From Glasgow to Edinburgh

Although we were impatient to leave the city behind and relax in peaceful forests far from the crowd, we couldn’t go before paying a visit to our loved Edinburgh first.

It took us about one hour to reach the city from Glasgow, and we couldn’t help but stop in one of our favourite Japanese restaurants: Yes Sushi, in the city centre, where we indulged over a fantastic testing menu of SIX courses each.

One of our first nights in the van, we found ourselves in Edinburgh city centre on a Saturday night. It definitely wasn’t a good night’s sleep! But the lesson is learnt: avoid sleeping in big cities at weekends.

The next day we toured around Edinburgh, as always amazed by its Victorian architecture and fascinating atmosphere. 

Escaping The City

Soon enough, we decided it was time to TRULY hit the road. For those of you wondering, no, the van wasn’t finished AT ALL, but we needed to leave our flat and had no time anymore so… we just went for it!

We headed North towards Largs, a lovely town located on Scotland’s west coast. Finally, we could admire the sea and wake up in a quiet place, close to the beach.

We were glad we chose to visit it in March because the town is filled with people during summer. Largs is, in fact, a traditional holiday destination, and it can be bustling with people during the summer months!

However, the charming town doesn’t need much time to be explored, and after a couple of days and many long walks on the seaside, we were ready to move on.

Loch Lomond

We headed North towards Loch Lomond, famous for its untouched nature, iconic landscapes and amazing hikes.
Here is where we started to REALLY enjoy the vanlife.

From our bed, we could stare at dramatic scenery, enjoy starry nights and peaceful moments accompanied by the only sound of the waves.

The area is just perfect for wild camping, and if you’re looking for a road trip in Scotland, I’d definitely suggest you stop here one day or two!

We stopped in Milarrochy Bay, on the eastern shored of Loch Lomond, for a couple of days. After spending a bit of time finding a good place to spend the night, we managed to wake up in the morning right in front of one of the most photographed views of the loch.

Ben Lomond Hike

After many walks on the tranquil shore of the lake (which Sangria enjoyed way too much), we decided it was time to hike Ben Lomond, the most Southerly of the Munros and one of the most popular hill walks in Scotland.

Saying that it was stunning is not enough to describe it. HOWEVER…

We did a (very) quick research before the hike, and we found many articles describing it as “easy”. But I must be honest with you: we are not professional hikers, and for us (for me more than for Kris), it was not easy AT ALL.

We were stupid enough to choose (by mistake) the most challenging path, and we hardly made it to the top, with all the wind, rain and freezing temperatures of Scottish winter we are definitely not used to. Moreover, we did not have the proper equipment, and a lot of rock climbing was required.

The view from the top was SPECTACULAR, impressive and stunning in any direction, totally worth the effort. 

The landscape from the top was breathtaking, with Loch Lomond and its Islands and a view into the Highlands.

It is considered one of the easiest Scottish mountains to climb, but don’t let this fool you: the path IS challenging. On our way down, we saw a couple that was going up with a small kid in a stroller… Do not do that. We told them that the hike was not suitable for the kid (and for them to hold a stroller) and they didn’t have any idea and thanked us for letting them know.

With the proper equipment, it is absolutely doable and worth it!

Scottish Highlands: Fort William

After a few weeks spent relaxing in Central Scotland, we were ready to move up to the wild Scottish Highlands.

As we started our road trip, the landscape changed fast. It took us about 3 hours to reach Fort William, and the drive was amazing. We stopped about four/five times to take pictures of the sun disappearing behind the untouched surrounding nature. The more we went towards the North of Scotland, the more the landscape changed: fascinating snowy mountains, forests, and incredibly blue lakes created fairy views. We drove for miles and miles through a place that was completely untouched by the human being: there was absolutely no one for hours. It was really suggestive. 

Fort William is the largest town on the Scottish Highlands, exceeded only by the city of Inverness. This was crazy for us, as the town was EMPTY, and it was a Friday! We found that it counts about 6.000 people. Not sure where everyone was!

We decided to go out for a drink at a local pub (it was, actually, the only place open in the whole town). Only a few locals were sitting at the tables, most of them playing cards. A very friendly barman welcomed us, suggesting a local Ben Nevis whiskey that was absolutely amazing!

The Isle of Skye

The next day, we went upper in the North, to reach the famous Isle of Skye. Again, we could not help but stop a few times close to the incredibly turquoise lochs.

The landscape kept changing, and forests and lakes left place to volcanic lands. The bridge that connects Skye to the Highlands is incredibly high and suspended over the ocean. On our way to Portree, the main town on the isle, we passed through very small villages, and then nothing for miles and miles, only suggestive volcanic landscapes, with lakes and waterfalls.

The next day, we were ready to admire the much acclaimed Fairy Pools which, although nice to see, were not as great as described by many.

The part we loved the most about Skye was driving around the isle and admiring the spectacular natural landscape.

The drive was TRULY magnificent. Extended volcanic lands left place to cliffs overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean.

Definitely one of the best parts of our trip!

Iconic landmark of the Isle of Skye is the famous “Old Man of Storr”.  The legend has it that he was once a giant, and when he was buried, his thumb was left on the ground. This can now be admired at the top of the mountain, after a steep path uphill. The magnificent view from the top contribute to the sense of achievement once at the end of the path!

But what really left us breathless (both because of its beauty and the extenuating path), was the Neist Point Lighthouse. 

Again, we drove in the wild nature on a single track road, surrounded by sheep and traditional hairy cows for more than one hour, to reach an unforgettable view over the ocean. 

We climbed up the cliffs to get even closer to the ocean, and the feeling of the splashes of water over my skin, together with the incredible landscape in front of me, created an unforgettable experience.

We were the only people on one of the most beautiful spots on the isle, observing the sun disappearing into the ocean.

One of the best sunsets of my life. 

Vanlife Month 1 – Central Scotland and the Scottish Highlands

MINI VLOG

Check out these similar articles!