This blog is in partnership with the The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show. I’ve been invited to attend the show which is on at the SECC, Glasgow between Thursday the 6th of February and Sunday the 9th. This is the biggest show of it’s kind in Scotland and the perfect event to attend if you’re planning an adventurous trip around Scotland. I’ve always wanted a camper van, for a photographer a camper van would be perfect. I could just park up somewhere and wake up at a sunset location instead of getting up at stupid o’clock. The freedom would be fantastic! The show isn’t only exhibiting campervans and motorhomes, there will also be lodges, tents and even boats on display. My boyfriends eyes lit up when I told him this, being from an island boats are life. There will also be a farmers market with a selection of local products from all over Scotland to sample.
So to give you some inspiration for a great Scottish getaway here are my top five places to visit. They are all in Argyll as in my totally biased opinion Argyll is the best part of Scotland. This area is also relatively undiscovered by the masses which is also an advantage.
NO.5 Saligo Bay, Islay.
Islay, Queen of the Hebrides and home of my maternal family has much more to offer than just whisky, although that is pretty good too. Islay is home too a variety of wildlife, fascinating history (Finlaggan was home to the Lord’s of the Isle’s) and wildly beautiful beaches which are my personal favourite part of Islay. The west coast beaches are world class, with steep dunes, golden sands and never ending horizons. I love heading over to Saligo Bay on summer evenings to photograph the sunset. There is very rarely anyone else around which is wonderful. I’ve always thought that the machir land above the beach would be a perfect place to camp or park up a motorhome. Ending the day with a glass or two of wine with the soothing sound of the Atlantic below would be my ideal of perfection.
It’s worth noting that the roads on Islay, like in most of rural Argyll, are single track so it’s important to know how to drive them safely and courteously. Even more so if you are travelling in a larger vehicle like a motorhome. The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show offers manoeuvring and towing sessions so I would say it would be worth popping along for this alone if you are new to touring.
NO.4 Kilmartin Glen
This small glen has one of the riches neolithic and Bronze Age landscapes you’ll find in mainland Britain. There are over 800 ancient monument which stretch back over 5000 years. The monuments include Standing Stones, Burial Cairns and Rock Art. The best examples of standing stones can be found at Nether Largie and Ballymeanoch. I live around 10 minutes drive from these stones so have visited many times but they never fail to arouse my curiosity; who made them? Why did they position them here? How did they move such large lumps of stone? They are also fantastic to photograph, last winter I managed to capture the stones with the Northern Lights dancing above.
You’ll also find Dunadd Fort in Kilmartin Glen, this rocky mound is a distinct feature in the otherwise flat glen as it rises above Moine Mhor. This hill has 2000 years of human history but is probably best known for being the powerhouse of the first Gaelic Kings of Dalriada. At the top of the hill you’ll find a stab of rock with a human footprint carved into the stone. It is thought that this is where the Kings placed their foot when they were inaugurated.
NO.3 Westport Beach
Westport beach is arguably the best beach on mainland Argyll and the drive down is equally spectacular. The beach stretches for 6 glorious sandy miles at the southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula. Dunes line the beach and among the dunes at the southern tip of the beach you’ll find Machrihanish golf course. Apparently this course has the best opening hole in the world. I can’t confirm or deny this as I know nothing about golf but I can tell you it’s very, very pretty. Anyway getting back to the beach itself. You’ll easily spot the Hebridean islands of Jura, Islay, Gigha and even Northern Ireland on a clear day. The beach also offers the best views of the Mull of Kintyre immortalised by Paul McCartney and Wings.
During the summer months surfers flock to Westport beach to ride the Atlantic rollers which sweep in on westerly winds. I don’t surf but the waves are one of my favourite features of the beach. They are great to watch and I always feel invigorated after being by the sea. It’s worth noting that Westport isn’t a safe beach to swim at, there are very strong undercurrents and the additional risk of getting washed against the rocks. But it’s a great place for a walk, a paddle and to watch the sunset.
NO.2 The Knapdale Peninsula
The Knapdale Peninsula is where I spend the majority of my time photographing and searching for wildlife. In fact I could write an entire essay on this part of the county however I will condense things down as much as possible for this blog. The peninsula’s main attractions are the spectacular scenery, rich variety of wildlife and the hidden remains from the past. The scenery is easy to see with sweeping vistas across to the Hebrides, quiet beaches, dense forests and pretty wee lochs. My personal favourite locations are Kilmory beach and the Dunardry forest trails.
You’ll have to look a wee bit harder to spot wildlife but with silence and patience you are usually rewarded. The big five can be found here which are otters, red deer, red squirrels, seals and golden eagles. I’ve seen all at various times but have a lack of photographic evidence to prove this. Basically I need a bigger lens, anyway I digress. In 2009 Knapdale was at the heart of the beaver reintroduction project which was extremely successful and there are now a healthy populations of beavers in the area.
Remains of the past are scattered all over the Knapdale peninsula. The ancient chapels of Kilmory and Keils are the guardians of medieval stone carvings. Hidden among hills and woods you’ll also find haunting ruins like those at Archionan. The villagers of this small township were forced from their homes during the clearances but not without putting up a fight and causing a riot. Another ruin which is definitely worth visiting is Castle Sween, this is thought to be the oldest castle on mainland Scotland. This castle was once the strong hold of the MacDonald Lord of the Isles and is conveniently right beside a caravan park off the same name.
NO.1 The Ross of Mull
The entire island of Mull is striking but the south of the island is extra special. The mountain and coastal views are breathtaking and there is an abundance of wildlife however by favourite part of this area is the hidden coves and beaches. On a summers day there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
Of all the beaches Traigh Bhan Na Sgurra and Traigh na Margaidh are the most beautiful. They are completely hidden away from the world and very rarely visited. This may be because they are challenging to get to, there is a lot of clambering and traversing over rough ground but it you are fit and competent it’s absolutely worth the effort. Every summer Simon and I say we are going to camp on one of these beaches. Cooking up a wee barbecue of freshly caught fish, sitting cider while the sun sets and falling asleep to the waves sounds like heaven. Annoyingly we have not yet done so but I hope this year will be the year. We can maybe pick up some camping equipment while at the caravan show this week.
I hope you have enjoyed my guide to touring around Argyll and that it has given you some inspiration for your next adventure. I’m heading to The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show this Thursday to see what’s on offer and to get some ideas for our next adventure. I’ll be posting what I get up to on the day on my Instagram account so please follow along if you are interested. If you’d like to attend the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home show then book your tickets online at https://www.caravanshowscotland.com/book-tickets.