Scenic Isle of Skye.
Scotland is a great place for a summer holiday, especially if you are planning to hire a motorhome or campervan. The breadth and variety of places to visit while enjoying a campervan tour is mesmerising. But with so many attractions, landmarks, viewpoints and sites to see, where will you choose to go first?
7 of the best: Where to visit in a campervan in Scotland
Thanks to our in-depth knowledge of motorhome trips in Scotland and sightseeing tours while campervanning around Scotland, we can pass on our insider’s tips and recommendations of the best places to visit in a campervan.
Beautiful Isle of Arran.
1 Island get-away
Scotland is endowed with the superb natural asset of many lovely islands. A great number are located off the Scottish west coast and can be easily reached by ferry. The Isle of Skye also has a free road bridge.
A few of the best islands to choose from for a campervan tour include Arran, Mull, Islay, Lewis, Harris and Skye.
Each island offers a unique scenery, charm and atmosphere and it depends on what you enjoy as to the island you might choose to visit on a motorhome trip in Scotland.
For wildlife and quiet roads, we love Mull; for iconic mountain scenery and bustling villages and towns, you’ll enjoy Skye; and for whisky fans we recommend Islay.
Arran is known as Scotland in miniature thanks to a landscape of Lowlands and Highlands so it’ a great island for outdoors adventures, while Harris and Lewis, located in the Outer Hebrides, offer you best opportunity to get away from it all on a Scottish campervan holiday.
Eilean Donan Castle.
2 King of the castles
Scotland boasts many hundreds of castles and fortifications to visit and it’s very difficult to choose the best. Some of most iconic Scottish castles include Edinburgh Castle, Balmoral Castle (home to the British Royal family when they are in the Scottish Highlands), Cawdor castle, Eilean Donan Castle located on an island in Loch Duich, Glamis Castle and Stirling Castle.
If taking your pick of the best of Scotland’s castle tours proves difficult why not follow Scotland’s only Castle Trail, located in the north-east of Scotland?
Iconic Loch Ness. Will you spot the fabled monster?
3 Lochs (not lakes)
In Scotland, an area of inland water is known as a loch. It’s called a lake in England but Scots will proudly tell you there is only one lake in Scotland and that is the Lake of Menteith near the city of Stirling.
Two of the best lochs to visit include Loch Lomond, the largest area of inland water in the UK, located in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, and Loch Ness, the home of the fabled Loch Ness Monster. Visit the Loch Ness Centre to find out more.
Glenfinnan Viaduct is a famous view in Scotland, especially thanks to the Harry Potter movies.
4 Spectacular viewpoints
It is almost impossible not to come across a spectacular viewpoint while enjoying a driving tour of Scotland. Look out for signposts at the roadside directing you to famous views or head for one of these: Six of the best views in Scotland.
Whisky is a famous draw for holidaymakers in Scotland.
5 Whisky galore
Castles, great landscapes and whisky are three of the most popular attractions for holidaymakers planning a trip to Scotland. Whisky distilleries offer a great day or half-day activity and with so many to visit, you will be spoilt for choice.
A few to consider include Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye, Glengoyne just north of Glasgow or Glenkinchie to the east of Edinburgh.
Or for a host of whisky distilleries in one place, visit the Whisky Island of Islay or follow Scotland’s Whisky Trail on Speyside in the Scottish Highlands.
Luskentyre beach on Harris. Pic credit: Neil Aitkenhead
6 Sand and sea
Scotland is famous for its dramatic coastline, including many fabulous beaches. Some of the best are discovered on a trip to the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. The most famous on Harris is Luskentyre. Find out more about a great drive of the West Coast of Harris.
Sandwood Bay on the west coast of Sutherland – and located on the North Coast 500 driving route – requires a walk of around six miles but the rewards for your efforts are a huge expanse of sand backed by dunes. There is also a stunning sea stack located just off the shore.
In Fife, there are fabulous sandy beaches at St Andrews West Sands, Tentsmuir and Aberdour, to name a few.
We also discovered some amazing beaches on the new North-East 250 driving route (link to new blog) in Aberdeenshire and head to one of Scotland’s best kept secret destinations, Dumfries & Galloway for many fine beaches including Mossyard near the town of Castle Douglas and Dhoon Beach near the town of Kirkudbright.
There is so much to see and do in the city of Glasgow.
7 City lights
A campervan trip in Scotland makes it easy to visit Scotland’s seven cities. They include the capital city of Edinburgh, Scotland’s largest city of Glasgow, as well as Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. Look for caravan parks close to the city boundary, or even in the city itself, for a cheap way to visit all the many attractions of Scotland’s famous cities.
Find out more
If you are looking for more tips about the best places to visit in your campervan in Scotland this summer, you only have to ask the friendly team at Open Road Scotland. The website also has lots of information about Scottish campervan and motor home hire Open Road Scotland is conveniently based near Glasgow Airport in Central Scotland.