The Touring Bulls

There’s something special about packing up the van, having a plan, and enjoying the changing landscapes of the UK as you travel North.

Tebay Services (5 hours from Hampshire)

Our first stop? Tebay Services. Yep, a service station—but not just any! This one’s tucked into the hills with a farm shop, proper coffee, campsite and views that make you forget you’re anywhere near a motorway. It’s just off of the M6 and near Penrith next to the Lake District so the perfect stopover for heading to Scotland. We woke in the morning, headed to the farm shop for a coffee and breakfast before hitting the road and making it through the border to Scotland.

Luss Campsite (1hr 45mins from Tebay Services)

After our brekkie we hit the road for the 2hr 45 journey to Luss Campsite, right on the edge of Loch Lomond. You wouldn’t believe it is only 45 minutes from a very bustling and busy Glasgow! We had a Lochside pitch and it’s well worth the extra for one of these – we even had our own private lochside beach. Waking up to the sound of water lapping the shore and the hills looming in the morning sun shimmering on the calm water was something else.

Ardfern Motorhome Park (2hrs from Luss but make sure you take longer and just enjoy the epic drive!!! 🤩)

From there, we took the most beautiful drive through dramatic Scottish mountains and Lochs to Ardfern Motorhome Park. Before I talk about the campsite let me tell you a bit about the route there…

Leave yourself the day to explore and take the A83 shown below (the “low road”!!) – you WILL NOT regret doing this. It’s a breathtaking drive through epic mountains and around stunning lochs. Among others be sure to stop off at

• The rest and be thankful point at Cairndow. When we stopped there was a van serving haggis in a roll – delicious food with a stunning view!
• Loch Fyne Seafood and Oyster bar
• Samphire Restaurant in Inverary was highly recommended by locals, but annoyingly we’d already eaten too much to sample the delicious looking menu!! A good excuse to return 👍.
• Inverary town on the edge of Loch Fyne with its stunning views and Scottish Georgian architecture. Inverary jail and courthouse, which is now a museum, is well worth a visit.

Eventually after an epic day of exploring we rolled into Ardfern Motorhome Park—a little gem of a place right on the Craignish peninsula and only 45 minutes from Oban ferry terminal. Here where we caught our breath with yet more wild views, walked up to the local pub the Galley of Lorne for a pub dinner before waking the following morning and making our way to Oban for the ferry crossing.

There are plenty of shops in Oban so leave yourself enough time to stock up on essentials if you’re hitting the Hebrides!

This was just the start of our Outer Hebrides adventure—and it already felt like we were a million miles away from the everyday. If you’re thinking of doing a similar trip, read on for our road trip through the Hebrides here…

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