Camper van trip - where next?

[DarloRich]

Just back from a 12 day trip from Leeds to Leeds via Glasgow, Fort William, Skye, Lewis, Harris, Ullapool, Durness, Thurso, Scrabster, Orkney, John O'Groats, Wick, Dunrobbin Castle, Dornoch, Aviemoor, Flakirk, Roslin Chapel, Bamburgh & Lidisfarne.

It was fantastic. a 1600 mile door to door trip in the camper. Mainly wild camping with only a couple of campsite thrown in ( you have to shower some days!) and lots of narrow roads through completely unspoiled country. We did most of the north coast 500 but decided to expand on it a bit!

If you haven't been up to that north west corner of the British isles I recommend it. It was lovely. We are looking to start planning our next long trip in the van and I wonder if anyone can suggest some ideas?

I am not sure we are ready for a long trip abroad although we are talking about northern France/Belgium for a long weekend later in the year i think we would prefer to stay in the UK for a long trip. Thanks in advance for your ideas!

 

[gordonthemoron]

I would have thought that the cost of taking the van abroad would mean that you'd need a long trip to justify it? I met some brits in France who stored their campervan in Northern France as it was a) cheaper to store there and b) cheaper to cross the channel

 

[DarloRich]

I would have thought that the cost of taking the van abroad would mean that you'd need a long trip to justify it? I met some brits in France who stored their campervan in Northern France as it was a) cheaper to store there and b) cheaper to cross the channel

that is one of the problems but we are flexible on times and routes and can avoid peak holiday times if needed.

 

[Cowley]

I would have thought that the cost of taking the van abroad would mean that you'd need a long trip to justify it? I met some brits in France who stored their campervan in Northern France as it was a) cheaper to store there and b) cheaper to cross the channel

Actually it’s reasonably cheap to take the van abroad. We took our long wheelbase Sprinter over on the Channel Tunnel last year in August 11:30pm out and 5:00am return a couple of weeks later and it was about £260 return with seven of us in the van which I thought was pretty reasonable.
I think you can get it cheaper than that on the ferries.

Rich - Snowdonia is lovely and I know a few good wild camping spots up there. You could then head down to Pembrokeshire which has amazing beaches and is nice and quiet.
The Lake District is again stunning but I don’t know it as well.
If you wanted to do the epic journey down to Devon and Cornwall I know some fantastic places that you’d love, but it can get busy in summer. June or September are the best times really.
If you want info about any of the places I know then I’ll pm you at some point.

 

[thejuggler]

While you have done a lot of Scotland this time have you done many other areas? We are visiting later this year for at least our 15th visit and are going to an area we have never been before.

You could do a 'Borders route' Everything between Hadrians Wall and south of Glasgow Edinburgh. Apart from the A75 Dumfries and Galloway is a forgotten part of Scotland - puts in possibility of Belfast and Northern Ireland from Cairnryan.

An East coast trip - Edinburgh, Fife (apart from St Andrews also very quiet - very like east coast of Yorkshire - Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay, Runswick etc), Dundee, Angus up to north coast of Aberdeenshire to Inverness and back via Braemar and Pitlochry, Trossachs.

Island hopping - Islay, Jura, Arran, Mull, and small islands which accept campers all possible in one trip.

Loop of Wales and Welsh borders is easy enough. Chester to Chester via Anglesey, Aberystwyth Cardiff and Shrewsbury!

 

[AlterEgo]

I’m not a camping or caravanning expert so I don’t know about the availability of campsites, but you should consider the Wild Atlantic Way in western Ireland.

Ferry into Rosslare. Drive to Kinsale. Then spend 7-10 days working your way around the west coast, finishing at Malin Head and onto Derry. Then drive to Belfast and get the ferry home.

 

[Cowley]

Re Northern Ireland, I looked into taking the van over a few times when we’ve been visiting the family but it’s an expensive crossing with a van and 6/7 of us. Would love to do a tour of some of the bits (most of it) that I haven’t been to but it always works out cheaper to fly for us.
One day though.

 

[Bromley boy]

We are looking to start planning our next long trip in the van and I wonder if anyone can suggest some ideas?

The (far) West Country is great (although I haven’t camped myself).

I’d suggest driving to Penzance in the far south west and working your way back via Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount, Carbis Bay, St Ives, Lizard point, Looe, Fowey, Dartmoor. I’ve done a variation on that albeit staying in hotels along the way.

There’s also some railway interest in Penzance, Longrock depot, St Ives branch, branch line to Looe etc. although you do need a car (or camper van) to really explore properly.

Quite outdoorsey, loads to do down there and I’ve been told lots of options for camping.

 

[richw]

The (far) West Country is great (although I haven’t camped myself).

I’d suggest driving to Penzance in the far south west and working your way back via Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount, Carbis Bay, St Ives, Lizard point, Looe, Fowey, Dartmoor. I’ve done a variation on that albeit staying in hotels along the way.

There’s also some railway interest in Penzance, Longrock depot, St Ives branch, branch line to Looe etc. although you do need a car (or camper van) to really explore properly.

Quite outdoorsey, loads to do down there and I’ve been told lots of options for camping.

In peak season quite a lot of sites are served by local buses, so with some research it should be possible to park up and leave the camper on site

 

[EM2]

I'd second the nomination for Wales. Did it years ago in a VW Dormobile, and planning to go again next year with our Romahome.

 

[SWTCommuter]

I don't know if it's of any help but the Philip's Navigator road atlases show various categories of Camping and Caravanning Club sites so might be handy for route planning. The Trucker's version also shows height, width and weight restrictions, which could be useful if your camper van is palatial enough for these to be an issue.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I'm assuming you've done Redcar?

I'd recommend Cornwall, especially around Perranporth/Newquay.

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks for the ideas - lots to look at!

I’m not a camping or caravanning expert so I don’t know about the availability of campsites, but you should consider the Wild Atlantic Way in western Ireland.

Ferry into Rosslare. Drive to Kinsale. Then spend 7-10 days working your way around the west coast, finishing at Malin Head and onto Derry. Then drive to Belfast and get the ferry home.

thanks for that - it is on the list. The Ring of Kerry was also something up for consideration but the Wild Atlantic Way looks miles better. I assume no issues with being English, especially somewhere like L/D?

I'd second the nomination for Wales. Did it years ago in a VW Dormobile, and planning to go again next year with our Romahome.

We will take a look at Wales - Done Snowdonia a couple of times but lots more to visit

I don't know if it's of any help but the Philip's Navigator road atlases show various categories of Camping and Caravanning Club sites so might be handy for route planning. The Trucker's version also shows height, width and weight restrictions, which could be useful if your camper van is palatial enough for these to be an issue.

We are ok - we are just a large van size. We fit in all kinds of places.

I'm assuming you've done Redcar?

Obvs! Its just like Saint-Tropez. If you have had 12 pints of snakebite. and are blind. and have lived in a cave for 768 years. TBH - I quite like Redcar. That and Saltburn ( Whitby if we were REALLY good) was our seaside as kids. Roker if we were at either grannys.

The (far) West Country is great (although I haven’t camped myself).

We have been to Cornwall a couple of times as the oh does diving and ships have habit of crashing into it and sinking!

While you have done a lot of Scotland this time have you done many other areas?

Coming from the north east i know the borders quite well. We are off up that way in May.

Island hopping - Islay, Jura, Arran, Mull

We have looked at Lewis>Harris>N Uist> Benbecula> S Uist>Barra> Tiree>Coll>Oban but it is VERY expensive!