- Overview
- Day-by-day itinerary
- Photos
- Best for
- Island beaches and North Uist birdwatching
- Driving
- Multiple ferries and a long mainland return
- When to go
- Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
- Ferries
- Vehicle sailing reservation needed
Why this trip: Barra, Uist, Harris and Lewis each contribute different beaches, wildlife and island landscapes.
The trade-off: Multiple sailings and the long mainland return need firm vehicle bookings and slack for disruption.
Your trip at a glance
10 hire days · 9 nights · approximately 625–795 miles
| Day | Drive & overnight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renfrew → Oban North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban Approx. 100–115 miles | 2.5–3 h |
| 2 | North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban → Barra Borve Camping & Caravan Site, Barra Approx. 15–30 miles · vehicle ferry | 45–75 min |
| 3 | Borve Camping & Caravan Site, Barra → South Uist Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist Approx. 65–85 miles · vehicle ferry | 2–3 h |
| 4 | Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist → Benbecula Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist Approx. 40–60 miles | 1.5–2 h |
| 5 | Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist → North Uist Balranald Hebridean Holidays, North Uist Approx. 15–35 miles | 45–90 min |
| 6 | Balranald Hebridean Holidays, North Uist → Harris Horgabost Campsite, Horgabost, Harris Approx. 35–50 miles · vehicle ferry | 1.5–2 h |
| 7 | Horgabost Campsite, Horgabost, Harris → Lewis and Stornoway Laxdale Holiday Park, Laxdale, near Stornoway Approx. 80–100 miles | 2.5–3.5 h |
| 8 | Laxdale Holiday Park, Laxdale, near Stornoway → Ullapool Ardmair Holiday Park, Ardmair, near Ullapool Approx. 10–20 miles · vehicle ferry | 30–60 min |
| 9 | Ardmair Holiday Park, Ardmair, near Ullapool → Aviemore break and Blair Atholl Blair Castle Caravan Park, Blair Atholl Approx. 170–190 miles | 4–5 h |
| 10 | Blair Castle Caravan Park, Blair Atholl → Return to Renfrew Renfrew Approx. 95–110 miles | 2–2.5 h |
Rounded planning allowances, not live navigation. Driving excludes walks, food stops, traffic and ferry sailing/check-in. Use each day’s directions for current routing. First-day travel starts after the 14:00 Renfrew handover; the final day is reserved for the noon return.
Map & stops
Pink: overnight · Green: sights · Orange: food · Blue: useful stops
Choose a day to see its road journey. Tap a shared overnight pin for all its nights. Ferry crossings are gaps between the road sections.
Daily directions
- Day 1 · Oban Directions ↗
- Day 2 · Barra To the ferry From the ferry
- Day 3 · South Uist To the ferry From the ferry
- Day 4 · Benbecula Directions ↗
- Day 5 · North Uist Directions ↗
- Day 6 · Harris To the ferry From the ferry
- Day 7 · Lewis and Stornoway Directions ↗
- Day 8 · Ullapool To the ferry From the ferry
- Day 9 · Aviemore break and Blair Atholl Directions ↗
- Day 10 · Return to Renfrew Directions ↗
Get to know the places on this route
Open a day for its drive, food stop and overnight pitch. Mileage and times are estimates; ferry time is additional.
Your day-by-day plan
Day 1
Oban
Day 1 · Oban100–115 miles · 2.5–3 h driving
Renfrew → North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban
Approx. 100–115 miles · allow 2.5–3 h driving
Things to do
Leave the van in an appropriate town car park and explore the harbour on foot. A waterfront lunch and one viewpoint are a better combination than squeezing in a distant island crossing.
Eat & drink
Food from Argyll at the Pier — especially useful around ferry travel.
An Oban pier-side lunch during the waterfront walk. On ferry days, eat before vehicle check-in and keep the boarding time separate.
Sleep
North Ledaig Caravan Park — North Ledaig, near Oban.
A coastal pitch north of Oban for the harbour or a following ferry. The site is outside town: arrange the evening journey back before dinner.
Facilities: Toilet facilities, laundry and an on-site shop; a bus stop outside connects with Oban.
Pitch booking: Non-members are welcome in designated areas: choose the correct guest/pitch category when reserving.
Alternative: Oban Holiday Park. On the south side of Oban; allow for crossing town to the ferry terminal.
Day 2
Barra
Day 2 · Barra15–30 miles · 45–75 min driving
North Ledaig Caravan Park, North Ledaig, near Oban → Borve Camping & Caravan Site, Barra
Approx. 15–30 miles · allow 45–75 min driving
Vehicle ferry: Oban → Castlebay. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.
Day 3
South Uist
Day 3 · South Uist65–85 miles · 2–3 h driving
Borve Camping & Caravan Site, Barra → Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist
Approx. 65–85 miles · allow 2–3 h driving
Vehicle ferry: Ardmhor → Eriskay. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.
Things to do
Treat the Barra–Eriskay crossing and onward causeways as today’s main travel. Choose one beach or heritage stop instead of rushing to the far end of Uist.
Eat & drink
Ardmhor Food Truck is a possible pre-ferry stop; take picnic supplies onward.
Sleep
Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist — North Uist.
Stay on North Uist for the Uist stage rather than rushing straight on to Harris.
Facilities: Motorhome/caravan pitches are hardstanding with electric hook-up.
Pitch booking: Book through the operator’s online system; groups should contact the site directly.
Alternative: Balranald Hebridean Holidays. On North Uist’s west coast; adjust the island road approach.
Day 4
Benbecula
Day 4 · Benbecula40–60 miles · 1.5–2 h driving
Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist → Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist
Approx. 40–60 miles · allow 1.5–2 h driving
Day 5
North Uist
Day 5 · North Uist15–35 miles · 45–90 min driving
Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist, North Uist → Balranald Hebridean Holidays, North Uist
Approx. 15–35 miles · allow 45–90 min driving
Things to do
Make Balranald’s beach and birdwatching the main outing, following reserve guidance around nesting wildlife. Leave the Harris ferry for its booked slot.
Eat & drink
The Dunes Catering Cabin — seasonal food at Balranald.
Sleep
Balranald Hebridean Holidays — North Uist.
Choose this North Uist base for a beach-and-birdwatching day at Balranald. Bring coins for the showers and green or organic toilet fluid for the chemical point.
Facilities: Hardstanding electric pitches, toilets, showers and washing/drying facilities. The chemical point accepts green/organic toilet fluid only.
Pitch booking: Book the vehicle pitch online. Bring coins for the showers.
Alternative: Moorcroft Holidays, North Uist. A different base; revise the driving leg and confirm a touring pitch.
Day 6
Harris
Day 6 · Harris35–50 miles · 1.5–2 h driving
Balranald Hebridean Holidays, North Uist → Horgabost Campsite, Horgabost, Harris
Approx. 35–50 miles · allow 1.5–2 h driving
Vehicle ferry: Berneray → Leverburgh. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.
Things to do
After the Berneray–Leverburgh crossing, choose a Harris beach such as Scarista. Keep the beach stop separate from the ferry check-in buffer.
Eat & drink
Croft 36, Northton — the takeaway baking stop in this island route; check current service.
Sleep
Horgabost Campsite — Horgabost, Harris.
A south-Harris base for a beach day before moving on to the Lewis stage.
Facilities: Toilets and coin-operated showers: bring coins.
Alternative: Laxdale Holiday Park. A much longer transfer north, not a nearby substitute. Only use it with a revised island day.
Day 7
Lewis and Stornoway
Day 7 · Lewis and Stornoway80–100 miles · 2.5–3.5 h driving
Horgabost Campsite, Horgabost, Harris → Laxdale Holiday Park, Laxdale, near Stornoway
Approx. 80–100 miles · allow 2.5–3.5 h driving
Day 8
Ullapool
Day 8 · Ullapool10–20 miles · 30–60 min driving
Laxdale Holiday Park, Laxdale, near Stornoway → Ardmair Holiday Park, Ardmair, near Ullapool
Approx. 10–20 miles · allow 30–60 min driving
Vehicle ferry: Stornoway → Ullapool. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.
Day 9
Aviemore break and Blair Atholl
Day 9 · Aviemore break and Blair Atholl170–190 miles · 4–5 h driving
Ardmair Holiday Park, Ardmair, near Ullapool → Blair Castle Caravan Park, Blair Atholl
Approx. 170–190 miles · allow 4–5 h driving
Day 10
Return to Renfrew
Day 10 · Return to Renfrew95–110 miles · 2–2.5 h driving
Blair Castle Caravan Park, Blair Atholl → Renfrew
Approx. 95–110 miles · allow 2–2.5 h driving
More Wee Coo routes
Loch Lomond first weekend
One lochside night, a gentle walk and time to learn the van. Luss gives this first weekend a clear base close enough for an easy return to Renfrew.
3-day Scottish Borders history loop
Trade the busiest Highland roads for Melrose’s abbey, the Eildon Hills and Border towns. Pick one proper walk and leave time for a bakery stop and a riverside pitch.
4-day Argyll & Oban coast
Follow the A83 from Inveraray into Kilmartin’s ancient landscape, then finish with Oban’s harbour food. This mainland trip puts archaeology and small-town stops ahead of ferry logistics.