First night away in 2025

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Thursday, the 20th of March 2025 was the first day of touring for the 2025 Season. I originally planned to start on the 21st, but with the great weather (and the prospect of a longer drive with no stop), I booked a night at a CL just outside Nairn in the Highlands. I've stayed here a few times before, Allanaha Farm.

I'm lucky enough to own two caravans. In addition to my regular Eriba Triton, I also bought a Hymer Nova 390 SL which I bought last August mainly for using on Seasonal Pitches. I used it on a Seasonal Pitch last winter in Melrose, and I am planning an autumn pitch this year in Fife. Unlike the Eriba, it is more suited to longer stays with it's headroom, heating system and hot water. The pop top design of the Eriba would also not be ideal for wet winter use.

In order to keep the van in good running order and to make sure everything functions I decided that for stays of seven nights or longer in one place, I'd take the Hymer, and for Touring, I'd take the Eriba.


Nairn is around 2.5hrs from home, so I stopped to walk the dogs just outside Keith where there's a good road side woodland walk.


We arrived at around 1400 and had the entire site to ourselves. It's a very 'stripped back' which just a water tap, a very basic chemical disposal point, and a few bins at the farm entrance. Payment is by honesty box. I did phone ahead, and the lady who runs the farm was delighted I'd be staying. I never met her on this visit, but I deposited my £6 in the box on the tree.


The site is a wooded strip of land between fields between Nairn and Cawdor, just beyond another CL, Geddes House.

It is an exposed spot, but perfect in the weather we had. The Solar panel again powered everything I needed.

We walked from the site, fording a burn, and walked along the nearby River Nairn and also took a short drive to nearby Delnies Wood. Sadly, I noticed that the C&CC Nairn site at Delnies is now permanently closed. That was one of my favourite sites in this area.


A lovely evening after a brilliant day.


Woke the next morning, the 21st March, to a stunning sunrise, and it was actually quite mild. It was around 8C at about 0800.

A really good night at Allanaha and it has given me a lot of inspiration for returning.

From Nairn, we continued our journey west, heading through Inverness, down the Great Glen, then through Glen Moriston to Kintail.

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