THE REAL WILDS OF SCOTLAND

Have you ever considered visiting Scotland in winter or early in spring? There are undoubtedly many challenges to discovering the wilder parts of Scotland, but then, that is part of the enjoyment anyway.

The sense of adventure and sheer isolation is at a peak during these times. Of course, the conditions can be demanding, unpredictable and at times scary. But doesn’t that somehow make life on the road more exciting?

Watching the weather come in, with a grand view.

Photo: Rickard & Jackie Pickles

we went to find the closest thing to true wilderness that the UK has to offer

Richard and Jackie are a happily married couple with a new-found love for adventure after investing in their beloved VW T6 camper “Nelson”. With the kids grown up and the added benefits of long teacher holidays, they have used the last 3 years to clock up over 300 nights across Europe and closer to home in the UK. They enjoy the freedom to explore new places and capture their adventures through photography.

Wild camping, many choices in Scotland.

Photo: Richard & Jackie Pickles

“There are so many benefits to exploring Scotland early in the year. Scotland is close to our home in northern England. A steady 6-hour drive can get us to Fort William for the night after a day at work.

Scotland offers such a diverse range of experiences and geography to explore, we feel that in 3 years of adventures we have only just scratched the surface of what it has to offer.”

GATEWAY TO THE NORTH

Loch Lomond, Glencoe & Fort William…just follow the A82 north from Glasgow and you quickly start to discover the joys of driving in one of the most stunning parts of the world. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is so popular in the summer that it has had to resort to regulating the wild camping spots in the area. In the winter, all of these idyllic, and well thought out locations are freely available and a nice gentle introduction to those who are new to the wild camping life. Glencoe and the surrounding glens offer a stunning taste of the remote wilderness and beauty that further north has to offer.

Photo: Richard & Jackie Pickles

ISLAND HOPPING

There are a myriad of island communities to discover off the coast of Scotland. The excitement of boarding a CalMac ferry never fails to elicit the feeling of travelling somewhere remote, far removed from the pressures of everyday life and the opportunity to discover places that genuinely feel at the very edge of the world. Mull is easily reachable from Oban, whereas the Outer Hebrides consist of a series of linked islands that provides the opportunity to island hop via a series of bridges and the smallest ferries of the Cal Mac fleet. On the Islands, you will find some of the best beaches in the world. Explore miles of deserted sandy beaches, shared only with the entirely uninhibited wildlife of the sea, land and sky.

Photo: Richard & Jackie Pickles

Read the full article, and more inspiring vanlife stories, in the latest edition of Advanture Magazine.