The Beginner’s Guide to Planning Awesome Campervan Routes to Scotland
Feeling cooped up? Ready to go?
Are you feeling cooped up at home and want to go somewhere? Scotland seems to be a popular destination this season, especially for those who want to go there by motorhome or campervan. But just like any other trip, you need to plan your campervan routes to Scotland so you can have a stress-free journey.
In this blog post, we will tell you what you need to know in order to plan a memorable campervan trip to Scotland.
How much time you have for the entire journey
The first thing to consider when planning your route is the number of days you are willing to travel, as the driving time depends on where you’re from and where you want to go.
There are two main driving routes to Scotland: the first is via the east of England on the A1, and the other is via the west using the M6. Both routes take around six and a half hours of driving from London to the Scottish borders without stopping.
Since driving to Scotland generally takes less than a day, you can have a campervan journey for as short as a three-day weekend if you only want to make a few stops.
Travel tip #1:
Have a one-day buffer between going home and going back to work in case you decide to stay in Scotland a bit longer or you need to rest from your trip.
Where you want to go, and what you can see on the way there
Campervan trips are not just about the destination, but it’s also about the journey. The beauty of driving to Scotland is that you get the chance to visit places you might not have been able to go to if you took a different transport.
On the way to Scotland, you will already drive through exciting places depending on your route. For example, the A1 passes by Peterborough, Doncaster, Newcastle, and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The last town gives you the option to make a detour onto the A68, which gives you the hilly but scenic route over the border, though it adds an hour or so to your travel time.
From the border, the rest of Scotland awaits you. Try checking Google Maps to find what towns you will pass through on your way to your intended destination.
Travel tip #2:
Ask your travel companions where they want to go or what they want to see, so everyone has their own destination to look forward to.
Where to park your campervan for when you need to sleep
Now that you pretty much have a route in mind based on your vacation time and the places you want to visit, you also have to plan for where you will sleep. Unfortunately, you can’t just park your campervan anywhere in Scotland, but most cities and towns have campsites where you can settle overnight.
Let’s say you want to take the Angus coastal route to Aberdeen, which takes almost 10 hours of driving without stopping from London. Aside from looking up the attractions that you and your family would want to visit, you should also think about where you plan to stay overnight. Luckily, you can find many caravan sites on the way there.
Travel tip #3:
Some campsites may require reservations. Before leaving for your trip, call up the places you intend to stay in to make sure that you have a spot when you drive up to the area after a long day of driving.