East Coast up to Balmoral - Sites help, wild and not
Discussion
I did post this in travel and holidays originally but didn't get anything, having though about it, it was probably better here...
Having completed our van conversion last year we are now looking to do some touring in the UK to test it out properly before heading to Europe later in the year. With that in mind we are looking to spend 6 days touring up to Balmoral via the East Coast. We have chosen this route as neither of us have spent much time in these directions.
Thus far the plan is to set off from Milton Keynes very late on the Sunday (15th July if it makes any difference) making it to Balmoral on the Thursday lunchtime-ish. The return will see us coming back via a more direct route staying with some friends in Windemere on the Saturday night and then home on the Sunday.
Looking for recommendations on routes and places to stay on the way up and when there! Appreciate I am looking to cover alot of miles in a short space of time going up the East Coast, we are happy to cover miles in chunks in one go, sort of looking to do a few hours a day. This is the kind of thing we want to do, its just a drag and drop of Google Maps so its not taking stops or even anything of relevance into account but it gives the gist!
Having completed our van conversion last year we are now looking to do some touring in the UK to test it out properly before heading to Europe later in the year. With that in mind we are looking to spend 6 days touring up to Balmoral via the East Coast. We have chosen this route as neither of us have spent much time in these directions.
Thus far the plan is to set off from Milton Keynes very late on the Sunday (15th July if it makes any difference) making it to Balmoral on the Thursday lunchtime-ish. The return will see us coming back via a more direct route staying with some friends in Windemere on the Saturday night and then home on the Sunday.
Looking for recommendations on routes and places to stay on the way up and when there! Appreciate I am looking to cover alot of miles in a short space of time going up the East Coast, we are happy to cover miles in chunks in one go, sort of looking to do a few hours a day. This is the kind of thing we want to do, its just a drag and drop of Google Maps so its not taking stops or even anything of relevance into account but it gives the gist!
Northumberland beaches, Alnmouth, Alnwick.
Good campsite at Eyemouth, mostly statics but with a few touring pitches. Right on the coastal path and a short walk into Eyemouth for seriously fresh fish. St. Abbs Head nearby.
Another large decent campsite near North Berwick with views across the Firth. Scottish Aviation Museum nearby with a Concorde you can get into.
If you're going to Balmoral for the royal thing, is Britannia still open for tours near Leith/Edinburgh?
A93 road over to Braemar (Glenshee Pass IIRC) is lovely, as long as your van isn't wheezy. Pitlochry's a good base for the night before.
Another good campsite in Ballater which is a very genteel Deeside town close to Balmoral.
Good campsite at Eyemouth, mostly statics but with a few touring pitches. Right on the coastal path and a short walk into Eyemouth for seriously fresh fish. St. Abbs Head nearby.
Another large decent campsite near North Berwick with views across the Firth. Scottish Aviation Museum nearby with a Concorde you can get into.
If you're going to Balmoral for the royal thing, is Britannia still open for tours near Leith/Edinburgh?
A93 road over to Braemar (Glenshee Pass IIRC) is lovely, as long as your van isn't wheezy. Pitlochry's a good base for the night before.
Another good campsite in Ballater which is a very genteel Deeside town close to Balmoral.
Edited by Darryl247W on Tuesday 13th February 22:47
I can't help with very much south of the border right out on the east coast. The furthest East on the A1 side we've stopped has been Sherwood Forest (where there is a lovely site on the river Maun East of Mansfield) & outside York, nice city, crappy site but it did let us day trip to Scarborough. Worth a wander along the beach and up to the castle ruins if you are in the area.
Once near the border however, Ord House at Berwick is nice and the town is an interesting place to spend a few hours, a lot of history in the area (mostly of conflict!). Bamburgh/Seahouses area is popular and scenic though we've never actually stayed on any of the sites there as yet. There is one that reads well on reviews and has its own health club and pool. The one time we were free to go they were booked up and they weren't cheap either, sadly the name escapes me.
Thurston Manor at Innerwick would be ok for a stop over but there isn't a huge amount in the area (bar Torness nuclear power station) though its close to North Berwick which has a couple of nice restaurants.
If you've never been to Edinburgh you really should visit, its a pretty city and while very tourist heavy, there is loads to see and do. You could spend two weeks here and be busy every day.
Britannia, The castle, Holyrood Park/Arthurs Seat, Mary Kings Close, The Royal Mile, multiple museums, galleries, monuments, theatres etc. Large retail areas, endless bars and restaurants.
For a camper there is Mortonhall Caravan Site or the Caravan Club at Silverknowes (members only) which are in town albeit the suburbs to the south or north ish but on public transport links.
Others are around outlying areas but would need a greater length of possibly unreliable travel (borders railway line often at capacity) or a drive in to the city, where the road system is "interesting" and parking charges so high it would almost be cheaper to pay someone minimum wage just to drive your vehicle around until you want it back. Park and rides are a better bet.
Going north, St Andrews is nice (all of the east coast of Fife is nice) and Craigtoun Meadows is lovely.
Over the Tay, Riverview Caravan Park at Monifieth is nice, quiet but right on the vast beach on the north banks of the Tay.
Pitlochry is nice for a wander about, interest dam to explore and a few nice enough sites in the area. Blair Castle have their own site which is rated highly. We weren't fussy for it, but I know people who like the place. There are a couple of highland cows at the gates, a nice river walk up the side of the site and you can tour the castle itself too (for a fee).
It might be worth noting that your dates are well in to the Scottish school holidays (the kids break up for summer at the very end of June here and go back mid August. Sites and attractions may well be busy with those who don't want to travel too far. We'll be in Dorset and Devon by then, when the sites and attractions aren't too wild. We always head for home as the English and Welsh kids are breaking for the summer.
Once near the border however, Ord House at Berwick is nice and the town is an interesting place to spend a few hours, a lot of history in the area (mostly of conflict!). Bamburgh/Seahouses area is popular and scenic though we've never actually stayed on any of the sites there as yet. There is one that reads well on reviews and has its own health club and pool. The one time we were free to go they were booked up and they weren't cheap either, sadly the name escapes me.
Thurston Manor at Innerwick would be ok for a stop over but there isn't a huge amount in the area (bar Torness nuclear power station) though its close to North Berwick which has a couple of nice restaurants.
If you've never been to Edinburgh you really should visit, its a pretty city and while very tourist heavy, there is loads to see and do. You could spend two weeks here and be busy every day.
Britannia, The castle, Holyrood Park/Arthurs Seat, Mary Kings Close, The Royal Mile, multiple museums, galleries, monuments, theatres etc. Large retail areas, endless bars and restaurants.
For a camper there is Mortonhall Caravan Site or the Caravan Club at Silverknowes (members only) which are in town albeit the suburbs to the south or north ish but on public transport links.
Others are around outlying areas but would need a greater length of possibly unreliable travel (borders railway line often at capacity) or a drive in to the city, where the road system is "interesting" and parking charges so high it would almost be cheaper to pay someone minimum wage just to drive your vehicle around until you want it back. Park and rides are a better bet.
Going north, St Andrews is nice (all of the east coast of Fife is nice) and Craigtoun Meadows is lovely.
Over the Tay, Riverview Caravan Park at Monifieth is nice, quiet but right on the vast beach on the north banks of the Tay.
Pitlochry is nice for a wander about, interest dam to explore and a few nice enough sites in the area. Blair Castle have their own site which is rated highly. We weren't fussy for it, but I know people who like the place. There are a couple of highland cows at the gates, a nice river walk up the side of the site and you can tour the castle itself too (for a fee).
It might be worth noting that your dates are well in to the Scottish school holidays (the kids break up for summer at the very end of June here and go back mid August. Sites and attractions may well be busy with those who don't want to travel too far. We'll be in Dorset and Devon by then, when the sites and attractions aren't too wild. We always head for home as the English and Welsh kids are breaking for the summer.
Try this site:
www.searchforsites.co.uk
This has the most comprehensive list of sites that I know of. It has the two main clubs sites, private sites, pubs that allow you to park overnight and wild camping spots
www.searchforsites.co.uk
This has the most comprehensive list of sites that I know of. It has the two main clubs sites, private sites, pubs that allow you to park overnight and wild camping spots
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