take quite a bit of stuff with us. Hopefully the Midges shouldnt be too bad in May!!
Can anyone recommend any campsites/walks? Theres a few sites on the web but obviously if someone can recommend somewhere in particular then its always helpful
Hopefully the Midges shouldnt be too bad in May!!
:rolleyes:
:smt081 :smt081
Campsites :smt102 More sense than that ;)
the hidden valley @glencoe is a good one ,not too hard and the scenery is awesome ,tbh anywhere arond there (glencoe that is )is something else ,or go to fort william and do the whole tourist thing @ben nevis ,,or if ure a serious walker/climber/mountain goat ,,aanoch mor not far from fort william ,fort augustus is very nice as a base ,pubs ,loch gates and generally a busier place than some highland places i could go on and on ,just head up the a82 and youl not go far wrong:cool:
Jim thats excellent, its been a fair while since i was up there so couldnt remember where we stayed when i was a kid.
Im pretty keen on walking and like a challenge to the point of say a grade 1 scramble however my better half prefers things not quite so adventurous although she is a bit like a mountain goat when she gets going. Ill definitely check out some places in Fort Augustus where we could use as a base to check out Glencoe, Glenfinnan etc.
I've stuck on SV ecosse for you as well to see if any of them can think of somewhere for you
I'm with Jim on Glencoe, done a bit of walking/climbing up there over the last few years.
The Kingshouse Hotel, just down from the Glencoe Ski Centreis usually fairly okay for letting you pitch a tent just behind the climbers bar. Nice bar and food. Also the Clachaig is just down the road if you fancy some entertainment with your food of a Friday/ Saturday.
Down the road from Kingshouse, Glen Etive, one of my favourites, loads of places to pitch a tent, again a climbers hot spot.
Cheers
I'm with Jim on Glencoe, done a bit of walking/climbing up there over the last few years.
The Kingshouse Hotel, just down from the Glencoe Ski Centreis usually fairly okay for letting you pitch a tent just behind the climbers bar. Nice bar and food. Also the Clachaig is just down the road if you fancy some entertainment with your food of a Friday/ Saturday.
Down the road from Kingshouse, Glen Etive, one of my favourites, loads of places to pitch a tent, again a climbers hot spot.
Cheers
HI mate totally agree with the above suggestions, I stayed in N Ballachulish a couple of years on a solo trip, nice place but a bit quiet. Fort Augustus is ok , Fort Bill is more of outdoor centre though. Have you thought about Ben lomond nr loch lomond, never done it but its meant to a decent walk.
stew:D
I notice the Scotsman are doing a 'best of' thing just now. Doesn't include campsites but does mention best drive, best munro to bag etc...
Here's the link, its in the features section right at the bottom of the page - you may need to register to view? I'm not sure but it may be worth a look?
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/articleindex.cfm
-Ralph-
25-04-07, 12:26 PM
If a shorter drive appeals and you like the suggestion of Loch Lomond, there is a campsite at Inverarnan (Beinglas Campsite) about 1/4 mile north of the Drovers Inn pub (good pub, live music O/S 231640,718600)
Camp in the upper walled in section if you will go to the pub late and come back ****ed when it closes, making a noise as you go along with everybody else. This section has a midge eating machine that kills kilograms of the wee beggars at a time.
If you want quieter camping though, go right through a gate opposite the facilities block and into the field with all the other big tents and cars. More midges though.
For walking there is good stuff locally, Arrochar alps are pretty high and scenic, and of course there's Ben Lomond. See www.walkscotland.com (http://www.walkscotland.com). Crianlarich is 5 minutes drive north and you hit one of the main arteries with easy access to east (Perthshire) or west (Glen Coe and Great Glen).
To get there follow the M74, then M8 and cross the Irskine Bridge (no toll anymore). If you know how long it will take you to get to Glasgow you need only add on another 30-40 minutes to get to Inverarnan.
Just thinking, I have a stack of trail mags with routes, destined for the bin, if you want I could send a few up to you when you know what area you are heading for.No worries if you dont need them
Stew:)
peterco
25-04-07, 03:18 PM
Hope these help...
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=518&c=2
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=524&c=2
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=263&c=2
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=276&c=11
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=281&c=11
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=154&c=11
http://www.glencoehostel.co.uk/
http://www.glencoe-scotland.net/cgi-local/member.pl?Bowen2
http://www.blackwaterhostel.co.uk/
http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=147&c=11
pete
Gents that is excellent, a much better response than I anticipated! Having looked at where Fort Augustus is, I think I remember stopping there some years ago and camping nearby the Ness. It might be a bit too far to camp - I was thinking of further south with the option of going North - Loch Lomond would be ideal.
Ill get straight onto it and see whats going on
Stew, where in "The North" are you?
stuartyboy
25-04-07, 09:58 PM
Have you thought of planting down at Calander or Lochearnhead. They're not so west biased as Loch lomond so it gives you more options in all directions.
BTW - ****ing midgies :mad: Don't be expecting an easy time. They're a month early with the mild weather. I was over at Rannoch and they were unbelievably bad. We even have them in Perth & Bridge of Earn which is virtually unheard of.
midges in loch lomond area are not too bad at the moment, but then im not camping lol. There is a fantastic youth hostel just outside balloch which would be better than camping.
stuartyboy
26-04-07, 11:20 AM
midges in loch lomond area are not too bad at the moment
You sure? I'm just back from Loch Lomond 10 mins ago and they were everywhere. Visor, gear and bike completely covered.
You sure? I'm just back from Loch Lomond 10 mins ago and they were everywhere. Visor, gear and bike completely covered.
well there are none in my livingroom lol
Are the midgies around all summer or do they die off at all?!? I always thought May was the best month!
hi robchester,you're pm,d
stew
Are the midgies around all summer or do they die off at all?!? I always thought May was the best month!
midgies are even around in winter mate. avon skin so softly really does work. saying that avon stuff doesnt stop them clustering around your head and going in your ears and up your nose
midgies are even around in winter mate. avon skin so softly really does work. saying that avon stuff doesnt stop them clustering around your head and going in your ears and up your nose
They always end up in my ears :(
They always end up in my ears :(
keep your helmet on. dont wear a wooly hat though as they can still get at you but you cant get at them. then you put the hat on next day and there are families of them living in your hat :mad:
Ive decided between two places - Iverarnan at the head of Loch Lomond or Killin at the West of Loch Tay. Both seem quite central for walking and seeing some historic sites in the area. Does anyone have any experience with http://www.beinglascampsite.co.uk/index.html or http://www.cruachanfarm.co.uk/?
Yeah, stayed at Beinglas once. Basic but survivable. We stayed in the wooden huts. We got really drunk at the drovers, stole a stuffed ferret and had a campfire outside the hut for my mate who just came back from Ghana. He wanted to show off his elite bush skills:rolleyes:
We even got free rolls and square sausage in the morning :)
Then the drover owner came looking for his stuffed ferret in the morning, so we chickened out and left it anonymously in the shower room. :o
If you decide to go up to Killin you have the whole of the Ben Lawers group which is ok, couple of campsites around there and a YMCA I think.
It does get a bit Wallace Arnold though.
Cheers
Im just looking to go somewhere we can take some walking in, a bit of sightseeing & maybe a distillery trip or 2. Either one looks pretty much central for all of those. Going Sat morn and coming back on the Weds.
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