Are you ready for the newsflash of the century? Your romantic, amazing honeymoon does not have to be abroad! You don’t have to spend thousands in the Bahamas or Portugal or Paris. You can have the perfect honeymoon right here in Scotland. Shocking, right? But seriously, so many forget that there are so many romantic honeymoon destinations right here in the UK, and even less consider the possibility of enjoying them in a campervan! Read on to find out our top 5 honeymoon destinations in Scotland, and why you should enjoy them in a motorhome.
Why spend your honeymoon in a campervan?
Spending your honeymoon in a campervan ensures that it is just you and your partner, day after day in each other's company. You get the privacy of the van, you’re able to cook and enjoy meals together and the cosiness of the van ensures plenty of cuddling. Motorhome holidays provide the ultimate freedom, as you’re not tied down to hotel bookings or public transport tickets, instead choosing your destination day by day! You can explore cities without paying extortionate prices, and getting the tranquility of a campsite as well. It’ll ensure you don’t get distracted by electronics, and pushes you outside to enjoy the beautiful nature Scotland has to offer!
1. Ayr
What could be more romantic than visiting the birthplace of famed poet Robert Burns? The home of the pioneer of the Romantic movement gained a lot of his inspiration from this gorgeous region, and coming here with your partner will show you exactly why. Pick up a book of his best love poems and head to Ayr in your cosy campervan. You might love the region so much that you decide to embark on the South West Coastal 300 for a few days...
Things to do in Ayr:
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As mentioned, visiting the sights of the late Robert Burns is a good place to start. You can visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, the Burns House Museum and the Burns Monument.
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Dedicate a day to all the castles in this day! From Caerlaverock to Culzean, you could spend an entire day exploring all the centuries old castles in this area. The perfect place to treat your partner like the royalty they are and enjoy a lovely picnic.
- Visit a place absolutely bathed in romance, the Gretna Green border which was once a refuge for young lovers. The age for parental consent stopped at 16 in Scotland, so young lovers would head to Gretna Green for an “anvil marriage” at the Old Blacksmiths Shop until it was declared illegal in 1940. Forbidden love, what could be more romantic? You’ll be wishing you had saved the big bucks and headed here instead!
Campsites in Ayr:
Ayr Craigie Gardens Caravan Club Site - Camping on the grounds of Craigie Estate with access to the River Ayr is ideal, and you’ll struggle to find a more relaxing and wholesome campsite. It is close to all the main sights of Ayr so you’ll never have to travel far.
£22 for two people/night
N 55.45993, W 4.61496
2. Glencoe
Within Glencoe, you may recognise the surrounding areas from a particular James Bond film… but sadly Daniel Craig won’t be making an appearance this time. This stunning region is an ideal honeymoon destination due to the immense beauty of the area! It is considered to be a walkers paradise, and you could spend your entire holiday hiking and still not see everything. What could be better than a photo of the newlyweds in front of waterfalls, on the top of mountains or in front of lochs?
Things to do in Glencoe:
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Visit the stunning Loch Leven and either kayak or take a boat trip across the dark waters, stopping on one of the small island for a picnic.
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Hike Bidean nam Bian, one of the highest peaks of the former county of Argyll. It is a difficult trek, but will make that glass of wine at the end of the day all the more satisfying! You can also stop by the site where Hagrid's Hut was filmed in Harry Potter!
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Head to Glencoe Mountain Resort, where you can mountain bike, ski or snowboard depending on the season and your preferences!
Campsites in Glencoe:
Glencoe Mountain Resort - A simple campervan overnight parking, operating through an honesty box. The site offers water, a restroom and more.
£15 per pitch/night
N 56.63320, W 4.82765
Invercoe Caravan & Camping Park - With a beautiful view of the waters of Loch Leven, you’ll get to recharge yourself and your van here. It is only 1km from the centre, so you can easily head over for a warm dinner or a pint.
£25 for two people/night
N 56.68639, W 5.10538
3. North Coast 500
Not quite a destination, but rather an impressive road trip. You may have already heard of the NC 500, which is considered to be the Scottish Route 66. This is one of the top honeymoon destinations for those who like to stay active during their holiday, and wish to explore more of this stunning country. You can find out more about this thrilling road trip here, which can take 1-2 weeks depending on how long you wish to stay in each area.
Things to do during the NC 500:
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Visit distilleries! From Dornoch Castle to Glenmorangie to Dunnet Bay Distillery, you’ll be spoiled for choice and get plenty of opportunities to sample traditional Scottish whisky.
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Explore Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, with trails ranging from 1.5km to 6.5km and wide clusters of mountain peaks. If you’re lucky you’ll spot crossbills and golden eagles!
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Head to North Coast Sea Tours for a boat trip to Handa Island, a seabird sanctuary with 200 feet cliffs. If you’re here between late May and the end of July, you’ll get to see the puffin breeding season.
Campsites on the NC 500:
Clachtoll Beach Campsite - A little drive out of Kylesku, this beachside campsite is the perfect romantic getaway, and is sustainably focused!
£22 for two people/night
N 58.19114, W 5.33240
John o’Groats Caravan and Camping Site - Not only will you wake up to a sea view here, but if you’re lucky your breakfast will be accompanied with the sight of seals playing and swimming! It is also walking distance from restaurants and a supermarket.
£22 for two people/night
N 58.64359, W 3.06838
4. Isle of Lewis
The Isle of Lewis is located north of Harris, and is the largest island of the Western Isle and Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The Isle of Lewis is stunning, filled with dramatic coastlines and long stretches of pristine beaches. Given it’s northern position, you won’t be as plagued by tourists as other locations, but will still have plenty of things to do during your honeymoon. Spend your mornings exploring the numerous archeological and geographical sights of the island, and your afternoons relaxing together on the beach, or diving in the clear waters.
Things to do on the Isle of Lewis:
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Whilst on an island, it is simply mandatory to take a boat trip! Travel around to the south side of the island; Harris. You can head to distant and uninhabited islands, or go dolphin and whale watching. Try your hand at fishing or another water sport.
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Visit the Calanais Standing Stones, which are older than the Pyramids of Giza and as mysterious as Stonehenge in England.
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Visit Stornoway, the main settlement on Lewis and the largest town in the Outer Hebrides. Here you can look at traditional Harris Tweed and enjoy delicious freshly caught fish- a true Lewis speciality!
Campsites on the Isle of Lewis:
Eilean Fraoich Campsite - A family run campsite in the centre of the village, you’ll be walking distance from anything you may need. It also known for having great wifi, ideal for uploading your #honeymoonpics!
£18 for two people/night
N 58.32004, W 6.68752
5. Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond has the biggest surface area of any Scottish loch, located in southern Scotland and is part of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Park your campervan here and enjoy the beautiful National Park and surrounding highlands. The nearby ancient Luss village will be ideal for meals out and supplies, while the privacy of wild camping will allow you to focus on the important aspect of your honeymoon; one another.
Things to do in Loch Lomond:
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Play a round of golf together at the Loch Lomond Golf Club. You can easily spend a day touring their manicured courses and grabbing a bite at their Clubhouse. Their spa is also ranked highly and could be the perfect location for couple massages.
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Go for a hike. You can either take the Luss Heritage Path through the rolling countryside and to the picturesque Luss Village, where you can enjoy a nice lunch or pint, or you could enjoy one of the numerous trails criss-crossing craggy Ben Lomond mountain and the smaller Conic Hill.
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Make the most of the loch. If you’re looking for something calm, you can enjoy a simple sightseeing tour, perhaps aboard the Sir Walter Scott steamship. If you’re looking for some excitement, you can do one of the many other water sport activities offered here. This includes kayaking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, seaplane rides, fishing and even river sledging.
Campsites in Loch Lomond:
Wild camping - As mentioned, you could consider wild camping in the park. Be sure to check where you can wild camp and read up on the general etiquette for wild camping! But it can be a romantic and secluded way to enjoy one of the top honeymoon destinations.
Trossachs Holiday Park - Alternatively, you can stay at this award-winning park covering 40 acres of landscaped grounds. It is surrounded by woodlands, mountains, lochs and glens.
£24.50 (low season) or £28.50 (high season) for two people/night.
N 56.14015, W 4.35551
Which of these romantic honeymoon destinations will you go for? A daring Scottish road trip or a relaxing escape, a bustling city trip or an island exploration. The options are endless! Break stereotypes and enjoy one of these top honeymoon destinations in Scotland for your special trip. Or if none of these are quite for you, why not check out the most romantic honeymoon destinations in England instead? As for the campervan of the trip, Goboony has got that part covered!
