You’ve decided to take a touring holiday in Scotland. Our guide to RV hire in Scotland tells you everything you need for a safe and happy campervan holiday.
The Big Sky Campers guide to RV hire in Scotland
There are three main ways to hire an RV for a touring holiday in Scotland. Direct bookings with private owners who hire their campervans out as a side income, the larger corporate companies who hire RVs throughout the UK or Europe and the smaller boutique RV hire companies like ourselves, Big Sky Campers. We started this business as campervan enthusiasts and have learnt a lot over the 7 years we have been hiring RVs in Scotland. Here are some of the key things to think about when choosing your RV to hire.
1. Scottish roads
Even if you are sticking to a well-trodden route like the NC500, you will encounter some small and windy roads. Being able to follow little single track roads that skirt loch side and through straths and glens and across mountain passes is part of the attraction of a campervan holiday in Scotland. Some of the favourite spots to visit in Scotland are reachable only by roads like these.
Single Track Roads
Many roads in the Highlands, for example, are ‘single track’. This means they are wide enough for one vehicle only. These roads have passing places which vehicles stop in and let the car coming towards them pass. Single track roads are often shared with sheep, goats and highland coos! Sometimes you may need to back up your RV so think about the manoeuvrability of the camper you are hiring. Make sure you choose an RV that you can easily reverse in a tight spot.
Vehicles can and do get stuck which makes the roads impassable. If you attempt to drive on these routes in a large motorhome or RV you’ve hired in Scotland, you won’t go down very well with the locals.
For more advice about driving on Scottish roads, read our full guide to driving in Scotland.
2. The best time to take a campervan holiday in Scotland
The weather is a big consideration, of course. It can be chilly in the Winter. So if you are coming out of season make sure your RV has a heater. However, there are high numbers of tourists in the summer holiday period. You can get some beautiful days out of the high season when you will really be able to make the most of Scotland’s wild, open spaces and there will be fewer visitors to tourist attractions. Also, consider which cultural or sporting events or festivals you want to experience. You can find a list of events in our Scotland Month by Month Guides.
3. Planning your Scottish road trip
It’s really worthwhile planning your trip before you come to make the most of your trip to Scotland. You’d be surprised how many people who hire our vans show up without a plan! We have mapped out some suggested itineraries for road trips. We are always happy to help and advise our clients on route plans and suggestions for places to visit but have less time available to do this at busy times of year. If you are planning a special trip and would like a bespoke itinerary designed for you, we also offer this service. Please contact us to discuss your needs and for prices.
Go off the beaten track
We also encourage people to get off the well trodden routes sometimes. It is easy to follow the established itineraries but sometimes just following your nose and taking a left or right here and there will bring you to a little hidden gem. Getting off the beaten track will open up your knowledge of Scotland and what the rural communities have to offer. Taking a route less followed will find you enjoying local fare from local providers from fresh seafood to smoked cheeses and fish. There are artisan chocolate makers, gin and whisky distilleries, local bakers and butchers all offering a fantastic service and local products. Buying from small independents means that the local communities get the economic benefits of tourism as well as the supermarkets.
4. What facilities does your RV need?
Ask yourself whether you will really need the facilities that large RVs or motorhomes provide when considering the extra size the vehicle has to be to accommodate them. Many people decide that they would rather sacrifice an en-suite to have a vehicle that is easier to drive on single track roads and can handle passing places. Our campervans have been converted to our specification and we have chosen not to include en-suites in our vans to maximise the cabin space. In our experience, people enjoy their holiday more with a little extra space and are happy to use the facilities provided by campsites. Nowadays most campsites have excellent bathroom facilities. We also provide a porta-potty and privacy tent for our customers who want these facilities. We include a solar shower in the price of our van hire.
Check that the RV you hire in Scotland will be fully equipped. You don’t want to waste your holiday time buying cooking equipment or have to bring bedding with you. Our campervans have a microwave or a grill, a sink and plenty of crockery, cutlery and pots and pans. We also provide a coffee press, kettle, chopping board and sharp knives. All our vans have an outdoor table and chairs so you can enjoy your sundowners in comfort. A lovely duvet, pillows, bedsheet and towels are also provided in the price of the hire.
5. Where to camp in Scotland
Scotland has a wealth of wonderful campsites geared up to receive travellers from all around the world. Facilities are top notch and you will be able to get an electric hook-up to power some extras and give the leisure battery a boost. If the choice seems overwhelming, we are on hand to help you plan your route and advise on campsites. You can find some of our favourites on our travel blog Best Campsites in Scotland, Best Campsites on Skye and Best Campsites for Island Hopping
There are a few areas (the Outer Hebrides, islands such as Mull and Tiree and the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park) where you must apply for a permit to camp between March and October. This is a must if you want to stay in these areas and you are advised to book ahead as the numbers are limited. Passes can be booked up to 4 weeks in advance. You will also need to familiarise yourselves with the byelaws in place to protect these natural areas.
6. Reliability, insurance and safety of your RV hire
Many people taking a campervan holiday in Scotland have never hired an RV in Scotland before. Always check the insurance cover that your RV hire includes and any excesses payable. This is particularly important if hiring from a private owner. To give you a comparison, insurance is covered by your refundable security deposit which is £1,000 (or £500 if you pay an extra £15 per night excess). Our policy is not to make deductions for minor losses or breakages such as a lost spoon or broken glass. If you have any kind of incident we just ask that you let us know as soon as you can and that we can make sure you (and the van!) are safe.
If you are used to driving an automatic, check that the RV you hire has an automatic transmission as many will have manual gearboxes. Many people hire our vans rather than larger RVs because they feel like cars to drive and they feel more comfortable driving them on the left side of the road. Also check that you will be given a suitable handover of the vehicle and have the chance to familiarise yourself with the RV before setting off on the road.
As a professional company, we have our vans serviced regularly so they are clean, reliable and well equipped. Our campervans all receive gas safety checks. This isn’t to say that private owners who are hiring out their vans don’t do this. Just that it is something to check before you hire an RV. And what will happen in the event of a breakdown or problem with the RV you have hired.
Consider the support that is available from your RV hire company during your holiday. It means a lot to us that our customers have a wonderful holiday in our lovely country! We are ALWAYS at the end of a phone if you encounter any difficulties!
7. Rules of the road
Like other parts of the United Kingdom, we drive on the left in Scotland! We are a small country and in the summer season the roads can be busier than you might be used to. Many of the people on small local roads are locals on their way to work, so it is important to be a considerate driver and not to block roads or entrances when parking. There are single track roads all over Scotland so feeling confident reversing and passing other vehicles is important. The rules for single track codes are found in the Highway Code, section 133:
Single-track roads. These roads are only wide enough for one vehicle. They have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass.
Want to know more about hiring an RV in Scotland with Big Sky Campers?
If you are thinking about RV hire for a touring holiday in Scotland, Big Sky Campers are here to help you every step of the way. If you have dreamt of visiting Scotland to find the ancient seat of your ancestors, or simply want to experience the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands or white sands of Scotland’s coast we will help you plan the perfect trip.
We are very happy to help you choose the right RV to hire and to assist with any route ideas you may have but are unsure of. We are friendly and helpful and love what we do and want everyone to feel the trip they take is a once in a lifetime. If you are planning a special trip, we also provide a full itinerary planning service that is tailored to your precise specifications. We use our local knowledge and contacts to design your perfect holiday itinerary and ensure you get to see the real, authentic Scotland. If you are interested in this service, or simply want to hire one of our lovely RVs, please get in touch via our website. You can also book directly on our site.
Big Sky Campers RV Hire
Scotland
Got a question? Give us a call.
+44 (0)7768 973804