Scotland is a country with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. With rugged coastlines, towering mountains, and lush valleys, Scotland is a great place to explore, and what better way to do it than in a caravan. Touring the sights in a caravan gives you total freedom to go where you want when you want. Here are some tips on how to prepare for a caravan tour of Scotland.
The Wheels
If you don’t already own a caravan, you will need to arrange to hire one for the duration of your trip. If you are alone or part of a couple, a two-berth caravan should suffice. If this is a family holiday, you will need a larger vehicle with sleeping accommodation for everyone. If you think you will need more living space, you can attach an awning to the caravan or get a pop-up canopy tent that can be used as a shelter from light rain or intense sunshine when you are sitting outside.
The Equipment
These days, Caravans come with all mod cons such as cooker, fridge freezer, tv satellite dishes, showers, and toilets.
However, you will need to make sure the caravan is equipped with kitchen essentials such as pots, frying pans, plates, cups, cutlery, a bottle opener, and a tin opener. If you plan on having some barbecues, pack some skewers and grilling utensils if the weather is nice.
Although there are usually shops in caravan and campsites, it makes sense to stock your fridge and cupboards with some everyday food items such as tea, coffee, sugar, milk, salt, and pepper. Also, take some food for the next day’s breakfast to see you through until you get to the shops.
Remember washing up liquid, cloths, paper towels, and tea towels.
Personal Items
Besides food and drinks, you will need to pack plenty of toiletries for all the family – especially toilet rolls. These are rarely provided at campsites. A hairdryer is another key item you won’t want to forget!
To provide some entertainment on rainy nights, you may want to bring an iPod, some board games, books, a tablet, and a Bluetooth speaker.
Plan Your Route
Before you do anything, you should plan your journey. Decide where you want to visit and for how long and book some campsites accordingly. In high season, during the Scottish Summer from June – August, you will need to book pitches at caravan parks, rather than just turning up and hoping to get a space. One of the best places to look for a caravan park in Scotland is on a comprehensive website such as campsites.co.uk
Most pitches at campsites include electricity, drinking water, greywater, and sewage disposal facilities, and even WiFi. If you want to put an awning on your caravan, be sure to check if the pitch you are booking allows it.
The Sights
The Camping and Caravanning Club of Britain can offer tips on some of the popular and interesting road trip routes to take in Scotland.
Start in the Borders and travel through 89 miles of beautiful lowland countryside. Visit the residence of the great poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford House, and see the scenery that inspired him to write novels such as Ivanhoe. Travel north to the country’s capital city, Edinburgh, which is steeped in history. Plan to stay here a few days to make the most of what it has to offer.
If you are a fan of coastal views, take the Argyll Coastal Route, which starts at the banks of Loch Lomond and offers a spectacular drive past shimmering lochs and snowy mountains – the tallest one being Ben Nevis at the end of the route in Fort William.
Lovers of Scottish history should check out the Highland Tourist Route, which runs from Aberdeen to Inverness through the Cairngorms National Park. It encompasses Culloden battlefield and Fort George, as well as Cawdor Castle, which is featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The Gordon Highlanders Museum is a fascinating place to learn about the soldiers’ history from the Napoleonic wars to the present day.
The North East 250 is the perfect route for tourists as it explores everything for which Scotland is famous – whisky distilleries, mountain passes, ancient castles, rugged coastlines, and quaint fishing towns. Tolquhon Castle is a landmark on this route and has been described as Scotland’s most beautiful castle. Walk in the steps of royalty at Balmoral Castle in Ballater – the Scottish home of the royal family since Prince Albert purchased it for Queen Victoria in 1852.
