Ride The Highlands

A cool day yesterday with Graeme McLean from Developing Mountain Biking In Scotland and the awesome Lee Craigie.  Lee is the British and Scottish X Country MTB Champion, and she’s landed what she’s described as her “dream job”...  two weeks in a Big Tree Campervan, dashing around the Highlands and riding some of the best MTB trails and trail centres.

The idea is that, supported by us and DMBinS, Lee will ride these highland trails and capture the adventures on GoPro film footage and GPS records. DMBinS will then pull the whole thing together into an E-Guide of the top MTB trails in Highland Scotland.  Lee is being joined by various pals over the next two weeks, and will ride some easy stuff like the Glencoe Lochan track and the Bealach Brittle Loop on Skye... all the way through to epic adventures like the Corriyarick Pass in Laggan and the Torridon Coulags.  Lee did ask if we wanted to join her for some rides... we may say yes if it’s one of the (very) easy days!

It should all be great fun, and we’re delighted that we’re able to work with great organisations like Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, who are doing so much to promote this fantastic sport, and of course work with awesome athletes like Lee.

Highland Games - More Than A Game!!

Well, May is nearly upon us, and at Big Tree Campervans we get really excited about the start of the Highland Games season - Highland Games take place in dozens of local communities across the whole of Scotland from May to September.

For those of you not familiar with them, they involve a unique combination of culture, sport and social criac. At all the Games you’ll see a really wide range of events, from the heavy events (hammer throwing, tossing the caber, throwing the hammer, the shot) through to the light events (running, cycling, tug o war, highland dancing, solo piping). All these events ensure a wonderful sound and atmosphere against a backdrop of some marvellous scenery! Often there is a small admission fee, and there’s nearly always have some excellent food, drink, and other entertainment which makes for a fantastic day.

 

On your first visit to a Games, they can seem a bit chaotic, with lots of events taking place at the same time in different parts of the games field – you can often have athletic races speeding past a Highland dancing competition, with the drone of a pipes from the pipes competition in the background, not to mention the ‘heavy’ events like caber tossing and tug-of-war all happening right in the middle!

We really would recommend fitting a day at the Games into your Big Tree Campervan adventure, and as well as spectating, there are often vents which you can enter yourselves as a visitor – usually the athletic events which includes different length races, and always the fun children’s races!


To help you plan your visit to the Games, there’s a list of the dates on the Scottish Highland Games Association website, plus a useful map showing the locations of the various Games.

So, check out the dates, make some sort of a plan, and enjoy the Highland Games on your Big Tree Campervan adventure!

Awesome Arisaig Adventure

We’ve written before about this very very beautiful corner of Scotland, and the wonderful coastline of Arisaig is an area which does keep drawing us back for more Big Tree Campervan adventures.  This weekend, tempted by the excellent weather forecast for the north west of Scotland, Ed and I headed out that way for a ‘Dad & Son Mountain Bike Adventure’.

We first paid a visit to Applecross (I’ll write about that in a separate blog), but then nipped over the bridge to Skye, and caught the last ferry from Armadale across to Mallaig – a beautiful crossing made even more fun by watching the porpoises playing in the ferry bow wave.  It was early evening when we arrived in Arisaig at our friend’s Julie & Ian’s campsite, Sunnyside Croft.  We’ve recommended Sunnyside Croft to loads of Big Tree Campervan customers over the past few years, mainly because we do think their site is one of the best run in Arisaig.  It’s probably not the cheapest, but the again you get what you pay for... superb new facilities, an awesome welcome by people who really care about their customer service, a 2 minute walk to one of the loveliest beaches in Scotland, and a view out over Eigg and Mull to die for. For me, it’s worth every penny.

Ed and I spent a mellow evening cooking pasta, having a campfire on the beach, and then snuggling down to watch ‘The Italian Job’ on the DVD player. Nice.

Our plan for the next day was to take the bikes on the tiny ferry from Mallaig to the abandoned settlement of Tarbert which is opposite the remote wilderness of Knoydart.  From there it’s one of Scotland’s best mountain bike rides back along the shores of Loch Morar, eventually returning to Mallaig.  Only one problem.... the ferry doesn’t run on Saturdays. Doh!   It turns out the ferry franchise has changed, and it’s now run by Sea Bridge Knoydart.  Their website doesn’t have the up to date information on it just now (they only mention their service from Mallaig to Inverie in Knoydart), but they do run the service to Tarbert – best to ring Jon on 01687 462916 for details, and you’ll definitely need to ring him if you’re planning on bringing bikes with you... it is a very very small ferry!

Anyway, we went for ‘Plan B’ which was to drive out to Bracorine and then mountain bike as far as we could along the shores of Loch Morar before returning the same way.  Well, what a beautiful ride!  I would strongly recommend this to any competent mountain bike riders, and it’s some of the best single track which Ed and I have ever ridden in Scotland.  The setting on the side of the loch is very beautiful, the track ride-able for all but a few short sections, with plenty of swooping downhills and absorbing technical sections, with the drop down into the loch quite daunting in places.  The scenery though is simply stunning as you bike past abandoned crofts and wild wild countryside... overall a very very satisfying place to be.

Our adventure was cut short a wee but by Ed’s chain snapping twice, and then as we decided to turn back after about 2 ½ hrs riding, Ed crunched against a very large boulder and completely sheared his rear derailleur off!  Oh. So... we had one totally unrideable bike, 2 ½ hrs from the car, in the middle of nowhere!  Ed then came up with the brilliant suggestion of creating a ‘Mountain Bike Fixie’ – i.e. dismantling what was left of the rear derailleur, shortening the chain so the bike was in one single gear. Hey presto, 30 minutes later Ed was back in the saddle, albeit with quite a task to ride all the way back on some very technical ground in one gear.  His little 12-year-old legs were pretty tired by the time we got back to the campervan at the road head!

A few hours later we were back home in Bankfoot (after a quick stop for fish & chips in Ft William), and then both of us off to an early bed after a superb day’s adventure. Nice!

Not On A Campsite - No Problem!!!

 

At this time of year, 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, as the season starts to ramp up, 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?"

 

A couple of years ago 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 RightsScotland 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.

Fort William Mountain Festival Film Competition: 'The Van and The Clan'

So, the results of this fab film competition are in, and we're a) sorry we didn't win, b) delighted to have been shortlisted and c) really pleased for the winner which was James Dunn’s brilliant film ‘When’.  We know James really well and he’s another hugely talented filmmaker, and in fact he’s responsible for two of the other films you can see on the Big Tree Campervan video wall – ‘Greg Boswell’ the profile of the talented climber, and the two ‘STS on The Ben’ films.

You can see Jame's film at the Fort William Mountain Festival which is on this week, and is a fantastic celebration of all things 'mountain'.    

So, congratulations to James, and also to Paul MacDonald for producing ‘The Van & The Clan’.  Paul's film is we think, one of the best wee films we’ve seen in ages, and it really sums up the spirit of a Big Tree Campervan adventure in Scotland.

We really enjoyed working with Paul on ‘The Van and The Clan’, especially the day when Ed and I were at Laggan Wolftrax filming and riding with Paul and the awesome Duncan Shaw and Ricky Crompton... thanks guys!

So, if you’ve got any ideas on some cool themes for short films involving beautiful Scotland and brilliant Big Tree Campervans, do let us know!

Arisaig Adventures

Every so often we have a snatched opportunity to get away in one of our own campervans... and checking our 'In-Out' schedule this weekend, we realised we could pack a van on Friday, look after some customers on Friday evening, then zoom off early on Saturday and get back for late Sunday afternoon. Van packed, family in, and it was off up the A9, across the Laggan road to Ft William, then the stunning drive down 'Harry Potter Valley' (aka Glenn Finnan) to see our pals Julie & Ian at Sunnyside Croft in Arisaig.

We often recommend Julie & Ian and their fab new site at Arisaig, and for very, very good reasons! There are lots of sites at Arisaig, but Julie & Ian took the great step last year of setting up a brand new 37-pitch site on their croft right by the gorgeous sandy beaches at the bottom of their land. They've done an amazing job, with a lovely eco-friendly shower/loo/facilities block, a great wee shop with local produce (but sensibly not trying to compete with the Spar in Arisaig village), very generous pitch sizes... I do so hate it when sites try and cram you together!. Most importantly, Julie & Ian major on friendly and genuine customer service, which is almost (almost!) as good as Big Tree Campervan's !!!. The views out to Skye, Rum and Eigg are awesome, and the beaches could be in the Seychelles.... It's still April of course, so no swimming (yet), but superb pottering around rock-pools and wading across sand bars to fun wee islands, then back to a cosy campervan (heating on full blast in the icy wind!) for a meal, then a movie on the DVD player.

So, all in all, an excellent snatched wee trip away!

STS on the Ben with Big Tree Campervans

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 Goes Ape!

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!

Big Tree Campervans in the press

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

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

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.

Big Tree Campervans - Autumn Ideas

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.....

Hot off the press!

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'

Top 5 "easier" Munros for campervanners

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

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.

Hire a campervan to beat the midge this summer

Cosy campervaning!

Pic By Angus Clyne

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

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

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

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

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

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

See and do in Scotland in a campervan

Enjoy walking in Scotland

on your campervan holiday

Or sea kayaking ...

Or mountain biking...

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

What kind of holiday are you looking for?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So why not create your very own campervan adventure?

Big Tree Campervans welcomes Bob the Dog

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 Campervans. 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!