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Road Trip – Scotland (Part1)

Travel

15 Jan

Scotland is somewhere that we have wanted to visit for quite some time, and I think this may be my most favourite road trip in Otis to date. We planned the trip for May half term 2016 and were totally blessed with the most amazing scenery and beautiful weather.

We started off fairly early (for us!), but not before taking our standard Campervan selfie that we have to take before any road trip. Lame I know but it’s become a kind of tradition and I love looking back at the changing faces of Mr and Mrs S.
We hit the motorway feeling rather smug that we had managed to leave the house so early… but then had to turn around for…a forgotten coffee percolator. Yes thats right you did read that correctly. We turned around for a coffee percolator!! Mr S and his love for coffee……

After initially  getting stuck on the motorway, the rest of the journey, although long –  was plain sailing and we finally arrived at our first destination much later than planned (thanks to the coffee percalator.) Our friends greeted us with a large glass of wine and  the journey was a distant memory. Our first stop was Inverness.  We found a campsite just on the southern shore of the Beauty Firth, which was a beautiful location to start our road trip. The caravan and campsite was a lovely quiet, family friendly site, set in 20 acres of sheltered parkland and had panoramic views of the waters and mountains and hills beyond.

The campsite provided an ideal base to explore the beauty of Inverness and surrounding areas.  The following morning we woke to beautiful sunshine and headed off to explore the area. We found some lovely walks around here, leaving  behind the wonders of technology and throwing ourselves into outdoor living.



We explored the Falls of Foyers, a wonderful waterfall on the River Foyers, which feeds Loch Ness. There is a lovely cafe here which I can undoubtedly say has the best cake and coffee !!!


In the late afternoon we stumbled across a wonderful shingle beach in Dores. The little ones loved the spontaneous late stop-off collecting shells and pebbles. I think this evening was so memorable for us. The setting was breathtaking. The shingle beach was empty. Watching the girls enjoy running around the beach with their friends, at a time when you normally would be rushing them into the bath to then get ready for bed,  is so memorable, and well… priceless. Sitting on a rug, looking out at the breathtaking scenery – listening to their laughter was enough to put a smile on anyone’s faces. Family time is so precious.

 Day 1 was definitely what you would call a success.  Dores was a lovely little gem of a find.  That is the thing with Scotland, you can’t help but take a lot of spontaneous photo stops, as you head on your journey. I lost count of the times I squealed at MrS to stop or turn around, as we passed stunning scenery to photograph, spotted little coves, and stumbled upon beautiful shores to explore.

The other thing I need to mention is the roads! There is very little traffic, and that makes for a pleasant road trip. After a busy day we headed back to our base to cook up a storm on the camping stove, and enjoy a glass of wine while the kids ran around in their onesies, enjoying the campsite and their newfound freedom and relaxed routine.


The following day we headed to Whin Park, Inverness which has lovely facilities for children with an excellent play park and a boating pond where we hired rowing and paddle boats out with our friends, and enjoyed ice-cream and coffee.


We then headed towards Nairn where we found a marvellous sandy beach which had beautiful views across the Moray Firth.  This offered another evening of building sandcastles, enjoying the freedom of having little routine and no plans or to-do lists,  (or set bed time for the kids!)


With a van full of sand, we returned back to our base to eat and get some rest before leaving  Loch Ness and moving on to our next destination.

We had a wonderful and memorable start to our road trip and had already fallen in love with its beauty. We  couldn’t wait to hit the road and find out what else Scotland had to offer.

 

 

 

Travel Loving Family

**Please note this road trip was paid for by myself and I have reviewed the attractions with no benefit to myself**

Our fabulous friends are happy for us to share the photographs that they feature in.

35 Comments

Previous Post: « Our Bucket List – 2017
Next Post: MondayEscapes – Chasing the Sun »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Penny says

    January 22, 2017 at 6:59 pm

    Oh I am sad that we missed the Foyers waterfall and cafe when we were at Loch Ness. Will have to go back! What a lovely trip, these are such beautiful pics. We loved hiring a camper – I am really missing our caravan/campervan now. Looking forward to following more of yours.

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      January 22, 2017 at 8:27 pm

      Thanks so much Penny, it was such a wonderful road trip! We would return in a flash! We absolutely love our camper it has already created so many wonderful memories so far. xx

      Reply
  2. Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) says

    January 30, 2017 at 11:06 am

    We’re thinking of possibly doing a Scotland road trip this summer – it’s great to see your pictures and read about the trip. Dont’ blame you for going back to fetch the percolator. It’s important to have home comforts on the road! #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:08 am

      Nell you really should do a road trip it was amazing and we visited so many beautiful breathtaking places!! I am looking forward to following your adventures this year 🙂 xx

      Reply
  3. Notmyyearoff says

    January 30, 2017 at 11:50 am

    The waterfalls look so beautiful and the views are amazing. We did a tiny bit of Scotland and Loch Lomond a few months ago and you’re so right, you have to keep stopping to admire the views. I’m hoping to go back at Easter now. I’ve wanted to do a Scotland road trip for so long that I’m definitely going to come back and read more about yours 🙂

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:09 am

      We are visiting in Easter too! Let’s hope we have some sunshine !!! I’m sure it will be beautiful whatever the weather! Look forward to reading about your adventures! Thanks for stopping by xx

      Reply
  4. Tanja (the Red phone box travels) says

    January 30, 2017 at 11:52 am

    nice photos! #mondayescapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:07 am

      Thank you that’s so kind! It’s a beautiful place… so easy to photograph.:)

      Reply
  5. Lolo says

    January 30, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    Looks like a lovely area to road trip through! #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:07 am

      Thanks so much it was so lovely ! Xx

      Reply
  6. Fiona Cambouropoulos says

    January 30, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    My Dad was Scottish and May half term was when we would go up visiting family. I always remember having the best weather then and some wonderful times, looks like you had that same luck. #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:06 am

      We are travelling in Easter this year I’m wondering if we need our rain coats 🙂 even in the rain I imagine it is just as beautiful! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jo Addison says

    January 30, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    We are off up to Scotland this May half term, so I hope we get good weather like you did! We are going away in a campervan for the weekend in March (first time!) and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m going to catch up on some more of your posts about campervan holidays. #mondayescapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:05 am

      The campsite said that May half term is very often lovely so fingers crossed you have he weather ! I will look forward to following your adventures xx

      Reply
  8. Lisa - FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com says

    January 30, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    Oooh, hiring a campervan and doing a road trip in Scotland will definitely have to go on our bucket list. This looks fabulous! Although we’ve stayed in so many hotels and rental apartments during our 10 months in SEA we haven’t gone camping with our toddler yet. Maybe we should try a weekend first 😉 #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:04 am

      Our first ever camping trip with my eldest was in abersoch for a weekend, my middle girl’s first experience at camping was a festival! Such happy memories! I hope you get to sample it with your little one – thanks for stopping by xx

      Reply
  9. Travelling With Our Kids says

    January 30, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    Scotland is so beautiful…and you managed to get sun. That is a rare thing haha. A Scotland roadtrip is on our to do list too #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:03 am

      We can’t wait to visit the east coast this year ! I absolutely fell in love with it ! Hoping the weather is good again! Xx

      Reply
  10. Sarah Christie says

    January 30, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    Scotland is just breathtaking isn’t it? We visited in October and could not get over the scenery, I would love to do a road trip. Thanks so much for linking up #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:02 am

      Sarah it really is!! I had heard such wonderful things about Scotland but I have to say I fell in love with it ! We are planning to visit the east coast this year and I’m hoping we are lucky with the weather again! Xxx

      Reply
  11. Ruth says

    January 31, 2017 at 2:01 am

    Scotland is so beautiful! I love reading about its many places since I keep discovering new spots I would love to visit. Like you, I would like to road trip or camp around the area. #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:01 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! It is beautiful, we are planning to road trip around the east coast this year – very excited 🙂

      Reply
  12. Tania @ Larger Family Life says

    January 31, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    Those views are simply stunning! We’re looking forward to heading to Scotland ourselves soon – if we can find somewhere large enough for the ten of our kids we travel with!

    Reply
    • Tania @ Larger Family Life says

      January 31, 2017 at 12:14 pm

      Oh, and #mondayescapes!

      Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 11:00 am

      I will look forward to reading all about your adventures !! It is so beautiful ! I hope you find a tent big enough for everyone 🙂 🙂

      Reply
  13. Mini Travellers says

    January 31, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Wow you really did have amazing weather. I think you might need to buy a coffee machine to keep in the camper van!! Stunning views and photos. #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 10:59 am

      Karen that is on my list for this year – to buy a coffee machine 🙂 🙂 ! Weather was amazing – thanks for the lovely comment xx

      Reply
  14. Lisa says

    February 3, 2017 at 11:45 pm

    Absolutely stunning photos Katy! My parents have a campervan and we use it quite regularly. Not been up to Scotland yet, although very tempted after reading about your road trip!

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 10:58 am

      Thank you so much! We were so lucky with the weather- it is such a beautiful place you really should visit!! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Claire at Tin Box Traveller says

    February 9, 2017 at 7:34 am

    We took Tin Box up to Scotland for a short trip a few years ago. The roads are amazingly quiet, right? And the landscape is epic. We’d definitely like to return to soak up more of Scotland’s landscapes and coastline #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      February 9, 2017 at 6:50 pm

      Claire the roads were so quiet !! It was lovely – We have talked about returning again this year – not enough school holidays in the year for all these camping trips 🙂 xx

      Reply
  16. David - Potty Adventures says

    February 26, 2017 at 10:40 am

    This looks like a great road trip. We love Scotland and your campsite looks like it was in a great location. #mondayescapes

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      March 6, 2017 at 10:57 am

      Thankyou so much we had such a wonderful time ! Thanks for stopping by xx

      Reply

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Vanlife Family • Travel


Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights dotted around a
Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3


🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages a
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈


A vintage rainbow 🌈

Mucho love tonight - hope
A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x


💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫

💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx


🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx

Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage


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Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟 Fairy lights dotted around a Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐 I often get messages a 🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈
A vintage rainbow 🌈 Mucho love tonight - hope A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x
💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx
🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage
If this year has taught us anything, it’s defini If this year has taught us anything, it’s definitely to not take anything for granted. To take each day as it comes and to enjoy the simple things in life, finding  joy in those ordinary moments. 

I don’t need reminding of this but family and friends are everything. As are good old hugs. (I miss hugs!) And plans. Blooming love a plan. 😍

So ill keep on bobbing on here if that’s okay? I’ll keep planning, writing about our campervan adventures and sharing our van life love and outdoor life. Because we have to have hope and we have to keep dreaming.... 

Hope you are all doing okay, sending a virtual hug if you need one this weekend. My inbox is ALWAYS open, always.
🚐 4 years! 🚐 4 years blogging!! Wowzers tha 🚐 4 years! 🚐

4 years blogging!! Wowzers that has flown by!! 

I’ve had lots of new followers lately so thought I would pop on and say hello and tell you a little bit about us.

I’m Katy and I am behind Otis and us travel blog. I started the blog during my maternity leave - really because I love taking photos and wanted  a place that the kids can look back on and to document our van life adventures. I  am a full time specialist nurse and also currently working on an MSc. I am a whirlwind and life is definitely jam packed but I wouldn’t have it any other way :) 

We love our beautiful T5!! We have made so many memories and taken some wonderful roadtrips over the years. We haven’t managed to get out in the van much this year, but hey I’ve still been dreaming ... hopefully next year🤞🏻🤞🏻

We have three free spirited kiddies who love nothing more than a road trip,  sleeping in the poptop roof, exploring, beach life and toasting marshmallows. 

Mr Otis and Us, what can I say? The chilled one who has so much patience😆. He drives the many miles, lives on coffee and never ever says no to my crazy road trips and ideas. 

So here we are - the Otis and Us tribe, popping on to say hi. 
 
Thank you so much for following along, for all your interaction and love. It means the world. I love to hear from you all, every message and every comment. Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hope you will stay with us for 2021 , 

Stay safe 

Katy xx 🌈

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