Van Miles

Spending New Year in Edinburgh had been on our list for a while, so for New Year 2019/2020 we decided to make a proper campervan road trip out of it rather than simply driving straight there.

We travelled on 27 December, making our way through Moffat, Grey Mare’s Tail, Peebles, Talla and Megget Reservoirs before finishing with two nights in Edinburgh for Hogmanay.

It turned into one of those trips where the journey was every bit as memorable as the destination.

Day 1 – Fylde Coast to Moffat

Approximate drive: 2 hours 15–30 minutes

Our first stop was Moffat, where we stayed at the Green Frog campsite.

At the time we paid just £12.50 for the night. The site had toilets, showers, electric hook-up, water and an onsite café. We didn’t actually use the facilities or café, so I can’t personally comment on those, but for us the big selling point was the location.

It was only around a 10-minute walk into Moffat village, which made it a really handy first overnight stop on our journey north.

The Green Frog now advertises higher prices, so definitely check the current rate before travelling rather than relying on what we paid back in 2019.

Day 2 – Moffat to Grey Mare’s Tail

Approximate drive: 25–30 minutes

The following morning we left Moffat and headed to Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve.

The walk up towards the waterfall was quite steep in places and the December weather certainly added to the experience. It was cold, blustery and definitely felt like a winter walk in Scotland!

The waterfall itself was impressive, but the biggest surprise came when we decided to carry on walking.

After climbing further, suddenly this huge loch opened up ahead of us – Loch Skeen.

I hadn’t expected it at all.

Despite the wind and cold, the scenery was amazing and it became one of my favourite memories from the whole trip.

If you’re planning to do the walk during winter, I’d definitely recommend good footwear and being prepared for quickly changing weather.

Grey Mare’s Tail to Peebles

Approximate drive: 50–60 minutes

After our walk we got back in the van and continued towards Peebles.

At the time, we stayed overnight in the Peebles swimming pool car park for around £3. Unfortunately, this car park is now daytime parking only, so it isn’t an overnight option for campervans today.

For us, though, the location was brilliant because we could walk straight into the centre of Peebles.

That evening we wandered into town and ended up in the Bridge Inn. The locals were incredibly friendly and, as often happens when you’re travelling, a conversation in a pub ended up changing our plans for the following day.

They recommended that we drive out towards Talla and Megget Reservoirs.

We hadn’t planned on going there, but it sounded exactly like our kind of place.

So that’s what we did.

Before leaving Peebles the following morning, we also had a walk along the river. Peebles is a lovely town and somewhere I would happily go back to and spend more time.

Day 3 – Peebles to Talla & Megget Reservoirs

Peebles to Talla Reservoir: approximately 30–35 minutes

Talla Reservoir to Megget Reservoir: approximately 20–25 minutes

Leaving Peebles, we headed out towards Talla Reservoir and then continued on towards Megget Reservoir.

This part of the trip felt completely different.

The roads became quieter, the scenery more remote and we felt like we were getting properly away from everything.

Eventually we found free overnight campervan spots near Megget Reservoir.

There was nobody else around.

Once darkness fell, it was properly dark. No streetlights, no campsite and hardly anything around us.

Some people would probably hate it.

We loved it.

Being parked in the middle of nowhere in the pitch black just added to the adventure. It was also a complete contrast to what was waiting for us in Edinburgh.

Overnight parking rules can change, so I would always check the current restrictions before planning to stay here now.

Day 4 – Megget Reservoir to Edinburgh

Approximate drive: 1 hour 20–30 minutes

The next morning we left the peace and quiet of Megget behind and headed for Edinburgh.

We booked two nights at the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site. At the time, our two nights cost around £64 in total.

After our more basic overnight stops, it was nice to have full campsite facilities again. As we’ve generally found with Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, the facilities were excellent.

The location also worked really well for visiting Edinburgh without having to drive the campervan into the city centre.

For our first evening we used public transport to head into Edinburgh to watch the Torchlight Procession.

Watching thousands of people carrying torches through Edinburgh with the city as a backdrop was a fantastic way to start our Hogmanay stay.

New Year’s Eve – Edinburgh Hogmanay

On New Year’s Eve I was really impressed by how prepared the campsite was for Hogmanay.

They had arranged a minibus into Edinburgh for campers. We paid around £5 each and this also included our return pick-up later that night.

It made the whole evening much easier. There was no worrying about driving, parking or trying to work out how we were going to get back to the campervan after midnight.

We had booked Hogmanay in the Gardens and paid around £75 each for our tickets.

The main act was Rudimental – much to my daughter’s horror when she decided not to come with us!

Our tickets also gave us access to the wider Hogmanay celebrations, including the street party, DJs and the midnight fireworks.

One thing that really surprised me was how well organised everything felt.

With so many people in Edinburgh for New Year, I had expected to feel packed in, but at no point did I feel particularly squashed or worried.

At the time of our visit, you could take some of your own alcohol into the street party as long as you followed the event rules and didn’t bring glass. There were also bars and food vendors if you wanted to buy something once inside.

These rules can change from year to year, so anyone planning Hogmanay now should check the current event guidance before going.

And then there was the setting.

Edinburgh Castle illuminated above the city, music playing, thousands of people celebrating and fireworks at midnight.

It was one of those New Year’s Eves that really did live up to the hype.

Day 5 – A Coastal Walk Before Heading Home

Edinburgh to the Fylde Coast: approximately 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic

We weren’t in a rush to leave Edinburgh on New Year’s Day.

One of the bonuses of staying at the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site is being close to the coast, so we finished our trip with a walk along the shoreline before getting back in the van for the journey home.

After the crowds, music and fireworks of the previous night, a quiet coastal walk was the perfect ending.

Was Edinburgh Hogmanay Worth Doing in a Campervan?

Looking back, what stands out isn’t just Hogmanay itself. It was the whole five-day journey.

We stayed within walking distance of Moffat, climbed through wild December weather at Grey Mare’s Tail, unexpectedly discovered Loch Skeen, spent an evening chatting to locals in a Peebles pub, drove through the beautiful Borders, slept beside Megget Reservoir in complete darkness and then finished everything surrounded by thousands of people celebrating New Year beneath Edinburgh Castle.

The contrast was what made it so memorable.

It was also surprisingly inexpensive.

Our first campsite was £12.50, Peebles cost around £3, Megget was free and our two nights at the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site were around £64.

Obviously these were our 2019/2020 prices and some of the parking arrangements have changed since then, but it shows how we managed to turn Edinburgh Hogmanay into a five-day campervan adventure without spending a fortune on accommodation.

Five days, several completely different places and one unforgettable New Year’s Eve.

It’s still one of my favourite campervan road trips we’ve done.

Planning This Campervan Road Trip Today?

This trip was taken over New Year 2019/2020, so don’t rely on the old prices or overnight parking arrangements when planning your own trip.

The Green Frog at Moffat is still an option, although prices have increased since the £12.50 we paid.

Peebles swimming pool car park no longer allows the overnight stay that we used in 2019, so you’ll need to find an alternative legal overnight stop.

I’d also check the latest parking and overnight restrictions around Talla and Megget Reservoirs before travelling.

For Edinburgh, check current prices and availability at the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site well in advance, particularly if you’re travelling for Hogmanay.

Hogmanay tickets, transport arrangements and rules around bringing alcohol into events can also change from year to year, so check the official information for the year you’re travelling.

Our route was:

Fylde Coast → Moffat → Grey Mare’s Tail & Loch Skeen → Peebles → Talla Reservoir → Megget Reservoir → Edinburgh → home.

If you’re looking for a winter campervan road trip that combines walking, remote Scottish scenery, small towns and one of the UK’s biggest New Year celebrations, it’s a route I’d happily recommend.