Scotland off-grid

[Bigsidavies]

@SPR75 what did you decide in the end? I'm also hoping to do a jaunt to Scotland this year, but would only have a week. Journey start would be Darlington for us.

If you’ve only got a week then maybe look at doing the NE 250 which is basically an Edinburgh to Inverness loop. We’ve done that a couple of times. There are good aires at Arbroath and Findhorn and Kingsbarns amongst others.
You can have a stop at Fortrose bay and go watch the dolphins at Chanonry point, which can be quite spectacular.
Or alternatively go and do a loop of Dumfries and Galloway and the Mull of Galloway. We did that at the end of last year after spending a few days with friends at their place in Gatehouse of Fleet. Some beautiful places up there.
Sunset over the Morne Mountains from the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.
You can stay overnight there too.

 

[clansman]

Midgie forecast:- usually late May to late September worst during calm damp weather in sheltered areas by lochs and rivers are worst, dry weather out in the open with a breeze no problem. You can buy anti midge spray ons etc. and if you do get bitten a dab of Essence of Lavender on the spots I find is very soothing.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Midgie forecast:- usually late May to late September worst during calm damp weather in sheltered areas by lochs and rivers are worst, dry weather out in the open with a breeze no problem. You can buy anti midge spray ons etc. and if you do get bitten a dab of Essence of Lavender on the spots I find is very soothing.

Its amazing most of GB get a weather broadcast rain wind what ever. The highlands get midge forecasts and the midge swarms have to be seen to be believed. I live in the country and have most insects but nothing like the Scottish Highlands. Fine on a windy blustery day but hell on calm balmy evening. They even used to get into the Sligahan years ago. I always miss out midge season if I can. I do not use lavender I use a good malt but don’t dab, it just drown in it, the hang over gives one something else to feel miserable about.

 

[JDC]

Midgie forecast:- usually late May to late September worst during calm damp weather in sheltered areas by lochs and rivers are worst, dry weather out in the open with a breeze no problem. You can buy anti midge spray ons etc. and if you do get bitten a dab of Essence of Lavender on the spots I find is very soothing.

I was talking to the locals in Fort William last week about them and they say it's a nightmare. They all said that sprays etc don't work that well, your still getting bit. I'm hoping this job gets done before April in that case!!
I'm in Kilmarnock after there, what's the midgie update like for that area??

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I was talking to the locals in Fort William last week about them and they say it's a nightmare. They all said that sprays etc don't work that well, your still getting bit. I'm hoping this job gets done before April in that case!!
I'm in Kilmarnock after there, what's the midgie update like for that area??

You will no get any midgies in Kilmarnock.
They are only bad in the summer and mainly come out at night.
The west coast of Scotland is by far the worst but central Scotland around lochs and rivers can be bad also. But most of Scotland isn’t too bad especially in towns and cities.

 

[JDC]

That's good to know. Cheers.

 

[Greybeard]

I'd be worried if there was midges with that much snow, if the bastids evolve to survive sub zero temps then it's game over man, game over!

I need to get up to Scotland in winter at some point, the snow on the hills just looks so much nicer than the grey wet SE.

Or the even greyer, wetter SW

 

[Bav]

I'd be worried if there was midges with that much snow, if the bastids evolve to survive sub zero temps then it's game over man, game over!

I need to get up to Scotland in winter at some point, the snow on the hills just looks so much nicer than the grey wet SE.

Or the even greyer, wetter SW

Ooh - living in the tree-less rainforest that is the Pennines, I like playing this type of game.

 

[Greybeard]

Ooh - living in the tree-less rainforest that is the Pennines, I like playing this type of game.

I’ll fold. Game’s well over my head now….

 

[TallPaul_S]

Or the even greyer, wetter SW

Ooh - living in the tree-less rainforest that is the Pennines, I like playing this type of game.

At least you guys have nice beaches and mountains/hills to look at/surf/walk, my biggest hill is 150m above sea level and local 'beaches' are the Thames estuary!

 

[Drive Wayne]

Second best solar day of the year in sunny Walsallshire!
100 watt hour yield and 44 watts max on my baby 180 watt panel!
Roasting....

 

[Bav]

At least you guys have nice beaches and mountains/hills to look at/surf/walk, my biggest hill is 150m above sea level and local 'beaches' are the Thames estuary!

Not many beaches here in landlocked West Yorkshire, but plenty of hills.

 

[Greybeard]

At least you guys have nice beaches and mountains/hills to look at/surf/walk, my biggest hill is 150m above sea level and local 'beaches' are the Thames estuary!

My nearest beaches lie at the lower reaches of the Severn Estuary….

 

[Greybeard]

Not many beaches here in landlocked West Yorkshire, but plenty of hills.

Yeah, suppose we’re marginally closer in landlocked (except when the Avon floods again) West Wiltshire…

 

[TallPaul_S]

Second best solar day of the year in sunny Walsallshire!
100 watt hour yield and 44 watts max on my baby 180 watt panel!
Roasting....

View attachment 273124

Not much better with my 300w panel tbh! Though I have noticed a bit of an increase in the watts, haven't hit 60w for a couple of months with the low sun!

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Not many beaches here in landlocked West Yorkshire, but plenty of hills.

This is just 5 minutes down the road from me

 

[SPR75]

@SPR75 what did you decide in the end? I'm also hoping to do a jaunt to Scotland this year, but would only have a week. Journey start would be Darlington for us.

Hello!!! And Hello one and all; comments on this post are great, excellent feedback!
Been offline for a while, life getting in the way of living n'all that! I hope you're all well, and getting prepped for the year's adventures ahead!?
*dalesrunner - so, in the end, I took a recce to Dumfries & Galloway, following advice here. Foolishly missed the castle I was aiming for; made my way to the filming site of The Wicker Man. Took a drive over to the Mull of Galloway, and visit the lighthouse and surrounding area there. Then up to the Forest & the site of Bruce's Stone. All over 3 days, and hit two camping sites, rather than off-grid (this time) First time out so, much learning to be done, both of the area, and staying out.
Following this post, and will certainly be learning from it further.

Who here has plans to this year, and where next?

Cheers all. Much love.

@SPR75 what did you decide in the end? I'm also hoping to do a jaunt to Scotland this year, but would only have a week. Journey start would be Darlington for us.

 

[SPR75]

If you’ve only got a week then maybe look at doing the NE 250 which is basically an Edinburgh to Inverness loop. We’ve done that a couple of times. There are good aires at Arbroath and Findhorn and Kingsbarns amongst others.
You can have a stop at Fortrose bay and go watch the dolphins at Chanonry point, which can be quite spectacular.
Or alternatively go and do a loop of Dumfries and Galloway and the Mull of Galloway. We did that at the end of last year after spending a few days with friends at their place in Gatehouse of Fleet. Some beautiful places up there.View attachment 272994
Sunset over the Morne Mountains from the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.
You can stay overnight there too.

Ahh...so I could have just stayed over in the carpark out the front of it!?

 

[Bigsidavies]

Ahh...so I could have just stayed over in the carpark out the front of it!?

Unofficially yes.
There’s also an overnight spot at the spit of Galloway according to search for sites, where the farmer charges £2.50 per person.
We carried on to the Isle of Whithorn and stayed in the car park of the Steam Packet inn and had dinner there. Food and beer there is very good.

 

[AeonMach]

If you’ve only got a week then maybe look at doing the NE 250 which is basically an Edinburgh to Inverness loop. We’ve done that a couple of times. There are good aires at Arbroath and Findhorn and Kingsbarns amongst others.
You can have a stop at Fortrose bay and go watch the dolphins at Chanonry point, which can be quite spectacular.
Or alternatively go and do a loop of Dumfries and Galloway and the Mull of Galloway. We did that at the end of last year after spending a few days with friends at their place in Gatehouse of Fleet. Some beautiful places up there.
Sunset over the Morne Mountains from the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.
You can stay overnight there too.

Hi Guy's...

Thinking about taking my first journey in the bus to Scotland.
Any suggestions for a good spot, or site for a van with facilities; mountain, lake, dark skies views? I'm off grid, but new to the process and going alone.

Many Thanks.

Aye as @Bigsidavies notes Galloway (and the SW of Scotland generally) is a really good underrated location. And particularly handy if you’ve only got a week so that you aren’t losing days in travel…

I’ve done a few of these maps now collating all my research and knowledge from my own trips (places, food & drink, stopover location incl both some campsites and free/off-grid spots!), so here’s my (custom Google) SW Scotland map:

SW Scotland (Aeon Mach’s road trips) – Google My Maps

SW Scotland trip map incl Galloway, Kircudbrightshire, Dumfriesshire

www.google.com

If you - or anyone else - uses it then give me feedback on anything pls!


(PS I’ve got one of these too for the NE which includes an itinerary that I call the NE300!)

(PPS I live here in Scotland - near Loch Lomond - and I know a lot of it pretty damn well!)