Six Days in Scotland: Dave’s Solo Campervan Trip
Sometimes the best trips are the ones with just enough of a plan to get you moving.
Dave, who works with us here at Up Sticks & Retrofitted, and has his own Retrofitted Campervan, recently headed north for a six-day solo road trip around Scotland.
No huge itinerary. No pressure to stick to a route. Just the van, the road and a rough idea of where he wanted to go.
And, as Scotland often does, the weather ended up having the final say.
Day One: Risby to Loch Lomond
Dave set off from our Risby HQ and headed north towards Loch Lomond.
His first overnight stop was a lay-by overlooking the loch, complete with its own little gravel beach.
Not a bad first night.
With the van parked up and the water right in front of him, it was the perfect place to slow down after the long drive north and properly feel like the trip had started.
Day Two: Oban, Glencoe and Red Squirrel
The next day, Dave carried on towards Oban.
He stopped there for lunch, cooking in the campervan before heading back out on the road.
From Oban, he travelled north along the west coast, following the edges of the inner sea lochs towards Glencoe.
That evening, he stayed at Red Squirrel Campsite, tucked into one of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes.
A proper Highlands stop.
Day Three: Fort William to Applecross
From Glencoe, Dave headed through Fort William, then on towards Invergarry and eventually Applecross.
It was a full driving day, but one of those routes where the journey is very much part of the trip.
Once up at the pass, he stopped for lunch before taking a slower drive around towards Shieldaig.
That night, he found a wild camping spot on a high vantage point overlooking Loch Torridon.
One of those places where you park up, open the door and just sit for a minute.
No campsite. No facilities. Just the van, the loch and the landscape.
Day Four: A Change of Plan
Dave woke to a proper west coast storm.
With the weather coming in hard from the west, the plan to keep heading north was quickly abandoned.
And honestly, that is one of the best things about travelling by campervan.
You can change your mind.
Instead of pushing on, Dave turned east and headed towards the Cairngorms and Braemar.
That night, he wild camped overlooking Glas Maol, surrounded by the mountains and open landscape of the Cairngorms.
A completely different kind of scenery from the west coast, but every bit as impressive.
Day Five: Braemar to Falkirk
The following morning, Dave started heading south.
He made his way down to Falkirk to visit the Falkirk Wheel, stopping there for lunch.
After days of lochs, mountains and wild camping, it was a bit of a change of pace — but that’s part of the fun of a road trip.
You can go from remote mountain roads to one of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks in the space of a few hours.
Day Six: Moffat and the Road Home
For his final night, Dave headed down towards Moffat.
He found a peaceful spot beside a stream, beneath the towering rocks of Mount Coomb, and parked up for one last night on the road.
The next morning, it was time to point the van south and head back to Suffolk.
Six days.
A lot of miles.
A few changes of plan.
And some absolutely brilliant places to wake up.
What Dave’s Trip Reminded Us
You don’t always need a perfectly planned route.
Sometimes it’s enough to know roughly where you’re heading, keep an eye on the weather and let the trip unfold as you go.
Scotland is especially good for that.
One day you can be parked beside a loch on the west coast, the next surrounded by mountains in the Cairngorms.
And if the weather changes?
Change the plan.
That’s the freedom of travelling by campervan.
Dave’s Route
Risby
→ Loch Lomond
→ Oban
→ Glencoe
→ Fort William
→ Invergarry
→ Applecross
→ Shieldaig / Loch Torridon
→ Braemar / Cairngorms
→ Falkirk
→ Moffat
→ Suffolk
Thinking About Your Own Scotland Trip?
Scotland is one of those places that just works by campervan.
Whether you want a carefully planned route or something a little more spontaneous, having your own little home on wheels gives you the freedom to change plans as you go.
If Dave’s trip has inspired you, take a look at our campervans and start planning your own escape.
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