I booked 4 nights at a campsite on Mull. I just wanted the peace of mind that we had a place allocated each night. The motorhome is a 3.5t Transit, it’s not so easy to dump in car parks.
I’m excited about Mull, I first went there aged 12 in a brand new J registered Ford Sierra Estate car. My step dad was a secondhand car dealer and he was friendly with the salesman at the local Ford dealership. The only vehicle we had at the time was a Ford Transit car transporter, so my step dad got the Sierra on hire at ‘mates rates’. I remember the Sierra boot swallowing all of our stuff, including my bike! Despite the rain, I thought that Mull was the most magical place. I went to Mull aged 21 on my first solo camping trip in my little Ford Fiesta Ghia, just as foot and mouth disease was kicking off.
Mull got under my skin so much that I took my wife there for our honeymoon!
Andy - I’m a fully signed up member of the hat club these days!
Again, I’d reiterate this. It peaked badly during COVID, but has gotten quieter again, with more people going abroad again last year. Lots of people were renting RVs and campervans and causing havoc on the single track roads, not allowing traffic behind them to pass at the passing places.
I’ve never had a problem “wild camping” in my RV. I put the quotes around wild camping as technically staying in a vehicle isn’t wild camping. You need to erect a tent to be classed as a wild camper (and stay within the law) under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Sleeping in vehicles is covered by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and local by-laws.
After quoting the legalese, the long and short of “wild camping” in a campervan or motorhome is to behave sensibly. If you park somewhere and won’t disturb others you are more than likely will be left alone. If you block access, park in someone’s drive or right outside their house, you’re inviting trouble. There are some horror stories, but I’ve been doing this for years and never had any trouble what-so-ever. I’ve never felt scared or threatened, even camping in remote places. The only place I’ve know to be some issues were at Applecross and the bay during the height of COVID. The area was overloaded with vans and people camping on the verges and blocking the roads, so they put big rocks to prevent it and made a small area on the opposite side of the bay for people in tents to camp.
It’s a popular area for sure and passing over Balach-na-ba is a really scenic drive, but can be tricky to navigate in a big vehicle (especially if you are not used to the size). It is almost alipine towards the top with some tight switch-backs. The campsite in Applecross is good quality but can get full during summer quickly. The area is teeming with wild deer. Before the NC500 became popular I used to take my motorbike and camp on this spit of land, behind the boat and between the two trees. I was woken at 2am once to a creepy sound like tearing paper. Opening the tent I was surrounded by about 10 deer munching on the grass! I’ve also know the deer to stray into Applecross campsite! They are wild animals, but tolerate people getting close to them.
Anyway, after the above spiel I’ll get to the point of my reply! If you haven’t booked any campsite and end up wild camping and filling the waste tanks and emptying the water tank, many campsite in Scotland will allow you to service your camper or motorhome for a small fee, regardless of how busy you are… Usually £5 to £10 max. Whilst you won’t get to charge your leisure batterys, at least you’ll have water etc. Quite often this fee will also allow you to use their shower block for a proper scrub up. You can then get back on road.
My other advice about wild camping in Scotland during the peak season is to start looking for somewhere to stop late afternoon (maybe as early as 2 or 3pm if you know where you want to go). I nearly always want to be parked up for the evening by 6pm latest. If you leave it too late, then you may struggle to find any spot, let alone a good spot!
Thanks for the information. I’m not really a seasoned motorhomer (is that a word?), I’ve borrowed the van a handful of times. We decided upon the Isle of Mull because it’s such a magical place and the conditions of travel on the ferry are that you have accommodation booked. I wasn’t actually asked for proof of booked accommodation when I booked the ferry though. My feelings were that only so many people would be allowed to go to the isle and when it’s full, it’s full.
I’m hoping to get Ben More done and maybe one other hill. Iona is on the list and of course Tobermory.
