Heart 200 Route: Guide and detours

Heart 200 - A rough Guide and some detour recommendations

The Route 200, also known as The Heart 200 Route, is an emerging campervan and motorhome driving route in central Scotland. 

It has a host of famous sights to stop off along the way and can be completed in a relatively short time; around 3-5 days depending on your travel preferences.  

As with any route, there's no need to stick to the track. Venturing off the beaten track to get closer to scenic places, further away from the hustle and bustle is always a great idea. We always encourage all Scottish Tourer customers to get adventurous on their campervan holiday in Scotland, after all, that’s the reason you hired a campervan, right? 

In this article, we’ve listed some of the best stops along the Heart 200 and given our top recommendations for this campervan driving route in Scotland.   

Route 200 & Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park 

One of the most visited areas in Scotland, and not without good reason. Loch Lomond is the next step on the Heart 200 Route, with the road taking you through some outstanding natural beauty.  

If you have time to stop in Doune we do recommend stopping at Wood Winters wines and whiskies. Here you can meet like-minded people who really embrace drinking excellent quality spirits.  

The staff here are incredibly knowledgeable and will share how to sample, taste and know if it’s a good quality you are drinking. A must for any whisky lovers touring Scotland in a campervan!  

Some other recommended stoppages around Loch Lomond are: 

• Dunblane Cathedral. It may be small but its beauty will enchant anyone who walks through its doors. The inside really has to be experienced to be appreciated, the intricate details, the character and the history embedded within the walls here are quite astounding. The stained glass is very unique and the shadows can be somewhat eerie as the flames flicker off them in the darkness. 

• The Bracklinn Falls in Callander. These stunning falls are located in the woods above the town. The falls themselves are a place of natural beauty and the 20 metre long bridge which has a unique A-shape roof gives some spectacular views over the gorge. There is a lovely walk here to stretch your legs. The path is well maintained and will take you around 2 hours to complete.   

Other places to visit on this section include:  

• Loch Katrine 

• Sir Walter Scott’s Steamship 

• Andy Murrays gold post box 

 We do try and say not to do everything as then you don’t have time to truly appreciate and absorb where you are if you have to rush.  

Although many of our customers choose to wild camp in their motorhomes, we thought we would include some camp sites here to help those interested. 

The Milarrochy Bay by Loch Lomond is a small camp site but the staff are super friendly and although slightly off the exact 200 route it is worth the detour if you prefer a campsite over wild camping in your motorhome hire.  

Next stops on the Route 200: From the Trossachs to Lochearnhead 

On this next part of the route you will drive past the Devils Pulpit which is worth a sight.  

There is a lovely walk here and some amazing views and scenery to be enjoyed. This again was a slight detour and went 15 minutes back from our original route but it was worth it. The Gorge itself isn’t initially obvious so you do need to look hard for it. Be careful here as it’s a very step drop. This is not a walk for anyone who is unsteady or infirm on their feet.  

• Firkin Picnic stop. A welcoming stop for a hot cuppa and a sandwich. There is a large parking area, benches and public toilets which we have always found to be immaculate. You really to learn to appreciate a clean toilet when you are away! There is also the opportunity here to take a walk down by the banks and the water rippling is really tranquil and peaceful. 

• The Inverglas Pyramid. Created by Inveruglas, the pyramid makes an ideal viewing platform over Loch Lomond. It’s an 8 metre high viewpoint and you can see Ben Lomond and Arrochar Alps from here.  

• Falls of Falloch. One of the best waterfalls you will find in Scotland. There is a pool the waterfall drops into where people can often be seen swimming. It’s a lovely picnic spot and ideal for watching wildlife.  

• Castle Menzies in Aberfeldy. The seat and home of the clan Menzies for 500 years. It was built in the 16th Century and has survived the turbulent history of Scotland. The castle was taken over by a restoration society and is now open to the public. It can also be hired out for weddings. 7 

• The Generals Wade’s Bridge. Defintely worth a visit, this bridge crosses the River Tay, when it was originally built it was the only bridge that crossed the river. There are a few lovely cafes and galleries in Aberfeldy so its worth a day trip to stop and explore for local bits and bobs. The Distillery is located on the banks of the River Tay and therefore it has a gorgeous water supply from the Pitilie Burn. There is a lovely tour given here if you have time.  

• Blair Atholl. A place that features in many of our blogs but its list of things to see and do is endless. There is simply so much history embedded here along with some outstanding scenery it's no doubt why it is so popular with customers of Scottish Tourer. There are many walks around here and the fish and chips from the visitors centre is amazing. The surrounding areas are amazing to explore, we have concluded the best we know of here though. 

Day 3 on the Route 200 

Visiting the area of Pitlochry is certainly a stop-off that should not be missed.  

Pitlochry has a lovely distillery and, being a single malt highland whisky, it has a unique taste to it. The Blair Athol ancients water source is said to give it its special taste. Here you can tour round one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. Although much of the wkisky here goes into blends, their best seller is their 12-year-old single malt.  

The Pitlochry Dam is a lovely walk and a breath taking sight. There is a fish ladder here for the salmon to climb up. If you visit between April and September you may get to see the fish make the climb to their spawning grounds.  

• Dunkeld. A truley beautiful part of the country. The hermitage is not to be missed by any visitor. Here you can find Ossians Cave and explore the woods, wildlife, water and history steeped within the woods. The walk here takes a little over an hour.  

• Route from Blairgowrie. We recommend heading up the old snow road towards Glenshee. The views here are remarkable and the landscapes unique. Once up at Glenshee there are munros to be tackled, chair lifts to take you to the top and a lovely café to feed and water you. The chairlift is a fantastic way to get to the top of a Munro without actually having to climb it! This is a fair detour, however, it is worth doing if you have time.  

• Scone Palace. The crowning place of the Scottish Kings such as Macbeth and Robert The Bruce. The house itself houses an array of antiques and paintings. The grounds are immaculate and known worldwide. There is a walled garden and a kitchen garden here which the public can walk round alongside the castle. There is a walk just along the road by Quarrymill to for another stretch of the legs before returning to the Scottish Tourer Depot. 

Book your motorhome adventure with Scottish Tourer! 

To experience the wonders of the Heart 200 Route and all the natural beauty that Scotland has to offer, you simply need to book yourself a motorhome or campervan to hire from Scottish Tourer’s wide selection. 

All our luxury motorhomes come with a range of additional extras to make your life on the road as easy as possible.  

Contact our friendly team today to book your motorhome or campervan hire in Scotland.