Suggestions and tips for trip to UK / Scotland 2022

Carstenbn · Apr 30, 2021

Hello Cali friends

We are in the phase of planning a 6 week trip from Denmark to the UK including Scotland.
We will be making the trip in spring/summer/fall 2022 when Covid19 hopefully is far away in our world

We would love it if someone could give us suggestions for places to visit, that we just cant miss when visiting UK/Scotland.
We have a few places already, but im sure there is a million great spots to find.

Anyone know about California meets and events that should be planned in the trip ?

The short list of places we need to visit - probably what everyone else has on their list when visiting UK

- Snowdonia
- Loch Lomond (Love Bruce Guthro and Runrig)

- Stonehenge
- Edinburgh Castle
- Uni of Cambridge / Oxford
- Loch Ness
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
- Lake District National Park

Does anyone have good suggestions for time of year to do the trip ?

Any inputs are highly appreciated

Best regards

Marianne and Carsten

ThomasHJ · Apr 30, 2021

A similair trip is on our wishlist for the future, so I will gladly follow this thread. Good question @Carstenbn!

Wildcamper · Apr 30, 2021

It depends on what you like and don't like. We would avoid all your suggestions during high season, they will be packed! If you want to do those then avoid July, August and the first half of Sept. Places we have enjoyed, all in early Spring or Autumn are: the Lizard peninsula, the Gower, Pembrokeshire, Nevyn (N Wales), Arnside, the Northumberland coast, N Yorkshire, west of Scotland (do not go in high summer, early spring is great if lucky with the weather), the outer Scottish islands (not in high summer, again early spring), Shropshire, Malvern, the Cotswolds, Spurn Head, west of Ireland (not in high summer). Some suggestions based on what we like.

bvddobb · Apr 30, 2021

flying banana · Apr 30, 2021

September. After the 2 most pesky things in the UK have gone. The midges and the kids.

Lightning · Apr 30, 2021

Avoid midge season in Scotland whenever that is, seriously.

Barbara · Apr 30, 2021

Carstenbn said:
Hello Cali friends

We are in the phase of planning a 6 week trip from Denmark to the UK including Scotland.
We will be making the trip in spring/summer/fall 2022 when Covid19 hopefully is far away in our world

We would love it if someone could give us suggestions for places to visit, that we just cant miss when visiting UK/Scotland.
We have a few places already, but im sure there is a million great spots to find.

Anyone know about California meets and events that should be planned in the trip ?

The short list of places we need to visit - probably what everyone else has on their list when visiting UK

- Snowdonia
- Loch Lomond (Love Bruce Guthro and Runrig)
- Stonehenge
- Edinburgh Castle
- Uni of Cambridge / Oxford
- Loch Ness
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
- Lake District National Park

Does anyone have good suggestions for time of year to do the trip ?

Any inputs are highly appreciated

Best regards

Marianne and Carsten

I think it is difficult to park in Edinburgh and Cambridge so look for sites with bus routes. Not sure if still Ok but there was a bus from the Camping and Motorhome club site in Edinburgh. Also one near the site in Cambridge but I prefer the Camping and Caravan site there and you can cycle into Cambridge. If you want to visit London then Abbey Wood site is near a railway and good for cycling near the river, you can get into central London by bike with planning. I do a round trip from there but about 30 Km but a great day cycle trip.

GrannyJen · Apr 30, 2021

Cambridge: Highfield farm campsite is superb, about 5 miles from Cambridge but only 3 miles from a big park and ride. Also the right side of town to visit Duxford, surely one of Europes outstanding museums (and I include in that the Kriegsmarine museum in Kiel). Good for cycling also. Cambridge is good any time.

Stonehenge: Well, anywhere between there and Salisbury to stop and some great campsites. Stonehenge does not take long to visit, I last went there when my kids were allowed to scramble all over the stones so that tells you how long ago. However visit Salisbury, desperate parking, novichok probably still lying around but the Cathedral is lovely. Depends what you like when you go, Wiltshire can be a cold windy place in winter.

GrumpyGranddad · Apr 30, 2021

Carstenbn said:
Hello Cali friends

We are in the phase of planning a 6 week trip from Denmark to the UK including Scotland.
We will be making the trip in spring/summer/fall 2022 when Covid19 hopefully is far away in our world

We would love it if someone could give us suggestions for places to visit, that we just cant miss when visiting UK/Scotland.
We have a few places already, but im sure there is a million great spots to find.

Anyone know about California meets and events that should be planned in the trip ?

The short list of places we need to visit - probably what everyone else has on their list when visiting UK

- Snowdonia
- Loch Lomond (Love Bruce Guthro and Runrig)
- Stonehenge
- Edinburgh Castle
- Uni of Cambridge / Oxford
- Loch Ness
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
- Lake District National Park

Does anyone have good suggestions for time of year to do the trip ?

Any inputs are highly appreciated

Best regards

Marianne and Carsten

As others have said there are so many places to see.

The Gower Peninsula in South Wales has wonderful views and gorgeous beaches.

The New Forest is great for walking and cycling.

The Dorset Coast is beautiful and good for fossil hunting.

The Northumberland coast and National Park is definitely worth visiting on your way to or from Scotland.

The Yorkshire Dales are lovely with some spectacular walks. Malham Cove/Gordale Scar for example.

Oxford and Cambridge have Park & Ride schemes which you should use as you’ll find it almost impossible to find Cali parking in the city centres.

If you plan to visit London a good option would be to park outside the capital near a rail route. For example the Chiltern Line.

So much more...........

BrugseB · Apr 30, 2021

If you plan a stop over in Belgium, guess there would be a choice of local guides

Carstenbn · May 2, 2021

Thanks all, we appreciate all the great suggestions

Yorkieboi · May 2, 2021

Hi Carstenbn; I'm sure you will enjoy your visit to the UK and Scotland. Depending on when/where you are in Scotland, you should prepare for the midges, weather, narrow single lane roads etc. Your initial itinerary takes you to Loch Ness, but much of Scotland's wilderness lies north of Inverness. Castles and whiskey are other attractions in Scotland, and the National Trust is a good source of information on castles https://www.nts.org.uk/ The north east of Scotland has many whiskey distilleries and a Malt Whiskey trail, http://maltwhiskytrail.com/malt-whisky-country

calibusje · May 3, 2021

Hello, I'm not from the UK so look at this like me, a tourist

Obviously everyone has their own ideas about this but here, without obligations just random where we were already, it's really eclectic and from different journeys:
Canterbury (stayed overnight for a few times on the coach parking and nice walk into town); Warner Bros. studio tour (Harry Potter) at Watford; Brean Sands (beautiful memories of COTF from then); Stonehenge (we liked it), Angel of the North at Gateshead followed by Hadian's wall (including Housesteads Roman Fort); Scotland with Neptunes Staircase, Fort William, Ben Nevis, Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, The Jacobite Viaduct at Glenfinnan, Portree (we always eat fish & chips there/ what else did we get to know during our trips in the UK: marmite, haggis, marmalade, scones, sponge cake); Old Man of Storr, Applecross (and the road to it), Balmoral (you can overnight in the parking lot) , Urquhart Castle (+ Loch Ness and the exhibition center to learn all about Nessie), Dunnet Head, Wallace Memorial and much more (we will come back) and especially enjoy the surroundings;
About Scotland: a Scottish man told us -when he heard that we wanted to go there- not to come when the midges are there: they can ruin your holiday, which is why we always go during the Easter holidays and have not seen any midges yet.
What more: Edinbrugh with the Greyfiars Kirkyard where there is much to see ... and not to see ... (ghosts), Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots; Blackness Castle; railway bridge over the Forth, Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies; RRS Discovery and 'the Law' a war memorial in Dundee; St. Andrew's Abbey.
Lake District and Lake Windermere (beautiful boat trip) and afterwards the Windermere ferry to Hill Top, Sawrey (Hawkshead): home of Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit);
Conwy, Snowdonia, Pen Y Pass, Mount Snowdon; Beddgelerd with Llywelyn's dog; Penmaenpool Toll Bridge; Portmeirion (‘special’ beautiful and where 'The Prisoner' was recorded here; The series also inspired Iron Maiden to the song The Prisoner, on the breakthrough album The number of the beast.); Aberystwyth.
Windsor Castle (and sleep at the coach parking, apparently we sleep a lot in car parks): always our stop on the way to Camper Jam.
Loch Lomond; Oban: ferry to Barra (very beautiful there) and South Uist and North Uist; Skye, Kilt Rock; Dunvegan Castle; Kinloch Forest; Eilean Donan Castle; Leanachan forest at Spean Bridge; peninsula Kintyre to the Mull of Kintyre; Tan Hill Inn: Britain's highest inn (got unbelievably drunk there), overnight right opposite the Inn and delicious breakfast; the white cliffs of Dover (nice walk). There is more, but find out for yourself, it will be great!
Greetings
Calibusje

NessL · May 3, 2021

calibusje said:
Hello, I'm not from the UK so look at this like me, a tourist
Obviously everyone has their own ideas about this but here, without obligations just random where we were already, it's really eclectic and from different journeys:
Canterbury (stayed overnight on the coach parking and nice walk into town); Warner Bros. studio tour (Harry Potter) at Watford; Brean Sands (beautiful memories of COTF from then); Stonehenge (we liked it), Angel of the North at Gateshead followed by Hadian's wall (including Housesteads Roman Fort); Scotland with Neptunes Staircase, Fort William, Ben Nevis, Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, The Jacobite Viaduct at Glenfinnan, Portree (we always eat fish & chips there/ what else did we get to know during our trips in the UK: marmite, haggis, marmalade, scones, sponge cake); Old Man of Storr, Applecross (and the road to it), Balmoral (you can overnight in the parking lot) , Urquhart Castle (+ Loch Ness and the exhibition center to learn all about Nessie), Dunnet Head, Wallace Memorial and much more (we will come back) and especially enjoy the surroundings;
About Scotland: a Scottish man told us -when he heard that we wanted to go there- not to come when the midges are there: they can ruin your holiday, which is why we always go during the Easter holidays and have not seen any midges yet.
What more: Edinbrugh with the Greyfiars Kirkyard where there is much to see ... and not to see ... (ghosts), Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots; Blackness Castle; railway bridge over the Forth, Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies; RRS Discovery and 'the Law' a war memorial in Dundee; St. Andrew's Abbey.
Lake District and Lake Windermere (beautiful boat trip) and afterwards the Windermere ferry to Hill Top, Sawrey (Hawkshead): home of Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit);
Conwy, Snowdonia, Pen Y Pass, Mount Snowdon; Beddgelerd with Llywelyn's dog; Penmaenpool Toll Bridge; Portmeirion (‘special’ beautiful and where 'The Prisoner' was recorded here; The series also inspired Iron Maiden to the song The Prisoner, on the breakthrough album The number of the beast.); Aberystwyth.
Windsor Castle (and sleep at the coach parking, apparently we sleep a lot in car parks): always our stop on the way to Camper Jam.
Loch Lomond; Oban: ferry to Barra (very beautiful there) and South Uist and North Uist; Skye, Kilt Rock; Dunvegan Castle; Kinloch Forest; Eilean Donan Castle; Leanachan forest at Spean Bridge; peninsula Kintyre to the Mull of Kintyre; Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest inn (got unbelievably drunk there), overnight right opposite the Inn and delicious breakfast; the white cliffs of Dover (nice walk). There is more, but find out for yourself, it will be great!
Greetings
Calibusje

Wow, that’s a very extensive list and you haven’t even included anywhere in Cornwall! I think there’s a lot of people that live in the UK that haven’t visited this many places.

calibusje · May 3, 2021

NessL said:
Wow, that’s a very extensive list and you haven’t even included anywhere in Cornwall! I think there’s a lot of people that live in the UK that haven’t visited this many places.

Thank you; Cornwall: you're right about that: I haven't been to Cornwall yet (and seen Land's End) but this is definitely on our list of 'what else to do in the UK'; there is still much to see and do for us. We also did Peppa Pig World (Romsey, Hampshire) and the route to it was very beautiful. We have been coming to the UK for a number of years now with the exception of 2020 and hope to be able to return soon.

Carstenbn · May 3, 2021

NessL said:
Wow, that’s a very extensive list and you haven’t even included anywhere in Cornwall! I think there’s a lot of people that live in the UK that haven’t visited this many places.

calibusje said:
Hello, I'm not from the UK so look at this like me, a tourist
Obviously everyone has their own ideas about this but here, without obligations just random where we were already, it's really eclectic and from different journeys:
Canterbury (stayed overnight for a few times on the coach parking and nice walk into town); Warner Bros. studio tour (Harry Potter) at Watford; Brean Sands (beautiful memories of COTF from then); Stonehenge (we liked it), Angel of the North at Gateshead followed by Hadian's wall (including Housesteads Roman Fort); Scotland with Neptunes Staircase, Fort William, Ben Nevis, Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, The Jacobite Viaduct at Glenfinnan, Portree (we always eat fish & chips there/ what else did we get to know during our trips in the UK: marmite, haggis, marmalade, scones, sponge cake); Old Man of Storr, Applecross (and the road to it), Balmoral (you can overnight in the parking lot) , Urquhart Castle (+ Loch Ness and the exhibition center to learn all about Nessie), Dunnet Head, Wallace Memorial and much more (we will come back) and especially enjoy the surroundings;
About Scotland: a Scottish man told us -when he heard that we wanted to go there- not to come when the midges are there: they can ruin your holiday, which is why we always go during the Easter holidays and have not seen any midges yet.
What more: Edinbrugh with the Greyfiars Kirkyard where there is much to see ... and not to see ... (ghosts), Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots; Blackness Castle; railway bridge over the Forth, Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies; RRS Discovery and 'the Law' a war memorial in Dundee; St. Andrew's Abbey.
Lake District and Lake Windermere (beautiful boat trip) and afterwards the Windermere ferry to Hill Top, Sawrey (Hawkshead): home of Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit);
Conwy, Snowdonia, Pen Y Pass, Mount Snowdon; Beddgelerd with Llywelyn's dog; Penmaenpool Toll Bridge; Portmeirion (‘special’ beautiful and where 'The Prisoner' was recorded here; The series also inspired Iron Maiden to the song The Prisoner, on the breakthrough album The number of the beast.); Aberystwyth.
Windsor Castle (and sleep at the coach parking, apparently we sleep a lot in car parks): always our stop on the way to Camper Jam.
Loch Lomond; Oban: ferry to Barra (very beautiful there) and South Uist and North Uist; Skye, Kilt Rock; Dunvegan Castle; Kinloch Forest; Eilean Donan Castle; Leanachan forest at Spean Bridge; peninsula Kintyre to the Mull of Kintyre; Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest inn (got unbelievably drunk there), overnight right opposite the Inn and delicious breakfast; the white cliffs of Dover (nice walk). There is more, but find out for yourself, it will be great!
Greetings
Calibusje

Fantastic list of places to visit - it's gonna take me some time to google all these great suggestions.
Thanks a lot

Karlos · May 3, 2021

Cornwall's pleasant.

Billywizz · May 3, 2021

Carstenbn said:
Hello Cali friends

We are in the phase of planning a 6 week trip from Denmark to the UK including Scotland.
We will be making the trip in spring/summer/fall 2022 when Covid19 hopefully is far away in our world

We would love it if someone could give us suggestions for places to visit, that we just cant miss when visiting UK/Scotland.
We have a few places already, but im sure there is a million great spots to find.

Anyone know about California meets and events that should be planned in the trip ?

The short list of places we need to visit - probably what everyone else has on their list when visiting UK

- Snowdonia
- Loch Lomond (Love Bruce Guthro and Runrig)
- Stonehenge
- Edinburgh Castle
- Uni of Cambridge / Oxford
- Loch Ness
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
- Lake District National Park

Does anyone have good suggestions for time of year to do the trip ?

Any inputs are highly appreciated

Best regards

Marianne and Carsten

I would say June would be best, the Dorset Jurassic coast is definitely worth a visit!