Visit Scotland | Alba

Overview

  • In 2023, we conducted research with people who had visited Scotland in a motorhome, campervan, caravan, or camped (in a tent or other structure) in the last five years.
  • We undertook this research in collaboration with Scotland’s National Visitor Management subgroup.
  • An online survey was live between 28 July and 1 September 2023. The final sample size was 4,554 respondents. The majority of respondents lived in the UK.
  • We hope that the market insight will be useful to local authorities, businesses, community organisations, tourism groups, and other public bodies who are considering ways to work with these visitors or to provide additional services and infrastructure.

Motorhomes and Camping Trips in Scotland

Published March 2024

Download (2Mb)

In this article:

Key statistics

1.58 million

Total number of domestic caravanning, camping, or glamping trips in Scotland.

4.95 million

Total number of domestic nights on caravanning, camping, or glamping trips in Scotland.

£355 million

Total spend on caravanning, camping, and glamping trips in Scotland.

These figures provide a wider statistical context. They're sourced from a separate national statistical monitor. Source: Great Britain Tourism Survey, 2022.

1. Executive summary

  • Motorhomes and camping visitors

    Respondents were mostly domestic visitors, older, and with no children. The most common vehicle used on a trip in Scotland was a campervan. More than a third had been using some form of camping vehicle for over ten years.

  • Trip characteristics

    The season for taking trips is relatively long. The season lasts from spring to autumn, offering potential for off season trips. Often more than one place is visited in a single trip.

    Access to facilities is important as part of the overall trip. But some visitors are keen to "get away" from the traditional campsite experience.

  • Awareness of guidance and best practice

    Respondents were well informed about guidance and regulations and eager to know more. There are opportunities to inform visitors, particularly regarding parking and waste disposal.

  • Activities undertaken

    Survey respondents spend money on a range of activities while in destination. They would be willing to pay for infrastructure and facilities that meet their needs.

    86% had bought locally produced food and drink. 75% took part is some activity that they had paid for.

  • Facilities Used

    Respondents were willing to pay for a variety of facilities, including:

    • black waste disposal (motorhome users)
    • showers (campervan users and campers)
    • electrical hook ups (caravan users)

  • Visitor experience

    Respondents were very satisfied with their experience in Scotland and were likely to take a similar trip in the next five years. Around three quarters were very likely to recommend Scotland as a destination to their friends and family.

    Broadly, their experiences with local communities were positive. Although some visitors noted more mixed attitudes. The main areas suggested for further improvement include information about and access to:

    • waste disposal
    • parking facilities

2. Motorhome and camping visitors

The majority of respondents that had taken trips within Scotland in the last five years were from places in the UK (98%). Over half of respondents (54%) were from Scotland.

Respondents were most likely to be between 55 and 64 years old (40%). The majority (88%) were over the age of 45. 87% did not have a child in their household.

Respondents  were more likely to have owned a camping vehicle of some sort.
 

Vehicle Type Owned Rented
Motorhomes 36% 3%
Campervan 50% 2%
Touring caravan 4% 0%

More than a third had been using some form of camping vehicle for over ten years (35%).

3. Trip characteristics

The season for taking such trips is relatively long (from March to October).

Respondents who had been camping in a tent or other structure were more likely to have gone on a trip in the summer due to weather constraints. Around 60% of camping respondents took trips between May and August.

Respondents who had taken a trip in a vehicle were able to be more flexible, with May (72%) and September (71%) being the most popular months.

The majority of trips lasted less than two weeks. Almost a third were between one and three nights. 50% were between 4 nights and 2 weeks. 18% were over 2 weeks.

Respondents tended to either stay in one place, or travel to many. Around a quarter of campervan users (26%) and over a third of motorhome users (35%) stayed in more than five locations on their most recent trip in Scotland.​

The majority of respondents who owned or had rented a camping vehicle stayed overnight on campsites with toilet and washing facilities during their most recent trip in Scotland (73%). Other popular choices were in a car park, with or without a monetary charge.

The following respondents stated that they would like to stay off-road (away from any settlements):

  • two thirds (67%) of motorhome users
  • around three quarters (74%) of campervan users

Respondents who had been camping in a tent or other structure in the last five years were most likely to prefer to stay:

  • in coastal locations (72%)
  • mountainous locations (71%)
  • remote rural locations (62%)

4. Awareness of guidance

Respondents were asked about their level of knowledge regarding guidance or best practice on a number of topics.

Percentage Awareness
88% Respondent was aware of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
75% Respondent was extremely familiar with guidance around waste disposal.
70% Respondent was extremely familiar with guidance around lighting fires.
69%  Respondent was moderately or extremely familiar with guidance around parking.

Visitors were looking for more information. We asked what topics they would like to be able to access information about during a trip. When asked, respondents were most interested in learning about how they could dispose of waste and where they are able to park.

5. Activities undertaken

Respondents spend money on a range of activities while in the destination. They would be willing to pay for infrastructure and facilities that meet their needs.

The majority of respondents stated that they had bought locally produced food or drink on their most recent trip (86%).

Percentage What did you do at meal times on your most recent trip?
82% Respondent who bought food from a local supermarket.
72% Respondent who ate at a café , restaurant or pub in the local town or village.
59% Respondent who ate food that they had brought from home.
42% Respondent who got a takeaway from the local town or village.

 75% of respondents took part in some form of activity for which they had paid. Popular activities during a trip were

  • visiting an attraction (52%)
  • going for a night out to a bar, pub or club (39%)
  • taking part in outdoor leisure activities (38%)

However, around two fifths (39%) of respondents who had been camping in Scotland in the last five years did not pay for any activities on their trip.

6. Facilities used

On their most recent trip in Scotland, motorhome users were most likely to access facilities for waste disposal, including:

  • black waste (84%)
  • grey waste (77%)
  • rubbish (76% selected recyclable rubbish and 73% selected non-recyclable rubbish)

Fresh water taps were the most commonly used cleaning facilities (81%).

The most commonly used facilities by those who owned or rented a campervan were toilet block (80%) and fresh water tap (73%).

The most commonly used facilities on their most recent trip by those who owned or rented a caravan were:

  • fresh water taps (90%)
  • electrical hook ups ( 90%)

The most commonly used facilities by those who had been camping were toilet block (86%) and fresh water tap (74%).

Respondents indicated a willingness to pay for facilities​ during their trip(s), including for:

  • black waste disposal (82% of motorhome users)
  • electrical hook ups (84% of caravan users)
  • showers (79% of campervan users and 75% of campers)

93% of respondents indicated that they would be willing to pay for a basic site for overnight stays, with some facilities available.

7. Visitor experience

Overall satisfaction levels for trips in Scotland were very high amongst respondents to the survey.

Percentage Key metric
90% Respondent was satisfied or very satisfied with their most recent trip in Scotland.
90% Respondent stated that they would be very likely to take a trip of some kind in Scotland in the next five years.
74% Respondent was very likely to recommend Scotland to friends and family as a destination for trips.

The majority of respondents agreed that during their trip:

  • they felt welcome in the local area
  • local people were friendly towards them
  • service received in shops, cafés, bars and / or restaurants was of good quality

However, the attitudes towards visitors was more mixed, as was the variety of hospitality options on offer for such visitors.

We asked how easy it was for respondents to make sustainable choices on their holidays. Around a fifth (19%) found making these choices difficult, whereas around two fifths (39%) found it easy.

The majority of those who found it difficult to make sustainable choices on their trip(s) described issues with recycling. This included:

  • difficulties with finding disposal points
  • difficulty in separating waste, particularly food waste

A third (33%) of respondents stated that they experienced issues with parking during their most recent trip in Scotland.

Those that had had issues with daytime parking had difficulties parking due to the size of their vehicle or height barriers. Those that had had issues with overnight parking described a lack of sufficient overnight facilities.

8. Methodology

The aim of the research was to explore the experience and needs of motorhome and camping users while visiting Scotland. An online survey, live between 28 July and 1 September 2023, collected the data. It received a total of 4,554 responses.

The survey link was shared with members of the visitor management subgroup for distribution online.​

Through this “open” distribution method, it is not possible to fully track the reach of the survey. Demographic questions were asked regarding where respondents lived. This was done rather than targeting a specific sample of people e.g. UK visitors.

Responses from different groups were not directly compared to another during research analysis. This was due to the differences in sample sizing.

Related links

About our visitors

Find out who visits Scotland, what they're interested in, and what they're looking for.