Where Have You Been In Your Van Today?

[AeonMach]

A long Easter weekend road trip round what I’m calling the “North East** 300 Loop”.
(That’s North East _Scotland_ but actually quite north for all you southerners who keep talking about the north… ;-p.
A road trip I planned based on the North East 250 route but missing out the mountains - I know them well anyway and will save them for a summer road trip with Mrs Mac.)

Roughly starting in Perth (from home on the west coast near Loch Lomond - life’s tough) across to Dundee and the Angus coast (Arbroath, Montrose…), then Stonehaven and Dunottar Castle, Aberdeen, east coach dunes and beaches, Aberdeenshire Moray Firth coastal villages, then looping back south via Strathspey (distilleries incl. Strathisla and The Macallan where Mrs Mac was so enjoying her trip that she allowed purchasing of said whisky!).

Let me know if anyone wants more route details. I have a full Google map list of stuff!!
Slàinte.

Dunottar Castle:


Stonehaven harbour:








If Carlsberg did wild campervanning spots:


A very cute old distillery (and the home of Chivas Regal - the first blended scotch luxury/prestige brand?)




Guess where?


In the Rothiemurchus forest near Aviemore.

 

[jamesmack]

A long Easter weekend road trip round what I’m calling the “North East** 300 Loop”.
(That’s North East _Scotland_ but actually quite north for all you southerners who keep talking about the north… ;-p.
A road trip I planned based on the North East 250 route but missing out the mountains - I know them well anyway and will save them for a summer road trip with Mrs Mac.)

Roughly starting in Perth (from home on the west coast near Loch Lomond - life’s tough) across to Dundee and the Angus coast (Arbroath, Montrose…), then Stonehaven and Dunottar Castle, Aberdeen, east coach dunes and beaches, Aberdeenshire Moray Firth coastal villages, then looping back south via Strathspey (distilleries incl. Strathisla and The Macallan where Mrs Mac was so enjoying her trip that she allowed purchasing of said whisky!).

Let me know if anyone wants more route details. I have a full Google map list of stuff!!
Slàinte.

Dunottar Castle:
View attachment 235158

Stonehaven harbour:
View attachment 235160


View attachment 235161


View attachment 235162

If Carlsberg did wild campervanning spots:
View attachment 235163

A very cute old distillery (and the home of Chivas Regal - the first blended scotch luxury/prestige brand?)
View attachment 235164

View attachment 235165

Guess where?
View attachment 235166

In the Rothiemurchus forest near Aviemore.


View attachment 235167

Lovely mate, looks like you've had a great break away!

 

[993porky]

@AeonMach hi I’m heading up near Stirling next week with kids if you have any ideas on bits of places worth a visit or details of your route for future trips that would be great
Thanks
Paul

 

[PBLP]

Let me know if anyone wants more route details. I have a full Google map list of stuff!!
Slàinte.

A long Easter weekend road trip round what I’m calling the “North East** 300 Loop”.
(That’s North East _Scotland_ but actually quite north for all you southerners who keep talking about the north… ;-p.
A road trip I planned based on the North East 250 route but missing out the mountains - I know them well anyway and will save them for a summer road trip with Mrs Mac.)

Roughly starting in Perth (from home on the west coast near Loch Lomond - life’s tough) across to Dundee and the Angus coast (Arbroath, Montrose…), then Stonehaven and Dunottar Castle, Aberdeen, east coach dunes and beaches, Aberdeenshire Moray Firth coastal villages, then looping back south via Strathspey (distilleries incl. Strathisla and The Macallan where Mrs Mac was so enjoying her trip that she allowed purchasing of said whisky!).

Let me know if anyone wants more route details. I have a full Google map list of stuff!!
Slàinte.

Dunottar Castle:
View attachment 235158

Stonehaven harbour:
View attachment 235160


View attachment 235161


View attachment 235162

If Carlsberg did wild campervanning spots:
View attachment 235163

A very cute old distillery (and the home of Chivas Regal - the first blended scotch luxury/prestige brand?)
View attachment 235164

View attachment 235165

Guess where?
View attachment 235166

In the Rothiemurchus forest near Aviemore.


View attachment 235167

Looked like a fab trip, would love to see your map recommendations if your happy to share

 

[roadtripper]

@AeonMach hi I’m heading up near Stirling next week with kids if you have any ideas on bits of places worth a visit or details of your route for future trips that would be great
Thanks
Paul

The Falkirk Wheel is a good place to visit if you're into your interesting engineering

The Falkirk Wheel Forth & Clyde

www.scottishcanals.co.uk

 

[PBLP]

Our first overnighter in the party box!
We had a night near Snowdon and then a couple of nights on Anglesey. Lots of learnings had and things added to the shopping list, number one being a big mat for outside.

View attachment 235150

Nice setup. We use a cheap mat from Home Bargains, but can get slippy when wet

 

[AeonMach]

@AeonMach hi I’m heading up near Stirling next week with kids if you have any ideas on bits of places worth a visit or details of your route for future trips that would be great
Thanks
Paul

Ooh yes definitely: first, questions!
How well you know it?
Now long do you have there?
How old are your kids?

 

[AeonMach]

The Falkirk Wheel is a good place to visit if you're into your interesting engineering

The Falkirk Wheel Forth & Clyde

www.scottishcanals.co.uk

I mean it’s great even if you’re NOT interested in engineering just bc it’s flipping amazing!

 

[AeonMach]

Looked like a fab trip, would love to see your map recommendations if your happy to share

DM me. Do you have a Google account so you can see my Google map list if I share it with you?

 

[993porky]

@AeonMach thats on my list the wheel and the kelpies the kids or 3 and 8 I will be up for about 4 days not camping in a van but using a holiday home as a base

 

[Bav]

Looked like a fab trip, would love to see your map recommendations if your happy to share

+1

 

[AeonMach]

@AeonMach thats on my list the wheel and the kelpies the kids or 3 and 8 I will be up for about 4 days not camping in a van but using a holiday home as a base

Ok here you go:
Stirling Castle - arguably better even than Edinburgh Castle
The Wallace Monument - lots of steps but the kids will enjoy it and the views (it’s like a tall castle!)
Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel
Blair Drummond safari park
The Trossachs generally for (even easy) walking and lochs and highlands-in-miniature wonderfulness! (Aberfoyle, the David Marshall Lodge Centre above it, Callander etc etc - use WalkHighlands website or app to find walks/trails)
The Allanwater Cafe in Bridge of Allan (just N of Stirling) - for fish and chips… and ice cream!
Loch Lomond - the E side isn’t far from Stirling
Doune Castle - doubly so if you’re a Monty Python fan and your mother smells of elderberries!
Dollar Glen & Castle Campbell

 

[AeonMach]

+1

I will DM you right now pal!

 

[Drive Wayne]

I will DM you right now pal!

Sorry to be needy, but could you do me too @AeonMach ?

 

[Bav]

Sorry to be needy, but could you do me too @AeonMach ?

You'll get a nosed bleed that far north mate!

 

[Drive Wayne]

You'll get a nosed bleed that far north mate!

As soon as the remaining parents 'pop off' we'll be up there faster than a fast thing on fast tablets! Sadly, for me, my 93 year old mother is in rude health and has no intention of going anywhere anytime soon!

 

[Drive Wayne]

As soon as the remaining parents 'pop off' we'll be up there faster than a fast thing on fast tablets! Sadly, for me, my 93 year old mother is in rude health and has no intention of going anywhere anytime soon!

She enjoys spending the kids inheritance! My Dad was a tight so and so who didn't like to spend ever! Him popping off in 2016 was the making of me mom! She's a happy biddy!

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

One of the best things about living in Nairn is that it doesn't appear on any of the 'routes' Not the Highland tourist route or the North East Coast, for sure not the NC500 (which TBH I now avoid like the plague in season because I remember how it was 20 years ago). So if you could all remember that Nairn doesn't have one of the best beaches in Scotland, two championship golf courses a massive coastal forest you can get lost in on a MTB or some of the best cycling, windsurfing and kayaking in the country, I would appreciate it. And please don't tell anyone you can overnight legally at the harbour watching the waves and quite possibly me surfing them.
Thats a fine list @AeonMach I will add a couple of things to my list

 

[Drive Wayne]

One of the best things about living in Nairn is that it doesn't appear on any of the 'routes' Not the Highland tourist route or the North East Coast, for sure not the NC500 (which TBH I now avoid like the plague in season because I remember how it was 20 years ago). So if you could all remember that Nairn doesn't have one of the best beaches in Scotland, two championship golf courses a massive coastal forest you can get lost in on a MTB or some of the best cycling, windsurfing and kayaking in the country, I would appreciate it. And please don't tell anyone you can overnight legally at the harbour watching the waves and quite possibly me surfing them.
Thats a fine list @AeonMach I will add a couple of things to my list

Wow! You really must try Birmingum one day, filled with Eastern promise and dodgy kebab shops! Oh and a Primark to rival all others... Good cup of coffee at my gaff though!
What's the name of that beach? We were stunned by Achmelvich on the west coast, is it betterer than that? Obviously won't mention it to anyone!

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

Wow! You really must try Birmingum one day, filled with Eastern promise and dodgy kebab shops! Oh and a Primark to rival all others... Good cup of coffee at my gaff though!
What's the name of that beach? We were stunned by Achmelvich on the west coast, is it betterer than that? Obviously won't mention it to anyone!

I was born in Coventry, made in the Royal Air Force as the saying goes so am pretty familiar with the joys of the West Midlands and to be honest I don't really enjoying going back. Its soooo busy! Have now lived in the north of Scotland since the early 90's and don't expect to leave as I ended up married to a native girl up here.
I assume you are referring to the beach in my photo and not Nairn beach which I was hoping you won't tell anyone about, keep it secret, keep it safe
The beach in the view is Achnahaird Beach. Its easily seen on the road to the Summer Isles and well worth a visit off the NC500 route. Is it better than Achmelvich, tough to decide I guess, there are loads of fantastic beaches around here. The Port A Bhaigh campsite has great views from pitches right above the beach and within easy reach of Achiltibuie. Amazing scenery around every turn. The one below is Clachtoll Beach yesterday.