Camping Tour of Scotland 2023 - Part Four

 Part Four - Glencoe

After two amazing days in the Cairngorms, we were unsure if anything else on our trip would hold a candle to the beauty of Glenmore... That was until we arrived in Glencoe. Looking like it's straight out of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, with its mist covered mountains, green valleys and crisp rivers, we began to realise that we had never been so wrong. The campsite that we had booked for our one night in Glencoe (please note that one night here is not enough!) was the Red Squirrel Campsite and it was as easy to find as it was aesthetically pleasing.

We arrived at the site around early evening, and chose a pitch to set up away from other campers, because after all, what is camping about if not getting away from people! Red Squirrel has lots of space, and feels fairly wild compared to some large sites, with pitches amongst the trees and by the streams that run through it. There is a small shop on site with some basic items, including firewood, as well as ample toilet and shower facilities. My only major gripe with this site is that we were not able to park next to pitch, which is a pain when using a smaller tent, as most of our clothes and camping gear was kept in the boot due to lack of tent space, so there were many trips to and from the car parking area. This being said, it is a lovely site, near enough to Glencoe for access to 'civilisation' whilst still feeling out in nature - I would definitely recommend this campsite!

The weather was still holding a good temperature, and although it had tried to rain, it didn't succeed properly until later that evening, which gave us plenty of time to go into the town for some fish and chips, and then back to the site for a camp fire.

We had intended to try the walk to the Lost Valley (sometimes called the Hidden Valley) the following day, but the forecast was predicting heavy rain and even some thunder storms, so we decided to make a decision in the morning, after first visiting the Glencoe Visitor Centre. Only a few minutes drive from the campsite, we packed up the Ribble tent for the last time this trip, and made our way over. Again, this is something that I would definitely recommend, as the centre is full of information about the area, including the dark history around the Glencoe Massacre. Another historical attraction here was a turf hut, built using materials and methods that would have been used 300 years ago.

Despite the forecast, the weather ended up taking a complete U-turn and it was dry and warm for most of the day, but unfortunately, after speaking to a few members of staff at the visitor centre, we learned that as it was now late morning, trying to find parking for the lost valley walk would be very difficult, and so we went on a shorter walk from the centre, that still had some amazing views of both the valley and the woodland. As I've said before, one day here was definitely not enough, and we intend to return and complete the lost valley walk next time we are lucky enough to be in Scotland!

After our short walk in Glencoe, we set off on a mission - a mission to find the apparently elusive Highland Cow! Although we had hoped to see many on this trip, after being in Scotland for seven days, we had still not had a confirmed sighting of these woolly bovine! Fortunately, a friend of mine had been up to Glencoe a few weeks before us, and having seen his photos of the cows, I asked him for their rough location. Thanks to What3Words and old reliable Google Maps, we were able to track them down near Oban, stopping to see Castle Stalker on the way. 

The cows were conveniently in a field right next to a large layby, so we were able to watch them from relatively close by and get some really good photos - this felt like a very Scottish scene!

Leaving the cows behind we continued on to the location of our final night in Scotland, Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, in Inveraray. This plush night in a luxurious hotel was a big change to the last six nights of camping, and as such it has absolutely no place here on this blog... All I will say is that if you're looking for a hotel with a beautiful view and luxurious facilities, look no further.

Awaking on our final morning in Scotland was definitely tinged with a sense of sadness (despite being the best night of sleep that we had all week), as we had enjoyed our time in this breath taking and awe inspiring country so very much. We went into Inveraray which is a very quaint town that has a lovely seaside feel to it, and of course, it has multiple shops selling all the usual Scottish gifts including, but not limited to highland cow merchandise, whisky, and tartan wearables. Following a look around in the light rain, we got back into the car and embarked on our long journey south. We stopped at Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond, which was a very touristy area - I'd definitely like to return to Lomond, but preferably to see more of the natural sights. From here we carried on south, leaving behind a beautiful country, which is a total haven for anyone who loves the outdoors. I can easily say that Scotland is the most beautiful place that I have ever been to, and that I will for sure be back.