Portsmouth to Fort William trip

Yes David, we have driven it frequently solo and that was the way we went when we continued home from the Killin site.  When we came to the site I think we were coming from the north or the east and took the shortest route, which involved towing along Loch Tay.

The buses are the worst, I had a similar incident with a bus in Norway which was well over the centre line, coming  fast downhill, and actually hit my mirror  with the corner of his cab bodywork.  The noise was like an explosion and when the glass shattered it went everywhere, including in through the passenger window, which was open a little, and over OH.  We had to stop to clean her up.  

It must have been very close to actually hitting the caravan, very frightening!

The roads around Killin are familiar to us as its not far from where we live and Loch Tay is an area we like to visit, we have stayed at the Killin site twice once with the caravan and once with the previous MH but its an easy day out for us so its normally the car solo. Lots of roads in Scotland are narrow and windy, we are used to them but for those who have not ventured up here, they can be very off putting, the further north you go the worse they can get. 

It sounds as if the OP could be a first timer to Scotland, if that is the case then sticking to the West side on the way up could be better. Once he has some experience of the roads then maybe coming down the East side could give variety.

I don't think the roads around Killin are a problem for anyone with a some towing experience. We have visited the Clachan site on a few occasions towing a mid-sized caravan, and continued northwards along by Loch Tay from there without any problems. The road on the west side of Loch Lomond is far worse, or it was the couple of times we have used it.

If the OP fancies a CL north of Carlisle, for an overnight stop close to the A74, there Whins, at Ecclefechan, No.1863 in the Site Directory, or Collierhall Fm, Douglas Water, No.1920 in the SD.

I once frequently visited Scotland from Andover (about an hour north of Portsmouth); I used the A419 and then M5 to the M6 (from Portsmouth probably the A34 then M4 to A419 at Swindon). I used to stop at the CCC site at Moffat first night. I found this perfectly doable, but I was in a motorhome so towing, especially from Portsmouth, it is more of an ask, especially on a weekday. Probably, nowadays, the A34 and M40/M42 to the M6 is the route to take rather than the M5.

I must agree with those who suggest avoiding the A82 alongside Loch Lomond. North of Tarbet, this road is narrow, winding and with lots of rocky outcrops on the nearside. I don't like it in a motorhome so I presume towing would be worse. The M73/M80/M9/A85 is the route to take picking up the A82 at Crianlarich.

I would not rule out the eastern route in England - A34/M40/A43/M1/M18/A1 (or alternatively M40/A46/M69/M1/M18/A1) - as far as Scotch Corner, and then the A66 to the M6. From Leicester, where I now live, this is my favoured route - generally quicker (less busy, less prone to queues) than the M6 although the A66 can be trying in parts. I would not consider continuing up the A1 to Edinburgh unless I wanted to visit Edinburgh. Nor would I countenance places like River Breamish (lovely site though) which take you a long way off the fastest route - unless of course there was a particular desire to stay at that site. 

From Portsmouth I would use the eastern route to Scotch Corner then the A66/M6/M74. I would take a relatively leisurely three days and stop at Poolsbrook and Strathclyde (but I prefer main CMC sites rather than CLs).  

With reference to avoiding some of the road beside Loch Lomond, this was our route travelling south from Dingwall to Glasgow............

The last time we were in the Fort William area, 2+ years back now, we came south from CCC Dingwall, past Inverness and down Loch Ness on the west side.   We followed the A82 through Fort William then stopped at the CCC site at Glencoe.

After a few days there we took a short hop south to the CCC site at Barcaldine in the walled garden, to visit Oban and the beaches at Ganavan.
 
After a few days there we went home to outside Glasgow via the A85 as far as Lochawe , then the A819 to Inverary and the A83 to Arrochar to join the A82 at Tarbet on Loch Lomond.   A scenic route with decent roads, which avoids the  "undesirable for towing a larger outfit on" bits further up Loch Lomond.

Hello KjeIINN

Our caravan is a swift sprite 4 berth. We are towing it with our Volvo V70.

Regards,

Phil.

Hello Graydjames,

Thank you for your suggestions,

Getting feedback from experienced caravanners is priceless.

Regards,

Phil.

If it is 6.45m overall, as shown on the Swift website (?), then it  is considerably shorter than our current van, which is 7.95m overall, which we would never consider towing along the upper west side of Loch Lomond.  And  slightly shorter than the van we did tow there, which was 6.77m  overall.   We made it safely, but it was a very stressful experience, and I have been towing since 1970.

 After that, we decided we would avoid that route when towing, which is a pity as we live only 30 minutes from LL.    Part of the upper road has been improved since then, and is now good, but once you pass Tarbet there is no way back, and you are committed to carrying on regardless.

The bit up to Tarbet, that we do use, is very good.  However there has been no sign of the last dodgy bit further north being improved, which is a great pity.   I think the money has probably been spent on something else.  It is not an easy road to improve, as said it is twisty and narrow, it follows the lochside and is hemmed in by steep rock faces to the west, and in several places a stone wall on the loch side.  Some of the new bits have been built out over the water as there is just nowhere else to put the road

The added hazards are the multiple tour buses at holiday times, and the large log lorries which also use it.  A caravan is fragile compared to those!

With the size of your van, I would say that the LL road is probably the only A road up here that you might wish to consider avoiding.

Thanks everyone for their advice.

I have reprogrammed my Garmin to ignore the A82 along Lock Lomond.

The route looks similar to all your suggestions.

Regards,

Phil.

I tend to agree with most, about the A82.  Fine until you get to Tarbet (Arrochar), but then the road isn't too brilliant after you 'turn the corner' at Tarbet.  We've not taken the caravan up here, but we do use the road on the way to the Uig ferry terminal on Skye.  I've not travelled the eastern route and across the middle (A86) to get to Fort William, but this may well be a better option with the caravan. (When we've used the A9 we've headed straight on, up to Inverness.)

David