Edinburgh by Motorhome: A 2 to 3 Day Trip

Edinburgh is one of the easiest cities in Britain to enjoy by motorhome, as long as you do the sensible thing and base yourself just outside it. You don't drive a motorhome into the centre; you park up at a campsite on the edge of town and let the bus do the work. Two days covers the headline sights, three lets you slow down. The trip starts and ends at the Glasgow depot, about an hour west, and if you're travelling in from Edinburgh to collect, our Edinburgh hire page covers how to get across.

Day 1: Glasgow depot to Edinburgh

Collect at the depot in the morning, then it's a straight hour east on the M8. Aim for the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site at Silverknowes, down by the Forth on the north-west edge of the city. It's a Club site, so the member rate applies with your Atlas hire, and it has hardstanding hook-up pitches, good facilities and even a dog and bike wash. Set up, then take the evening for the Silverknowes promenade and the walk round to Cramond, water on one side and the city at your back. When you're ready for town, the number 11 bus reaches Princes Street in about 35 minutes. Two good alternatives if it's full: Drummohr at Musselburgh, near Portobello beach and the train, and Mortonhall to the south, both with frequent buses in.

Day 2: Edinburgh's Old Town

Bus in early and start at the top. Edinburgh Castle sits on its volcanic plug above the city; go at opening time to beat the queue, then walk the Royal Mile down towards Holyrood, ducking into the closes and wynds on the way. The National Museum of Scotland is free and worth an hour, especially if the weather turns. In the afternoon, climb Arthur's Seat from Holyrood Park; it's a proper little hill, about 45 minutes up, and the view over the city and the Forth is the best in Edinburgh. Eat in the Old Town, or drop down to the Grassmarket for the evening.

Day 3: New Town, Leith and the road home

If you've got the third day, start it on Calton Hill at the east end of Princes Street, ten minutes up for the postcard view of the city and its monuments. Wander the Georgian New Town and drop into Dean Village on the Water of Leith, the quietest corner of the centre. Then head out to Leith for lunch by the Shore and the Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal if you fancy it. When you're done, bus back to Silverknowes, pack up, and it's an easy hour back along the M8 to the depot.

How do you get into Edinburgh from a campsite?

By bus, mostly, and it's easy. Leave the motorhome on the pitch and take the service into the centre: the number 11 from Silverknowes, the East Lothian buses or the train from near Drummohr, frequent buses from Mortonhall. Don't try the park-and-ride car parks, because they have height barriers that keep motorhomes out. Lothian day tickets are cheap, and the trams run across the city from the west if you're staying that side. It's far less stress than hunting for a space in the Old Town, where you wouldn't fit anyway.

Good to know

• Don't drive into the centre. Base at a campsite on the edge and bus in; the city centre has no motorhome parking, and the park-and-rides have height bars.
• Club membership. Your Atlas hire includes both Club memberships, so the Edinburgh Club site at Silverknowes comes at the member rate.
• August fills up. The Fringe, the International Festival and the Tattoo run through most of August; book a pitch months ahead, or come either side for a calmer city.
• Dogs. Edinburgh is dog-friendly, from Holyrood Park to Portobello beach and plenty of pubs. Bring your own bowls and bedding; the whole fleet takes dogs for a single per-hire cleaning fee.

Two days for the highlights, three to enjoy it. Either way, you sleep by the Forth and wake up ten minutes from the castle.

Routes and campsite guides nearby

Routes: the Heart 200, the NC500 route. Campsite guides: east coast and Borders campsites.