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7-day North East 250 from Glasgow

From Royal Deeside to north-east fishing towns and Speyside, this is a circuit of changing landscapes and local food. Travel from Renfrew sits outside the official 250-mile loop.

Trip code :WT-CODE 6012

Curated by Wee Coo Campers · A self-drive route to make your own.

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  • Overview

  • Day-by-day itinerary

  • Photos

Best for
Deeside castles and north-east fishing towns
Driving
A substantial circuit
When to go
Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
Ferries
Mainland roads; no vehicle ferry

Why this trip: Deeside castles and north-east fishing towns provide a varied circuit away from the busiest west-coast stops.

The trade-off: This covers a large area; longer castle visits and the Moray side trip compete with transfer time.

Your trip at a glance

DayStart → endDriving
Day 1Renfrew → Dunkeld1.5–2 h driving80–95 miles
Day 2Dunkeld → Braemar2–3 h driving65–85 miles
Day 3Braemar → Maryculter, near Aberdeen2–3 h driving80–100 miles
Day 4Maryculter, near Aberdeen → Portsoy2–2.5 h driving65–85 miles
Day 5Portsoy → Portsoy2.5–3 h driving80–100 miles
Day 6Portsoy → Blair Atholl3.5–4.5 h driving140–160 miles
Day 7Blair Atholl → Renfrew2–2.5 h driving95–110 miles
Map & stops

Pink: overnight · Green: sights · Orange: food · Blue: useful stops

Stops

Choose a day to see its road journey. Tap a shared overnight pin for all its nights.

Daily directions
  1. Day 1 · Perth and Dunkeld Directions ↗
  2. Day 2 · Braemar Directions ↗
  3. Day 3 · Aberdeen Directions ↗
  4. Day 4 · Banff coast Directions ↗
  5. Day 5 · Elgin and Moray coast Directions ↗
  6. Day 6 · Grantown and the southbound A9 Directions ↗
  7. Day 7 · Return to Renfrew Directions ↗

Get to know the places on this route

Speyside & Moray guide →

Your day-by-day plan

Your day-by-day plan

Day 1

Perth and Dunkeld

Day 1Perth and Dunkeld80–95 miles · 1.5–2 h driving

Renfrew → Dunkeld

Things to do

Break the collection-day drive in Perth for a riverside walk if daylight allows, then continue to your booked pitch at Invermill Farm in Dunkeld. Keep ARAN Bakery for the village stop or the following morning.

Eat & drink

ARAN Bakery: an optional northbound food stop, not in Perth itself.

Practical details

An artisan bakery at 2 Atholl Street, Dunkeld. Pick up bread and baking for a riverside picnic or the next morning in the van.

Sleep

Invermill Farm Caravan Park: Dunkeld.

Practical details

A Dunkeld base for the riverside and ARAN Bakery. Useful on the A9 approach or before a separate Deeside stage; follow the next day in your chosen route.

Facilities: Heated showers/toilets, electric hook-up, laundry and chemical waste disposal.

Pitch booking: Published check-in from 13:00, latest arrival 20:00. The stated 2026 season ends 26 October; confirm future dates.

Alternative: Blair Castle Caravan Park. Farther north on the A9; this changes the next morning’s start.

Directions ↗

Day 2

Braemar

Day 2Braemar65–85 miles · 2–3 h driving

Dunkeld → Braemar

Things to do

Make the Linn of Dee your main walk, or stay in Braemar for a shorter village outing. The A93 pass is part of the experience; give it time.

Eat & drink

Eat locally during the village and Linn of Dee outing. Potarch is farther east and suits another Deeside leg.

The Bothy, Braemar

Practical details

Coffee, cake and light lunches alongside Braemar Mountain Sports. Fits the village and Linn of Dee day without driving east to another town.

Sleep

Braemar Caravan Park: Braemar.

Practical details

A Braemar night keeps the Deeside stage separate from the next drive towards Speyside.

Facilities: Heated showers, laundry, drying room and chemical/grey-water disposal. Choose a pitch category that accommodates your van and awning.

Alternative: Ballater Caravan Park. Around 17 miles east on the A93: revise the Deeside stops.

Directions ↗

Day 3

Aberdeen

Day 3Aberdeen80–100 miles · 2–3 h driving

Braemar → Maryculter, near Aberdeen

Things to do

Choose the city’s granite streets and a museum or gallery as a change from countryside driving. Use a suitable car park and explore the centre on foot.

Eat & drink

A plant-based city lunch before continuing to the Maryculter pitch.

Foodstory, Thistle Street

Practical details

Vegetarian and vegan brunch, sourdough and baking on Thistle Street. A city lunch stop between Deeside and the fishing-town coast.

Sleep

Deeside Holiday Park: Maryculter, near Aberdeen.

Practical details

A Maryculter base south of Aberdeen, with heated washrooms and laundry. Plan a city parking stop separately from checking into camp.

Facilities: Heated washrooms, showers and laundry.

Pitch booking: Reserve a touring pitch, rather than a holiday home.

Alternative: Silverbank Club Campsite. Banchory is farther west on Deeside: revise the Aberdeen leg.

Directions ↗

Day 4

Banff coast

Day 4Banff coast65–85 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Maryculter, near Aberdeen → Portsoy

Things to do

Choose Portsoy’s harbour or a coast walk as your main outing, with Cullen or Portknockie as an optional food stop.

Eat & drink

Portknockie Fish & Chips: a coastal takeaway stop.

Sleep

Portsoy Links Caravan Park: Portsoy.

Practical details

A Portsoy coastal base for the harbour and a separate Moray day trip. Keeping the same pitch avoids another pack-up between those outings.

Facilities: Grass and hardstanding electric pitches, showers, toilets, washing-up and laundry.

Pitch booking: Book a touring pitch directly.

Alternative: Huntly Castle Holiday Park. Huntly is inland: replace the harbour evening and adjust the next start.

Directions ↗

Day 5

Elgin and Moray coast

Day 5Elgin and Moray coast80–100 miles · 2.5–3 h driving

Portsoy → Portsoy

Things to do

Choose Elgin’s heritage or a coastal village such as Portsoy; do not try to cover the entire Moray coast in one afternoon.

Eat & drink

Portknockie Fish & Chips: a takeaway stop during the coastal outing.

Sleep

Portsoy Links Caravan Park: Portsoy.

Practical details

A Portsoy coastal base for the harbour and a separate Moray day trip. Keeping the same pitch avoids another pack-up between those outings.

Facilities: Grass and hardstanding electric pitches, showers, toilets, washing-up and laundry.

Pitch booking: Book a touring pitch directly.

Alternative: Huntly Castle Holiday Park. Huntly is inland: replace the harbour evening and adjust the next start.

Directions ↗

Day 6

Grantown and the southbound A9

Day 6Grantown and the southbound A9140–160 miles · 3.5–4.5 h driving

Portsoy → Blair Atholl

Things to do

Leave the coast for Grantown, using the town and nearby woodland for a short break. Continue south on the A9 to Blair Atholl for the final pitch. This includes a long transfer, so keep timed distillery visits for a longer hire.

Eat & drink

Bothy Bakery / Bikes & Bothy Bakery: coffee and baking during the Grantown stop.

Sleep

Blair Castle Caravan Park: Blair Atholl.

Practical details

Break the northbound drive in Blair Atholl before continuing to the Cairngorms.

Facilities: Park shower, toilet and washing-up facilities. Choose a vehicle touring pitch with the required power connection.

Alternative: Invermill Farm Caravan Park. A different base; revise the driving leg and confirm a touring pitch.

Directions ↗

Day 7

Return to Renfrew

Day 7Return to Renfrew95–110 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Blair Atholl → Renfrew

Things to do

Breakfast at your final pitch, then return to Renfrew. Aim to arrive around 11:00, allowing time for traffic, refuelling and the standard noon handback.

Eat & drink

Breakfast in the van before departure.

Sleep

No overnight: return day.

Directions ↗

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