Big Tree Campervans

A Great Day (Morning) On The Hill

2012-01-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

We're delighted to see our Austrian pal Charly Fritzer back in Scotland for another Big Tree Campervan Scottish winter climbing road-trip, and when I picked Charly and Matthias Wurtzer up from the airport yesterday, they were really keen to get out and climb! So, they headed up to Aviemore in their campervan last night, with plans for a bunch of us to meet up with them this morning in Coire Cas carpark. I was planning to climb with Chadders (aka Mark Chadwick), and Greg Boswell, and Will Sim, and Will's pal Ally had also agreed to come and play - the only problem was whether the crags would be in good winter condition.

We all met as planned at 7.00am in the carpark, the Austrian boys having had an excellent night's kip in their campervan, but I must admit to feeling pretty apprehensive having persuaded all this winter talent to head into Coire an Lochain.... when in fact there was a percentage chance that the crags wouldn't be white enough! The forecast had definitely been better for the west coast, so it was a huge relief when it got light enough to see the crag... in perfect mixed climbing conditions! White with hoar frost and rime, with solid old snow up to the base of the crag, and not too much ice in cracks to make gear placement difficult. Phew!

Chadders and I both had to be back home pretty swiftish (me in time to get to a ceilidh which my daughter was playing at, and Chadders to do an avalanche awareness evening for the Mountain Rescue Team), so we sprinted up Overseer Direct, an excellent fun V,6 route which was very very enjoyable. From our route we could see over to Charly and Matthias who were making (very) quick work of Fallout Corner (VI,7).

Topping out in the sunshine we wandered over to watch Will looking cool on the top pitch of Daddy Longlegs (VIII,9) before we had to head down. It was only midday when we left, and whilst we did see the Austrian boys starting up Grumbling Groove (VI,6), there's a fair chance that lots more steep stuff was done! In a way it was a shame to have to leave so early, but it was a great morning out, excellent company, and a fun climb in superb conditions!

Below: A strong team (Greg Boswell, Will Sim, Matthias Wurtzer, Charly Fritzer). Chadders on pitch 2, Overseer Direct. Will cruising toppitch of Daddy Longlegs.

STS on the Ben with Big Tree Campervans - The Movie!!

2011-12-25T01:26:00.000-08:00

An excellent Christmas pressie - the wonderful trio of Simon, James & Dom have just sent through the results of the superb work they've done editing together hours of footage from the 'STS on the Ben'.

The full version (27mins) will be out soon, but in the meantime, here's a shorter Christmas Teaser version to enjoy with your turkey & mince pies.http://vimeo.com/34159850 Enjoy!

STS on the Ben with Big Tree Campervans

2011-12-13T07:11:00.001-08:00

Ok, it's been a long time since the last Big Tree Campervans blog, but we've had an excellent end to the 2011 season, with loads of bookings, loads of fab customers, several trade shows, and even a couple of TV appearances... and lots of cool campervan ideas for 2012!

One of the main things we did in the autumn was to sponsor the Scottish Tooling Series (there's a great piece on this on the UKC website: http://tinyurl.com/d6efj2b), and the main prize we sponsored was to take the winning climbers off for a weekend at the CIC hut on Ben Nevis. It turned out to be a superb weekend, with lots of great climbing, great fun, great criac, and (thanks to folk like James Dunn, Dom Scott and Simon Davidson), lots of great photos and film footage.

We particulalry like this shot of the Big Tree Campervan in the carpark on the way out, and draped with the Saltire.

You can see more of Jame's great photos on his site James Dunn Visuals (http://tinyurl.com/cnxbnet), and Dom's on his site: (http://tinyurl.com/cg3mm6v)

Big Tree Sponsors Major Climbing Comp

2011-10-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

At Big Tree Campervans we're passionate about creating exciting adventures, and passionate about Scotland. So we're delighted to be sponsoring again the '2011 Scottish Tooling Series' - a major indoor climbing competion which is all about using winter climbing skills, techniques and equipment on indoor climbing walls. There are four rounds in the series -Ice Factor at Kinlochleven on 8th Oct; Glenmore Lodge on 22nd Oct; Transition Extreme in Aberdeen on 29th Oct; and the finals at The Glasgow Climbing Centre on 12th November.

Last weekend's first round at The Ice Factor was a sell-out, and saw some incredible performances from folk like Dennis Van Hoek, Marianne Van Der Steen, and Harry Holmes.... and I even managed a humble third place in the adult vet category! We'll have more of the next two events at Glenmore and Transition Extreme, and of course the final in Glasgow in November!

Big Tree Campervans are sponsoring the overall series, and putting up a great prize: 'STS On The Ben' - the STS adult winners and selected runners up will be based at the CIC hut on Ben Nevis for a weekend of awesome mixed climbing on one of the most famous winter climbing venues in the world. We'll hopefully have some great blogs to share from this, as well as some cool film footage from top european adventure film-maker, Hans Hornberger who's coming over from Germany to film the STS On The Ben.

Stuff On Your (Our) Doorstep

2011-08-12T03:24:00.000-07:00

At Big Tree Campervans we have loads of customers who are keen to head off to the fantastic west and north coasts of Scotland, and so zoom from Perthshire out to the west. Dont get me wrong, the west and north coasts are awesome places, and perfect for a campervan adventure.... but here's a thought: in my humble opinion, Perthshire is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, and well worth at least a couple of days (if not a whole holiday) spent exploring some of it's gems.

So, here's a few of our favourites, right here on Big Tree Campervan's doorstep:

Swimming at Rumbling Bridge - if you're into wild swimming, there are some fantasic rocky pools a couple of hundred metres upstream from Rumbling Bridge. It's easy to find - turn off the A9 onto the A822, and it's signposted on the right after about 2miles.
Camping wild - a couple of great local spots, one at the ford at Little Glenshee, just north west of our base in Bankfoot; and one in the wooded carpark at Rumbling Bridge. Slightly further from Bankfoot, there are some lovely wee spots in the upper reaches of Glen Lyon. As with all wild camping, be sure to follow the simple guidelines which we published on a recent blog (a copy will be in your campervan).
Great campsites - our favourite has to be Inver Mill (0044 1350 727477) which is a great campsite beside the river Braan, and just near the lovely picturesque village of Dunkeld. Our pals who run Inver Mill have always been really helpful in finding space for a last-minute Big Tree Campervan customer, and as it's only a few miles up the road it's a great lazy option for a first or last night.
Highland Safaris - (http://www.highlandsafaris.net/leisure/) if you fancy seeing and experiencing a bit more of the real highlands on a fantastic 4 x 4 Safari, then Donald & Julie's business just up the valley from Aberfeldy is a must. They also have a great cafe there, and are always looking to add different things, and have recenly opened Bike Trax, which is a fab moutain bike skills course.
Stewart Tower Dairy - if you love icecream, you just must make time to pop in and sample some of Neil & Linsey's awesome 'proper' italian gelato icecream... and it's only about 2 minutes drive from our base in Bankfoot!
Adventure Stuff - loads to do to get the adrenalin pumping: river rafting with Nae Limits http://www.naelimits.co.uk/) or Splash (http://rafting.co.uk/); Progression Bikes, which is the new mountain biking uplift facility at Dunkeld (http://www.progressionbikesscotland.com/), and one of our favouities - Highland Fling, (http://www.bungeejumpscotland.co.uk/) which is the UK's first static bridge bungee jump.... 40m of real buzz!!
The Bankfoot Inn - (http://www.bankfootinn.co.uk) we couldn't end this blog without mentioning what we think (ok, we're probably somewhat biased!) is one of the best real ale pubs in Scotland! Fantastic beers, great food, really comfy and welcoming rooms, and of course the increasingly famous Wednesday night music sessions - if you're into trad music, then you simply must get along on a Wednesday evening when there is a regualr crowd of lovers of trad music: a couple of fiddles, a guitar or two, an accordion, and lots of hearty singing voices all in a hugely welcoming atmosphere. Perfect!

'We Are Sailing... We Are Sailing..'

2011-06-10T02:55:00.000-07:00

With the start of summer upon us, lots of our customers are heading off to explore the fantastic range of Scottish islands. We find folk often have a few questions when they're thinking of including islands and ferry crossings in their Big Tree Campervan adventure, so we've put together our 'Top Ten Ferry Tips' to help plan your island adventures:

'CalMac' as they are known across Scotland (or to use their proper name 'Caledonian MacBrayne') are the biggest ferry operator in Scotland.
Their website http://www.calmac.co.uk/is great for planning your island hops, especially the really useful Route Map which we've shown above. If you'd prefer to talk to a real person, we've found the folk who run the 'Enquiries and Reservations line (0800 066 5000) are really helpful and enthusiastic.
Think creatively about using CalMac routes to plan a really big adventures, eg a ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, then potter through Skye, and even then head off out to Harris on the Uig - Tarbert crossing, before coming back to the mainland at Ullapool.
There are lots of useful shorter crossing as well, for example if you want a probabaly much quieter way of getting to/from Mull, then the Lochaline - Fishnish route is great fun, and often much less frequented than the normal Oban to Craignure crosing.
Think carefully about the type of tickets you want to buy - if you're going to making lots of crossings, it may be worth buying one of the 'Island Rover' tickets, or even a '6 Journey' ticket - there's loads more information about ticket types on the CalMac website.
It's worth making a reservation if you have to travel on a specific crossing in the summer months, especially at weekends ....
.... but you should also think a bit creatively about the time of crossing you want/need to take. For example, the we once tried to book on the 9.45am Kennacraig to Port Askaig crossing when planning a whisky tasting adventure on Islay, but that crossing was full.... so we simply got up earlier and had an almost deserted (and very beautiful) early morning crossing at 7.00am!
Some crossings are more expensive at peak times (eg the Oban to Mull) becasue you have to have a Full Fare ticket, so again, check out the ferry times with CalMac and think about and earlier or later crossing.
Big Tree Campervans are 4.85m long, so they fit into the pricing category of 'Motorhome Under 5m', which is great news as it means they are the same price as a normal car!
If you've rented a Big Tree Campervan bike rack, then your campervan will be over the 5m length... but here's a simple idea which we've done several times: book an 'Under 5m' ticket, and when you get to the ferry port, take the bikes off the back, and put them and the bike rack into the campervan for the crossing. Ok, you may have to take the wheels off your bikes, and it will take a few minutes to assemble/re-assemble, but it's worth the ££ savings!

So, we hope these help to plan your island hopping Big Tree Campervan adventure!

How cool is this...Adventure Of The Week!

2011-05-12T02:58:00.000-07:00

We're really really proud of this write-up in Adventure Travel magazine! Have a wee read yourselves, and you can see why we think it's so good!

Big Tree Campervan's Big Day!

2011-05-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, so if you've been on a different planet over the past few weeks and months you may be forgiven for not knowing that Sunday 15th May is the famous 'Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia' - the UK's only closed road cycle event, which starts and finishes at Pitlochry, and covers 81 miles of awesome Highland Perthshire scenery. This year, as last, Cycle Highland Perthshire are putting on a whole series of fab events leading up to the Etape, including yoga for cyclists, bike maintenance, the official opening of Bike Trax, the MTB skills area at our pals Highland Safaris ..... and lots lots more. Check out their website for a full programme of events.

The Saturday before the Etape, (14th May) is the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival BIG Day, and Big Tree Campervans are really proud to part of this fab event! It kicks off at 11.00am in Victoria Park in Aberfeldy, and promises to be a fantastic day: free entry; 'The Clan' (Scotland's amazing stunt cycling team... if you've not seen them before, prepare to be gobsmacked!); turbo challenges; bike obstacle courses; hand biking; bike-powered smoothie-making (honest!); kids cyclo-cross races; bike check-ups; bike powered scaletrix; treasure hunts; unicycling... the list goes on, and with over 3,000 people attending last year, and more expected this year, it promises to be a real fun day out!

Of course, Big Tree Campervans will be there as well, and you'll be able to look around one of our campervans, check out the fab 'MaxxRaxx bike racks we use, plus enter a great free draw to win a free 3 Day Big Tree Campervan hire!

The bike theme continues after the fun in Victora Park, with Mark Beaumont's Perthshire book launch of 'The Man Who Cycled America' at 6.00pm in the Breadalbane Community Campus, then yopu can round things off with a Pasta & Cycling Film Night 6.00pm - 8.45pm

So, Saturday 14th promises to be a great day.... and if you're warming up for the Etape on Sunday, or just fancy a great day out with a real focus on fun and bikes, then we'll see you at the BIG Day!

Big Tree Goes Ape!

2011-04-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

For some strange reason, it's not often that we get across to the Trossachs in our campervan, but we changed all that over the past couple of days. It can get pretty busy around there in the high summer or at Bank Holidays, mainly because of its proximity to Glasgow and the central belt.... but hey, it is a very very beautiful part of Scotland!

We decided to pop over there when it wouldn't be so busy, and as far as our kids were concerned, the main reason for going was to pay a visit to 'Go Ape', one of the fantastic tree-top adventure parks which are opening up all over the UK. Our kids are both over 10 years old now (the minimum age is 10, and also kids must be over 1.4m tall).

There are currently 3 in Scotland at Crathes Castle near Aberdeen, Beecraigs near Edinburgh, and of course Aberfoyle in the Trossachs. We'd spoken to Tom the centre manager beforehand and booked ourselves in for a 3.00pm session. It's very hard to describe exactly what it's like in words, but imagine: a fun and involving safety briefing; kitted out with harnesses and pulleys; a 420m zip-wire to get to the main area; then spending 3 hours swinging through the trees on high wires, tricky walkways, bridges, more zip wires, wooden slatted tunnels, tarzan swings and puzzling ladders... finishing off with another 420m+ zip wire to finish. See how many obstacles you can do 'no-handed'... see how many you therefore fall off! All very very very good fun!!!

We'd definitely recommend the Trossachs to anyone on a Big Tree

Campervan adventure, and we did come away with a few gem spots to camp wild in this lovely part of Scotland.

We'd very very definitely recommend the GoApe experience to anyone, especially if you're up for a laugh, fancy a bit of real excitement, and want to get the adrenalin pumping!

Prize Draw Winners!!

2011-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

We has a truly amazing time at the outdoor Pursuits Show in Edinburgh - two days of non-stop blethering about Big Tree Campervans! It was great to see so many people at the show, and good to see so much interest in the fab outdoors - as well as of course Big Tree Campervans.

So, we had three lucky winners in our prize draw: Sylvian from Edinburgh and Alison & Steven from Edinburgh won the runner's up prizes of 20% discount off a Big Tree Campervan adventure and (wait for it... drum roll.....) Janeanne from Edinburgh won the first prize of a fab 3-day Big Tree Campervan hire! Congratulations to all the winners, and many many thanks to everyone who entered....

Come and see Big Tree Campervans in Edinburgh!

2011-03-28T11:01:00.001-07:00

If you fancy getting to know more about Big Tree Campervans, meeting Simon & Sarah, nosing around one of our fab Big Tree Campervans, and finding out why Big Tree Campervans are perfect for loads of outdoor 'stuff' - then you'll be able to see us this coming weekend at the Outdoor Pursuits Scotland 2011 Show.

This exciting event is at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April and there's plenty to do, see, take part in, and just browse around - all to do with the fantastic outdoors of course! It promises to be a great day out for anyone who's passionate about the outdoors, and there's loads of things to do for all ages. You'll find Big Tree Campervans in the Camping & Walking Zone (stand C21), so come along and say hello.

To tempt you to pop over and see us, we're bringing loads of the famous Big Tree Campervan Flapjack for a tasty wee nibble, plus (the really exciting bit!), we've got a free to enter prize draw where you can win a fantastic 3 day Big Tree Campervan Adventure! You can find out loads more about Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Show 2011 at their website

So, see you at the weekend in Edinburgh!

'Camping Wild' - Some Common Sense Guidance

2011-02-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

At this time of year, when lots of the great campsites in Scotland are still closed for the winter, we get loads of enquiries from folk who are not sure where they can 'camp wild' with a Big Tree Campervan. A campervan trip is a great way to explore the vast, rich and varied natural beauty of Scotland, and whilst there are a few sites which stay open all year round (check out the Scottish Camping website which you can access through our Links Page) there are also lots of fantastic opportunities to "camp wild" with your Big Tree Campervan - you'll never find an approved list of all these places, as that would direct too many folk to the same spot and ruin it very quickly.

So, with the February half terms almost upon us, it's timely to remind folk about the great advice we give our Big Tree Campervan customers when they ask the question: "Where can I wild camp?"

We teamed up with a few other campervan rental companies, and also folk such as Scottish Natural Heritage and Visit Scotland to produce these simple, commonsense guidelines about camping wild with campervans in Scotland.

If you follow these guidelines, you'll hopefully enjoy "camping wild" on your Big Tree Campervan trip, and help support a sustainable way of experiencing Scotland. That way, we'll all be able enjoy the freedom of of camping wild for many years to come.

Access Rights

Scotland is rightly proud of its access rights; however when you're looking for places to 'camp wild' in a campervan or motorhome, it is important to bear in mind the following key points:

Scottish access rights and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code don't apply to motor vehicles.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 states that you can drive a vehicle up to 15 yards off a public road for the purposes of parking, but this does not confer any right to park the vehicle. Most un-metalled roads, unfenced land and beaches are private property, and you don't have the right to park unless it's authorised by the landowner by verbal agreement or signage.
In practice, informal off-road parking takes place in many parts of rural Scotland, often in well-established places, without causing undue concern.
Some communities (eg Calgary Bay on Mull, and the whole island of Tiree) have established their own guidance for campervans and the use of designated overnight parking spaces... if you're in such a place, follow the guidance!

Common Sense Guidance - Do:

Use common sense and think whether the spot you have found is suitable for a vehicle.
Think about the cumulative effect of camping in the 'fantastic secret place which I'm sure no-one else has ever been'... it is very likely that others will use the same spot, not just you!
Take great care to avoid the fragile ground/sensitive habitats, (eg wild flowers rich machair on the Western Isles) - never drive down to beaches or onto grass verges as it destroys the habitat.
Avoid over-crowding. If another vehicle is parked in a secluded spot, try not to park right next to them and find your own spot elsewhere.
Use only biodegradable detergents and drain kitchen waste water tanks in campsites at designated areas. If it has to be emptied in the wild, keep away from watercourses and be aware that animals will be attracted to the scent.
Carry a trowel to bury any human waste and urinate well away from open water, rivers and burns. Toilet paper should be bagged and taken away with you - not buried (animals dig it up).
Do a full 'litter-pick' before you leave, taking all your rubbish, and any you found there already, and disposing of it properly when you're back in 'civilisation.'
Support a sustainable tourism industry - buy groceries in local shops.

Common Sense Guidance - Don't:

Park in areas where signs state 'No overnight parking'
Park overnight within sight of people's houses, even in car park bays.
Block access tracks to estates and fields.
Light BBQs or fires unless it is safe to do so, and you can supervise it properly. They should be fully extinguished when finished and no evidence left behind.
Empty any chemical toilet waste anywhere other than at a designated chemical waste area. The majority of campsites have facilities for emptying a cassette toilet. Most public toilets are not suitable places to empty chemical toilet, as it upsets the sewage treatment process.

At Big Tree Campervans we're really proud of the fact that supporting a sustainable and fun way of experiencing Scotland is at the heart of what we do.

New Climbs and Campervans In Glencoe!

2011-01-13T03:43:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks we've been getting out a lot with our 'winterised' campervans to make the most of the amazing winter climbing conditions. Our campervans have been spending a lot of time over in Glencoe, where we've been exploring a couple of new climbing venues. Using the campervans as a base, Malcolm Bass and I (along with a variety of friends) have been busy exploring the beautiful Coire Eilde in Glencoe. We did three great new lines on the Summit Buttress of Sron na Lairig, and also managed to develop a brand new climbing venue which is unlike anything I've ever climbed on in Scotland. It's an almost hidden canyon which has at least 16 compelling ice lines dropping into it, right at the base of Coire Eilde. 'Eilde Canyon' as it's now called is an excellent ice venue, with some good steep lines still to do....The campervans have proved invaluable as a cosy base to come back to after a great day on the hill, and the folk at The Clachaig Inn have been great in letting us use their carpark to park up overnight - as long as we make sure we sup a couple of their excellent pints that its!

We've added a few inspiring photos on this blog, plus you can see more piccies, and download mini-guide to Eilde Canyon on the Home Page of the Big Tree Campervans website.

Staycation trend keeps on growing

2010-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

A new report confirms what we have been seeing for ourselves over the last year. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of Brits taking holidaying in the UK has risen by 6% compared to the same period the year before.

At the same time the number of people travelling overseas for holidays has dropped by 3%. In detail:

*Visits by UK residents to Europe fell by 8% to 43 million.

* Visit to North America fell by 9% to 3.4 million.

* Visits to other parts of the world fell by 2% to 8.9 million.

The report also looked at the number of people visiting the UK from across the world. While those coming from Europe remained at around the same level and travellers coming from North America dropped by 5%, there was a 2% rise in the numbers of holidaymakers from other parts of the world.

So, as we've been seeing at Big Tree Campervans, this report confirms that the number of UK people choosing to opt for a "staycation" continues to be on the rise. We're delighted with the news and we believe that as more Brits see the benefits of a holiday in the UK (and Scotland) and come to appreciate the beauty and attractions on offer closer to home, the more likely it is that this trend will go on growing.

Happy campervanning in 2011!

Dad and son have fun on their campervan trip

2010-11-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

James Jopling is dad to six-year-old Ethan. He was looking for a boys' road trip and came across Big Tree Campervans. Here he tells us about his few days of campervanning in Scotland in October.

James says: "I decided that I needed some proper male bonding with my son. So what better than a campervan trip to provide it? The thing is, my ‘outside’ holiday experiences had previously been limited to a disastrous Cub Scout camping trip aged nine so I’ve been a B&B fan ever since. But surely a campervan trip would fit the bill: Part outdoors adventure, part indoors luxury.

"Having searched on-line Big Tree Campervans stuck out as they were flexible about how long I could have a van. A full week for one untrained adult and an unruly child seemed a bit too much!

"Big Tree Campervans also made campervanning sound like fun! In response to my first email Simon was full of suggestions about where to go and where to stay on our trip.

"Following his advice I left our plans open till the day itself - which was the right thing to do as we avoided continual rain in the west and chose strong wind in the north instead.

"Following (another) good steer from Simon, we stayed the first two nights at a great site on the banks of Loch Morlich, Aviemore.

"Having never camped or ‘vanned’ before there were a few early lessons to learn:

"1) Don’t put pyjamas at the bottom of suitcases below many things you’ll never need anyway.

"2) Everything has a place – best put it back there when it’s in your hand and washed.

"3) The pieces of home-made flapjack and garden-laid eggs we got from Big Tree were very welcome.

"My first morning was highlighted by a red squirrel sighting. My last evening, by a large stag in the middle of the road. In between, the van gave us the great option of lunch wherever we fancied. As my son only eats marmalade sandwiches for lunch this worked perfectly.

"I quickly learned that whilst the autumnal splendour of the Highlands was particularly captivating, it rarely rivalled the iPod and Star Wars for my son while we were driving. But once outside, we experienced everything from the snow on the Cairngorms (thanks to the funicular railway), to the biggest tree in the world (according to my son) at the Hermitage in Dunkeld.

"Campervans are also great at making you slow down from the normal pace of life. Trips to the toilet at night become exciting torch-lit explorations. Trifles can be eaten luxuriously in bed and retrieved out of the fridge from the bed.

"Ahead of next time (and I’m pretty sure there will be one) I’ll work on manoeuvrability in smaller spaces!

"But what will stay with me more importantly are the special moments in each of the special days that I shared with my son. Neither of us will forget them."

Big Tree Campervans in the press

2010-11-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

We're very excited by an article about us in this week's Perthshire Advertiser. Sponsor Takes Up Climbing Challenge The in-paper article also had a splendid picture alongside. We're delighted to be involved as sponsor of the Scottish Tooling Series. Climbing is a major part of our lives here at Big Tree Campervans and so is Scotland's great outdoors.

If you'd like to find out more about great outdoors places to visit in our hire vans, or even something as simple as the best campsites which are open year-round and are close to the best winter climbing areas, then please do get in touch.

Looking forward to next round of national climbing series

2010-10-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

Anna Wells competes in the Scottish Tooling Series

We've been loving the action and atmosphere so far at this year's Scottish Tooling Series. As sponsors of the series and major prize givers we're also enjoying being an integral part of the national climbing competition.

At last weekend's round two, at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore, we watched in awe as some of the top climbers worked their magic on the indoor climbing walls. Defending female champion Anna Wells was also in good form.

The 20-year-old Aberdeen student won the series in 2009 and is bidding to retain her title. Anna, a mathematics undergraduate, will compete again in the third round of the nail-biting STS at Transition Extreme in Aberdeen this Saturday.

Anna, who has been climbing since she was eight, said: “I like the challenge of this indoor competition. It’s very difficult and requires a lot of mental focus and physical power. And I am still learning a lot but I would love to be the winner again this year.”

The 2010 STS comprises a series of five competitions across Scotland. Saturday is the third round in the series, and the final will be held at EICA Ratho, near Edinburgh, on November 27.

The competition has attracted climbing pros such as Kev Shields and Scott Muir.

Junior stars include Stevie Addison and Jonathan Field, who are both members of the British Junior Climbing Team.

The STS, now in its third year, tests climbers’ skills as they scale indoor climbing walls using ice axes and winter climbing boots, instead of bare hands and rock shoes.

Dry tooling is a discipline of climbing rock that is more often utilised outdoors on rock.

It has developed because there are times when climbers need to move from ice, where axes and crampons are most useful, to sections of rock face. On the rock they must be proficient at finding the right nooks, crannies and holds to make secure moves while still using the axes and crampons. And like so many winter sports, the discipline has been turned into a competition.

On Saturday Aberdeen spectators can watch the thrilling contest as climbers bid to complete a range of tough routes on the indoor walls without falling or weighting the rope.

As well as bidding for a podium position in one of three age categories for both male and female climbers, Big Tree Campervans have put up a host of great prizes. We are giving away a three-day hire of a Big Tree Campervan to the overall male and female winners in age categories 16-40 and 40+. For juniors there’s a climbing rope prize.

After Aberdeen, the series heads to the Ice factor, near Kinlochleven on November 13. Come and say Hi to us at any of the events. We'll be delighted to chat and to show you around one of our fab campervans.

Nail-biting climbing competition off to a thrilling start

2010-10-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

The Scottish Tooling Series, sponsored by Big Tree Campervans, got off to a great start on Saturday (October 9) as the first round took place in the Glasgow Climbing Centre. More than 40 climbers and a host of spectators were thrilled by the range of competition routes set by Pete Hill.

For more experienced climbers the unique routes offered plenty of challenges, while for those who are newer to the sport of dry tooling there were routes that offered great progress and inspiration.

The six-hour contest was supported by DJs, music and the great staff at GCC. Neil Silver, the STS organiser, said: "There was a great turn out from locals and those who had driven a great distance to compete. Everyone had a brilliant time in a great competitive atmosphere. This really sets the bar high for other comps in the series."

Big Tree Campervans is delighted to be the headline sponsor for the prestigious Scottish Tooling Series, which takes place through this month and next. We are offering a number of great prizes including great campervan holidays for the final winners in each adult category.

Dry tooling is a sport that has come in from the outdoors. On rock faces in winter climbers are required to use axes and crampons to negotiate ice. On occasions they will also need to traverse areas of rock that have little ice. The art of dry tooling is learning how to move on rock with your axes. Like may outdoor disciplines the sport has moved indoors as well and the Scottish Tooling Series is where climbers can compete in relative safety and on routes that have been designed to challenge.

The results of the first round can be found on the STS website

We're looking forward to the next round at Glemore Lodge on October 23.

Fantastic Big Tree Campervan Prizes

2010-10-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Big Tree Campervans are delighted to be supporting 'Scottish Tooling Series 2010' - the prestigious climbing competition which combines the thrill of indoor climbing with the excitement of winter climbing with ice axes. The dates of the 5 events have been confirmed as 9th Oct (Glasgow Climbing Centre), Oct 23rd (Glenmore Lodge nr Aviemore), 30th Oct (Transition Extreme in Aberdeen), Nov 13th (The Ice Factor

in Kinlochleven), and the Grand Final on Nov 27th at the EICA in Ratho, Edinburgh.

We're aiming to get to all the events, and we'll have one of our Big Tree Campervans on show at at least three of them. We'll let you know which events these will be in the next week or so. There's loads more information about the competition on the STS Website, including a fab profile of Big Tree Campervans!

Excitingly, we've also worked closely with the guys at STS and have just announced the fantastic prizes which Big Tree Campervans will be giving away to the lucky winners. Below is an extract from the STS website.....

Big Tree Campervans give away four fabulous holiday prizes

Winter Tactics:

“The early Starts required for the normal winter day mean that convenience takes precedence over comfortable accommodation, although for longer trips the latter is also necessary. To maximise use of daylight, it is best to stay as close to the point of departure from the road!”

From Scottish Winter Climbs (SMC)

Our series winners will not have to worry about pitching the tent or how to make the front seat of the car a bit more comfortable when parked at Torlundy for the night! The Scottish Tooling Series 2010 is delighted to be able to offer a host of fantastic series prizes thanks to major sponsor Big Tree Campervans. The leading Scottish campervan hire company, based in Perthshire, is generously offering first place series prizes for all three age groups, and for both men’s and women’s categories.

For the top placed man and woman in each of the age categories 16-40 and 40+, Big Tree Campervans is giving away a three-day hire of a Big Tree Campervan. All four winners will be able to take advantage of the opportunity for a fabulous holiday in a modern and spacious campervan.

The Big Tree Campervans sleep two to four people and offer a wide range of modern luxuries, includingcentral heating, a fridge, a two-burner stove and home-from-home pans, crockery and cutlery.

Each hire prize includes unlimited mileage, full insurance for one driver, all cooking/crockery/kitchen equipment and a Welcome Pack of tea, coffee, milk, oil and eggs from the Big Tree hens.

For the younger climbers, Big Tree Campervans is also offering two great prizes. The male and female winners in the under-16 age categories will each win a high-quality Beal Ice Line 8.1mm x 50m dry rope. The Beal Ice Line dry rope is claimed to be one of best all-round ropes for Scottish winter climbing.

Terms and conditions: The three-day campervan hire prize can be taken any time between December 1^st 2010 and March 31^st 2011. Why not choose to add extra days to the hire for a longer adventure?

The prizes are not transferable, unless the winner isn’t eligible to be covered by our insurance (insurance is for drivers aged 25 to 70, and who have held a full driving licence for more than two years), in which case it will be possible to discuss transferring the prize to a friend or family member.

All the campervan hire details are on the Big Tree Campervans website.

The STS judge’s decision is final.

Big Tree Campervans - Autumn Ideas

2010-09-16T03:34:00.000-07:00

With the ‘nights drawing in’ and the weather thinking about turning that wee bit more autumnal, it’s time to enjoy what I think really is the best season of the year. Autumn, and especially late September and October are fantastic months for classic adventures in a Big Tree Campervan.

Scotland is at its most gorgeous at this time of year, with amazing autumn colours, loads of berries, mushrooms and other wild food around... fewer people, and fewer midges as well! Add to this the superbly powerful heaters in all the Big Tree Campervans so you have a cosy base to come back to after a day’s adventure... and you can see why campervan hire in Scotland is such a fantastic idea in the autumn.

So, with school half terms looming and the chance to get away for a few a days or even a week long break, I’ve listed the first 4 of my ‘Top 8’ favourite things to do in these amazing months....

‘Hunt For Red October’.

You’ll be able to track down the most amazing autumn tree colours all over Scotland. Our favourite spots are local to us right here in Highland Perthshire - the eastern end of Loch Tummel (where the photo on the left was taken), the beech woods around Dunkeld & Birnam, and the hillsides above Aberfeldy must be three of the best spots for glorious October autumn colours. There are also lots of great places to wild camp with your campervan as well as some cool Perthshire campsites – just ask if you want us to point you in the right direction!

Autumn Hill Walks.

The heather is at its best in September, and with crisp autumn days, you can have some truly memorable days out on the hill. This photo was taken on An Groban, just above Gairloch, and it was a big big autumn adventure getting to the summit. You'll always need to be properly equipped, and bear in mind that it can get a wee bit chilly on the tops in October, but whether it's a stroll in the woods at valley level, or a bigger day out on the tops, September and October are definitely my favourite months!

Wild Food. With the right knowledge, there is so much wild food this time of year, literally ‘ripe for the picking’. The blackberries this year are amazing, but my favourite is the huge variety of mushrooms which last well into late October and mid November. Yes, you need to be very careful what you pick, but armed with a good identification book (we use Peter Jordan’s ‘Field Guide to Edible Mushrooms’), it’s easy to get to know half a dozen tasty species which you’re confident about picking. The ones in this photo are Brown Birch Boletus, Orange Birch Boletus, and Orange Peel Fungus. Back to the campervan, out with the frying pan, in with a dab of butter, and hey presto... the ultimate Big Tree Campervans mushrooms on toast!

Wild Swimming. Believe it or not the sea and most of the rivers and burns are at their warmest in autumn. They’ve had all summer to warm up, and it’s fantastic time to take the plunge. Ok, if you want to you can (like our kids) wimp out a bit and use a wetsuit, but even without it’s possible to have some memorable autumn swims.

So, chose your favourite sandy beach (for us it’s Big Sand near Gairloch), or look back a blog we did back in June on great wild swimming spots. Even if it does feel a little chilly, you can always head back to your Big Tree Campervan and simply switch the powerful heater on, and within a few minutes you’ll be toasty warm.

In the next blog I’ll share my other 4 ideas for autumn adventures.....

Big Tree Campervans Sponsors "Scottish Tooling Series 2010"

2010-09-03T14:31:00.001-07:00

At Big Tree Campervans we're passionate about creating exciting adventures, and passionate about Scotland. So we're delighted to have teamed up with the folks at STS, and are now proud to announce that Big Tree Campervans are the series sponsors for '"Scottish Tooling Series 2010" - a superb climbing competition combining the thrill of indoor climbing with the excitement of winter climbing with ice tools.

We'll have more info over the next few days and weeks about our sponsorship of this prestigious climbing competition, including the dates of the 5 events, the fab prizes we're offering, and much more..... but right now, we just couldn't wait to tell folk all about it!

You can see more details of the STS series, plus some fab photos of Big Tree Campervans on the STS website

Hot off the press!

2010-08-29T13:43:00.001-07:00

Delighted we're in the papers again. Check out the August 29th Sunday Herald 'Parenting/Entertainment' supplement for a (huuuuge) fab photo by our pal Angus Clyne of one of our campervans, plus some really inspiring words:

'Hit The Road - Campervaning in Scotland. This is the perfect way to explore Scotland's great outdoors during the autumn months. One company that offers 21st-century vans with a great range of modern luxuries, comfort and heating is Perthshire-based Big Tree Campervans. You can travel to out-of-the-way places or well-equipped campsites, and take in walks, mountain biking centres, or the cultural highlights of towns and cities. Whatever you fancy. The first three readers to book an October school break trip will receive the use of a gas BBQ for free. Quote The Herald when calling. Contact www.bigtreecampervans.com'

Wild Camping - Great Bank Holiday Advice for Campervans

2010-08-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

A fantastic pitch on a recognised campsite at Arisaig

Photo Steve Fraser

A campervan trip is a great way to explore the vast, rich and varied natural beauty of Scotland. There are plenty of fantastic campsites that provide a great base from which to explore - and all the good sites are listed on the Scottish Camping website which you can access through our Links Page.

There are also lots of opportunities to "camp wild" with your Big Tree Campervan - you'll never find an approved list of all these places, as that would direct too many folk to the same spot and ruin it very quickly.

So, with the August Bank Holiday almost upon us, it's timely to remind folk about the great advice we give our Big Tree Campervan customers when they ask the question: "Where can I wild camp?"

If you follow these guidelines, you'll hopefully enjoy "camping wild" on your Big Tree Camper van trip, and help support a sustainable way of experiencing Scotland. That way, we'll all be able enjoy the freedom of of camping wild for many years to come.

Access Rights - Scotland is rightly very proud of its access rights, however when you are looking for places to camp wild in a campervan, it is important to bear in mind the following key points:

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the Land Reform Act do not apply to motor vehicles.
Most un-metalled roads, unfenced land and beaches are generally private property, and therefore you don’t have a right of vehicle access unless it’s authorised by the landowner by verbal agreement or signage.
The Road Traffic Act 1988, states that you can only drive a vehicle off-road (ie off a public road) for the purpose of parking, within 15 yards of a public road.
Some communities (eg Calgary Bay on Mull, and the whole island of Tiree) have established their own guidance for campervans and the use of designated overnight parking spaces... if you’re in such a place, follow the guidance!

Commonsense guidance

Do:

Use commonsense and think whether the spot you have found is suitable for a vehicle.
Think about the cumulative effect of camping in the "fantastic secret place which I’m sure no-one else has ever been"...it is very likely that others will use the same spot, not just you!
Take great care to avoid fragile ground/sensitive habitats, (eg wild flower rich machair on the Western Isles) - never drive down to beaches or on to grass verges as it destroys the habitat.
Avoid overcrowding. If another vehicle is parked in a secluded spot - try not to park right next to them and find your own spot elsewhere.
Use only biodegradable detergents and drain kitchen waste water tanks in campsites at designated areas. If it has to be emptied in the wild, keep away from water courses and be aware that animals will be attracted to the scent.
Carry a trowel to bury any human waste and urinate well away from open water, rivers and burns. Toilet paper should be bagged and taken away by you – not buried (animals dig it up).
Do a full "litter-pick" before you leave, taking all of your rubbish, and any you found there already, and disposing of it properly when you’re back in civilisation.
Support a sustainable tourism industry – buy groceries in local shops.

Don’t:

Park in areas where signs state "no overnight parking".
Park overnight within sight of people's houses, even in car park bays.
Block access tracks to estates and fields.
Light BBQs or fires unless it is safe to do so, and you can supervise it properly. They should be fully extinguished when finished and no evidence left behind.
Empty any chemical toilet waste anywhere other than at a designated chemical waste area. All campsites have facilities for the emptying of a cassette toilet. Most public toilets are not suitable places to empty chemical toilets as it upsets the sewage treatment process.

At Big Tree Campervans we're really proud of the fact that supporting a sustainable and fun way of experiencing Scotland is at the heart of what we do.

Top 5 "easier" Munros for campervanners

2010-08-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

Take off in a campervan for a gorgeous walk

up the easy-ish Munro, Schiehallion in Perthshire

Campervans are a great way to travel and ideal for enjoying Scotland's great outdoors. In a campervan you can arrive, park up, put on the kettle, have a brew and then get yourself ready for a great walk. It's as simple as that. Returning to your Big Tree Campervan with central heating and all the facilities for cooking a rewarding evening meal is bliss. A few hours later and after a glass of wine or a dram as you watch the sun set and you can be tucked up in bed sleeping off your day's exertions and ready for more the next morning.

One of the biggest walking trends in Scotland is bagging Munros. The Munros are the 283 Scottish mountains with a summit of more than 3000ft. While some of these mountains are only for the most experienced walker, there are a host of easier, beginner-style Munros that would be perfect for your next campervanning holiday in Scotland.

Here we bring you five of our favourite "easier" Munros and suggest a hotspot or two for your campervanning over-night:

Cairnwell (933m), near Glenshee

An easy-to-summit mountain that gives great views for a lot less walking than the average Munro. (Just 595m of ascent). There isn't a path all the way to the top but you will easily navigate in good conditions. As a first Munro this is a great choice.

Where to campervan: It's possible to park discreetly at the south end ofGlenshee Ski Centre but a better option is to continue towards Braemar for about 7km, then take the small road over the bridge on the left. Here you'll find some lovely spots with great fun places to play by the river after a good Munro bag. Do take care here as the ground can be boggy in some places – choose your spot carefully.

There's also a fabulous spot at The Linn of Dee car park, among the gorgeous trees. It's very sheltered, so can it can get a bit midgy at certain times of the year. (Don't forget to buy your Avon Skinsosoft from Big Tree Campervans before setting off.)

Also, Invercauld Caravan Club site at Braemar is popular, and justifiably so because of its first-class facilities.

Ben Chonzie (931m), near Crieff, Perthshire

Ben Chonzie is another great Munro for newbie baggers. Famous for its fabulous heather and sightings of mountain hares, the route is easy to find (except you may need to search a bit for the summit marker!) and it introduces unused leg muscles to the exertions of climbing a Munro.

Where to campervan: There is a car park at the head of the Glen Turret road that feels really isolated. This is because it is isolated! There are some lovely easy walks along the side of the loch, which would be ideal for a post-Munro leg stretch.

20 Shilling Wood Caravan Park in Comrie is really lovely, too. Make sure you phone ahead though if you have Fido in our pet-friendly campervan.

Schiehallion (1083m), Perthshire

This is one of the most popular Munro ascents and also a fairly straightforward route. Choose a fine day if you can and you'll delight in the gorgeous views. The mountain is rather like a broad ridge and at the top you need to walk over boulders to reach the summit marker. Most folk walk Schiehallion by walking up and down the same way. If you fancy something a wee bit different and a little more challenging, then another option is to walk round the south side of the mountain, then strike straight up the "south face" by heathery slopes and some loose scree, heading straight for the summit, where you'll often surprise folk who’ve come up the "normal" way when you suddenly pop up onto the top.

Where to campervan: It's possible to wild camp in the car park which is the usual start-point for bagging this Munro, but please be discreet.

There are also some great spots along the minor road from the car park heading north west (see if you can spot which of the photos on the Home Page of our Big Tree Campervan website were taken along this road!)

Tummel Valley Holiday Park in nearby Tummel Bridge is a good site, but it can be a bit busy in high summer.

Mount Keen (939m), Aboyne, Royal Deeside

This is the most easterly of all the 283 Munros and offers an isolated peak amid gorgeous rolling countryside. There are easy-ish-going routes from both the north and south, and you could cycle in on a mountain bike to the start of the main walking ascent. The views from the peak are jaw-dropping.

Where to campervan: It's possible to wild camp at a few spots in Glen Esk, just past Tarfside.

Glen Esk Caravan Park, near Edzel, is in a lovely setting, with lots of space for the kids to run wild. The mobile reception here is very limited, which is ideal if you're looking for that real get-away-from-it-all holiday!

Ben Lomond (974m), Rowardennan, east side of Loch Lomond

The most southerly of the Munros, and possibly one of the most popular ascents, Ben Lomond offers a fantastic day's walking and a wealth of stunning views, especially over Loch Lomond. There is an easy-to-follow route and an optional return via Ptarmigan Ridge, which can be muddy and a little unnerving in poor weather.

Where to campervan: Sadly, the road up the east side of Loch Lomond has had a fair bit of abuse from unthinking and uncaring "wild" campers’ so there are plans to ban wildcamping (tents and campervans) from this road. If you do choose to wild-camp here - and there are plenty of good spots along this road - be extra sure to take everything away with you and leave it in a cleaner state than you found it. If you do see new "No Camping" signs, go somewhere else!

Other options include Cashel Campsite and Caravan Park at Rowardennan, or the Milarrochy Bay Camping and Caravan Club site at Balmaha.

Where wil your campervan adventure take you?

There's so much more to the great outdoors

2010-08-13T03:02:00.000-07:00

Scotland's awesome outdoors
Pic © Angus Clyne

We’re shocked by a new survey that has revealed that more than half of Britons have not tried an outdoor activity due to a "lack of opportunity", while a third claim to be “too scared” to try. The research was carried out on behalf of Go Outdoors and also found that Londoners are most likely not to want to leave the comfort of their homes for an outdoors adventure.

A closer look at particular outdoor activities shows that half of those asked in the poll have never been on a horse and around four in 10 have never swum in natural waters.

But as many health experts extol, getting outdoors is good for our physical and mental well-being so it seems a huge shame that so many people are missing out on a great outdoors adventure.

We reckon that lots of people are put off outdoors pursuits because they fear wet, mud and general discomfort. Of course, some outdoors activities do require participants to get a little wet but that’s usually while wearing a wetsuit and careering crazily down an awesome white water river or canyon. (What? You haven’t tried white water rafting or canyoning in Scotland yet? You don’t know what you’re missing!)

But there are also a host of other activities that are fun and outdoorsy yet not in the least bit OTT. Especially in Scotland.
• There’s cycling on a huge network of quiet roads and traffic-free cycle ways.
• Gorgeous walks along lochsides and river banks.
• Open canoeing in sheltered waters, both on picturesque lochs and at the coast.
• Archery sessions at places such a magnificently scenic Glencoe.
• Land Rover wildlife safaris.

And no-one said you need to sleep rough to enjoy an outdoors break. Not everyone likes camping so why not book your accommodation to suit your comfort desires? Plenty of B&Bs and hotels welcome walkers, cyclists and all kinds of outdoorsy-type folk. Even better still - and we would say this, eh? - is a campervan!

In a campervan you can overnight pretty much where you want. You can enjoy the best of the outdoors, including scenery and nature, but from the warmth and comfort of a heated van. Check out our fabbie hire campervans at Big Tree Campervans.

What are you waiting for? It’s time to up the statistics of this recent report.

Why not just stay in the UK instead?

2010-08-12T04:43:00.000-07:00

Swap the potential threat of this....

... for a guaranteed above-expectations scenic holiday in Scotland.

Oh my! Yet more stikes at UK airports could be on the horizon as the union Unite decides later today whether to go on strike. Unite has more than 6,000 workers at all BAA-owned aiports, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and strike action could well spell more flights' misery for UK holidaymakers.

We're not saying that the workers do not have good cause to strike (it's over pay and conditions) but it does mean that easy-going flying around the UK and overseas could be in jeopardy again.
This comes after the Icelandic ash hell - and other strikes at airports over the year.

But what we are saying is that many more Brits will no doubt be looking to avoid any airport/flights hassle and might well be more favourable towards a stay-in-the-UK holiday. At Big Tree Campervans we have definitely seen a huge increase in the staycationers and our bookings are doing extremely well. We offer to pick customers up at train stations, too, so you can arrive in Scotland by rail at your convenience.

The thing is, too, that so many of our customers our telling us how much they are enjoying their holidays in Scotland. In our opinion it is great to see the tide turning towards UK holidays as opposed to the decades of holidaymakers vanishing overseas.

British holidaymaking is great for our economy and much better for the environment. If you haven't discovered the merits of a Scottish holiday yet then you'll have no idea what you're missing. Why not book one of our gorgeously comfortable campervans and set off for a great adventure? We are sure you'll come back time and again.

More Brits shun overseas travel

2010-07-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

New figures reveal that the number of foreign trips made by British people has fallen at the fastest rate since the 1970s in 2009. The report found that there were 58.6 million trips, compared to 69 million in 2008.

ONS says the plummeting figures come after years of steady growth with trips abroad having grown by 4% on average per year in the past 25 years.

It seems likely that 2010 will also reveal a downward trend in foreign holidays by the Brits – while the staycation becomes an even firmer favourite in the UK.

Just last week we heard about the collapse of another travel firm, Goldtrail, and there are further strike threats at six UK airports. More than 6,000 members based at BAA airports, including Heathrow, are in a dispute over pay. This all comes on the back of the Icelandic volcano ash chaos and strike action taken by BA workers.

So much to discover in Scotland:

So many more people are choosing to stay in the UK for the holiday instead of risking an overseas vacation headache.

Anecdotally we're hearing from so many holiday companies in Scotland who are seeing an increase in stay-at-home holidaymakers. And many of our customers – we're pretty much fully booked for the summer – tell us that they feel happier spending money on a holiday at home because it feels less risky. The sunnier start to the summer also encouraged more people to choose outdoors-type holidays, such as camping and campervanning.

We're hoping that the more people who see what Scotland has to offer – and campervanning is a fantastic way to see the great outdoors – the greater the increase in the staycation in years to come. Why not check out our Big Tree great adventure section?

5 campervan hotspots for adventurous mountain bikers

2010-06-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-23T03:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-17T00:41:00.001-07:00

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

2010-06-14T04:22:00.001-07:00

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?

2010-06-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

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.

The staycation is here to stay

2010-06-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Scotland the best!

The “staycation” is not last year’s news. In fact, it seems that many people in the UK travel industry have been witnessing a growth in the stay-at-home holiday market for a few years now. And this summer a number of factors are contributing to an even bigger increase in holidaymakers choosing not to fly abroad.

First there has been the threat of renewed Icelandic volcano activity. No-one knows if Eyjafjallajökull has spewed out its final clouds of ash – or if there will be continued problems with no-fly zones in Europe for a long time to come.

Then there are the strikes at British Airways. One side says it’s business as usual while the other points out the level of disruption already taking place.

So it’s no wonder that many people in the UK are reconsidering their usual summertime overseas travel. This is especially true of families who do not cope so well if there is air travel disruption. Business people do not like to worry about being stuck overseas either.

In any case, many more Brits and Scots are realising how much this country has to offer when it comes to holidays. For too long overlooked in pursuit of holidays abroad, the UK has now become trendy again for one or two week holidays.

The fact is, too, that people are still keen to spend money on holidays, including food and drink and accommodation, which is great news for our home tourism industry.

We’re delighted to see this change taking place. The UK has a wealth to offer the holidaymaker. Scotland, in particular, is rated one of the best small countries in the world for holidays and is also a leader in outdoors activities, including walking, mountain biking, sea kayaking and surfing.

To take in the wide range of landscape and activities on offer in Scotland why not hire a campervan this summer? It’s a great way to travel and with everything on board for your holiday you’ll enjoy home-from-home comforts during your adventures.

A Big Tree Campervan holiday could be the perfect way to volcano-proof your summer holidays!

Big Tree Campervans welcomes Bob the Dog

2010-05-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

Meet out new dog, Bob. The kids, Sarah and myself are thrilled to welcome the 14-month-old working Border collie into our family. He has come from friends who have a farm with four dogs in Glen Clova, in the Angus Glens, but who are moving to a new farm that only has space for two working dogs. So Bob has moved to live with us.

Sarah with Bob the dog

He's already settled in really well at Big Tree C ampervans. The kids love him and I've been enjoying having Bob around all day with me. He's great company while I meet guests, clean out campervans and sit at my computer.

And now I have a companion for my regular runs. In fact, the first time I took Bob for a run with me in a local forest I was amazed by his fitness. There I was running at a pace that I felt was pretty fast. I was actually putting a lot of effort into the outing. And then I looked down at my side to find Bob sauntering along, not even out of breath, and kind of looking at me as if to say: "Is that it Mr Big Tree? I'd call that an easy jog not a proper run." Still Bob seemed happy enough to "jog" alongside me.

Bob is also getting used to other dogs now (he was a bit nervous to start with) and he's just about tolerating our hens and cats.

Oh, and don't forget that if you own a dog you can bring him/her on a Big Tree Campervan holiday. One of our campervans is pet-friendly. You'll also get to meet our dog, Bob!

The Big Tree Campervan flapjack recipe

2010-05-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

B.T.C flapjack: Too good to resist

At Big Tree Campervans we know how to keep our customers happy. As well as sending everyone out in high quality Toyota campervans with a host of mod cons and luxuries we also make sure that every campervan is kitted out with an essential item: Big Tree Campervan Flapjack. (BTC Flapjack.)

Sarah has been practising long and hard to create exactly the right recipe for exactly the right flapjack for our campervans. It's just sticky enough, just chewy enough, just fruity enough and just perfect for a snack when you're out on the road/stopped at the perfect campervan spot/short of breakfast/needing a scrummy snack to go with a cup of tea.

We make sure each person in the party has a piece of flapjack when they set out on their holiday (so there's no good in telling us there are 14 people in your party as we're the ones who take the booking!)

Lots of people have been asking us for the recipe for the BTC Flapjack. We thought we'd let you into the secret so you can make more for yourself at home. This flapjack is nut-free. It's adapted from a Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall recipe, but with a Big Tree Campervan twist.

Ingredients:

1 orange

½ lemon

100g raisins

100g golden syrup

200g unsalted butter

100g soft brown sugar

350g jumbo oats

100g plain flour

You'll also need a 23cm square baking tin, baking parchment, a big pan, a small pan and a mixing bowl.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160C. Grease baking tin with a dab of butter & line with baking parchment

2. Grate orange & lemon zest, and put in the big pan.

3. Meanwhile put the juice of the orange & lemon into the small pan with the raisins. Simmer gently for a few secs, then take off heat and leave so the raisins plump up.

4. Add golden syrup, butter and brown sugar to zests in the big pan. Heat very gently until dissolved. Take off heat.

5. Mix oats & flour together in mixing bowl, then add everything from the big pan and the small pan. Give it a really good mix.

6. Spread mixture over the lined baking tin. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown.

7. Take out of oven, leave for a few minutes to cool slightly, then mark into squares. Leave to cool and set.

The delicious BTC Flapjack is best eaten with a fantastic view and a feeling of relaxation. So why not hire a campervan from us this summer?

Don't get lost finding us

2010-05-20T05:14:00.000-07:00

We want our campervan customers to find us. But we're also aware that we are based in a tucked-out-of-the-way place in the lovely Perthshire village of Bankfoot. If you do follow our directions (we will give you a set of directions on your booking form) then you shouldn't have any problems finding Big Tree Campervans.

But this is one place where you can't rely on your GPS. Even using a good, old-fashioned map might flummox you. Instead we have come up with a set of written instructions that might seem a bit old-fangled and way too simplified but will be sure to help you locate the Big Tree Campervans HQ.

We love where we are based, tucked down a quiet lane that also has a one-way system and we want you to find us.

As an example one customer who admits to being navigationally challenged even at the best of times - she admitted: "I can get lost going home in my own town" - found Big Tree Campervans first time thanks to our direction instructions. She added: "I did have to stop a few times to go back over the instructions and to check I was making the right turns each time but, you know, I made it there without making any mistakes. And when you arrive, you can see why Big Tree Campervans like where they are. To be honest, if I can make it there then anyone will."

And if all else fails, just give us a ring. We can come out and meet you and guide you in if necessary. Just don't waste precious moments of your holiday trying to find us!

Eggs-cellent start to your campervan holiday

2010-05-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

Our hens are being very good to us. We have six – three black, two lovely brown and one black and white. They’re a bit of a mix of colours, characters and breeds but they are fun to have around – and above all they’re great layers.

Recently we’ve been trying out a new menu of organic mixed corn rather than pure corn. They seem to like it. When our kids go out to feed the hens (they live in a big run in our garden in sunny Perthshire) there is a great deal of competition to see which one can make it to the feed first.

On average we’re collecting about three eggs every day, which means we can send out most of our campervans with a few eggs on board for our guests’ first breakfast. There’s little to beat the taste of a freshly laid egg cooked on a campervan stove somewhere in the middle of Scotland. Our favourite is fried egg and bacon rolls on a cool but bright Saturday morning in a campervan overlooking a stunning west coast beach.

Hmm. Just now one of our hens is a bit broody so she’s sitting in the nest box all day. Girls, hey?!

We quite often include a few slabs of homemade flapjack on board the campervans, too, as well as a little milk, tea bags, coffee and a few other essentials to get our guests started on their way.

If you want to order a complete starter food pack, or even a champagne hamper for a special occasion, you only have to ask and we’ll be happy to oblige. Sometimes it’s just so much easier to start your Big Tree Campervan holiday with a little assistance. Happy campervanning!

If you love cycling - you'll want to be in Perthshire this weekend

2010-05-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

Come and take a look around a

Big Tree Campervan this weekend

Perthshire is going big on cycling this weekend as the region hosts both the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival Day tomorrow (May 15) and the Etape Caledonia on Sunday. Big Tree Campervans is supporting both events and you'll see us there in our distinctive Big tree Campervan.

Why not come along and meet us and our campervan. We'd love to show you around the van, which we have kitted out to our own specific spec. We'll have our fab Maxx Raxx bike racks on display, too. Imagine the freedom you could have on a campervan holiday in Scotland this summer, travelling from cycling hotspot to cycling hotspot in a high quality van that is both your living quarters, your overnight accommodation and your transport?

Scotland is huge on cycling. As well as a host of cycling events, challenges and sportives we are a world leading country for mountain bikers. There are numerous mountain bike centres across the country and many are ideally located for campsites. Watch out for a blog in the near future about great cycling hotspots for campervanners.

Anyway, if you fancy meeting me (Simon) and my wife Sarah tomorrow we'll be at Victoria Park, Aberfeldy, from 11am to 4pm. We might even have some homemade flapjack to give out - and we'll be selling that wonderful midge zapper, Avon's Skin so Soft, at ridiculous prices.

It's "snow" problem in a campervan!

2010-05-12T01:43:00.000-07:00

It might be snowing in parts of Scotland. In May, for goodness sakes! But then that's another reason why happy holidaymakers should choose a Big Tree Campervan for their next adventure. Forget the cold and unpredictability of sleeping out under canvas, in a campervan you can simply turn on the heating.

Fitted as standard in all our campervans is a Webasto warm air heater. It's powered directly by the engine (even when the ignition is off) – and so you can use it whether the campervan is hooked up to the mains, or running off the leisure battery. For added reassurance you can also hire one of our snazzy solar panels in case you want to wild camp... and keep the battery charged up ...for extra heating.

It's a really powerful heater with responsive controls and will have the campervan toasty warm in only a few minutes. There's also the benefits of a built-in thermostat (just like home-from-home heating), which means you will stay warm and cosy all night, even when there's snow outside!

A recent customer commented: "I was warmer in the campervan than I usually am at home. It felt really cosy. In fact, in the middle of one night I started imagining how nice it might be to simply give up my home and live in a campervan permanently!"

Happy campervanning family

2010-05-06T03:24:00.000-07:00

Baby Jack in a Big Tree Campervan

Of course, we're confident that most customers will fall in love with our roomy, high quality Toyota campervans but it' so lovely to find out exactly why people enjoy their Big Tree Campervan breaks in Scotland.

It's feedback like this from Richard, Marie and baby Jack that makes running a campervan hire business so rewarding.

They said: "We had a great long weekend in our Big Tree Campervan. The campervan was was amazing – so well equipped and well-designed."

Their highlights included:

* Filling up with LPG for £30

* The amazing coastline of Wester Ross and Sutherland

* The stunning mountains

* That lovely feeling when the bed is made and you’re watching the sun go down and the stars come out (you can’t see through the walls of a tent)

* Watching an owl out hunting - the camper van seemed to act as a sort of hide;

* The lovely bag of goodies in the champagne hamper.

* The feeling that the main concern of Big tree Campervans was for us to have a great time.

What will you be doing on your next Scottish holiday?

Zap those midges with Skin So Soft

2010-05-05T02:24:00.000-07:00

If it works for the British Royal Marine Commandos then it'll work for Scottish holidaymakers, too. Skin-So-Soft from Avon might not appear to be the likeliest of midge repellents but according to almost everyone who has tried it, this nice-smelling lotion really does do the trick. What it seems to do is make it more difficult physically for the midges to bite by putting an oily layer over the skin. Result!

Although reports reveal that there will be less of the Scottish midge this summer, due to a particularly cold winter, there will still be a few dozen of the wee beasties out and about so the key is to be prepared.

We recommend that you cover skin at times when the midge is most prolific, eg dawn and dusk, and if you're travelling by campervan you always have the luxury of being able to retreat indoors. But if you're still keen to be outdoors, perhaps enjoying a barbecue, then why not simply rub on some Skin So Soft?

With this in mind Big Tree Campervans are selling Skin So Soft as part of our campervan hire package this summer. We like to think of all the details so you can enjoy your big campervanning adventure to the full.

Expert predicts less midges this summer

2010-05-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Pic: Blown out of

proportion?

Less midges = happy tourists

So the midge experts reckon there’s a chance that Scotland will be less ravaged by the wee beasties this year. The reason for this is the colder than average winter. Freezing temperatures and lots of snow are believed to have killed off a “proportion” of our midge population.

Acclaimed midge expert Dr Alison Blackwell said that the larvae that spent winter a few centimetres below ground will have been vulnerable to the cold spell this winter. But she has warned that "trillions” of the wee biting insects will still have survived.

Still a few million less midges has to be good news for Scotland and our tourists. Of course, the other way to reduce your chances of being bitten by the notorious midge is to avoid being out and about at times when they are most prolific. This is usually at dawn and at dusk.

Holidaying in a campervan means you can enjoy your roaming around Scotland’s glorious countryside – but also take advantage of being indoors whenever you fancy. The roomy interiors have space for lounging around, dining and sleeping.

This means that if it should rain – or if you come across and area that has more midges than you’d like – you simply climb inside, close the doors and relax!

Check out Big Tree Campervans for all your holiday campervanning hiring needs.

Hire a toilet and tent with your campervan

2010-04-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

Whether camping or campervanning one question that often pops up is "what about a toilet?". Even if you're planning to head to a campsite then accessibility to a toilet is still something that concerns many holidaymakers. This is especially relevant during the night - and if you have youngsters with you.

Now Big tree Campervans has the perfect solution to all your toilet concerns. When you hire one of our top quality campervans you can also request a Porta Potti and tent. The tent is robust and comes with good guy lines so that it won't blow away even on a windy night. And as you can see the tent is nice and roomy. It even comes with a toilet roll holder.

The Porta Potti is a modern chemical toilet that does require to be emptied every so often. This is a simple and quick procedure and is more than balanced out by privacy and cleanliness afforded by your very own campervanning toilet. Some families might choose to use the Porta Potti only at nights, so as to reduce the amount of emptying required.

It costs only £15 to hire the toilet and tent with Big Tree Campervans. Now couples and families can use a toilet that is as clean and private as they could wish. And let's not forget the advantage of a toilet tent if you're planning a festival trip this summer!

Another good reason to holiday in Scotland this year

2010-04-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Stay in Scotland... in a campervan Pic thanks to Angus Clyne

So the latest holiday news is that airlines are set to hike prices in an effort to recover some of the costs resulting from the volcanic ash disruption. An article just published on Travelmole claims that prices will soar by 11.5% by 2012 in the wake of the recent worldwide flights nightmare. Figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research also reveal that UK travellers can expect to pay an additional £1.8 billion for flights or £48 each on average.

But we're wondering if people will actually be more concerned about the potential for more ash havoc, rather than worrying about the higher cost of travel. So many people are talking about giving up their annual summer holidays abroad simply because they can't face flying. There's actually no way of knowing if the volcano eruption will die down or fire up again. And that's without worrying about the volcano's near neighbour, which could also erupt at any time.

What seems to be likely is that last year's "staycation" trend is set to grow in 2010. Of course, this is good news for the Scottish tourist industry, including accommodation providers, retailers, cultural attractions, activity providers – and, we hope, campervan hire companies!

5 campervan hotspots for climbers

2010-04-26T03:53:00.001-07:00

Climbers everywhere will be putting away their crampons and dusting off their climbing shoes as the warmer weather brings with it the opportunity for some spring rock climbing. At this time of year, Scotland's wealth of lower crags offer the perfect destination for climbers of all abilities.

These crags also make a great base for a week or weekend of sociable climbing, especially if you're travelling by campervan. Many campervans offer sleeping space for up to four adults, as well as the possibility of two more sleeping beneath an attached awning. And while the days may be sunnier, the evenings can still be chilly so a heated campervan makes even more sense.

Just think of the potential for a get-away-from-it-all campervan holiday that offers endless day-time climbing, combined with evenings spent cooking, eating and chatting in your mini home on wheels.

Of course, Scotland does sometimes feature a little rain. But if you a holidaying in a campervan then it's simply a case of relaxing in the van until the rain eases - before quickly resuming your activity.

Many climbing crags are also located amid some of Scotland's finest scenery and so there are plenty of other opportunities for investigating a more varied range of outdoor activities. You could, for example, combine a few days of climbing with a couple of days of walking. Or why not take your bikes and mix cycling with climbing over the course of a week or so?

In a campervan the options are endless and the range of stunning overnight spots are almost limitless.

Here we bring you five of our favourite campervanning hotspots for climbers.

Glen Etive, Glencoe: The Glen is wonderfully atmospheric and deserves more exploration - but for climbers it's the superb Etive Slabs that offer the main attraction. It's worth making an early start here as the crag catches the sun until early afternoon. 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.

Poolewe & Loch Tollaidh, Ross-shire: The low-lying crags here offer a great selection of different aspects and easy access so you can follow the sun. There's a good mix of trad climbing and sport crags, which means you can choose how brave you want to be! Where to campervan: An idyllic wild camping spot for campervans – and only a few minutes' walk to either the sport routes on Creag nan Luch, or the trad routes on Lower an Upper Tollie Crag – can be found right next to Loch Maree at Tollie Bay. It’s a tiny spot, right by the water’s edge, and reached by a singletrack road 2km south of Poolewe. The singletrack road goes past Tollie Farm and you must ask permission there first, before carrying on past the farm to Tollie Bay. If you don’t fancy wild campervanning the Gailoch Holiday Park campsite in Gairloch itself is lovely. The Mountain Coffee Company in the village is also well worth a visit for fab coffees, huge hot chocolates, cakes and a great browsing library of climbing mags.

Cuillin traverse, Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye: Spring and early summer are Skye ridge seasons. Whether you’re aiming to complete the full Cuillin traverse, pick off a few classic rock routes, or Munro bag the In Pinn, a campervan trip is ideal. You'll relish the flexibility to overnight close to your start point, or else drive close to the day's climbing. And if the climbing happens to be rained off then you will value the ability to relax in a heated campervan – and wait until the next break in the clouds. Where to campervan: Sligachan campsite is beautifully located at the head of Loch Sligachan. The pub/hotel is so close it feels as though it's an integral part of the campsite. Or try Glenbrittle Campsite if the southern Cuillin is your goal. The classic rock routes on Sron na Ciche are amongScotland's best.

Glen Clova, Angus Glens: This gorgeously scenic area offers great early season low-level climbing. There are also a number of newly opened Angus sport climbing venues, such as Rob’s Reid and Kirriemuir. Where to campervan: A basic but beautifully located and peaceful campsite opposite the car park and Carn Deag Mountaineering Hut at the head of the glen.

Glen Nevis, near Fort William: A premier Scottish cragging venue, the Polldubh crags at Glen Nevis give a whole variety of routes at different grades. Linking the end of one route to the start of another is one of the pleasures of climbing at Polldubh. Where to campervan: Glen Nevis campsite. This is a great site with easy access to the crags higher up the glen.

For more tips about great spots for Scottish climbing, and where to overnight in your campervan, contact Big Tree Campervans. We know many of the hotspots personally.

The cheaper way to enjoy your campervan holiday

2010-04-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Suddenly there's another very good reason to hire one of our Toyota campervans - cheaper fuel. Two of our vehicles are equipped to run on LPG Autogas, which means you can enjoy your great Big Tree Campervan adventure at half the price. With the cost of LPG now an average 64.6p, as compared to the highest ever price of £120.30 per gallon for unleaded petrol, it's easy to see how the fuel savings mount up.

There are other advantages to LPG, too. One thing, it's greener. LPG Autogas offers 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to equivalent petrol run engines, and 10% compared to diesel vehicles. LPG is also a cleaner fuel and offers approximately 20 times lower Nitrogen Oxide emissions than unleaded petrol or diesel. Our environment doesn't like Nitrogen Oxide, by the way.

Drivers find that they get slightly more miles to the gallon when using LPG as compared to ordinary petrol, which means you pay much less to drive even further.

And if you thought that LPG wasn't readily available fuel then you'll be surprised to find out that it's now widespread in Scotland. We can even provide you with a list of the places where you can buy the fuel during your campervan holiday. Filling up is a straightforward procedure, too. Rather like filling up with petrol except you find yourself paying out 50% of the cost when you reach the check-out.

Now your only concern is how to better spend the money you've saved on fuel. Might we suggest a few bottles of celebratory Champagne (to drink after you're parked up for the night)? Or an extra night's campervan hire? Or why not simply leave the unused cash in your bank account for your next, aherm, cheaper campervan holiday?

And just so you know: if you want to switch back to petrol then our two campervans have the advantage of being converted to run on both LPG and petrol. So where do you plan to head for your cheaper campervan holiday? To find out more check out Big Tree Campervans at Bankfoot, near Perth, Scotland

Your pet dogs are welcome, too

2010-04-07T07:08:00.001-07:00

Paws for thought: Your dog will love a campervan

holiday as much as you (Pic by Angus Clyne)

Your pet dog is likely to be a much-loved part of the family so it can seem a little unfair to leave him/her at home (or in kennels) when you head off for an exciting holiday. While many accommodation providers and travel operators will turn their nose up at the mere mention of your favourite pooch, at Big Tree Campervans we welcome dogs.

To this end, two of our fleet of roomy Toyota campervans are dog-friendly – and all we ask is that you keep the interior of the vehicles as clean as possible during your holiday. To assist we provide comfy dog-rugs that should be used by your dog when inside the campervan. And at the end of your holiday we request that you ensure the vehicles have had a good clean.

Of course, we'll give the campervan a further thorough clean before hiring it out to another customer. And, just so you know, our other four campervans are kept as "pet-free" vehicles.

As you can see from the photograph below, one doggie customer Darcy made himself at home during a recent campervan holiday with his owner.