Scottish Winter road trip and beyond to Europe! (Title edit Feb 24)

[Perfectos]

I have really enjoyed Medo‘s adventure, thanks for writing it up so eloquently & documenting the events with nice photographs.

 

[marchugo]

I was now running short of daylight, so I briefly stopped at Portsoy-18thC harbour and cracked on to the community motor home ‘Aire’ at Findhorn, arriving just as it was getting dark. Pic is from the next morning. It was supposed to have toilets, waste emptying, water supply etc but everything was frozen up, including the hard standing which was a large sheet of glassy ice. My friend arrived at about the same time in his camper and we went for a wander in the village. Not much happening, so homemade curry in the vans. Delicious!

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How could you avoid Cullen, with its fine Cullen skink soup!
We bought twenty portions in the local shop when we were there with our Cali.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

How could you avoid Cullen, with its fine Cullen skink soup!
We bought twenty portions in the local shop when we were there with our Cali.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

Fair point Marc. I’ll add it to the list with the Portsoy ice cream to sample when we go back next year!!

 

[KevH]

Thanks to Park4night I did find the most amazing camp spot right in Glencoe itself. It’s run by the National Trust, authorised as an overnight stop, suggested £5 donation, space for about 10 campers (I was the only one!) and would have had the most spectacular views if I hadn’t had to leave before dawn! The only downside was a bit of road noise from lorries, not too bad.

I haven’t shown you how well I’ve eaten really and last night was the last of the pre-prepared food I bought from home, tandoori chicken and dhal. Absolutely delicious! The only food I think I’ve had to buy has been a tub of yoghurt for breakfasts and a pot of cream for coffees (and birthday fish and chips, of course!)

Breakfasts have been overnight oats with nuts and fruit, lunches: salads with cheese/egg/hummus/salmon etc and a hot meal every night: curry/chilli or similar. Snacks of fruit, peanut butter, cheese or Shona’s amazing protein balls. I’ve really eaten very well and never been hungry!

There’s not much point in taking pictures of Glencoe in the dark, or with low cloud and mist, so I will find some pictures of the last winter camping trip in the orange Kombi when I also passed through Glencoe and went to Skye (in better weather!)

More to come, I still have one more days camping but with Shona as well, after I pick her up, from near Rob Roy’s grave in Balquhidder.

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Loving the blog, and your Kombi pics are a bonus, thanks.
Is that a swing-out cooker by any chance? Had one in a ‘69 Devon and miss it so much.

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

Loving the blog, and your Kombi pics are a bonus, thanks.
Is that a swing-out cooker by any chance? Had one in a ‘69 Devon and miss it so much.

Thanks!
The Kombi was converted in Aus, Dormobile had a factory in Canberra. The cooker is two rings and a grill and doesn’t swing out, but it’s near the door so you can cook standing outside!

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

I think I will add info on to this thread until a new trip is actually happening!
There were a couple of upgrades I had been considering, and the north coast trip has convinced me.
Mudflaps first. They should help with general spray/salt but also might reduce the amount of road water that ends up on the rear screen. After weighing up pros and cons I have gone for rubber OEM copies from Vanstyle at the front and the moulded plastic rears from Customveedubs, which all mount using existing screws or drain holes in the bodywork.
Literally a 20min job (not including softening the rear ones in a bucket of hot water!)

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

I had to buy a full set of the plastic ones, which would have been fine (although the fronts need a bit of material removed to fit properly and not interfere with paint on the door). You can see here the OEM style are significantly longer, which I liked.

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

In view of the bitter cold up north, I have looked at the various pop top covers available. I was really keen not to sacrifice storage space so I liked the Comfortz Cali topper and found one in perfect condition on eBay, clarified that it was for an electric roof (the sizes are different) and it arrived today. Despite the wind, I managed to fit it single handed in 11min and it is great. Nice thick material (not insulated) and no serious flapping when installed. The whole package fits inside a chair in the tailgate. Very happy!

 

[KevH]

In view of the bitter cold up north, I have looked at the various pop top covers available. I was really keen not to sacrifice storage space so I liked the Comfortz Cali topper and found one in perfect condition on eBay, clarified that it was for an electric roof (the sizes are different) and it arrived today. Despite the wind, I managed to fit it single handed in 11min and it is great. Nice thick material (not insulated) and no serious flapping when installed. The whole package fits inside a chair in the tailgate. Very happy!

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I really like the idea of a pop top cover for winter camping. But how the heck do you fit one if, like me, you are under 8 feet tall?

 

[Perfectos]

I really like the idea of a pop top cover for winter camping. But how the heck do you fit one if, like me, you are under 8 feet tall?

Pop the roof a few inches, (50mm)drop the front of the co er over the front of the roof , (access the roof from both sides), pop the roof 3” (150mm).
pop the roof, tension. The the cover, it’s not hard

 

[KevH]

Pop the roof a few inches, (50mm)drop the front of the co er over the front of the roof , (access the roof from both sides), pop the roof 3” (150mm).
pop the roof, tension. The the cover, it’s not hard

You make it sound so easy.

 

[Vagophile]

There were a couple of upgrades I had been considering,

I keep looking at the pic of your wheel and can't help thinking it would look just that little bit better with a set of nice shiny black wheel nut covers. They are so inexpensive and for the price I think that they are a great enhancement. Clean wheels helps, of course.

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

I keep looking at the pic of your wheel and can't help thinking it would look just that little bit better with a set of nice shiny black wheel nut covers. They are so inexpensive and for the price I think that they are a great enhancement. Clean wheels helps, of course.View attachment 117549

Mmmmm, good call! I feel an internet search coming on!

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

I really like the idea of a pop top cover for winter camping. But how the heck do you fit one if, like me, you are under 8 feet tall?

I’ll admit it could be tricky, I am 6’3” so that definitely helped. Even I would find it easier as a two person job but the basic principle is: roof up a few inches, drag the cover front to back (or vice versa!), corners in place, roof carefully up and then secure the elastics.

 

[Perfectos]

I’ll admit it could be tricky, I am 6’3” so that definitely helped. Even I would find it easier as a two person job but the basic principle is: roof up a few inches, drag the cover front to back (or vice versa!), corners in place, roof carefully up and then secure the elastics.

There are four wheels to stand on !

 

[Perfectos]

You make it sound so easy.

Here is the official vid

I normally drop the front on, then raise the roof , raising the roof sorts out the back, as it naturally drops into place, stand on the wheels to get better access if required. I can do it solo , but it does help with two of you . Once the front is on the corners it’s a done deal

 

[RockinNRollin]

A great blog - really enjoyed it. I am very envious!

 

[bvddobb]

We will do our Scottish winter trip in January. We usually make a trip log on Polarsteps. When we do, I will post a link here, so you guys can follow us without us 'hijacking' this thread.

We promised a link, and we are in Scotland now, so here you are:
https://www.polarsteps.com/Bartvand...i-2024?s=467C9BF3-E40C-4F12-A64E-AD8C69EAEB28

We write our blog in Dutch, but Google is your friend!

 

[RockinNRollin]

I have one of those little £10 foldable stools from a well known online marketplace; fits inside one of the chairs and does help massively (although we have the wrap rather than the topper).

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

After a spell of terrible weather at home, with storm after storm keeping the Cali on the driveway, we have set off on another adventure!…
This time across the North Sea to Europe. We are heading South, through Germany to Switzerland and the Alps and then on through Italy to Croatia. The info from the Scottish trip will hopefully come in handy!
First leg was on the ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden in the Netherlands. Luckily, we hit a calm spell between two storms and the crossing was pretty smooth. As we have all our camping gear, we were able to take food, a kettle and the electric Bialetti into the cabin and cater for ourselves.
Hopefully there’ll be some pictures from the trip, but here’s a few to get you started!…

 

[chockswahay]

Crikey! just you and Medo? That's a big trip (envious actually)...... enjoy! I shall watch this thread with interest

(edit: Reg plate is appropriate )

 

[OceanView2023]

After a spell of terrible weather at home, with storm after storm keeping the Cali on the driveway, we have set off on another adventure!…
This time across the North Sea to Europe. We are heading South, through Germany to Switzerland and the Alps and then on through Italy to Croatia. The info from the Scottish trip will hopefully come in handy!
First leg was on the ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden in the Netherlands. Luckily, we hit a calm spell between two storms and the crossing was pretty smooth. As we have all our camping gear, we were able to take food, a kettle and the electric Bialetti into the cabin and cater for ourselves.
Hopefully there’ll be some pictures from the trip, but here’s a few to get you started!…

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Super, looking forward to following your travels !

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

Crikey! just you and Medo? That's a big trip (envious actually)...... enjoy! I shall watch this thread with interest

(edit: Reg plate is appropriate )

No, this time there are three of us! Shona is the Co-pilot and Co-navigator!

 

[Mansfieldman750]

After a spell of terrible weather at home, with storm after storm keeping the Cali on the driveway, we have set off on another adventure!…
This time across the North Sea to Europe. We are heading South, through Germany to Switzerland and the Alps and then on through Italy to Croatia. The info from the Scottish trip will hopefully come in handy!
First leg was on the ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden in the Netherlands. Luckily, we hit a calm spell between two storms and the crossing was pretty smooth. As we have all our camping gear, we were able to take food, a kettle and the electric Bialetti into the cabin and cater for ourselves.
Hopefully there’ll be some pictures from the trip, but here’s a few to get you started!…

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That ferry looks to be incredibly good value if the van is booked on as a high car, ie less than 2.2m high, less than 6m length.
If it has to go as a small motorhome, price almost doubles.
Can I just ask if you did in fact book it as a high car ? No problems?

 

[mcdonaldneal.]

That ferry looks to be incredibly good value if the van is booked on as a high car, ie less than 2.2m high, less than 6m length.
If it has to go as a small motorhome, price almost doubles.
Can I just ask if you did in fact book it as a high car ? No problems?

Ahem. Yes, high car. No problem!
We’ve taken this ferry for years and it’s reasonably relaxed. When we had the 70s Dormobile VW we always went as a car and they rarely even check the height but, as you say, without a bike rack we’re within dimensions which is the main thing.
We do have to pay extra for the cat though (she stays in the car/van overnight)