Known for an iconic boat wheel and two giant mythical horses, Falkirk offers easy access to the Central Belt and beyond.
Almost equidistant to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Falkirk is a hub of Stirlingshire. Nearby are two unusual feats of engineering worth a visit: the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift connects the Forth and Clyde with the Union Canal. On the other edge of town, are two 30-metre-high Kelpies, a mythical Scottish river horse. The Central Belt is the most populated region of Scotland, but campers will find quick escapes in all directions. The large town can serve as a jumping-off point to explore The Trossachs and points north, as well as the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, and both coasts.
You can find adventure and Scottish history without even leaving the county. Perched on a hilltop outside Stirling, to the north of Falkirk, is the Wallace Monument, dedicated to the 12th-century figurehead of Scottish freedom, William Wallace. Stirling Castle—one of the most prominent fortifications in the country’s history—is perched atop a rocky outcropping in the city centre. Nearby, tour the battleground of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce defeated the English army. Explore these attractions easily in a day, then take your campervan or tent and head toward the Trossachs or north toward Perthshire.
A quick drive over either the Kincardine or Forth Bridges from Falkirk is the Kingdom of Fife, offering campers an escape to rolling fields and farmland and a windswept North Sea coast. The popular Fife Coastal Path runs 188 kilometres around Fife through the villages of the East Neuk and the renowned university and golf town, St Andrews. In summer, catch the ferry in Anstruther to the Isle of May, a small nature reserve that guards the entrance to the Firth of Forth and history dating to 2000 BC.
One of only two national parks in Scotland offers endless adventure and a taste of the wilds of more northerly Scotland. Beautiful stretches of woodland and the southern portion of Scotland’s most famous walking route, the West Highland Way, can be found here. Loch Lomond is Scotland’s largest body of fresh water. For the best views over the park, hike the accessible Munro of Ben Lomond. A shorter climb up Conic HIll just outside of the lochside village of Balmaha gives you an excellent perspective of the boundary fault separating the Highlands and the Lowlands. Campsite and wild camping permit areas are scattered throughout the park.
The traditional tourist season for most of Scotland is May through October. During these peak months you’ll enjoy the benefit of extra daylight hours and warmer weather, but book campgrounds well in advance and be prepared to deal with crowds--especially if you’re planning to camp along one of Scotland’s many A-list long-distance trails. In the Central Belt, where you’re never far from a large town, it’s easier to extend your camping adventure later into the shoulder seasons, as long as you’re prepared for any weather.