Camping Scotland. Where to next?

[Chicken Chaser]

Looking to get up to Scotland for a week in April with caravan. The last few years, Aviemore and Loch Morlich had been the go to, largely due to lake accessibility from the site, miles and miles of walking and cycling in the forest from the site and an on site bar and a couple of places to eat and stock up in Aviemore. There's nothing better than making up breakfast, eating it by the loch then going out on a cycle or a walk through forestry before passing by the pub on the way back for a beer. The Cairngorms is big country, but the trails around there never feel too remote and you can pick your difficulty and distance with ease and with fairly young kids, that works well for us. Morlich has watersport activities on the loch. When the kids and wife want to relax, I can generally get out on the eMTB for a blast down the trails nearby.

I'm looking for something with a similar theme, relaxed for families, plenty to do from the site.

I've visited several parts of Scotland but a lot of sites haven't had any buzz about them, seems to be catered for the older crowd who would rather pitch up based on the strength of their TV signal rather than those who want to be out adventuring.

Are there any places rivalling the camping at Morlich?

[POIDH]

Ballater would work - there's a community owned campsite, and while not the lovely wooded site at Morlich, it's a very nice site on the edge of town. Town itself has lots to do, amazing cycling, walking, swimming and spa stuff at the nice hotels.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z2pPRe4QjZ2eGijf6

Galloway Sailing Centre - great activities on site, some riding, Castle Douglas about 10 miles away.
https://www.lochken.co.uk/accommodation/glamping/l...

Pitlochry has lots and lots to do, great area around it. I've never stayed on any campsites though as I'm local....Same for Aberfeldy.

[Blink982]

https://www.clachtollbeachcampsite.com/ Clachtoll (west coast) is a cracking site right next to a beautiful beach with access to free watersport activities. There are no pubs or restaurants so you have to provide your own food and entertainment but it has a fantastic communal area where you can cook and drink and they often have live music. It’s an amazing campsite with a great vibe. It also has other beaches (Achmelvic) and campsites nearby and on the rest of the NC500 route. Achmelvic would actually be another option.

I can second Ballater and Pitlochry (Milton of Fonab). Both are lovely little places. I’d also add Aboyne, Callender, Durness to the list.

If you like Aviemore, have you tried Dalraddy? Its a lovely site further out with loads for kids to do, on site catering and nice secluded pitches in the woods.

Edited by Blink982 on Saturday 11th January 03:37

[Nico Adie]

Leachive Caravan Park in Knapdale is a great little site with lots of access to nature and quiet roads surrounding it for cycling, as well as lots of forestry tracks if you want to go MTBing. Great location for kayaking/boating too.

[Chicken Chaser]

zedmtrappe said:

I'll be up there for a driving holiday in early April also - may I please request that you leave the caravan at home ? ??

Don't worry, unless you're doing over the NSL, you won't catch me. If you want to go over, I'm sure you'll have the means to get past.

[Chicken Chaser]

Chicken Chaser said:

Don't worry, unless you're doing over the NSL, you won't catch me. If you want to go over, I'm sure you'll have the means to get past.

We've booked Loch Linhe and Blair Drummond for our two spots. Loch Linhe for all outdoor stuff and Blair Drummond will give us some time at the safari park.