Why TV star is a white van woman
Writer and his mobile home take the slow road around the country to reveal his best tips and trips after hitting the open road
He might hail from the far south of England but motorhome expert Martin Dorey can’t resist the far north of Scotland.
In his travel guide, Take the Slow Road, Martin says Scotland is the best of British when it comes to campervan and motorhome travel.
“Motorhoming and Scotland are made for each other,” he said.
“There’s a lot of great driving in Scotland and so much open space for a vehicle. You can pull up anywhere to relax and take it easy.
“It has great views, great people and some of the greatest landscapes in the UK.
“And Scotland has really favourable laws and people who tolerate motorhoming.”
Martin has motored across the country for more than a decade.
His book describes 25 routes that wind across the lowlands, highlands and islands.
These include the best drives for surfers, wildlife watchers, climbers and walkers.
There are also themed journeys like the Harry Potter Trail which takes in Fort William, the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Rannoch Moor, while the Bonny Botany Trail links up botanic gardens near Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stranraer, Peebles and Dunoon.
“The thing about Scotland is, everywhere you look or drive there’s something brilliant,” added Martin.
“I’ve been working on guides to England and Wales. Wales is similar to Scotland in that it’s very beautiful but in England it’s harder to find really good routes.
“Loch Lomond is just a short drive from Glasgow and driving down the West Coast of Scotland’s main route from Fort William to Glasgow is incredible. You can’t say that about the M1.”
Martin’s guide is peppered with anecdotes of his travels and also offers advice on where to hire vehicles, things to see and do, the best roads to take and the most idyllic places to camp.
Among his favourite places to visit are the Outer Hebrides, the southern shores of Loch Fyne at Otter Ferry, the Speyside whisky trail and following the Moray Firth from Fraserburgh to Spey Bay. One area that surprised him, though, was Galloway. “The northern part of Galloway Forest Park was amazing,” he said.
“Having driven up the M74 to Glasgow then straight north, I was ignorant of what was there, so exploring the area on the 7Stanes cycle route was a lovely surprise. The Botanic Gardens route is really good because it takes in a part of Scotland that many people bypass.”
Take the Slow Road: Scotland, published by Bloomsbury, is out now.
You need plenty of bottled water and a little relaxation about arrival times. I loved it
– TV presenter Sarah Heaney
My first foray into the world of motorhomes was in October last year. It’s an experience I would definitely repeat again although it was like a baptism of fire. I hired this all-singing-all-dancing, three-tonne beast from a company in Kirkcaldy and had a two-hour induction.
I travelled with my two boys, Eddie, 12, and Will, 10. We’re based in London and I wanted to remind them of their Scottish roots. I think Scotland ticks all the boxes in terms of holidays. There’s nowhere like it in n the world.
First, we followed the coastal road from Edinburgh to Yellowcraigs. It’s one of my favourite beaches and reminds me of summer holidays while growing up in Edinburgh. We spent two days around d that area, one night in a campsite and the second wild camping. Then n we went back across the Forth Road Bridge and up through Perthshire to Loch Tay. We parked right near the e loch. There was no one else around. We did some fishing, had a BBQ and played cards. The scenery takes your breath away. My boys love nature, and particularly fishing, so it was perfect. And it’s extraordinary the things I learned about my own children through the conversations we had because there was no Wi-Fi! You’re creating memories. It’s definitely one of my highlights of being a parent.
A lot of people in London go to busy coastal resorts and pitch their tent or campervans close together like sardines. Motorhoming gives you the freedom to choose your route and pitch anywhere, within reason. It’s a great way to travel as you can go places, see things and speak to people you usually wouldn’t get to.
My tips for first-time motorhomers is take lots of bottled water and get into the mindset that getting places will take as long as it takes. Having come from a very hectic pace of life, getting stuck behind a lorry carrying cattle on these little roads is actually quite nice because it makes you slow down. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Go into it with an open mind because it’s an incredible experience.