Drymen Camping

The sense of relief is writ large on the faces of the campers plotting up at Drymen Camping, grateful as they are for a scenic setting to pitch up for the night. For you see, this Stirlingshire spot is virtually an obligatory stopping point for walkers on the epic West Highland Way. Running directly past the campsite, the West Highland Way is Scotland’s most famous long-distance walk. You can usually tell which way walkers have come, as those heading north from Glasgow will be nursing just a few first-day blisters and twinges, while those staggering in from the north will have a catalogue of aches and pains after trekking all the way from Fort William.

The tranquil site is spread across a grassy, tree-dotted field, with expansive views of the rolling fields surrounding. The site itself offers a few basic creature comforts – there’s a facilities block with hot, walk-in showers and proper loos, while a communal shelter doubles as a place to prepare food and wash your dishes. For guests who’d rather forego pitching-up tents, the quartet of glamping pods – a pair of kocoons and geopods each sleeping up to two guests – are the natural choice for those wanting to walk the West Highland Way unencumbered by all the kit and caboodle.

Walkers and cyclists are truly spoiled for choice here. The campsite lies directly on the West Highland Way and National Cycle Route 7 (that’s the John O’Groats to Land’s End stretch), while the Rob Roy Way and John Muir Way are both eminently reachable from site. And even for those not enthused by long walks, a quick stroll on the WHW is practically compulsory round these parts. An easy option is to trek just a mile north up the road to the small town of Drymen, where a sprinkling of welcoming pubs brighten up the main square.