Hi Geoff,
Will try and sort something out about putting up my route on here. I am not too great on computers though. I did try and plan the routes on Ride with GPS. As far as maps were concerned I bought a Philip's Navigator Britain Road Map as these have the biggest scale, I then highlighted my route on the appropriate pages and just took these pages. I think it ended up being about 56 pages worth which was quite a pile of paper. I then threw the maps away at the end of each day watching the pile get smaller and smaller as I travelled further South.
Campsites
1. John O Groats Caravan & Camping - Lovely views, can be windy, facilities basic but fine. £8
2. Craigdhu Caravan Site, Bettyhill - Very, very basic site but cheap at £5 - toilets look off putting from outside but shower hot, fine for 1 night.
3. Dunroamin Caravan Park, Lairg - Outskirts of town so handy for eating, cafe on site, annoying meter for shower, but facilities fine. £6
4. Dingwall CCC, Dingwall - Good site next to Football Stadium, but quiet. Brilliant wardens. Backpackers rate £7.99, great facilities and sheltered, also
small indoor room for poor weather.
5. Loch Ness Shores CCC, Foyers - New site only opened 12 months ago, fantastic facilities almost hotel quality, good quality food in shop and also home
made ready meals which they will heat up for you in microwave. Lovely big indoor area if weather is bad. Have to drop down big hill to get to it and
climb back up again the next morning which is only downside to site otherwise pretty perfect. £9.45
6. Lochy Holiday Park, Fort William - Good facilities and good views of Ben Nevis from around site. Can pitch next to river but watch out for midges. can
hear A82 at night a bit but not enough to stop me sleeping. £8
7. Shieling Holidays, Craignure, Mull - Bit expensive at £13. Fab views at top of site, but also windy. Showers/toilets ok, some in their shielings (tents)
which feels strange, fantastic campers kitchen with kettle/toaster/table and chairs/sofas and log burner for poor weather which I made full use of.
Pitches are on astro turf which is good if it is wet, but trying to get pegs in is a nightmare - took me over an hour to get my tent up.
8. Lochgilphead Caravan Park, - £9 facilities ok, nothing special, ground was very wet after day of heavy rain, walk into town, some road noise.
9. Glen Rosa, Brodick, Arran - I would definitely recommend you stay at the campsite at Lochranza rather than this one. Basically a wild campsite with a
toilet block which was absolutely disgusting. Ladies had 3 toilets, 1 with no door and the floor was completely flooded all the time. 3 dirty sinks, no hot
water, no shower. Lovely views and based at foot of hills, but not looked after at all and is MIDGE INFESTED in the evenings. Never saw owners at all
so only good point was it was free. Was in bed by 8pm as could not stand the midges and left by 7am next morning. Also well known for groups of
locals using it as a place to party through the night as owners not on site to stop it.
10.Kirkholm B & B, Carsphairn - Couldn't find a campsite in this area at all so used b & b. Brilliant at £28 for a single room including great cooked
breakfast. Garage for bike. Touch of luxury.
11.Queensberry Bay Holiday Park, Annan - Tried to charge £15, but when queried they changed it to backpacker rate of £6. Amazing facilities, showers
with the large heads, excellent campers kitchen, fantastic value for £6.
12.Gill Head Farm, Troutbeck. - stayed here during Hurricane Bertha and was flooded out of my tent. Luckily campers barn, old but dry and I slept sat in
old armchair. Good open area for cooking and for drying my tent the next day, great site in good weather, facilities fine £9 also have camping pods.
13. YHA at Arneside - Ended up with room to myself for £20, walk into town for food, recommended.
14. Radcliffe Farm, New Longton, Preston - Very small site found late in day, £6 but no charge due to riding for charity, just small field with toilet. Fine
15. Arrows Brook Farm, Greasby, Wirral - Lovely small site with newly refurbished toilets which were beautiful, £8 but no charge for charity,recommended
Will update rest later as son wants his laptop back.