We’ve recently started a series of blogs that focus on all the best places to visit while you’re on your Scottish motorhome adventure. But what if you want to go off the beaten track?
Scotland isn’t just about the big touristy spots like Edinburgh, Loch Ness, or Fort William. No matter how great those places are, there are so many gorgeous locations that tourists tend to bypass.
We’re going to look into these locations below, taking you through 7 of our favourite non-touristy spots in Scotland, and what makes them so good.
Loch Glencoul, Assynt
Our first stop is Loch Glencoul, in Assynt. If you like a bit of a hike, then this is the perfect place to stretch your legs and get some of the best views in Scotland.
If you’re renting a motorhome, you could just park up your motorhome and take in the loch at Kylesku bridge, but we recommend getting your boots on and travelling from Kylesku to Glencoul bothy, which is located between the mountains of Assynt. From here, you can get some picturesque views of the loch below you, which are especially gorgeous during sunset.
Dean Village, Edinburgh
You’ll be travelling to Edinburgh first to pick up one of our vehicles, but while you’re here, we’d recommend exploring a little.
This exploration doesn’t have to be undertaken in the big tourist spots of the city. There’s actually a place called Dean Village, just off the New Town, where not a lot of the tourists go. Here, you can walk through an old, picturesque village with colourful homes and quaint, green woodlands.
The Water of Leith, Edinburgh
If you want, you can keep walking through Dean Village and find the Water of Leith Walkway. This is one of the most beautiful trails in the city, taking you through many areas including Colinton Village, Craiglockhart Dell, and the Union Canal.
We wouldn’t recommend doing the whole trail, as it’s quite a trek, but it’s at least worth sticking around until you get to Murrayfield Stadium, which is famous for hosting the Scottish rugby team in the Guinness Six Nations!
Singing Sands Beach, Islay
Another thing you could do while in Edinburgh is try out the Scottish Whisky Experience, where you can learn about all the best whiskies in Scotland and how they’re made. One of the hotspots you’ll be educated on is Islay, which is famous for its delicious Scotch whisky single malts.
It’s one thing learning about Islay, and quite another going there. The island itself is not a massive tourist area, and places like the Singing Sands beach – famous for its sands that actually sing when you rub them! – are absolutely beautiful.
Plockton, Wester Ross
It’s the middle of February, so you’re probably getting cold and wondering why you haven’t booked somewhere with palm trees for your holiday. What you don’t know is that Scotland actually has palm trees! Or, at least, Plockton does.
This is a small village on the coast of Wester Ross, overlooking the incredible Loch Carron. Complete with palm trees, beaches, and stunning mountainous views, this is a place in Scotland quite unlike any other. It’s also a good spot to visit if you were thinking of trying out wild swimming, as Loch Carron is known to accommodate wild swimmers, kayakers, and sailors throughout the year.
Ruthven Barracks, Kingussie
If you choose to visit Ruthven Barracks, you’ll probably wonder why it’s not better known. It’s certainly not for a lack of beauty.
These ruins were once English-controlled barracks, used during the Jacobite Rebellion. Backdropped by incredible snowy mountains, they’re now a scene out of an epic fantasy book, resting quaintly upon a large, grassy hill that sits just beside the A9.
Achmelvich Bay, Sutherland
Lastly, one of our favourite places to recommend to motorhome enthusiasts is Achmelvich Bay, in Sutherland. This is a location known for its buzzing, idyllic beaches, but one of them is a little quieter than the others. Achmelvich Beach is hidden on a remote corner of the coastline, with not a lot around it other than a few campsites. Perfect for motorhome travellers, then!
All you have to do is park up in one of the parks and then hike your way along the coast until you reach it. You’ll recognise it from the gorgeous white sands and the almost Caribbean-esque blue waters. The weather will remind you that you’re in Scotland, of course, but that won’t matter, because there’s no other place you’d rather be!
