Blog 29th July 2026

Welcome to the ScotCampers tri-weekly blog. 

This period can be summarised by; hirers; road-trip; motorbikes.

Hirers.

July was quiet last year but that can’t be said for 2026!  Great to meet new hirers and boy, have the vans been some miles!  In no particular order, I saw off Hannah, Sten, Donald and Kirsty on adventures during the month.  It’s always interesting piecing together where vans go and randomly, Arwen was in Oban yesterday (as I type) and away back today to catch the ferry to Craignure (Mull).  Kirsty and the family are staying there and looking to SUP, savour the great sea cuisine and pop across to Iona.  Looks like the weather is holding nicely ☺.

Arwen parked up in Oban

North East.

Last week saw a break in the diary so it was off to document another route.  As I’ve stated before, I never suggest a route unless I’ve actually driven and stayed on it, myself.  The route I had in mind took me down the A1 from Edinburgh as far as Alnwick (Northumbria) and then across to Morpeth.  I stayed at the very good Kirkharle site near Morpeth with its excellent courtyard and history.  Lovely quiet site which is Green approved and enjoys dark skies later in the evening.  I enjoyed in particular watching a barn owl foraging for her young in the early evening.  

Looking towards the historic church at the Kirkharle site

The site provided an ideal base for exploring the coast – Seahouses and Bamburgh.  You could faff away all day there!  I visited the very good @NE Surf School in Bamburgh for an introductory lesson and would thoroughly recommend.  When you are new to it, pretty tiring but made the fish & chips in Seahouses all the better!  Great part of the world but very busy – particularly during school holidays.

Finally I drove back across country to Kielder – the largest man-made body of water in England – to explore some of the mountain bike trails there.  You can stay over at the mountain bike centre for a very reasonable £10 a night and there’s an inn within walking distance!  Also, dark skies spot so has something for everyone.  There’s a lot going on in Kielder during the year such as the marathon and half marathon events.  Trails are good and I’ll be back.

Motorbikes.

I have been a keen biker for years now and always stuck with brands I know and trust (usually Honda).  However on holiday the other week I was reading about some of the emerging Chinese brands.  In particular the new on/off road offering from CF Moto.  Coincidentally, on the same holiday I booked an on/off road tour with a local guide and guess what bike was provided?!  

Within a couple of miles – and particularly offroad – I was pretty convinced that the new 450 had the right balance of power and lower weight.  Had an exhausting but rewarding day in the heat and prompted me to market my existing trail bike in favour of the, very well priced, CF Moto.  Hoping to pick up in a couple of weeks and head to the trails around Northumbria (English rights of ways).

This is a long way from Scotland and this was at 6,000 feet after starting at the sea!

Next time I’ll be looking back at a further three hirers and reflections on the British Superbikes down at Oulton Park (Cheshire).

Until next time.  Not all those who wander, are lost……