Scotland Glencoe in a motorhome

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Fordsabroad

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I am considering going to the Glencoe area in my motorhome in December. It will be just myself and my dog. I am a little concerned about access and getting stuck whilst travelling alone.
One of the honeypot locations is the waterfalls with the Buchaille in the background. I know there is a small parking area there. I think that is the Glen Etive road but if I call it the "Skyfall" Road you will know where I mean! I believe travelling further along will give many photo opportunities. Is that road suitable for a motorhome the size of a tesco/Ocado type delivery van (6mtrs), I am aware that there are passing places but what about parking and turning around?
I have been to Glencoe before but a while ago and nor in a motorhome.
Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Personally, I would think twice about taking a large vehicle down the Glen Etive road but I am the cautious type. It is a single track road that is in good condition, or at least was the last time I was down there. It feels remote but there are houses down there and I have seen heavy, foresty plant there too, so it's not impossible. As it's a single track road with passing places, there might come a time when you'd have to reverse to allow oncoming traffic pass. Most folk oblige and let bigger vehicles through but there's always the odd, awkward person. Everytime I've been down that road, I have seen small campers, short wheel base types parked up, well into the glen. The road ends at Loch Etive but there is a small carpark that should allow you to turn around.

If memory serves me right, that road is 14 miles long, from the turn off from the A82, to the carpark.
 
Fordsabroad said:
I am considering going to the Glencoe area in my motorhome in December. It will be just myself and my dog. I am a little concerned about access and getting stuck whilst travelling alone.
One of the honeypot locations is the waterfalls with the Buchaille in the background. I know there is a small parking area there. I think that is the Glen Etive road but if I call it the "Skyfall" Road you will know where I mean! I believe travelling further along will give many photo opportunities. Is that road suitable for a motorhome the size of a tesco/Ocado type delivery van (6mtrs), I am aware that there are passing places but what about parking and turning around?
I have been to Glencoe before but a while ago and nor in a motorhome.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Hope you can find it, me and the OH gave up looking for it back in September
 
I've seen plenty of motorhomes of that sort of size down there in the past.

There are plenty of passing places - so as long as people behave sensibly on the road it just requires a bit of patience. (Not everybody behaves sensibly - plenty of car drivers seem to head down without a clue as to etiquette on a single track road - so prepare to be occasionally very patient).

Turning options are limited - so if you change your mind be prepared to travel a bit before finding somewhere suitable. If you go down in the middle of winter you will see vans parked in lots of odd places. This means that any opportunities you spot to a place to park up on streetview there's a good chance it will be taken.

It's sensible to stick on some winter tyres. December is usually mild in west of Scotland but the area approaching Glen Coe where you turn off is actually quite high - so subject to colder weather and possibly bursts of snow.
 
Dale. said:
Coming from the Rannoch Moor side on the A 82, pass the Kingshouse Hotel on your right, over the arched, metal bridge, next left.
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Looking at the map, maybe we did not go far enough down the A82 from Glencoe side. Phones had no signal, so could not look it up.
 
leaky5 said:
Looking at the map, maybe we did not go far enough down the A82 from Glencoe side. Phones had no signal, so could not look it up.
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If you pass the ski centre on your left it's just past it on the same side .
 
Bear in mind that there have been a lot of badly behaved motorhomers (actually across the country, not just in Scotland) and they have given motorhoming a bad name. It is well worth acquainting yourself with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and any relevant bits of Highway Law with regard to stopping overnight. Wild Camping does not include camping in or from a vehicle, unless you park in an authorised place and carry your camp a reasonable distance away. (Not defined, but maybe 1km). In some circumstances you may sleep overnight in a vehicle, but your activities have to be within it.

Many remote toilet facilities are into cesspits, not mains, so cannot take foul chemical waste from a toilet. Cesspits require bacteria to be alive, and chemical toilets definitely don't.

Beware cross locals!

Also, there will probably be few open specialised campsites (that take motorhomes) now, it is out of season, so there is a dilemma of not necessarily having anywhere 'authorised' to stop over.

Before COVID photographers would take camper vans to iconic locations. No problem. Now - caveat campervan.
 
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If you can drive, you won't get stuck, unless it snows.
I watched them film an Army recruitment advert down there a few years back and there were trucks, catering vans etc all down that road ....Glen Etive is one of my favourite places.
Used to go there regularly with my old dog Ben ....
I've seen plenty of campervan folks kipping in the carpark at the end of the road.
Doubt you'd encounter any locals down there.....
 
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