Scottish camper holiday with kids, any advice?

Don't travel too far - Scotland is a big old place, and there's lots to do.

West coast - do you fancy some island visits, either day or overnight? Taking a camper needs you to book ferries way ahead. Day on foot or bike, just turn up.

Midges can be a pain but wind will also keep them down. It is what it is some evenings, but most it's ok.

What type of activities are 'typical' for you? We basically spent our family holidays outdoors, but that would be my sister's worst nightmare and she would like lots of attraction/museum/pools/play areas etc.

It’s west albeit very north west. Big sands in Gairloch. Lovely site and in amongst the dunes. Being bang on the coast means midges not as bad.

Alternatively why west coast? Go elsewhere and avoid the midges. Aviemore area for lots to do?

Further east, Ballater is an absolutely great site we go there lots kids (8) love it. Great biking too.

I'm guessing as you say you have booked a camper but are considering both extremes of the UK for your trip that you have booked it local to you and are travelling to the area in the van (rather than hiring closer to your tour)? If so make the journey part of the adventure and plan in some interesting overnights on the way.

Personally a camper (mind you, you didn't say what size it is) in Devon or Cornwall in high season would be my idea of hell, especially if you are planning on moving about much.

Scotland - you'll have heard of the NC500, and what locals think of it. It does make a substantial difference to how crowded you'll find places and how tricky it is to book a camp spot etc but nothing like the same league as the SW of England. It's popular because it's lovely but there are plenty of other places. Also - imo, the whole nc500 is too much journeying for a fun trip for small people. And depending where you live just getting to the start alone might be quite a bit of travelling. Is there an excess mileage payment on the camper?

Whilst you have a home on wheels I'd be focusing on not overdoing the travelling - 2 or 3 days per location so you get plenty of chill time. Sands campsite as above is really excellent. Further south based around Oban could be good - A trip out to Mull, a smaller trip to kerrera or lismore. Boat trip up Loch Etive.

Oh and I'd avoid Skye for business too.

Thanks for the above, haven’t got far with planning at all but had thought about heading up into Ayrshire, spending some time there, maybe going to Islay for a couple of nights as my wife’s friend always raves about it, then maybe going up as far as the Wester Ross area and Skye, will take a look at the Gairloch site suggested thanks.

Typical stuff for us would be walking, beach, swimming, rock pooling, kids would love a wildlife boat trip if there were any. The eldest cycles fairly well now, the youngest is balance bike only so not planning lots of riding.

All the places you've heard about may be busy, more so if weather is good. Midges will drive you indoors at some point.

We've done various Scottish camper trips in the summer and one at Easter and had no problem making it up as we went along, we couldn't always get our first choice of camp spot but always managed to find somewhere to stay. Not sure what facilities your camper has, ours has a loo (not that this is essential) and can support 3 days off grid before we need to empty and refill tanks.

We started out 'wild' camping as much as possible but over the years have also enjoyed the ease of booking apps (phone signal permitting) and the knowledge you have somewhere to sleep that night beforehand. We've had the odd evening of fraying tempers with tired kids playing up, trying to find a suitable camp spot out of sight way past bedtime (it's light until 10pm). The trade off for the uncertainty is, if the weather forecast looks grim in one part, with nothing pre-booked you can head elsewhere. We have also been the only humans around in amazing locations.

For your first trip I'd suggest if your target is the popular areas then pre book and pray to the weather gods, if you head further afield then wing it. We've had some fantastic trips and the weather and midges have so far always been manageable. The kids will love it either way.

In general, holiday bookings in Scotland this summer are quite low at the moment. However, there is no way I'd set off on a family campervan holiday without booking every night in advance.

Midges can be a problem through the summer months but any breeze keeps them off and Smidge is an effective deterrent.

Ayrshire, Islay, Skye and Gairloch seems like way too much. You'll spend a lot of time driving and little exploring/having funny. I suggest you target no more than two of those, base yourself at each for a few days and enjoy them.

Arisaig area has some unbelievable beaches and options of day trips by boat to Rum, Eigg, Knoydart.

take your kite board or not. Sam is currently doing a west coast road trip with camper, kid and dogs - looks stunning!

It’s west albeit very north west. Big sands in Gairloch. Lovely site and in amongst the dunes. Being bang on the coast means midges not as bad.

The worst midges I've ever encountered (yes, worse even than in Glen Brittle) were at Big Sand, Gairloch.

It’s west albeit very north west. Big sands in Gairloch.

I can very much echo Big Sands - Site with a lot of good amenities without feeling like an over developed holiday park and its location is superb. The site is quite undulating and labyrinthine so although its quite large you only ever seem to have a few neighbours

Reading what you've put:

Islay is lovely, and a ferry adds to the excitement (and cost). Islay itself has a lovely off-road cycle track along the East coast from Port Charlotte to either distillery or a couple of beaches. West is ace, and offers a community campsite that should get a good breeze to keep midges away, and a nice cafe there. A day over on the ferry to Jura is also fun for wee kids - but I wouldn't take the van, just go over on foot/ bike and chill on the nearest spot the kids like. Easy to spent 4 or so days on Islay.

On the mainland not too far away there's an ace area around Tarbert, Tayvallich, Lochgilphead and Crinan. At Crinan and Kilmartin there's off-road, canalside cycling or around the beaver loch, with a hide... I would likely head there, but I've no idea of campsites other than there are a few to choose from. Another 4 days here.

I personally would then hop up to Oban, and again without moving the van, head out on ferry bourne days out to Mull (+bus to 'Balamory' for the kids), Kerrera and Lismore for walks and beaches, and another day down to Seil and Easdale. We spent a week here with very young kids (under 3 + pregnant mrs_oab) and they loved it. Finish off your fortnight here.

I know the West Coast is gorgeous an all that,but have a wee look at the Black Isle ( Fortrose-Cromarty) and that part of the east coast,it might be a bit quieter and (possibly) less midge.Some fantastic spots and a lot of what you are looking for.

Ayrshire, Islay, Skye and Gairloch seems like way too much. 

2nd this. Bits of Ayrshire are nice but it's not a patch on the other areas and including it would make for a lot of driving.

but have a wee look at the Black Isle

I personally wouldn't bother with that. The Black Isle is nice enough but really nothing special. If I was to recommend NE I'd say Moray coast or Caithness.

Crinan area seconded (we stayed at Lochgilphead site, it’s fine) buts the canal (towards crinan) early in the morning with the sun out and the mist lying (*yes it may not be like that for you) was stunning.

Could try a day trip to Gigha (*better if you have bikes) but it’s a small island and I think they have canoe etc hire near the pier.

We loved Islay and the bike based day to Colonsay (*yet another sunny perfect day), was just tropical (island lap on bikes, check out the machir on the cart track n of The stunning Kiloran bay (* very limited ferries), Jura is very, very very linear and had the most midges by far.

You could go via Arran, to Crinan, Arran is lovely, some nice cycling and the campsite at kildonan (seal shore) had awesome views (and you can cycle mostly off-road after Kilmory and do a loop to whiting bay, the giants grave etc, (or lamlash), campsite in Lochranza has (*awhile ago) a nice restaurant, great cafe in the nearby distillery , red deer and lots of midges roaming around.

I wouldn’t bother with Ayrshire to be honest unless there’s something specific you want to do. An island would be great. Long way from Islay/Oban up to Gairloch but it’s stunning and Big Sands as mentioned above is excellent. It’s by the beach and can be breezy so good for keeping the midgies away as they can be a problem in August. Worth mentioning East Coast (including Aviemore) suffers from midgies too though not as bad.

Area around Crinan etc. is bloody lovely as
Mentioned above and a lot quieter than other areas too.

I’d probably avoid Mallaig/Arisaig area with a camper in August - massive issue with overcrowding and spoiling around there (I’m loca-ish).

Back to Gairloch again - the area slightly further north round Poolewe is gorgeous.

Whatever you do will be ruined by midges so buy lots of Smidge, and take a look at the Smidge Forecast. https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/ and get some midge nets just in case. Avon Skin So Soft as well. Then have fun - and you’ll have the usual three and half seasons of weather in a day.

Book your sites every day. Removes one massive source of stress. Book your ferries if you're going to any island removes another stress. Weather and midges, that's out of your hands or you could go east. I live in the West rain and midges and all that it's just the best

If the sun is out midges rest until evening but the Begbie from trainspotting clegs will bite yir bum and drawing blood to the surface Perthshire, Aviemore and most of the west coast. Angus ,Fife or East Lothian should escape

If you have a reason to start in Ayrshire then do but so much more to see if Scotland than Ayrshire.

As already mentioned west coast for me would be few days in Lochgilphead then head down to arran and down to Campbeltown for some nice beaches which won’t be busy before back upto islay and Jura then upto Oban.

If you need any more ideas around Argyll then get in touch luck enough to stay near Crinan and commute along the canal daily.

Avon Skin So Soft as well.

No.
It never really did. And it certainly doesn't now with the new forumla. Old wives tales...

When we were paddling the Great Glen lots of people in campers had a gazebo with mesh sides for sitting in on warm evenings. Might be useful.

Thank you for all the responses, that gives me loads to go on, will take a look at all the suggestions, the only reason I mention Ayrshire was a stop on the way up but happy to drop it out, I don’t know Scotland at all, will be coming from Cotswolds.

We did a trip a couple of years ago when ours were 7 and 10. Picked it up in Edinburgh and headed to visit relatives near Dundee and Aberdeen before heading to Aviemore for a few days. Then north to more relatives (it was post lock down, we hadn't seen any in ages!) between Bonar and Ullapool then down to Loch Ness then Fort William and then Loch Lomond before stopping at Blair Drummond for the safari. Ended with a couple of days in Edinburgh.

Worst place for midges was Loch Ness campsite. proper evil but kids loved the boat trip (got to steer the boat but never saw Nessie) and seeing the locks at Fort Augustus.

Highlights were just paddling around at Loch Morlich (youngest caught a fish with his bare hands!) and they loved the Landmark centre because it had huge dinosaur models. We had beautiful weather in Fort William and mostly spent days playing in the woods and in the river in Glen Nevis which is a lovely spot. Paddle boarding and canoeing on Loch Lomond too. They loved the Safari at Blair Drummond too.

Don't drive too much, we did partly because we had people to see and spending more days in a place and having time to explore them is much better. We at least knew lots of nice places to stop and get out for and explore along the way to break it up.

Kids don't really do views but do love playing in woods, rivers, beaches rock pools etc. Ours loved playing with other kids at the campsites and those with play areas would be ideal for your kids ages.