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7-day Scotland campervan route: west coast and Skye

A week-long version of the west-coast journey, with the route shortened by going straight from Loch Lomond to Oban. Book the Mallaig ferry and leave Skye before the final return morning.

Trip code :WT-CODE 6020

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
Two full Skye days within a west coast week
Driving
Several substantial transfer days
When to go
Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
Ferries
Vehicle sailing reservation needed

Why this trip: Three Portree nights give two full Skye days within a week that also includes Loch Lomond and Oban.

The trade-off: The Oban-to-Skye ferry stage is long; keep Glenfinnan brief or add another mainland night.

Your trip at a glance

DayStart → endDriving
Day 1Renfrew → Luss45–75 min driving25–35 miles
Day 2Luss → North Ledaig, near Oban2–2.5 h driving85–100 miles
Day 3North Ledaig, near Oban → Portree4–5 h driving150–170 miles · ferry
Day 4Portree → Portree2–3 h driving50–65 miles
Day 5Portree → Portree2.5–3.5 h driving65–85 miles
Day 6Portree → Glencoe3–4 h driving125–140 miles
Day 7Glencoe → Renfrew2–2.5 h driving85–95 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. Ferry crossings are gaps between the road sections.

Daily directions
  1. Day 1 · Loch Lomond Directions ↗
  2. Day 2 · Oban Directions ↗
  3. Day 3 · Glenfinnan and Mallaig To the ferry From the ferry
  4. Day 4 · Portree and Trotternish Directions ↗
  5. Day 5 · Carbost and Dunvegan Directions ↗
  6. Day 6 · Glencoe Directions ↗
  7. Day 7 · Return to Renfrew Directions ↗

Get to know the places on this route

Loch Lomond guide →Glencoe guide →Isle of Skye guide →Argyll & Oban guide →

Your day-by-day plan

Your day-by-day plan

Day 1

Loch Lomond

Day 1Loch Lomond25–35 miles · 45–75 min driving

Renfrew → Luss

Loch Lomond
© Dr Peter Chadha and Dr Aviral Vasta

Things to do

Start with Luss’s cottages, pier and lochshore, rather than trying to cover both sides of the loch. Park in a signed visitor car park and leave the village lanes for walking.

Eat & drink

The Village Rest, Luss: our food stop in the village.

Practical details

Café and bistro in Luss: the natural meal stop for the village evening.

Sleep

Luss Caravan & Camp Site: Luss.

Practical details

The choice for a lochside night with Luss nearby.

Facilities: Toilets, showers and laundry; electric hook-up on selected pitches.

Alternative: Lomond Woods Holiday Park. Balloch is about 10 miles south: move the evening and next start accordingly.

Directions ↗

Day 2

Oban

Day 2Oban85–100 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Luss → North Ledaig, near Oban

Oban harbour
© roger nightingale · CC BY-SA 2.0

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.

Practical details

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.

Practical details

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.

Directions ↗

Day 3

Glenfinnan and Mallaig

Day 3Glenfinnan and Mallaig150–170 miles · 4–5 h driving

North Ledaig, near Oban → PortreeVehicle ferry: Mallaig → Armadale. Sailing, check-in and waiting time are additional.

Things to do

Make Glenfinnan’s viaduct and loch your main stop before following the Road to the Isles. Check train operation and timing directly if seeing a train is the reason for the stop.

Glenfinnan Monument & viaduct

Practical details

Arrive early and allow walking time; the visitor-centre car park is often busy.

Eat & drink

Glenfinnan Station Dining Car: baking and light lunches in a restored carriage.

Practical details

Coffee, baking and light lunch in a restored railway carriage. Pair it with the Glenfinnan walk before the onward Mallaig drive.

Sleep

Portree Campsite: Portree.

Practical details

Keep a Portree base for the Trotternish and western Skye outings. Torvaig’s exposed pitches can be windy; Dunvegan is a different base, not a next-door substitute.

Facilities: Hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up. Torvaig is above Portree on the Staffin Road; exposed pitches can feel windy.

Alternative: Kinloch Campsite. Dunvegan is around 25 miles west of Portree: use it as a different island base.

To the ferry · From the ferry

CalMac sailing & vehicle space ↗

Day 4

Portree and Trotternish

Day 4Portree and Trotternish50–65 miles · 2–3 h driving

Portree → Portree

Isle of Skye
© Sketch the Sun (treesforanya)

Things to do

Leave the van at Portree tonight. Follow the Trotternish loop with the Storr as the main walk, then Kilt Rock and Staffin if weather and daylight suit. Save the Quiraing hike for a longer stay; the driving allowance excludes walking and parking.

Eat & drink

Birch, Portree: coffee before the morning’s outing.

Practical details

Coffee on Bayfield Road before or after the northern outing.

Sleep

Portree Campsite: Portree.

Practical details

Keep a Portree base for the Trotternish and western Skye outings. Torvaig’s exposed pitches can be windy; Dunvegan is a different base, not a next-door substitute.

Facilities: Hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up. Torvaig is above Portree on the Staffin Road; exposed pitches can feel windy.

Alternative: Kinloch Campsite. Dunvegan is around 25 miles west of Portree: use it as a different island base.

Directions ↗

Day 5

Carbost and Dunvegan

Day 5Carbost and Dunvegan65–85 miles · 2.5–3.5 h driving

Portree → Portree

Things to do

Make Carbost and Dunvegan the western-island day: coffee at Café Cùil, then Dunvegan Castle if you want an admission. Return to your Portree pitch. Neist Point is an optional extra, not part of this day’s mileage.

Eat & drink

Café Cùil, Carbost: a west-island detour, rather than a café beside Armadale.

Practical details

Hebridean-inspired brunch and lunch worth building the western day around.

Sleep

Portree Campsite: Portree.

Practical details

Keep a Portree base for the Trotternish and western Skye outings. Torvaig’s exposed pitches can be windy; Dunvegan is a different base, not a next-door substitute.

Facilities: Hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up. Torvaig is above Portree on the Staffin Road; exposed pitches can feel windy.

Alternative: Kinloch Campsite. Dunvegan is around 25 miles west of Portree: use it as a different island base.

Directions ↗

Day 6

Glencoe

Day 6Glencoe125–140 miles · 3–4 h driving

Portree → Glencoe

Glencoe
© Malcolm Lightbody

Things to do

Follow the mainland A87 and A82 via Fort William to Glencoe. Use Fort William for the food or fuel break and reach your booked pitch within its arrival window. Tyndrum and Rannoch Moor are on tomorrow’s southbound journey.

Eat & drink

Pack a picnic for the transfer. Glencoe village coffee fits an early arrival.

Crafts & Things

Practical details

Glencoe village coffee, home baking and a craft shop to browse after the Lochan walk. Useful for a short indoor stop when the rain arrives.

Sleep

Invercoe Highland Holidays: Glencoe.

Practical details

A lochside Glencoe base, with touring available all year.

Facilities: Electric hook-up, some hardstanding pitches and laundry.

Pitch booking: Reserve a campervan pitch directly. Published arrival window: 13:30–18:00; departure by 11:00.

Alternative: Glencoe Club Site. By the visitor centre; its touring season differs from Invercoe.

Directions ↗

Day 7

Return to Renfrew

Day 7Return to Renfrew85–95 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Glencoe → 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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