MAKING my way through Scotland’s finest scenery of breathtaking hills, dramatic waterfalls and wild goats, I was living out all of my nomad fantasies.
And, thanks to Nomadic , I was doing it in style, too.
My girlfriend Rachel and I set off in our chunky Land Rover from Nomadic Scotland’s HQ in Perth, aka the “Gateway to the Highlands”;, on a four-day itinerary that had been personally curated for us.
Easing ourselves into life on the road, we made our way to Glen Nevis campsite in Fort William, which was the perfect introduction to any adventure in Scotland.
From our base, we could hike up Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, take a stroll to the Steall Falls and make the short drive to the famous and jaw-dropping photo stop that is Glenfinnan Viaduct, which has featured in the movies.
When we weren’t driving through rolling landscapes, we were spending the night on the roof of our jeep, in a built-in tent, peering out at the stars.
Luckily, after tiring days of and hiking, putting the tent and awning up turned out to be a breeze (partly thanks to the detailed instructions we were given by the Nomadic Scotland team).
The tent sits on top of the car, while a ladder is positioned by the side, leading from the ground to the roof and tent entrance.
Even in blustery , the base of the roof tent and the ladders themselves held up well.
But do pay attention to exactly where each pole or piece of rope has to go, both to keep the entrance to the tent secure and to give yourself enough space to sit under the awning and enjoy a cuppa or cook some grub.
If gusts are anything above 25mph, then it’s probably best to ditch the al fresco dinners under the awning and instead take a wander into a nearby town and find a warm pub for a hot meal.
We may have been on the road at the end of a sunnier-than-usual March, but sleeping in warm clothes proved essential. Pack tracksuits, jogging bottoms and leggings — even long johns wouldn’t go amiss.
This isn’t quite old-school from your school days or Cub Scouts.
Nomadic provides plush mattresses, snuggly sleeping bags and plump pillows for an ultra-comfortable night’s .
And with enough space for up to four people, Rachel and I had plenty of room to stash our shoes for any late-night trips to the toilet, or indeed to keep an extra few bags of crisps. Coming prepared may sound like a lot of effort, but once you’ve mastered the basics of rooftop camping, you’ll have some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes at your fingertips.
One of our favourite routes was through the nine-mile Glen Shiel, where you may even be lucky enough to spot some deer among the jaw-dropping scenery.
We even passed Eilean Donan, the second-most photographed castle in Scotland, perched on a picturesque island with the Cuillin mountains in the background.
Each day took us somewhere new, from cute market coffee stops in Broadford to a “four seasons in one afternoon”; walk to see the Isle of Skye’s Fairy Pools.
The only challenge was squeezing everything in. We’d love to have visited the Talisker distillery and Dunvegan Castle, or trekked to the Quiraing and ventured out to see the Old Man of Storr.
But instead, we headed to the remote Neist Point on the western tip of the island.
Standing at the edge of the cliff here is a spectacular lighthouse where white-tailed eagles can be seen swooping around the choppy waters.
Our four-day trip flashed by in a blur of craggy mountains and winding roads. Luckily we were able to eat our final lunch of the trip al fresco, tucking into fresh fish and chips among the multi-coloured buildings down at the harbour in Portree.
Scotland’s varied terrain was easier to navigate than I’d first thought — and the mighty Land Rover took us to places that any ordinary car wouldn’t manage.
So the only question left now is, when can I get back in the driving seat?
