I’m a novice to camping – “Not really my style,” I muttered to my husband when it was suggested. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a pampered pooch – far from it – but the thought of camping, beasties and the Scottish weather was not my idea of fun.
But, as in all relationships, you compromise and the suggestion of a campervan sounded a good one. A quick check online and I was surprised how popular this has become. We decided on Rockin Vans in Kilmarnock. The company converts VW campervans into leisure vehicles for sale, but also has a hire fleet.
Our home for the next few days was a VW T6 campervan. I was impressed with the freedom you have travelling this way. You don’t need to stay on a campsite every night – you can just stop where it suits on your travels. But as this was my first time camping, I felt more at ease staying onsite.
There is nothing better than the open road. It may not be Route 66 but driving along the country roads in and around Scotland is truly magnificent. So we set off on the long scenic route along the A82, which takes you past Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Fort William, then by Loch Ness, before heading to Inverness and up to Nairn, our first stop.
On arrival at the site, we were welcomed by Glynis the manager, who was great, very helpful and welcoming. The site is in a great position if peace and quiet are what you are looking for. When booking through Rockin Vans you can get up to a 30 per cent discount off the site fees from the Camping and Caravanning Club, which has 106 sites throughout the UK to choose from and is available to both members and non-members.
We parked up and made some lunch, which was easier than I had expected. The van comes complete with cooking facilities, a fridge, a kitchen pack – everything you need. All we had to take was our bedding.
We were a few miles outside Nairn itself so we had to drive in, although there is a bus stop outside the site with an hourly service.
We parked up next to the beach, which has beautiful views across the Moray Firth to the Black Isle and its coastline is home to a resident school of dolphins. There is a great range of coastal trails in either direction. After a long walk, we had the obligatory fish and chips for dinner then it was back to the site for a relaxing evening.
The following morning we set off on our next stage of the trip, to Loch Ness Shores, which enjoys panoramic views of the water. Nessie is the obvious attraction but it also has the magnificent Urquhart Castle and the charming villages of Fort Augustus, Cannich and Drumnadrochit.
The site, which is open all year round, includes a shop, children’s play area and an onsite diner which sells breakfasts and dinner. After we had checked in, we visited the Fall of Foyers. It has great views of the spectacular waterfall where the River Foyers drops into a gorge leading to Loch Ness.
In the evening we took the short walk up the hill to The Craigdarroch Inn, which overlooks Loch Ness, for dinner. After our meal we walked back to the site to batten down the hatches for Storm Callum. It had rained most of the day but by evening the wind had picked up, so we lowered the roof of the van just to be safe. Thankfully it wasn’t as bad as I had feared and we woke up still in tact the following morning.
Before breakfast we took another trip up to the Fall of Foyers before heading into Fort Augustus for a spot of Nessie hunting. And that concluded our trip.
My thoughts on my first camping experience? Well, just like the VW van, I am converted.
Travel facts:
For a week’s hire of a budget campervan, prices start at £483. Visit www.rockinvans.co.uk or call 0141 404 8384. Rockin Vans is a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club’s privilege scheme and customers receive discounts of up to 30 per cent on pitch fees at Camping and Caravanning Club and Camping in the Forest campsites across the UK, for the duration of their hire period. www.campingandcaravanning club.co.uk/privcard. Visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk. Price for a serviced pitch from £28.90 a night (based on two adults sharing a campervan or caravan).
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