Category Archives: UK

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 5

We left Helmsdale harbour and headed north again with a bearing of John o Groats, we stopped at another lovely little harbour called Lybster Harbour.

It’s a long winding road down with plenty of passing places and parking at the bottom even for my 7.1m Motorhome.

As with a lot of these places the cafe, information centres and toilets were all closed so after a walk around the harbour wall we carried on with our journey.

We then carried on, we arrived at a very busy John o groats, we managed to find a place to park and paid the £2 donation for parking (per day) then went for a walk around the shops and take some photos.

All the stickers have been removed from the sign post and a separate board erected just for stickers 🙂

After having some lunch we headed to Dunnet Head for our free night stop. They have stopped parking on the actual car park at Dunnet Head but we managed to get a space just before you enter on the right hand side.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 4

We left Fortrose and headed north, we diverted off to the Falls of Shin.

Large car park with plenty of spaces for Motorhome’s, coffee shop and usually a visitor centre open but Covid has currently closed it.

There are a few walks around the woods and one that takes you along the falls, not a great view of the actual water as you walk through, such a shame, but pleasant enough for a wander.

There was a platform for salmon watching, large enough for 6-8 people to watch them jumping up the falls, we watched a couple of small ones but not much activity.

We then headed to Brora Harbour for some lunch, an old fishing hamlet but very pretty and worth a visit.

We then headed on to our stop for the night, Helmsdale, you can park in the harbour if space or the pub allows stopover if you eat in, we were lucky to find a lovely spot overlooking the water and watched a seal 10-15ft in front us pop up every now and again for air, we did the try the fish and chips from the village as they come very highly rated, big portions but Karen said the fish was a little over cooked, the fish cakes however were great and did i mention the portion sizes!

I only ordered singles but for some reason got double of everything.

They do ask if you stop over to put a donation in the RNLI box by the life boats, worth a fiver at the very least!
The best I could get sorry, but it was nice to watch him surface.
Campsite, NC500, UK

NC500 2020 Day 3

We left Loch Lochy heading too Loch Ness, we arrived at Fort Augustus and found a great car park with Motorhome bays that cost us £3.40 for 4 hours.

We had a lovely walk through the village and decided we would take a Loch Ness cruise with CruiseLochNess, it was absolutely brilliant at £15 per adult and dogs were welcome.

After a browse around the shops buying a few souvenirs we headed to Invermoriston Falls. Lovely free car park with a great walk through the woods to the falls themselfs.

We then headed to our overnight stop of Fortrose Bay Campsite, £22 without EHU, £25 with, All emptying facilities with amazing views on the beach over the water.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 2

After a very long drive we finally arrived in Scotland YAY

WE ARE HERE

The Satnav decided to reroute us due to heavy traffic, although I feel it actually added a few hours to our journey we did see some very nice sights.

It was again getting late, we were originally going to stay in the Foristry Commission car park at Glengarry as they have opened a lot of them up for over night stays for 2020

But as we started our journey along the Lochs we spied a lay-by stopover on the very edge of Loch Lochy with some Motorhome’s already parked, we slipped in and had a great view overlooking the water.

Amazing view to wake up to.
CAMC, NC500, UK

NC500 2020 Day 1

We started from Bournemouth, very excited about our 2 weeks touring the NC500 in the Motorhome, It’s something my wife Karen has always wanted to do so we thought we would get on with it during the Covid Restrictions restricting our European travels.

Our first stop was a CAMC stop at The Lodge, Red Hill Lane, Halmer End, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST7 8AX.

Just off J16 of the M6

A nice CL with grass and hard standing, lovely views, well laid out and pleasant owners, we were met on arrival and shown to our pitch, it was late and dark so we settled in for the night.

£12 a night without EHU or £15 with, toilets and showers (closed for Covid) all waste emptying and fresh water if required.

Morning View
MCC, UK

Warren Farm, Dawlish Warren

Our first rally after lockdown, although for the moment they are called “Temporary Campsites (TC)”.

Day 1: We arrived around 11:30 Saturday Morning, lovely weather with just about a sea view.

All Pitched Up.
Around 40 Vans altogether.

We walked into Dawlish along the coastal path, started enclosed but then opened up and then was right along the waters edge, had chips for lunch and walked along the river watching the ducks and black swans

Lovely Walk along the railway line.
Great place for Ice Cream, Cream Teas or Pasties.
The Home of the Black Swan.
Lots of places to sit and ponder.

Day Two:

Lazy day today, started to glorious sunshine and pretty much stayed the same all day, the wind was a little chilly out of the sun but out of the shade it was very nice, we had a lovely home made Afternoon Tea in the van, perfect.

Delicious
Campsite, UK

Berry Barton Caravan Park

We arrived after a very scary drive through roads that Motorhome’s should not venture down, large field on top of a hill, waste, water and CDP.

Showers and toilets available if you want them.

Lovely sunset.

We walked 7 miles there and back down to the cove, it was a lovely walk through the Branscombe village and well worth it.

Ending up at Branscombe Beach cove, a lovely location with cafe, beach, car park and glorious coastal walks.