On 30 August 2021, we set off from the Fylde Coast for four weeks travelling around Scotland, including the NC500.
After lockdown and the restrictions on seeing people and travelling, we had been looking forward to this trip so much. Things were opening up again, and having a whole month ahead of us felt wonderful.
We hadnt booked any campsites a head as we wanted to decided along the way but i had an idea where i wanted to go. Our first six days took us through Fife, St Andrews and Braemar before arriving at Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms.
We hadn’t reached the NC500 yet, but the journey had already been incredible.
This trip took place in 2021. Prices below are what we paid then, and some overnight parking arrangements have since changed.
Day 1: Fylde Coast to Loch Leven
Our first planned stop was Lochore Meadows in Fife. It looked a beautiful place, with walking trails and toilets, and somewhere we would have liked to spend some time.
Unfortunately, we hadn’t booked. We arrived late, couldn’t find anyone to speak to and weren’t sure where we should go, so we decided to move on.
Click Here –Booking info for Lochore Meadows-
Using Search for Sites, we found a free overnight stop at Loch Leven instead.
It turned out to be a quiet place to spend our first night. There was a café on site, with toilets available during café opening hours, and we were only about five minutes from the town, with a chippy within walking distance.
It wasn’t the stop we had originally planned, but it worked out well.
Click Here for more info on Loch Leven overnight stay
Breakfast before exploring
The following morning, we had breakfast in the café, which I would recommend based on our visit. As we hadn’t paid anything to park overnight, we were happy to spend some money there. There ws some lovely seating in the grounds with shelter.
It was a nice way to start our first full day away before getting out to explore the loch.
Day 2: Walking and cycling at Loch Leven, then on to St Andrews
We tackled an eight-mile walk beside Loch Leven with the dogs, followed by a 13-mile bike ride around the loch.
It was certainly an active start to the holiday!
I have walked around lochs that I’ve found prettier, but Loch Leven was still worth a visit. Having somewhere to walk and cycle made it a useful stop on our journey north, and we enjoyed getting outside after the drive up.
By the evening, we were ready to move on.
A detour to St Andrews
St Andrews wasn’t exactly on the way, but it was somewhere I really wanted to visit. With four weeks available, we had time to make a few detours.
We stayed for one night at a touring park in St Andrews, paying £22 for the night in 2021.
Click here for St Andrews Park website
There was a coastal path towards St Andrews, with the walk into town taking around 30 minutes. We only walked a short section that evening, as we had already done plenty of walking and cycling at Loch Leven.
Instead, we enjoyed a beer in the bar with a beautiful view. After such an active day, that suited us very nicely.
Day 3: St Andrews and the beach, then on to Braemar
The next morning, we packed up and moved the van to parking near the golf course and St Andrews beach, around KY16 9XL. Parking was free when we visited.
We wandered around St Andrews, which was lovely, before heading onto the beach.
The sun was out, and it was beautiful. This was somewhere I had wanted to see for a while, and I was pleased we had made the detour. It is also somewhere I would like to visit again and spend longer.
Our first night in Braemar
Later, we continued to Braemar, where we found a car park in the village centre, around AB35 5YP.
At the time, we could stay overnight for free. It was close to the shops and pubs, with toilets nearby, so it was an ideal base for exploring.
This car park is now daytime parking only, so our overnight stay there is part of the story of our 2021 trip rather than a recommendation for a current park-up.
Being able to stop so close to the village was lovely. We could leave the van and have everything within easy reach.
Day 4: Sunshine, a riverside walk and a proper shower in Braemar
Before leaving home, we had heard plenty about how cold and wet Scotland could be. I had packed as though we were going to the Arctic.
Then Braemar gave us a scorching day, and I had to buy shorts, a hat and sun cream.
I hadn’t prepared for that!
Exploring on foot
We set off on a riverside circular walk around Braemar, following paths beside the River Dee.
We got a little lost along the way and ended up heading uphill, but the views were amazing. It wasn’t quite the walk we had expected, although that became part of the enjoyment.
We also passed the Braemar Gathering ground, where the Highland Games take place.
Between the sunshine, the river and the views, it was a lovely day to be out exploring.
Moving to Braemar campsite
That evening, we moved to Braemar Caravan Park, around AB35 5YQ.
We had a self-contained van at the time, but after walking in the heat, we wanted a proper shower. Having your own facilities is useful, but sometimes nothing beats a campsite shower.
We paid £30 for the night in 2021, which I thought was quite expensive at the time.
The campsite was about a ten-minute walk into Braemar. With the weather so nice, that was an easy enough walk for us.
We also met a lovely couple in their eighties, still enjoying travelling in a small campervan. It was lovely chatting to people who were continuing to get out and explore.
Link to the caravan site Click here
Day 5: Braemar to Linn of Dee
The next day, we drove roughly six miles from Braemar towards Linn of Dee, on the Mar Lodge Estate.
This was another stop where we could park the van and get straight out for a walk.
The Linn of Dee circular walk
We followed a circular walk of around 1.45 miles, taking us through pinewoods and beside the rocky river gorge, with rushing water and waterfalls along the way.
It was a shorter walk than some we had already done, but there was plenty to enjoy. The trees and river scenery made it a lovely place to spend some time.
The rocky sections are worth bearing in mind if you are expecting a completely smooth path.
Staying overnight
We paid £3 to park and stayed overnight in 2021, using the car park around AB35 5YJ. Toilets were available during the day.
It was a simple stop, but that was part of what we enjoyed about this trip. We didn’t need a full campsite every night when we could find somewhere suitable and had our own facilities.
Parking charges and overnight arrangements can change, so check the current information and signs before planning to stay.
Click Here for walks and parking Linn of Dee
Day 6: Arriving at Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms
From Linn of Dee, we set off towards Loch Morlich.
We had never been to the Cairngorms before, and the drive in was unbelievable. Before we had even stopped, I already knew this was going to be a good place to spend some time.
We hadn’t planned exactly where we would stay, so we parked up and went for a walk first.
A walk around Loch Morlich
We did a walk of around three miles around the loch, and it didn’t disappoint.
After the places we had already visited, I might have expected the scenery to start feeling familiar. Instead, arriving here felt like another highlight.
We spotted a campsite beside the loch and decided we would try to book onto it for the following day. This was somewhere we wanted more time to enjoy.
Finding somewhere for the night
For that night, we found a free car park on the road heading up towards Cairngorm Mountain. We wanted to be up early and ready to park at the mountain the following morning.
Unfortunately, I didn’t write down the name of the overnight spot, and I can no longer find it on Search for Sites, so I can’t give a reliable location for it.
What I do remember is how impressed we already were with the area. The drive in and our first walk had made us very pleased we had included the Cairngorms.
Walking Up Cairngorm Mountain Before Loch Morlich
Before heading to Loch Morlich Campsite, we decided to walk up Cairngorm Mountain. We’d never visited the Cairngorms before, and the scenery had already blown us away just driving through the area.
The walk took us around four hours altogether, and the views were absolutely amazing. We were lucky enough to have clear views for most of the walk, but as we got towards the final stretch, the mist and clouds started rolling in, completely changing the scenery.
It was a shame to lose those views towards the top, but that’s Scotland for you! The weather can change so quickly, especially up in the mountains.
It was definitely worth the effort, and another memorable experience from our Scottish road trip.
There is an option to stay over night on Cairngorm mountain with some services.
Click Here for the https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/cairngorm-motorhome-site/
We then headed to the Loch Morlich campsite Glenmore campsite PH22 1QU
Our first six days: overnight stops and costs
These are the overnight costs we recorded for this part of our 2021 Scotland campervan trip.
| Overnight stop | Paid in 2021 | 2026 price / arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Loch Leven car park | Free | Still free |
| St Andrews touring park | £22 | £36 per night |
| Braemar village car park | Free | Daytime parking only |
| Braemar Caravan Park | £30 | Approx. £38 per night, plus metered electricity |
| Linn of Dee car park | £3 | £6 per day; maximum one-night stay |
| Unnamed car park towards Cairngorm Mountain | Free | Original spot unidentified |
| Alternative: Cairngorm Mountain parking | Not used overnight | £17.50 per night; maximum three nights |
2021 prices are what we paid. The 2026 information reflects the details checked for this post; confirm prices and parking conditions before travelling. Cairngorm Mountain is an alternative to our original unnamed stop.
This total covers our overnight stops only, rather than fuel, food or other spending. It also reflects the parking arrangements available during our visit.
What I would do differently
Our first week had already taught us a few things.
I would check arrival arrangements before heading to a campsite late in the day. Lochore Meadows looked lovely, but arriving without a booking and not knowing who to speak to meant we moved on.
I would also pack a better mix of clothes. Waterproofs and warm layers had their place, but I hadn’t expected to be shopping for shorts and sun cream in Braemar.
Most of all, I would still leave room for changes of plan. St Andrews was a detour I was pleased we made, and arriving at Loch Morlich without everything decided gave us the chance to stay longer somewhere we immediately loved.
We were six days into our four-week trip and hadn’t even reached the NC500. We had already walked, cycled, explored a seaside town, spent time on a beautiful beach and discovered places we wanted to return to.
The journey north was becoming just as memorable as the route we had set out to do.
Have you visited any of these places in your campervan? Which would you choose for a stop on the way to the NC500?
To follow the adventures week 2 click here Our Scotland & NC500 Road Trip – Week Two: The Cairngorms, Loch Ness and Scotland’s North Coast
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