Looking at hiring a motorhome and drive around scotland for a week - 10 days . Never done it before so any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Look out for the midges on the West Coast. Various book of faces groups on NC500

There's a place on Lomeshaye Industrial Estate that hires them out - I've never used them so can't comment on their reputation

Although never done it myself, but travelled around Scotland with work a lot so have seen many sites.
May seem like obvious but plan your route and pre-book the sites.
The ones I've been past all look very busy.

I own a motorhome and have done the Scotland 500 a few times some fantastic views, you can wild camp and use sites along the route.

https://www.wandering-bird.com/nc-500-motorhome/

longside72 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:28 pm

Looking at hiring a motorhome and drive around scotland for a week - 10 days . Never done it before so any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Just thinking about the hire cost and the price of fuel for it is bringing me out in hives

We have one here in Oz. Great for holidays, and heaps better than a caravan - No Towing! A lot depends on what size you are getting. Suggest you get it a day earlier so that you feel comfortable driving it.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:35 pm

Just thinking about the hire cost and the price of fuel for it is bringing me out in hives

I think hire cost are on average between 120 and 160 a day, fuel about 2k a day only joking about the fuel

There's a lady near me just started a business letting out modern VW campervans. £805 per week peak season, less off peak.
I imagine the mpg figure is low, though.

Claret Till I Die wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:30 pm

Look out for the midges on the West Coast. Various book of faces groups on NC500

Spot on..Horrible bloody things ..I would never ever go up the west coast of Scotland in July unless you don't mind being bitten to death every night after 7pm ..Even my dog wouldn't venture out .

7-10 days won't be enough to see everything I'm afraid, so plan wise to where you will be on the last day. You don't want an 8hr drive home on the last day.
Take plenty of midgy stuff when near fresh water.

You don't have to book sites in Scotland as you can find lay bys etc.. for free. We did a site every other night to recharge everything, empty toilet, refill water etc..

Download an up to date sat nat map suitable for motorhomes. There's a lot of very small roads and a lot motorhomes travelling.

Brilliant views everywhere.

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:42 pm

Spot on..Horrible bloody things ..I would never ever go up the west coast of Scotland in July unless you don't mind being bitten to death every night after 7pm ..Even my dog wouldn't venture out .

I was eaten alive by midges walking up Criffel in Dumfries and Galloway many years ago.
The next time I sprayed myself liberally with Jungle Formula. They still swarm round you, but they don't actually land.

If it's the Scotland 500 you want to do or a planned holiday, then taking the car but booking rooms, cottages etc.. might be cheaper.

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:42 pm

Spot on..Horrible bloody things ..I would never ever go up the west coast of Scotland in July unless you don't mind being bitten to death every night after 7pm ..Even my dog wouldn't venture out .

Never noticed them being that bad when I was in Skye

But did a lot of cycling and hiking, and you don't notice them as much when you are doing that

Can't recommend Skye enough

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:42 pm

Spot on..Horrible bloody things ..I would never ever go up the west coast of Scotland in July unless you don't mind being bitten to death every night after 7pm ..Even my dog wouldn't venture out .

Horrible little thing's they are in Scotland

We lived in Helmsdale for 2 yrs on North East Coast midges in Summer are horrendous coming out of the heather and biting you for fun

Must avoid is Ayrshire. It's famous for a nasty wee midget called Sturgeon, the horrible ugly wee thing hates the English

Skye

ClaretMov wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:49 pm

Horrible little thing's they are in Scotland


Screenshot_20220628-124708_Google.jpg

Ugly creature the sturgeon

longside72 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:28 pm

Looking at hiring a motorhome and drive around scotland for a week - 10 days . Never done it before so any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Yes, win the lottery first!!

Theres a camping spot available at Elie up in Fife on Steve1956's driveway not only that he provides free tea and coffee and guided walks

I go to Scotland for the scenery, the walking and the cycling

If you go to get annoyed at Scots people not liking the way we English tell them what to do, then I wouldn't bother going as you are not going to enjoy it

Having spent much time in Scotland Munro bagging there is only one cure for midges, DON’T GO.
This is the next best although the wipes and sprays available are very good.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 1:11 pm

Having spent much time in Scotland Munro bagging there is only one cure for midges, DON’T GO.
This is the next best although the wipes and sprays available are very good.
9FA09CFE-8860-4A16-A814-82AB5763311E.jpeg

You might laugh, but we stayed overnight next to a Loch on the way to Ben Nevis and there was a group camping all wearing them hats.
We were unprepared as we had been up the west coast staying next to the sea, where we never saw any.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 1:16 pm

You might laugh, but we stayed overnight next to a Loch on the way to Ben Nevis and there was a group camping all wearing them hats.
We were unprepared as we had been up the west coast staying next to the sea, where we never saw any.

Loads of people in Skye wearing them

I love the West Coast, beautiful scenery and wildlife. Every time we go there we see White Tailed Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, otters and a whole host of other wildlife. Like others have said, the midges are a real pest in the summer months and can ruin a holiday if you're not prepared. And even if you are prepared, there will be evenings when you can't sit outside.

When they come down in a cloud swarm, no Jungle Formula or Skin So Soft (by Avon, and it does work to some extent) ain't going to stop them. Also, when they bite, not only will you be covered in spots, but you can actually feel the sharp nip - it's like the bastards actually have teeth.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 1:11 pm

Having spent much time in Scotland Munro bagging there is only one cure for midges, DON’T GO.
This is the next best although the wipes and sprays available are very good.
9FA09CFE-8860-4A16-A814-82AB5763311E.jpeg

Looks like you’re on ‘24 hours in police custody’ there Trevor…

longside72 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:28 pm

Looking at hiring a motorhome and drive around scotland for a week - 10 days . Never done it before so any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Me & Mrs Aclaret have twice hired from Heritage Motorhomes in Carlisle. Leave your car with them and away you go, nice people to deal with too.
They are members of Caravan & Camping Club, so you get discount on their site fees.
We enjoyed Scotland, beautiful scenery and even better Single Malts !

longside72 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:28 pm

Looking at hiring a motorhome and drive around scotland for a week - 10 days . Never done it before so any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Don’t the roads are busy enough without these things.

durhamclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 28, 2022 3:38 pm

Don’t the roads are busy enough without these things.

Nothing wrong with motorhomes on the road,it's those bloody caravanners holding traffic up that's the problema!