29th June 2025 – 7th July 2025
Lochgilphead
Headed north at 6am up the M6 towards Tebay for breakfast. The temperature in Stafford was already 18 degrees and was set to rise to 30 degrees or more for the next couple of days. Except in the north. As we drove the clouds appeared and the temperature dropped. We arrived in Lochgilphead to a warm 20 degrees but only temporarily as the weather worsened. Nothing on a biblical scale you understand, just a cool drizzle, but we still felt a little cheated as the south were expecting record temperatures.
Lochgilphead Caravan Park is a nice little spot a few hundred metres from the loch on one side and the Crinan Canal on the other. The facilities were great. Super flat pitch – fully serviced with combined shower/toilet/wash rooms available if needed. All new, clean and well maintained. £33 per night for 2 adults, Mac and electricity.
The town itself is not as prosperous and well maintained as Inverary. It does have its own unique character but it wouldn’t trouble any locations in my current top 10 list. Perhaps we didn’t see it at its best. It was a dull Sunday and nothing {not even the chippy} was open. It’s close location to the canal and the loch are it’s real selling points.
After walking the canal side into Ardrishaig and back, the rain started again so we decided to traverse the canal in the other direction in the motorhome and drive along to Crinan Harbour. In my earlier blog Hebrides we explored the Crinan Basin, so this time we headed toward the Harbour. Very picturesque even in the rain.
Here are a few photos :
Campbeltown
After a quick breakfast and with the sun out we began our short trip south toward our next stop- Carradale Bay Holiday Park. As we had plenty of time we thought we would divert via Tarbert for a look around. So glad we did. What a lovely little fishing town, so much character and breathtaking views across Loch Fyne. Worth a longer visit at some point.
We then headed further south towards Carradale. Google had the onward journey at about 45 minutes, but it routed us via a B road along the easterly coast line. When we got to the turn off it was a single track with passing points and really not suitable for a large motorhome for over 20 miles. So we continued along the A83 which is on the western coastline down to Campbeltown and then back up the eastern coast along a wider B-road. Great choice. Not just for easier driving but the views from the A83 over to Islay and Jura were incredible. Definitely NC500 quality drive.
Carradale Bay Holiday Park is a little gem of a site. We arrived in glorious sunshine to a pitch overlooking the loch and the Isle of Arran. Breathtaking, and then there was the beach!! About a mile of gently sloping golden sand with no one else about. Perfect. The site itself is a little remote, but that just adds to its charm. The facilities were good with clean, modern showers and plenty of very hot water. All that did come at a price – £40 per night but I think it is worth it especially when the sun is shining.
Tomorrow we will be up early to head north again to Oban for a ferry crossing to Mull.
Here are a few photos :
Isle of Mull
Up early and off the site by 07:45. Google said it should take 2 hours and 1 minute to get to the ferry terminal in Oban and we were booked on the 11:25 – plenty of time. Not. We arrived with 1 minute to spare because Google’s suggestions for the roads to use. They were either unsuitable for the motorhome or the expected average speed was simply too much for such twisting roads. I should know that by now. I may even go back to my camper sat nav, but Carplay is just so convenient.
Anyway, arrived in Mull in the pouring rain and drove up the island to our campsite in Tobermory – Tobermory Campsite. This site is just over a mile from the harbour up the hill. When the rain subsided a little it took us about 25 minutes to walk down and 30 back up. The site wasn’t looking at its best with the very poor weather, but the pitch was level and the facilities were very good. Another example of a prefabricated wash block with unisex rooms containing loo, sink and shower. I prefer these to the older design were each are separate. Plenty of hot water also without the awful push buttons. £32 per night for motorhome, 2 adults a dog and electricity.
As mentioned in my earlier blog Hebrides Mull is a lovely place even in the rain, and Tobermory is a little gem. If you like single malt and fresh fish, especially shellfish, Tobermory is a must visit. We watched the fishing boats unload straight into the restaurants and waiting trucks. The smell of cooking shellfish along the key side was delightful. The Tobermory distillery is also on the key side.
Then the weather got even worse. Gusty winds and heavy rain forecast all night and the next day. Tried to find an earlier ferry so we could spend the poor weather travelling but all full. Just had to hunker down whilst the weather passed. But that didn’t go smoothly either. We ran out of Calor gas at 4pm on Friday afternoon in the middle of a rain storm and gusty winds. As life without a cup of tea was unthinkable, we broke camp and headed back into Tobermory. Gas found and tea made so it ended well.
Here are a few photos :
Looking at the weather forecast for the next few days it wasn’t getting much better. Not just on the west coast but pretty much everywhere north of the Lakes. So we cut the trip short and headed south again.
Round trip distance 971 miles according to google maps.