Campervan Hire in Edinburgh

Hiring a campervan or motorhome in Edinburgh

Scotland's capital city is often the starting point for wider campervan and motorhome adventures across the nation, whether it's heading west to Glasgow, Loch Lomond and the Western Isles or venturing north to the Cairngorms and the Highlands. As a result, Edinburgh is home to a number of campervan hire and motorhome rental companies, ready for new arrivals to pick up their wheels and head out into the countryside. It's not uncommon for people to arrive into Edinburgh Waverley station or fly into Edinburgh Airport and then collect their campervan or motorhome that day, heading straight for the hills and adventure. More often than not, though, people spend a few days exploring Edinburgh city first, walking the Royal Mile, visiting Edinburgh Castle and climbing Arthur's Seat – ticking off a few tourist essentials before heading off on their campervan adventure.

Edinburgh city has a good range of campervan hire options to suit the many varied visitors that come to the city each year. Couples will happily pluck for compact VW campervans – amongst the most well-known and popular choice in the world of campervans – while families can easily find larger motorhomes with space for multiple beds, on-board bathroom facilities and more, with five-berth, six-berth and eight-berth motorhome options all available. There are plenty of options that fall somewhere in between the two. And, while campervans and motorhomes make up the majority of rental options in Edinburgh, it's also possible to find quirky vehicle conversions that offer something a bit more left of centre.

Best campervan routes in and out of Edinburgh

If you're new to driving a campervan its easy to find a city like Edinburgh intimidating. There are lots of roads, lots of people, lots of hills and plenty of cobbles too, just to shake things up a bit. While every campervan hire depot and motorhome point is going to be in a different location, once you make it out of the immediate vicinity there are a few key roads that form the main arteries in and out of the city. The A720 encircles much of the city, while the A90 and A902 is the main route out of the north of the city. If you're heading south towards England, the A1 forms the main route down the Eastern Coast (taking in East Lothian), bound for Newcastle and beyond, while those intending to head down to the west of England, including the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, should follow the A702. The majority of visitors hiring motorhomes in Edinburgh, however, are here to explore Scotland and Edinburgh is well served by motorways for those who want to get further afield more quickly. The M8 (for travelling west towards Glasgow) and the M90 (for travelling north) are both well signposted from main A-roads within Edinburgh city centre so, even for first-time campervan drivers it's easy to follow road-signs onto these key routes. Some campervans come ready-equipped with SatNavs and onboard navigation, which will often save you the hassle, and there are very few motorhome depots in the very city centre (most are further out of town), leaving you well placed to get onto the main travelling routes quickly.

Family motorhome hire in Edinburgh

Scotland is known for its wild and rugged beauty and it's no surprise that it's the most popular nation in the UK for campervan hire journeys. Perhaps the best thing about Scotland is that campervan and motorhome holidays are so accessible to every kind of traveller, with campsites well-equipped for family campers in need of extra facilities just as much as paired-back expedition campers travelling light. And, for families, campervans and motorhomes really do open up a whole world of opportunity. Gone are the days of 'are we nearly there yet', as the vehicle becomes not just a way of getting from A to B but an exciting part of the adventure itself. There's less faff than putting up a tent, there's a lot more space for storage and life is a whole lot more comfortable, particularly if the unpredictable Scottish weather makes a turn for the worst.

Deciding on the right family motorhome will, understandably, depend on the size of your family and those with three or four children will need a larger five or six-berth motorhome. For those with smaller families, however, a lot will depend on the level of comfort you want and also the age of your children. Those with younger children will find smaller campervans, such as VW campervans with pop-top roofs, will comfortably sleep four, with children enjoying clambering up into the bed in the roof. This more compact style of van is easier to drive and gives better access to some campsites (such as tiny sites down little lanes) and can be easier to take on ferries if your travelling between Islands on the west coast. Small campervans like this offer slightly less comfort, however, and generally will not have things like a toilet onboard. If you really want the family to have space, you might be better off hiring a motorhome, which will often feature a shower and toilet onboard and more seating space for the whole family to sit around in comfort. If you're travelling outside of the warmer summer season, for instance, you might be glad of having that extra bit of 'indoor' space.

What do I need to hire a campervan in Edinburgh?