A 4 day itinerary for van life around the Scottish Highlands
4 days in a converted van travelling the Scottish Highlands
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- Day 1- Glasgow
- Day 2- Glencoe
- Day 3 - Isle of Skye
- Day 4- Fort William
By far the best staycation I have ever done was a road trip through the Scottish Highlands in a converted van. In just 4 days, we explored some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes- from Glencoe to the Isle of Skye.
Day 1: Campervan Pick-Up & Drive to Glasgow
We picked up our van from Quirky Campers and set off on our adventure.
Our first stop was a campsite just outside Glasgow.
Stay: The Paddocks
Cost: £25 per night
Facilities: Electricity & water hookup
This was the perfect for an easy first night to get used to van life before heading to the Highlands.
Day 2: Glencoe, Fort William & Eilean Donan Castle
This was a big driving day, with the goal of getting as close to the Isle of Skye as possible.
Route highlights:
- Glencoe
- Fort William
- Eilean Donan Castle
Driving through Glencoe was easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. We stopped at the famous “little white house” and took in the scenery.
We then continued to Fort William, where we pulled over and made lunch in the van (one of my favourite things about van life was just being able to stop and be 'home' anywhere).
Later, we visited Eilean Donan Castle before heading to our overnight spot.
Stay: Off-grid farm stay in Auchtertyre
Cost: £15 per night
Facilities: No electricity or water
Day 3: Isle of Skye Highlights
We set off early for the Isle of Skye.
Stops on Skye:
- Untethered Skye Co. (coffee + Highland cows)
- Old Man of Storr hike
- The Oyster Shed (lunch)
- Fairy Pools at sunset
We started with coffee and a quick stop to see the Highland cows before heading to the Old Man of Storr. The hike was rainy and cloudy but it didn't spoil our time.
After the hike (and very shaky legs), we stopped for lunch at The Oyster Shed. This is a small seafood place with great views.
We finished the day at the Fairy Pools at sunset. The soft pink light at this time of day made it one of my favourite stops of the trip.
After a full day, we headed back toward Fort William for the night.
Stay: Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping
Cost: £36 per night
Facilities: Full hookups + showers
A slightly more “luxury” campsite, but the facilities were great; especially if you had a van without a toilet or a shower, this would be a great stop after a day hiking.
Day 4: Glenfinnan Viaduct & Return
On our final day, we visited the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct (famous for being the bridge that the train goes over in Harry Potter).
After that, we began the long drive back to return the van.
Top Tips for a Scottish Highlands Van Life Trip
- Plan fuel stops: make sure you know where the petrol stations you are stopping are
- Check the weather: conditions can change quickly and make sure it is safe to drive
- Know your van: you need to know how to use your van. How to work the electricity, fill up the water, empty your waste. You also need to know how much it weighs and the height because there are weight restrictions on some roads and height restrictions for tunnels (which we had not appreciated before we went!)
Final Thoughts
This was a fast-paced trip, but with just one day of annual leave, we made it work—and it was 100% worth it.
The freedom, the scenery, and the experience on this trip were amazing.
I’ll definitely be planning another van trip soon… destination still to be confirmed.
