This year, why not consider a Scottish road trip adventure by Land Rover?
We Scots are a curious bunch. We’ll pack enough clothes for a month and a half into a suitcase we can barely handle then queue at an ungodly hour for a flight to anywhere with a beach, but remarkably few of us have really explored our own country. This year, you could put that right by
climbing aboard a classic Land Rover Defender and setting off on a road trip adventure.
The Defender has long been the off-roader of choice for explorers and anyone who thinks a map is a suggestion, not a plan. Now, a pair of lovingly kitted-out Defenders is offering everything you need to channel your inner Vasco Da Gama.
Each Defender comes with a top-of-the-range RoofNest rooftop tent which takes just minutes to pop up and comes equipped with a comfy memory foam mattress, duvets, and pillows. It’s a far cry from wrestling with sleeping bags and apologising to your spine in the morning. Better yet, your rooftop accommodation should mean you’re above the midges’ normal flight path.
Each tent sleeps two adults comfortably — or two and a toddler if your family adventures include a small, wriggly human. You can just take an extra tent along if older kids or adults are coming too. The 270° awning provides shelter from the vagaries of the Scottish Summer, even providing shade in the event of blazing sunshine.
Admittedly, there’s no room service or swim up cocktail bar, but your road trip isn’t exactly about roughing it. Each Defender comes fully equipped with a table and chairs, full cooking equipment, and the all-important bottle opener. There’s even a shovel for, um, waste disposal. If that seems a bit too Bear Grylls, you could just drive to the nearest four star hotel, order dinner and use their loos and leisure facilities, or compromise as the Defenders are just as happy parked at a campsite.
There’s no mileage cap, and no upper rental limit either. Fancy a fortnight exploring the NC500? Go for it. How about island hopping through the Hebrides, or exploring the barren northern landscapes of Caithness and Sutherland, spotting Golden Eagles and wondering why grouse seem quite so keen
to throw themselves at passing motorists. Maybe a weekend of Munro-bagging in the Cairngorms or fly fishing in Borders rivers? You could throw your clubs in the back and spend a week playing some of Scotland’s most challenging courses from Gullane to Royal Dornoch or tackle Shishkin, the 12 hole course on Arran. How about visiting Applecross and Plockton or just driving around pretending you’re in a BBC nature documentary? No judgment here. All you need are clothes, food, and a rough sense of direction if satnav seems too safe.
Favourite routes include the Isle of Skye, the majestic West Coast and the Trossachs. In peak season, campsites can fill up fast, especially around Loch Lomond and on smaller islands, where wild camping isn’t permitted. Luckily, planning your adventure can be fun too.
So if you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping under the stars, but with good bedding, your own cutlery, and a sense of rugged adventure, this might just be your next great escape. It’s certainly going to give you more interesting tales to talk about when you get back to the office.
You can find out more at grassrootsrentals.co.uk