Best UK campervan road trips: routes for vans

Short answer: The best UK campervan road trips are the NC500 in the Scottish Highlands, Skye's Trotternish loop, the quieter South West Coastal 300, North East 250 and Kintyre 66, plus the Causeway Coastal Route, Snowdonia, the Atlantic Highway, the Lake District passes, the North Norfolk coast and the Wye Valley. Each guide below covers length, days, stops in order, where to sleep and van-size warnings.

Best UK campervan road trips

We are Josh and Jenny, and these are the routes we would point friends to first. Every page is written for a van, not a car: we flag the passes and single-track roads that are hard in a big motorhome, the places where fuel runs thin, and where you can actually sleep, because in most of the UK that means campsites and aires, not laybys.

NC500 in a campervan516 mile Highland loop from Inverness, 5 to 7 days Isle of Skye Trotternish loopStorr, Quiraing and Fairy Glen in a day from Portree South West Coastal 300300 quiet miles through Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire North East 250Aberdeenshire coast, Speyside whisky and the Cairngorms Kintyre 6666 mile peninsula loop, perfect for a long weekend Snowdonia 360A loop round Eryri's mountains and coast Causeway Coastal RouteNorthern Ireland's coast road to the Giant's Causeway Atlantic HighwayThe A39 along the north coasts of Devon and Cornwall Lake District passesWhich fell passes a van can and cannot take North Norfolk coastFlat, easy driving between beaches and salt marsh Wye ValleyRiver, woods and border towns on a gentle route Weekend campervan tripsShort UK trips for a Friday night getaway

How to choose a route

Time. The NC500 wants a week; VisitScotland says most people take 5 to 7 days. The Kintyre 66 and Trotternish loop fit a long weekend. If you only have two nights, start with our weekend trips.

Van size. Single-track roads and steep passes are the real limit. The Bealach na Bà on the NC500, for example, is not advised for motorhomes over about 6.5 m or anyone towing. Every route guide has a van-size section so you can check before you commit.

Where you sleep. In Scotland, Highland Council and Aberdeenshire Council both say access rights do not cover sleeping in a vehicle. Rules elsewhere differ, so check before you go. Plan around campsites and aires: see our wild camping guide and motorhome aires. For your first trip, our first campervan trip guide is a good start.

Routes in Roam

Ready-made routes are coming to Roam, starting with the NC500: stops in order, saved offline, with trip planning that knows your van's size. They are not built yet. Join the waitlist to hear when they launch.

Questions

What is the best road trip in the UK for a campervan?

The NC500 is the best known, a 516 mile loop from Inverness Castle. If you want something quieter, the South West Coastal 300 and North East 250 are less busy and have fewer single-track roads.

Can you wild camp on UK road trips?

Not by right in Scotland: access rights exclude motor vehicles. For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see our wild camping guide. Use campsites, aires and designated stopovers, and check before you go.

What is a good short campervan route?

The Kintyre 66 (66 miles) and Skye's Trotternish loop (one day from Portree) are both ideal for a long weekend.

Best UK campervan road trips.