The first time we drove through Glencoe was in 2015. But our itinerary back then was kind of insane, so we didn’t have a chance to stop. The next time was in 2023, but it was January, and we weren’t just on holiday. So we skipped it again – with the idea that we would visit after we had moved to Scotland.

It took another fourteen months, but last weekend it finally happened: we went camping in Glencoe. It was a last-minute decision, so other than a call to the campsite, nothing was planned. And I can already tell you, Glencoe in July is too crowded for this approach. Deep down, I’ve known this for years, but the reality was even worse than I imagined.

There’s one main road through the mountains, and if you want to see anything or go for a walk, you have to stop at a parking lot along this road. Most of which were overfull with cars and coaches. So we very quickly opted to go in a different direction.

Along the way back to the campsite, we passed by a mountain resort with a chairlift up the mountain – one of Matthijs’ favourite things in the world, one of my worst nightmares, but up the mountain we went. After we warmed ourselves up with a bowl of soup, we drove to Glen Etive, and in the evening, we were treated to an incredible sunset at our campsite.

It’s not that this visit was a waste of time because camping never is. But after living on the side of a hill for thirteen months, I’m not comfortable being in a crowd anymore. So if I were to visit again, I would choose another season and a different approach – and I might skip the chairlift up the mountain. But at least the pictures were worth it.