- Joined
- Dec 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,608
We had some business up in Newcastle last week that coincided with my 40th so we decided to carry on north and have a little drive around the Southern Hebrides. To save on fuel and ferries in the Highlands we left the Townhouse Trailer at home and packed a family of three in the back of a 100 series.
I'd been looking at VW bunks for the front seats but I never liked the idea that they rest on your door panels so you can't open your doors in the middle of the night. And they're eighty quid. So I bought a Vango 4-leg camp bed for £20, chopped 15cm of each corner, popped the end caps back and strapped some pipe lagging from B&Q around the legs. It fits perfectly on the seat bolsters and sits well clear of centre console, steering wheel and all levers.
In the back I made a platform of some strong packing crates that Bunnings used to sell to hold our cooking gear, sleeping bags and toiletries. Two 10cm self-inflating mats slotted right in over the boxes and the folded rear seats with plenty of headroom left. Gas, water and a small Waeco in the footwells; storage nets for clothing and loose bits in the boot; and three Plano boxes, a table and an awning on the roof.
The Isle of Gigha seemed like a good place to aim for - owned by the 160-strong community, full of beautiful beaches and famous for smoked halibut.
Nasty weather and ferry cancellations meant it took two days to get there. The first night we stayed at the Ken Bridge Hotel near Castle Douglas. We were going to stay at their CL site by the river but after a meal of roast partridge and a few pints in the dry we gave in and rented a room upstairs. The second night we arrived in the dark and gatecrashed the campsite in Lochranza on Arran only to wake up to this view.
On Gigha they had no problem with us camping FOC in the pub car park. Clearly a discerning bunch on this island.
Next up we did two nights on Islay which has to be one of the most amazing places I've ever visited. The long, straight road from Bowmore to Laphroig is enough reason to come up here.
Parked up at one of the world's most scenic community centres the first night and on night two camped off a track by the bay to be close to the ferry port.
Tuesday. Departure Islay: 09.45. Arrival Sheffield: 23.00.
I'd been looking at VW bunks for the front seats but I never liked the idea that they rest on your door panels so you can't open your doors in the middle of the night. And they're eighty quid. So I bought a Vango 4-leg camp bed for £20, chopped 15cm of each corner, popped the end caps back and strapped some pipe lagging from B&Q around the legs. It fits perfectly on the seat bolsters and sits well clear of centre console, steering wheel and all levers.
In the back I made a platform of some strong packing crates that Bunnings used to sell to hold our cooking gear, sleeping bags and toiletries. Two 10cm self-inflating mats slotted right in over the boxes and the folded rear seats with plenty of headroom left. Gas, water and a small Waeco in the footwells; storage nets for clothing and loose bits in the boot; and three Plano boxes, a table and an awning on the roof.
The Isle of Gigha seemed like a good place to aim for - owned by the 160-strong community, full of beautiful beaches and famous for smoked halibut.
Nasty weather and ferry cancellations meant it took two days to get there. The first night we stayed at the Ken Bridge Hotel near Castle Douglas. We were going to stay at their CL site by the river but after a meal of roast partridge and a few pints in the dry we gave in and rented a room upstairs. The second night we arrived in the dark and gatecrashed the campsite in Lochranza on Arran only to wake up to this view.
On Gigha they had no problem with us camping FOC in the pub car park. Clearly a discerning bunch on this island.
Next up we did two nights on Islay which has to be one of the most amazing places I've ever visited. The long, straight road from Bowmore to Laphroig is enough reason to come up here.
Parked up at one of the world's most scenic community centres the first night and on night two camped off a track by the bay to be close to the ferry port.
Tuesday. Departure Islay: 09.45. Arrival Sheffield: 23.00.
