Scottish Islands Campervan Adventure - July 2024
Ayrshire > Arran > Mull of Kintyre > Islay > Oban > Glen Nevis > Morar
A campervan has always been on the ‘wanted’ list to open up photographic opportunities and to offer accommodation on location where hotels and B&Bs do not exist. There’s something uniquely liberating about hitting the open road fuelling the recent explosion in popularity of ‘vanlife’ and the NC500. Scotland is the natural destination for campervanning with its rugged beauty and sheer scale of open landscape, the van allows you to get to the far reaches of the country far down the country lanes away from the hussle and bustle of modern life. Our recent campervan adventure through the Scottish Islands and Highlands was nothing short of extraordinary and a great chance to try out ownership before purchasing. With a rented VW California from Lakes Campervans as our trusty companion, we embarked on a journey that took us around mountainous islands and to dramatic coastlines.
The VW California was the perfect size for this trip. Compact yet fully equipped, it offered all the comforts of home while giving us the flexibility to explore at our own pace. Whether we were winding through narrow mountain passes or parking up beside a serene loch, the California handled it all with ease. As you can tell from the gallery of images below, we experienced all weathers throughout the trip and having the van made for a comfortable trip.
After collecting the van and spending the first night on a site in Ayrshire, our island adventure began with a ferry ride from the mainland to the Isle of Arran, often referred to as "Scotland in Miniature." Arran offers a bit of everything: rolling hills, ancient forests, and towering mountains. Basing ourselves in Lochranza we had 2 days to explore the island and spent the days hiking through the island’s stunning landscapes, visiting Brodick Castle, soaking in the views of Goatfell (the island’s highest peak), a trip to the Arran Distillery, visiting the standing stone at Machrie Moor and watching the seals bask on the western coast.
A short ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig took us back to the mainland (the Mull of Kintyre) where we stopped for seafood at the Skipness Seafood Cabin before heading south to Campletown. The campsite was based on the hilltop near Machrihanish with easy access to the beach and also a short drive to the southern tip we walked to Davaar Island and visited St Columba's Chapel at Southend.
Next, we set sail for Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, famous for its peaty whiskies and abundant wildlife. The island didn’t disappoint. With a base in Port Charlotte we had 2 days to explore Islay’s wild coastline, spotting seals and seabirds along the way. Evenings were spent by the van, enjoying the tranquility of the island with a stunning view of the coast from the Port Mor campsite. Highlight of the island was the stunning deserted beach at Sanaigmore (shown below).
After Islay we boarded the 6 hour ferry back to Oban where we then drove up the coast to Fort William to stay at the Glen Nevis holiday park for 2 nights. Our final day trip took us to the Morar/Mallaig coast, following the scenic "Road to the Isles." The drive itself was an experience, with sweeping views of the sea, sandy beaches, and the dramatic silhouette of the Small Isles in the distance (not to mention lots of Harry Potter locations enroute).
Traveling by campervan allowed us to experience Scotland in a different way. We had the freedom to have everything with us every day and were able to easily move camp sites or even wild camp. If you’re looking for a way to truly experience the magic of Scotland away from the usual Instagram hotspots, I can’t recommend a campervan adventure enough.
The big question to finish - would we purchase a van? still undecided…
