5 campervan hotspots for adventurous mountain bikers

Head to Dalbeattie in the Scottish Borders

for a great range of adventurous mountain biking

If you’re into mountain biking then you’ll know that Scotland is one of the best destinations in the world. Here you’ll find a wealth of challenging trails at tailormade mountain bike centres, as well as mile upon mile of exciting cross country routes.

And if you're looking for a great way to travel with your mountain bike then why not hire a campervan? If you hire a Big Tree Campervan you can also take advantage of our sturdy bike racks. We can supply bike racks for two to four bikes for an additional cost of only £20. The racks are tow-bar mounted and make easy work of carrying all your bikes.

With a campervan you can park up, eat, sleep and then spend all day mountain biking. Sound good to you?

Hear we bring you another in our blog series of top five great places to go campervanning in Scotland.

Five great campervan spots for mountain biking junkies

Highland Wildcat Trails, Golspie, Sutherland

What’s here?: This centre is famed for its fantastic views and Scotland’s longest purpose-built continual single track descent at 7km long. There is also almost 14km of black trail and for those with a little less energy and experience the blue route won’t disappoint. Where to campervan: You’ll find several lovely spots for wild campervanning just past the golf course along the minor road towards Littleferry. For a couple of recommended campsites, head to Brora for Dalchalm Caravan Club.

Glentress, near Peebles

What’s here?: This is Scotland’s premier mountain biking centre and one that is famed worldwide. The original of the Scottish Borders' 7Stanes centre, Glentress offers a trail for every ability but for the MTB junkie this is riding heaven. You’ll find more than 20km of red route and 30km of black route. There’s also a fab freeride park and skills area. Where to campervan: We’ve seen campervans parked up overnight in the Buzzard’s Nest car park at Glentress. If you’re asked to move on we’d suggest you do, but if you’re nice and quiet then it’s likely you’ll not be noticed. There are also a few wild camping spots along the B709, north from Innerleithen towards the Moorfoot Hills. These are mostly by the side of the road, but it’s a very quiet road and a very tranquil glen. There is a wonderful bubbling burn running alongside the road. For good campsites try Tweedside Caravan Park in Innerleithen, or Crossburn Caravan Site in Peebles, as well as Rosetta Caravan and Camping Park, also in Peebles.

Nevis Range, near Fort William:

What’s here?: This centre is famed for hosting the annual Mountain Bike World Cup. You’ll have the chance to ride the crazily challenging downhill track and also a range of fabulous cross-country style routes. Where to campervan: It’s possible to wildcamp in the upper parts of Glen Nevis, but be very discreet. The “North Face” car park in Torlundy is also a good spot but it does get busy. Meanwhile, we’d recommend Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping site. (Make sure you book ahead at the height of the season.) The Bunroy Park Caravan and Camping site at Roy Bridge is great and only a short drive away.

Dalbeattie, near Dumfries

What’s here?: One of the famous 7stanes centres located in the Scottish Borders, Dalbeattie boasts 25km of red route and some fantastic black graded sections. Don’t miss the infamous Slab. That’s all we’re saying! Where to campervan: There are some great spots on the minor road that links the B793 to the A710. For official campsites head to Kippford Holiday Park or Sandyhills.

Glen Sligachan, Isle of Skye

What’s here?: This is remote riding at its best! Glen Sligachan cuts a glaciated route through SE Skye offering a fantastic route between the Black and Red Cuillin. At 45km it’s no small undertaking and only the most experience riders should try this one. Where to campervan: The Sligachan Campsite is beautifully located at the head of Loch Sligachan. The site offers awesome scenery, fantastic walks and a pub/hotel that is so close that it feels as though it's an integral part of the campsite.

5 campervan hotspots for wild swimming

More and more adventurers are joining the latest trend for natural or wild swimming. And you really can't beat a spot of outdoors swimming in Scotland, especially when the weather is sunny and hot. If you are also planning on a campervan holiday this summer then you'll have more opportunity than most people to take advantage of some fantastic wild swimming hotspots.

We can't think of a a better way to spend a day or two than to park up at a stunning Scottish river, pool or waterfall and while away your time swimming, sunbathing, barbecuing (on your fab Big Tree Campervan gas BBQ) before retiring for a good night's sleep in your comfy and accessible Big Tree Campervan.

Our top five spots for wild swimming are:

Glen Etive, Glencoe

Where to swim: There are lots of fab pools to be found here. Choose your own spot by starting some 6km from the A82 main road turn-off. Where to campervan: There is a good wild camping spot that is ideal for a campervan at the end of the single-track road some 23km along the glen. If you're lucky you may even catch sight of otters in the sea loch here. There are other overnight spots possible further back along the road towards Glencoe but campervanners should take care not to block passing places on this single track road.

Fairy Pools, Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye.

(Thanks to Ellesmere FNC on Flickr for the pic.)

Fairy Pools, Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye

Where to swim: Some 9km along the B8009 there’s an obvious burn coming off the hillside. The lay-by is easy to spot and the ideal swimming place is a 30-minute walk in. You wont be disappointed! Where to campervan: Try try Glenbrittle Campsite. Or the parking spot in the lay-by is fine if you respect the environment and other people.

Falls of Bruar, Perthshire

Where to swim: The lower pools near the retail extravaganza of House of Bruar offer great swimming opportunities. There are some great walks that set off from here as well. Where to camper: Wild campervanning is not really an option but a short drive will take you to a couple of great spots on the (very) minor roads from Trinafour north to Dalnacardoch.

Feshiebridge

Where to swim: Head to the old stone bridge that goes over the river coming out of Glen Feshie on the B970 near Kincraig. There's really easy access and several other good pools further upstream. Where to campervan: Wild camping i possible in the layby here, or simply head to one of the lovely campsites in Aviemore or Newtonmore.

Strathmashie, Laggan, near Kingussie

Where to swim: This offers really easy access as it’s beside the A86 Kingussie to Ft William road, about 6km west of Laggan. There are lots of signposts. Where to campervan: Discreet overnight wild campervanning is possible in the many car parks.

For other ideas see Wild Swimming

* Remember that swimming in the wild can be dangerous if you are not a good swimmer. Do not jump into water without testing the temperature first and making sure of the depth. Beware of strong currents. Always make sure you swim with other people. Commonsense applies.

Great deal: Discounted bike hire for our customers

Take advantage of our great

bike hire discount with Escape Route

At Big Tree Campervans we're always looking for a good deal for our customers. Just recently we tied up with the guys at Escape Route, a cycle and outdoors specialist store in nearby Pitlochry which is run by an enthusiastic team including owner Kevin, as well as Malcolm. The deal came about after a number of people had asked about bike hire to go with their campervan holiday.

Escape Route, which offers a fantastic range of outdoors gear, has generously agreed to a 20% discount on their bike hire for all Big Tree customers. So instead of £20 per day for hire of one of their high quality bikes, our customers only need to pay £15 per day. And this includes a helmet, toolkit and pump. This adds up to a really great package.

The hire bikes include hybrids for adults or children and mountain bikes with disc brakes. If you have younger kids then why not think about hiring a tag-along or a kiddie seat to attach to an adult's bike?

A family campervan holiday is ideal for enjoying some great cycling adventures. See our recent blog about great places to go mountain biking with you family. Thanks to the hire of a bike rack for our Big Tree Campervans, holidaymakers can carry up to four bikes wherever they decide to go. The bikes are easy to put on and off the rack and you'll then have the freedom to choose to explore in your campervan or on two wheels. Scotland really does offer some great destinations for cyclists, whatever their fitness and experience.

So if you want to hire a bike for your Big Tree Campervan holiday simply tell us to reserve one at the point of booking. Then when you come along to pick up a Big Tree Campervan we'll have the bike rack already attached and you can simply pootle up the road to Pitlochry where the lovely guys at Escape Route will show you the bikes. They will even load them on to the bike rack for you. They're nice like that at Escape Route!

While you're at the shop why not take a look around for any last minute outdoors clothing that might take your fancy? A rucksack would be a great idea for your forthcoming cycling outings.

We just love it when businesses get together to offer customers a great deal.

Hire a campervan to beat the midge this summer

Cosy campervaning!

Pic By Angus Clyne

There was cheer a while ago when it was predicted that the harsh Scottish winter may have killed off some of our nasty midges. But latest research reveals that the wee beasties may be hardier than experts thought. Midge counts, undertaken by the Midge Forecast (real scientists from Edinburgh Uni!), in the Scottish Highlands show numbers are up on last year.

Sadly it's estimated that the midge causes £250 million of lost revenue in Scottish tourism each year, although anecdotally many tourists say they are not put off Scotland and would still come despite the midge because the country is so beautiful.

Part of the research of the scientists is to come up with a deterrent for the midge and certainly there are already a number of spray protectors on the market. Here at Big Tree Campervans we swear by Avon's Skin So Soft. We have it on sale to customers.

But the great thing about being on holiday in a campervan is that it is very easy to escape the midge at its most prevalent times. The wee beasties tend to come out at sun up and at dusk, and this is when you'll either be tucked up in bed inside your campervan or able to relax with a glass of wine/whisky inside the van and watch the sun go down.

A campervan allows holidaymakers to enjoy the best of the outdoors life in Scotland - but also offers a comfortable home-from-home in which to retreat. The Big Tree Campervans are spacious and provide more than enough room for a family to chill out in the evening.

A campervan also has the advantage of large windows (unlike a tent!) and so even when you're inside you are afforded great views of Scotland's gorgeous countryside. And if the midges ever get too bad, you simply pack up and drive off somewhere else. It's as simple as that!

5 campervan hotspots for family mountain biking

Glentress, near Peebles, is rated one of the

best mountain biking centres in the world

Campervans offer a great form of transport and accommodation, especially if you're looking for an active family holiday in Scotland. Here we continue our series of blogs that reveal some of the best Scottish places to go in a campervan. This blog is for mountain biking families and couples looking for easier mountain biking trails.

Scotland has a wealth of great mountain biking for all abilities. Indeed, the nation is voted as one of the world's leading mountain biking destinations. From children and novices through to experts and adrenaline-junkies there are mountain bike centres, skills areas, cross country routes and remote trails a plenty.

Anyone hiring a Big Tree Campervan can also take advantage of our sturdy bike racks. We can supply bike racks for two to four bikes for an additional cost of only £20. The racks are tow-bar mounted and make easy work of carrying all your bikes.

So where will you be heading with your mountain bikes this summer? Here we bring you five great mountain biking hotspots for families in Scotland – and suggestions for great places for parking your campervan overnight.

Five great campervan spots for mountain biking families

1) Laggan Wolftrax, Laggan, near Kingussie and Spean Bridge, Scottish Highlands

What's here?: A superb network of great trails. The fab green (easy) route offers lots of fun for children and novice bikers and at 4.8km long it can be ridden repeatedly... until you tire! The red (intermediate) route is 15km in total and well worth the pedal power. For families with adrenaline junkies there is the bonkers black route that will offer a huge challenge on natural rock. There is also a good cafe on site.

Top campervan spots: The wonderful folk who run the Wolftrax centre have been known to let the occasional campervan (rather than big motorhomes) use the car park for a quick one-nighter, especially if you buy some of their lovely soup in the cafe.

Alternatively, the minor road up the Upper Spey past Laggan and Crathes is tempting. There are a couple of good wild camping spots up this road, but care needs to be taken with regards to field access. Please remember that if in doubt always ask permission and it's vital that you treat wild camp spots with sensitivity and high regard.

There are two good campsites in nearby Newtonmore. Spey Bridge Caravan site which is lovely and quaintly old-fashioned, and the lovely Invernahavon Caravan Site, which has great views and is ideal for letting the kids run around and burn off energy.

2) Rothiemurchus, near Aviemore, Scottish Highlands

What's here?: Miles of wonderful off-road cycling roads that weave a scenic network across the beautiful estate. There's even a bike map including three fantastic family routes that can be purchased from bike shop Bothy Bikes at Rothiemurchus. If you've not brought your bikes then why not hire from Bothy Bikes?

Top campervan spots:· It's possible to very, very discreetly wild camp in the lower car park up at the Coire Cas ski area. But if you are asked not to do so then please respect this wish. Wild campervanning is wonderful where appropriate but we are keen that campervan overnighters do not get a bad name.

A great alternative is the Forest Holidays Site at Glenmore on Loch Morlich. You'll need to book ahead though for the best pitches, which are at the "bottom end" of the site on the small road. The site is located next to a beautiful sandy beach and has lovely views.

Rothiemurchus Camping & Caravan Park is also a good bet and is located closer to the vibrant outdoors town of Aviemore. You will need to book ahead for this gorgeous site, too, as it's become really popular since it was featured in the Cool Camping Guide: Scotland.

3) Glentress, near Peebles, Scottish Borders

What's here?: This is the Mecca of mountain biking centres in Scotland, the UK, Europe and arguably the world. You could spend days at this centre and never tire of the trails and parks on offer. There is even a dedicated children's skills area and an orange-graded skills park for more adventurous riders. The centre has green, blue, red and black-graded routes to suit all levels of ability. And the cakes at the cafe are legendary. Bike hire and a bike shop are also on site.

Top campervan spots: There are a few wild camping spots along the B709, north from Innerleithen towards the Moorfoot Hills. These are mostly by the side of the road, but it’s a very quiet road and a very tranquil glen. There is a wonderful bubbling burn running alongside the road.

For good campsites try Tweedside Caravan Park in Innerleithen, or Crossburn Caravan Site in Peebles, as well as Rosetta Caravan and Camping Park, also in Peebles.

4) Learnie Redrock, near Rosemarkie, Black Isle, Scottish Highlands

What's here?: There are lots of blue routes to keep families and less experienced riders happy. A short black trail and an orange-graded bike park keeps more experienced cyclists busy, too.

Bike hire is available at Square Wheels, in nearby Strathpeffer.

Top campervan spots: Wild camping is difficult on the Black Isle, and we’ve not really come across any spots to recommend but this doesn't mean there aren't any out there. You'll just need to hunt for yourself. Always ask permission to stay overnight if in doubt and please respect your environment.

The "proper" campsites in this area are well worth visiting though.There's a great campsite at Rosemarkie Bay. The Rosemarkie Camping and Caravan Site is a small but delightful site with great views out over the Moray Forth and across to Fort George. We'd also recommend a stroll along the shore to a Crofters Bistro where you'll find good food and great service.

5) Loch Ard, near Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire.

What's here?: A new entrant in this year's VisitScotland Mountain Bike Guide is Loch Ard (pick these up in local TICs). There are five routes, ranging from 2 miles to 10 miles. They are not officially graded by the Forestry Commission but they are all perfect for families, even those with young children. There are games to play en route, too, to keep your little ones happy.

Top campervan spots: There are a couple of good roadside wild camping spots along the B829 towards Loch Katrine. But please respect your surroundings and other people.

We'd recommend that you head to the fantastic Cobleland Caravan & Camping Site in Gartmore, near Aberfoyle. It's a superb site located by the river and has great facilities. Don't forget your Avon Skin So Soft, however, as the midges can be fierce here in the summer months. Big Tree Campervans can sell you this magical midge-beating moisturiser!

So have you chosen where you'll be campervanning and mountain biking this sumer?

Fancy some Glampervanning?

A campervan is the ideal way

to Glamp it up on your staycation

Another survey underlines what we have been blogging about: the staycation trend is here for a while longer. Research group Mintel found that three-quarters of Brits are set to book a UK holiday this year. Meanwhile, the Camping and Caravanning Club said advanced bookings for pitches at sites in the UK are already up 16% on last year.

At Big Tree Campervans we're been delighted with the fast-growing demand for our campervan hire, too. We knew that campervans were experiencing something of a revival in the UK but we had no idea just how popular they would be this year. We're thrilled with the number of advance bookings we have now taken for the summer.

And it could be that things may only get better for the UK tourism market in 2010. A prediction from independent forecaster Positive Weather Solutions reveals record UK temperatures this summer. And if you add in the recession, the hassle of flying and the worries over more volcanic ash, there's no doubting that the numbers of UK-based holidaymakers will grow.

Another trend that is sure to give campervanning another boost is the rise in demand for more luxury-style outdoors holidays. Retail store Halfords recently revealed a survey that found that many more people are keen to enjoy an outdoors holiday and the majority would prefer to "glamp it up". Glamping is Glamorous Camping, ie camping with all mod-cons.

In our opinion, campervanning is just one step on from Glamping and so we're suggesting that more people try Glampervanning ie campervanning but with a host of hi-tec gadgets and all mod-cons.

The advantage of Glampervanning in a 21st century hired campervan include:

* Being warm and dry when it's wet outdoors

* Flexible living and transport

*A great night's sleep

* Great cooking facilities and gas bbqs

* Electricity for phone chargers, ipods etc

* Easy set up. Just arrive at the site and put on the kettle (rather than needing to pitch a tent)

* Bike, kayak, surf board transportation

* Fridge, storage, space for up to four people to sleep

To find out more about Glampervanning check out Big Tree Campervans

See and do in Scotland in a campervan

Enjoy walking in Scotland

on your campervan holiday

Or sea kayaking ...

Or mountain biking...

Scotland is the ideal destination for a fantastic summer adventure. And a campervan makes the perfect mobile base for your holiday, whatever you choose to see or do.

What kind of holiday are you looking for?

A walking, climbing or mountaineering trip: Scotland has a wealth of fantastic options including low-level strolls, fabulous crags and cliffs and hundreds of Munros or Corbetts. If you are travelling in a campervan you will never be far from a comfortable seat, a warm bed and a cooked meal.

A wildlife spotting break: Scotland has one of the richest and most diverse natural habitats of anywhere in the UK. Some of the highlights include birds of prey, mountain hares, bottle nosed dolphins, red deer, otters, pine marten and myriad sea birds, as well as a wealth of flora and fauna. Big Tree Campervans is ideally placed at the heart of Scotland so holidaymakers can easily reach a wide range of natural Scottish habitats.

A cycling or mountain biking holiday: Scotland is one of the world’s most popular places for mountain biking and road cycling. There are numerous mountain biking centres and mile upon mile of quiet country roads across the country. A Big Tree Campervan offers hassle-free bike carrying thanks to a tow-bar mounted rack (we can hire you this) for carrying up to four bikes securely.

A water-sports holiday: Whether it’s surfing, body boarding, kayaking or canoeing Scotland offers a wealth of options. The coastline boasts many surfing hotspots for all abilities. Meanwhile the lochs and rivers are great for navigating by canoe or kayak. In a campervan you have a flexible base that provides home-from-home comforts as well as the ability to chase the right surf or find your ideal paddling river.

So whatever your holiday desires in Scotland a campervan makes a great choice. Here are more reasons why we think a Big Tree Campervan is the ideal way to enjoy your holiday this summer:

* Flexibility to choose where you go so that you can get the best out of the conditions and weather.

* A really cosy base to come back to after a day in Scotland's great outdoors.

* Heating, so that you can dry out your gear.

* Plenty of easily accessible storage space for all your gear.

* You can take your own food (or buy it locally) and cook it up yourself. It's cheaper than restaurants and much more fun.

So why not create your very own campervan adventure?

The taste of Scotland in a campervan

Two happy Big Tree Campervan customers are Alexi and Nick. They enjoyed a fabulous trip on the west coast of Scotland. They are both keen anglers – and even keener foodies!

One taste of Scotland highlight on their Big Tree Campervan holiday was a stop-off at Kishorn Seafood Bar at Strathcarron in Wester Ross. You can see from their photograph of the seafood bar that they couldn't believe their luck. If you're looking for a fab place to dine on Scottish seafood then the Kishorn is to be recommended.

After much deliberation Alexi and Nick also chose some tasty seafood to take back to the campervan for their supper. They cooked up this delicious-looking plate of squat lobsters – and then presumably chased this down with a nice glass or two of port (see the bottle in the background!).

And who can blame them? Cooking in a Big Tree Campervan is a great choice, especially if you enjoy dining alfresco. You can choose to use the efficient double gas stove inside the van or cook on a gas BBQ outside the van (available for hire).

The Big Tree Campervans also come complete with a good range of high quality cooking utensils. It’s a home-from-home touch and we want customers to enjoy cooking in our campervans so we have kitted them out with quality cook’s knives, proper-sized pans, mashers, bashers and all the utensils you’d expect in your home drawers and cupboards.

You can see that our customers Alexi and Nick put all the cooking kit to good use – and enjoyed a magnificent, locally sourced feast in their Big Tree Campervan.

Has this whet your appetite for a campervan holiday in Scotland this summer?

Take a campervan to... a Scottish festival

Take a Big Tree Campervan

to a festival this summer

Pic: Angus Clyne

The summer brings with it sunshine, holidays – and festivals. From music fests, to arts, to maritime, there is sure to be a festival to suit your desires. So we thought we would bring you our guide to some of the best festivals taking place in Scotland this year.

Of course, we think that the best way to go to a festival is in a Big Tree Campervan. There are a number of reasons why.

* The minute you arrive at the festival in your campervan you're ready to have fun. There's no messing around putting up tents. Simply park, hook up (if you want to) and put the kettle on.

* Most festival campervan pitches are 7m square and organisers can be pretty strict about the size of vehicles. A Big Tree Campervan is ideally suited to this size of pitch but because our campervans are roomier inside than many others you do not have to compromise on comfort. There's more room for sleeping, eating, cooking and relaxing on the inside of our campervans.

* You can also rent a drive-away awning from Big Tree Campervans. Both the van and the awning will still fit on the pitch. This means that whether it's sunny or rainy you'll have a shelter of your own.

* Why not also treat yourself to the hire of your own Porta Potti and toilet tent. Festival toilets so often leave a lot to be desired, that's if you can face the queues in the first place.

* The Big tree Campervan tables can be used inside and outside the vehicle. They are not fixed to the inside like some other vans. So you can enjoy alfresco dining at the festival.

* All campervans are supplied with two camping chairs. You can hire more if you want.

* And Big Tree Campervans also offer gas-fired BBQs for hire, too. Why faff around lighting a charcoal BBQ when you can so easily light a gas BBQ? No-one wants to waste time at a festival when there is so much going on to enjoy.

Hiring a campervan for a trip to a festival will make life so much more comfortable, convenient, dry, relaxing and warm. But don't just take our word for it, why not hire a Big Tree Campervan for your big fest trip this summer?

Here's a guide to some of the best Scottish festivals this summer:

RockNess When: June 11 to 13 Where: Dores, Inveness What: Headliners include Fatboy Slim, Leftfield and The Strokes. Scottish Traditional Boat festival When: June 26 to 27 Where: Portsoy, Aberdeenshire What: A fun-packed celebration of all things maritime. T in the Park When: July 9 to 11 Where: Balado, Kinrossshire What: Headliners include Muse, Eminem, Kasabian, Jay-Zand The Prodigy.

Hebridean Celtic Festival, When: July 14 to 17 Where: Multi-venue, Isle of Lewis. What: Lots of music, including Runrig, Breabach, Treacherous orchestra, Imelda May, Julie Fowlis. SpeyFest When: July 29 to August 1 Where: Fochabers, Speyside. What: A great line-up including, Michael McGoldrick, Karen Matheson, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Hayseed Dixie and The Wilders. Traquair Fair When: July 31 and August 1, Where: Traquair House, near Peebles, Scottish Borders What: Varied programme of street theatre, world music, dance, children’s entertainment, workshops for all ages. Glasgow River Festival When: July 5 to 6 Where: Various venues centred around the city and the River Clyde. What: Lots of river-themed events and attractions for all the family. Glasgow Show When: August 1 to 2 Where: Venues across the city. What: A wealth of family events and attractions. Edinburgh Festival Fringe When: August 6 to 30 Where: Venues across Edinburgh. What: The world's largest arts festival, including music, comedy, drama, children's shows, exhibitions and so much more. Edinburgh International Festival When: August 13 to September 5 Where: Venues across Edinburgh. What: A hugely popular festival including opera, music, drama and dance. Blas 2010 - Celebrating the Highlands When: September 3 to 12 Where: Around the Inverness area. What: A huge variety of events and music from Shooglenifty, Skerryvore, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, Anna Massie, Iain Morrison and his band, Donnie Munro

Oh, and there's one other website that we like if you're looking for more festival ideas. See SimplyTheFest Obviously we'd prefer it if you hired your campervan from us at Big Tree Campervans but even if you don't then we hope this guide to the best festivals across Scotland is useful.