The Three Lochs Forest Drive - A Good Spot for Wild Camping with Kids

We completed the Three Lochs Forest Drive in the Summer of 2019. It is one of those experiences which has really stuck with us and definitely one of our favourite adventures from the past few years. If you love nature, spectacular scenery and the great outdoors, you must add this trip to your bucket list.

The Three Lochs Forest Drive is a 7-mile forest drive past three beautiful lochs - Lochan Reodhte, Loch Drunkie and Loch Achray. The scenery is some of the best I have ever seen and it really takes your breath away. The area is a haven for wildlife and if you are lucky, you might spot wild deer, red squirrels and osprey.

The drive opens in Spring - October from 9am (it opens on 1 March 2020 this year) and there is a parking charge of £2 per vehicle which allows you to park throughout the drive. You need to purchase your ticket from the machine as you enter the drive so bring cash.

One of the reasons I really loved this drive is that you actually feel as if you have the whole place to yourself. We visited in the height of summer and only spotted one other couple the whole way around. It is as peaceful and un-commercialised as days out can get.

The beauty of this drive is, you can pretty much pull over and take a snap or take in the scenery at any point. I think Steve may have been a little tired of me asking to stop every 2 minutes but it was so beautiful. There are also several dedicated parking spots next to the main lochs where you can properly park up and explore.

There are several walking trails to try if you fancy stretching your legs (see here for details) , you can go fishing (obtain a Fishing Permit from the Lodge Visitor Centre first) or enjoy a picnic in the countryside. The park is dog-friendly too.

We loved parking up and seeing the loch up close. As we skimmed stones across the loch and kept our eyes peeled for fish, it really reminded me of our days out when I was younger and had a very similar vibe to Ingram Valley or Plankey Mill in Northumberland.

The one other family we spotted had made a base and had a BBQ going. It looked like bliss and I would definitely recommend doing this (check by-laws regarding fires before you visit).

Wild camping is also available in the National Park here and we all agreed that we would absolutely love to return and do this in a few years.

Local bylaws state that you must purchase a permit first but they are only £3 and you can camp anywhere in the permit area (see image below) so long as you aren't a danger to yourself or others and are well away from the roads. Find out more about buying a camping permit here.

We have dabbled with wild camping before and cannot wait to try this. If you fancy this yourself, check out these wild camping tips as you make your plan. Remember when wild camping, it is super important that you take all litter home with you and leave no trace.

The roads are pretty good and easy to drive around. It is a one-way system (you can go around as many times as you like) and you do not need a 4 x 4 vehicle. Our Dacia managed just fine.

We spent around 2 hours driving around the Three Lochs. I wish we had brought a picnic/BBQ and spent longer here. If you incorporate one of the walking trails and a stop for lunch,  3-4 hours is a good amount of time to spend here.

• Postcode: FK8 3SY
• Location: 3 hours 30 minutes drive from Newcastle 
• Open: Daily from 1 March 2020 (check opening hours before you set off)
• Contact: 0300 067 6600 (option 2)  
• Website : https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/queen-elizabeth-forest-park/three-lochs-forest-drive

We visited the Three Lochs Forest Drive during our stay at Cameron Lodges. It was around 20 miles from our lodge and easy to visit in half a day. 

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Please follow social distancing rules & Government guidelines , respect the local area. leave no trace, take litter home, park responsibly and if somewhere is busy on arrival, please consider leaving and returning at a later date. 

Always check updated opening hours / protocols / parking advice and charges with venues direct before setting off as things may have changed since this post was published. 

If you enjoyed this post, check out the following posts: 

• Cameron Lodges Loch Lomond Review
• 10 essentials for wild camping 
• Wild camping in Gateshead 
• Hunting for the Loch Ness Monster 

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Would you like to visit or wild camp here? 

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