Route planning advice
How far to go each day:
You should aim not to drive more than 50-80 miles each day and you may wish to have a rest day in the middle of your holiday.
Single track roads:
When traveling in the Scottish Highlands you will encounter many single track roads. There are very few of these roads that can’t be driven with our motorhomes; however it may be difficult to drive much more than 30mph and you need to allow extra time for this. You should not drive on any roads which are sign posted as “not suitable for caravans”
If you meet oncoming traffic when driving on single track roads then simply pull in to one of the passing places on the left. NEVER pull in to a passing place on the right! If the passing place is on your right, then it is best to simply stop on the road and allow the oncoming car to drive around you.
If you are holding up traffic behind you then you should indicate and pull in to a passing place on your left and allow them pass.
Ferries:
Many of our customers use the ferry network to visit the islands. This is standard practice and our motorhomes will fit on all the ferries in the Highlands.
However, please remember that ferry services can be weather dependant and may be cancelled without notice so it is best to allow plenty of extra time to for this.
i.e. don’t book a ferry for the morning that you are due to return the motorhome.
Maneuvering:
Even if you are used to driving larger vehicles, you should always get a passenger to assist you when you are maneuvering or reversing at all times.
Typically, on the rare occasions when customers do cause damage, it is always at the end of the trip when they "have got the hang of it".
Grocery Shopping:
One of the most common mistakes we see our customers making is arriving to collect their motorhome after doing a huge shop where they have bought far too much, or prearranging a Tesco click and collect service. Firstly, it is best to wait to see exactly how much space you have to work with before going shopping. We have a medium sized co-op just 1 mile from us which will be fine to get you started. There are also plenty of shops across the highlands to top up supplies. It is far better to shop little and often. The staff in local shops can also give great advice on the local area.
Where to stay overnight:
The associated facilities that can be found on campsites, such as showers, water filling, and waste emptying, etc will make your holiday more comfortable. At peak season we strongly recomend booking campsites in advance. We have made this video on camping off grid in cases you find yourself unable to find a campsite.
Here is a link for campsites: Click here
If you do choose to spend some time off grid camping (sometimes called wild camping), you should adhere to the countryside code. Please consider others when you are parking; do not park in front of somebody's house, in a passing place, or in front of a farm access. If there are several other motorhomes camping in the same place then it is best to find somewhere else, as it will look like an unofficial campsite. Due to the irresponsible actions of a minority of campers during the already hightened tensions of the COVID pandemic, some of the locals are uneasy with campers who do not use official campsites.
If you choose to camp off grid, follow these 3 simple clean camping principles:
- Take nothing but pictures.
- Leave nothing but footprints.
- KIll nothing but time.
PLEASE NOTE: If off grid camping, you should be on a properly made surface. Unless on a licensed campsite, the insurance does not cover driving on to grass.
Your last evening:
We recomend that you stay in a campsite on your last evening, as the motorhome needs to be returned with an empty toilet cassette, empty grey water tank, and a full fresh water tank.
The fuel tank must be completely full and you must use Bridge End Filling station in Beauly as this is the closest station.
We strongly advise to stay no more than 30 miles from Beauly on your last evening, as we have had incidents in the past such as traffic delays, etc, which have made customers return late.
Here are some links to a few of the local campsites:
If you wish to stay at Beauly Holiday Park on your last evening then we offer a discounted pitch fee.