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Hi Me and the wife are heading up to Scotland 8-24th July in the T5 camper. We would like to go to Loch Fyne and Lomond etc . Its the first holiday without the kids are they are now officially adults and we've hung to the camper for this purpose. I did a bit of 'wild camping' on a visit to Kirroughtree just parked the van and then hit the trails. Â My questions are - after reading up on this regards visiting these lochs & areas are, Â should I book somewhere before I head off as I've seen its suggested booking for camper vans as opposed to just parking up etc. Â What is the riding like, I can take one of 3 bikes FS XC weapon, Mason ISO or TCR road. I've ridden in Scotland a few times but always the trails I don't mind a bit of road riding though which of these is best suited for a real experience. Â
All suggestions, knowledge, experience would be greatly appreciated- thanks
Harvey
Surprised you didn't just sleep in the van at Kirroughtree 😉
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But back to the question. Even thirty years ago ned camping around loch Lomond was a really problem, and I'm sure it's got worse with the rise of vanlife. So I'd be inclined to try to book a campsite in advance as you sayÂ
Indeed camping by the roadside "in season" is basically impossible now. Between no camping areas and a huge line of numpties piling into every free layby or space, it's better to avoid and just book proper sites unless you have really good local knowledge.Â
That said, many sites will be booked full at this late stage as it is holidays up here.
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loch lomond national park has a ban on roadside camping
https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/things-to-do/camping/campingbyelaws/
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given the issues caused by the huge number of camper vans attempting to roadside camp for free I would not even attempt to roadside camp in Scotland now. Â
ok from those replies I have booked 4 nights in a site next to Loch Lomond. In light of what I'm reading and picking up this seems the most respectful thing to do, just need to decide what bike to take ?Â
Off season you can still roadside camp, but even then the responsibility thing weighs heavily with me these days. There are just too many vans...
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Bike - all of them would work, I think I would look at the weather and let that decide...
I'm not long back from 12 day trip around Scotland. We stayed a few nights a Luss site for our 3rd stop. Sadly after 7 days of fine weather the clouds dropped, the temps stayed around 18 and the midges arrived in their billions. Not fun when on the shores of Loch Lomond, no breeze either to clear the clouds or the beasties.
I'd post a couple of pics of my days riding but I've unsuccessfully attempted this many times now so I won't bother getting my BP up to boiling point its hot enough today.