Scotland is one of the greatest countries for campervan travel and renting a campervan in Scotland, makes it the perfect way to see our beautiful country. With so much open space, especially in the remote highlands it makes it a great place to go and adventure in the incredible outdoors. With so many different campervan and motorhome rental companies and with so many people trying this type of holiday for the first time, there can be a lot of research to do before you set off on your trip.
In this guide, we are sharing with you our best tips for renting a campervan in Scotland.
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Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Where to Rent a Campervan in Scotland
Campervan and motorhome travel has increased in popularity over the years and there has since been a boom in campervan rental options. So one of the most common questions is, which is the best motorhome hire company? It is worth doing some research to see what works best for you and where you will be picking it up and dropping it off.
We can recommend using Motorhome Republic as it allows you to see a variety of different companies and makes it really simple to book online.
First time renting a Campervan or Motorhome? Here are some need to knows
- You will have a fresh water and a waste water tank and fresh water points can be found at campsites or at water points which can be found on campsites
- You will need to empty your toilet if you choose to use it. Designated CDP (chemical disposal points) areas can be found across the country or at campsites and this must be how you dispose of this waste.
- Some campervan rentals will charge an additional fee for add ons
- Not all rental businesses will have somewhere for you to leave your car.
- Know the size of the vehicle you are driving and be prepared to drive it along narrow roads. You must feel confident in reversing the vehicle if you need to find a passing place. It is also important to know the height of the vehicle you are driving as some bridges, tunnels and height barriers may not be suitable for you to pass.
- If you are visiting Scotland during the summer months, you need to read up on how to avoid the midges!
Vanlife Essentials
Having spent nearly 4 years between Australia and UK/Europe living in a van, we’ve had a fair bit of experience of what essential items make van life a lot easier.
Read more about our favourite Vanlife Essentials all broken down into categories here.
DON’T FORGET
Your trip to Scotland will be a lot more comfortable with a midge net and midge spray. These little biting bugs can be enough to ruin a trip if you don’t have the equipment to protect yourself from them. A repelling candle can also be helpful if you are sitting oustide.
Why Rent a Campervan in Scotland
- Freedom and flexibility to travel around
- There are lots of great campsites in Scotland
- Having a vehicle can allow you to see more of our beautiful country
- A lot of the best sights to see in Scotland are quite close together meaning you will be able to see a lot on your trip
- There are many great road trips in Scotland
How Much does it Cost to Rent a Campervan in Scotland?
It costs between £70-£120 per day to rent a campervan in Scotland, depending on the size of van you rent and if you include any additional add ons.
Road Trips in Scotland
NC500 – Focussing around the north coast of Scotland starting and finishing in Inverness, the North Coast 500 is one of the most popular and beautiful road trips in Scotland. With many stunning white sandy beaches, remote villages and dramatic mountain ranges, it’s not hard to see why the North Coast 500 is such a popular road trip.
NE250 – The North East 250 road trip focuses on the Aberdeenshire region on the east coast of Scotland and encompasses some of the small coastal towns such as Cullen and Findhorn. Many of the beautiful beaches, historic castles and awesome distilleries in Scotland are located around the NE250.
Heart 200 – The Heart 200 is Scotland’s most accessible road trip taking you to some of the best spots around the central belt of Scotland.
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The Best Campsites in Scotland
There are so many incredible campsites in Scotland, some of which are located in close proximity to the beach, others the mountains and some within close walking distance to small towns and villages. Some campsites in Scotland are open all year round and others may close over the winter season so please keep this in mind when planning your trip. Campsites are a great way to set up and relax knowing that you are supporting a local business and parking up in a safe location for the night.
Below are some of our favourite campsites in Scotland:
Before You Leave for Scotland
Before you set off on your way to Scotland, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to Scotland. All of this is discussed in detail below.
When is the Best Time to Travel Scotland?
It is no secret that Scotland is a wet and cold country, it is the reason the countryside is so beautifully green. There is, however, a certain time of the year when the weather in Scotland is more likely to be dry and warm. As the winter fades away from the highlands and the Spring warmth comes through, Scotland is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world.
If you were to choose a time of the year to visit Scotland, we would highly suggest April to June. These months tend to be the driest of the year, with summer rains coming through later into July and August. It is also early enough in April that the flying “Midges” (biting insects like nothing you have ever experienced) have not woken up yet to cause misery and doom.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Scotland
When it comes to packing for a trip to Scotland there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your 10 day Scotland road trip you will probably experience at least a drizzle of rain. Due to this, the number one item on any Scotland packing list is a good waterproof jacket.
As for the rest of the year, the temperature in Scotland and the central heartlands is reasonably mild for most of the year. During the winter months, you will most likely experience snow, however, temperatures usually sit around freezing, so it is not too cold. For your reference, the average temperatures in Scotland are listed below during each season.
Spring (March, April, May) – 5-10 degrees C
Summer (June, July, August) – 15 degrees C
Autumn (September, October, November) – 5-10 degrees C
Winter (December, January, February) – 0-5 degrees C
As you can see, the weather never really gets above the teens, with anything over 25 degrees C considered a heatwave. The best way to pack for your trip to the highlands is with layers that can be added and removed as you need them. You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the colder months and will most likely need sunscreen to protect you on the long days in the open.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around the highlands of Scotland, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Scotland
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, a guide to renting a campervan in Scotland. If you are visiting this incredible country and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was!
Also, remember to share this guide with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience in Scotland.
If you are planning a Scotland trip soon then check out our other Scotland content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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