Day 1 Sheffield to Penrith (140 miles 17.19mpg) Smooth journey considering it was bank hol weekend & start of half term and; saw another Bay on the A1. Stayed at my partners parents’ house Ate too much
Day 2 Penrith to Lochranza on Isle of Arran (134 miles 20.78mpg) Massive brunch before departing. Great weather, waved at Bay, offered assistance to Split Screen at side of rd. Ferry to Brodick saw a couple of dolphins! Stayed at Lochranza campsite, could just see the sea from the site. Drank bubbly, ate veggie sausage sandwiches for tea
Day 3 Ferry to mainland, 15 min drive across to Kennacraig. Ferry to Port Askaig. Drive to Kintra Farm Scorchio again. Too early for Kennaciraig ferry so drove down the Coast, picnic lunch whilst watching seals! Ferry to Islay Stayed at Kintra Farm – wow what views. Homemade veggie Thai green curry & rice for tea, washed down with wine Amazing sunset
Day 5 Lunch on our own private beach, followed by wildlife boat trip Errrr they should have told us it was actually a fishing trip. Saw various birds, wild goat and shed loads of seals I was driving so no Whisky, but Irn bru hit the spot in the pub Meal with family and friends at Islay Hotel, quite posh and expensive for meal out when camping. Lovely food, but not as nice as my partners homemade veggie delights! Another lovely sunset, accompanied with rum
Day 6 Trip to Loch Gruinart RSPB reserve & walk Saw loads of amazing birds,wildlife and flowers. Amazing view of Isle of Colonsay, Mull & the papps of Jura Homemade veggie chilli, wine, rum. Another delightful sunset
Day 7 Walk around Oa peninsula. Beach walk Lunch at the Monument to two American ships that sunk in 1918. Views to Ireland which is nearer than Scottish mainland from here Walk along Kintra beach followed by a swim, it was warmer than I thought! Beach bbq, beers, rum….sunset of course
Day 8 Port Ellen to Kennacraig, drive 15 mins across mainland. Ferry Crainoaig to Lochranza. Massive vegetarian Scottish Breakfast on the 1st ferry – v nice! Whale breaching off back of the ferry Nipped across the mainland. Couldn’t get on the ferry, so time for another swim whilst waiting for it to come back across. Camper van safari the opposite way round Arran, finishing at Seal Shore Campsite At Seal shore Campsite we met a lovely couple with a yellow late Bay, it was a Danbury conversion that his dad had bought new. Now he is living the dream in it. I got ‘removable cooker unit’ envy. I recommend the forum to them. They were heading to Mull so I pulled up my Mull trip report to give them details for campsites. Meant to get a proper photo of our Bays beside each other! Went on Otter watch, no Otters Bbq facing the beach, wine and rum. No bloody sunset, I want my money back
Day 9 Brodick to Ardrossan to Penrith to Settle (Ardrossan to Penrith via Motorways and Glasgow 145 miles 17mpg!) Leisurely start to the day, yellow Bay owners had departed before we got up. Still no Otters Coastal drive to Ferry, stopped at quality arty shop, where my partner bought a beautiful seal to go with the stones and drift wood she had been collecting all trip! 2 distant dolphins from ferry. Once back on the mainland I punched Penrith into the sat nav, it took us via Glasgow this time, which may have been quicker, but wasn’t anywhere near as nice or as relaxing a journey as on the way up. Plus it used about 10 litres more petrol this way. I’m a massive bell end! Dropped Islay made Whisky and Gin off at partners parents house. Quick cuppa before late evening meal in Settle. Stayed with family in Settle not in the van
Day 10 Settle to Sunny Sheffield (143.4miles 19.62mpg, from Penrith to Settle M6 then A roads, then to Sheffield A roads and Motorways) Good journey, but it was the End of our Holiday. Go to the Scottish Islands, they are amazing! We did luck on, with the weather but it would have been beautiful never the less. I have a quality tan! We did the hole trip with only a cool box. No driveaway awing, just a small pop up tent to leave a few things in occasionally. We are lucky having family on route, so didn’t ever drive for more than 2h30ish without stopping. The Beast drove like a dream, probably helped by be not tempting fate by posting on the forum whilst away!
Kintra farm is an amazing place to camp, and the west coast of Scotland is an unbelievable place. Hoping for a couple of trips up that way this year.
Yes it is an amazing place! Your trip report was very useful and your tip to go via Arran was a great idea - thanks very much!
Thats awesome,cheers for sharing who's in next year ? Lord Congi not arsed if no more takers I'm gonna do it
Late May/Early June is the time to go. I've been to West Coast Islands twice at that time of year and been lucky with weather both times. Less midges as well