The team's tips:
- Practice on the first evening: Set up and pack away the tent calmly once, before you’re tired from a long day of driving.
- Pack light: There’s plenty of room in the SUV, but it isn’t unlimited. Bring one soft bag per person instead of a hard suitcase.
- Keep an “evening” bag separate: Pyjamas, toothbrush, charger: everything you need each night without unpacking everything.
- Plan ahead for dinner: Do your food shopping during the day, in a town. By 7 p.m. in a Highlands village, the shops are often already closed.
- Be ready in 10 minutes: Once you get the hang of it, setting up or folding away the rooftop tent takes far less time than you might expect.
Scotland Roof Tent Road Trip: The Complete Guide to Preparing for Your Adventure
You pull up beside a loch, unfold your tent in just a few minutes, and fall asleep with this view. The next morning, you pack everything away and set off to explore another corner of Scotland. That’s the promise of a rooftop-tent road trip: the freedom of camping, without the hassle.
But if you’ve never tried it before, you’ll naturally have questions. How does it actually work? What should you bring? What does a typical day look like? This guide covers everything you need to know, so you can prepare for your road trip with Scotland Nomads with peace of mind.
How does a rooftop tent work?
No need to worry, no special skills are required. The tent stays permanently attached to the SUV roof and folds into a hard shell while you drive. To set it up, simply release a few straps and push it open. A telescopic ladder unfolds automatically to give you access.
Inside, a pre-installed mattress is waiting for you. It’s more comfortable than a standard camping mattress, and you’ll be raised off the ground. No more cold, damp Highland ground beneath your back.
In practice, allow 5 to 10 minutes to set everything up the first few times. Once you get the hang of it, it takes barely 2 minutes.
What does a typical day look like?
In the morning
You wake up to a view right from your bed, often beside a loch or facing the mountains. Make coffee on the camping stove, fold down the tent in a few minutes, and you’re ready to start the day.
During the day
Driving, hiking and spontaneous photo stops: this is where the flexibility really comes into its own. The Highlands’ single-track roads call for a slower pace, and that’s a good thing. You have time to spot great places and stop whenever you feel like it.
In the evening
You arrive at your campsite, already booked by Scotland Nomads, unfold the tent and prepare dinner on the supplied camping stove, with the table and stools set up beside the vehicle. Then it’s time to simply enjoy the scenery until sunset.
What’s already included
With the Scotland Nomads package, all the bulky, heavy gear is already on board:
- a rooftop tent with a double mattress
- sleeping bags suited to Scottish nights, plus pillows
- camping stove, frying pan, saucepan, plates and mugs
- folding table and stools
- your 7 nights of camping, booked in advance
Just arrive in Edinburgh with your personal luggage, and we’ll take care of the rest.
What you need to bring yourself
Your clothes
Think layers: a T-shirt, fleece, and a proper waterproof jacket. Scottish weather can go from sunshine to showers in half an hour, even in summer. Waterproof hiking boots are essential if you plan to explore the trails on Skye or around Glencoe.
Your toiletries
The campsites in our network have showers and toilets, so you won’t need any special equipment. A quick-drying microfiber towel is always a good idea.
Midge repellent
We can’t stress this enough: these tiny biting flies are Scotland’s true wildlife. Smidge or Avon Skin So Soft work best around dusk.
A headlamp
Handy for nighttime trips to the facilities, especially outside the long summer evenings.
A reusable water bottle
Tap water is excellent everywhere in Scotland. Bring a reusable bottle and save money on bottled water.
The questions we get asked most often
Is there really enough room for two people in a rooftop tent?
Absolutely. The double mattress is more spacious than you might expect, with enough headroom to sit up comfortably.
What if it rains?
The tent is completely waterproof and well insulated. You’ll stay dry, even if rain drums on the canvas all night, which can happen in Scotland.
Do we need camping experience?
Not at all. Most of our travelers have never slept in a rooftop tent before their road trip with us. It’s designed to be intuitive from the very first night.
Can we put the tent up and take it down several times a day?
Yes, but there’s no need to. With the Scotland Nomads itinerary, you only set up the tent once a day, in the evening at your campsite.
Ready to give it a try?
A rooftop tent completely changes the way you travel around Scotland: you’re closer to the scenery, free to stop wherever you like, and never have to worry about the logistics. With Scotland Nomads, your fully equipped SUV and seven nights of camping are ready when you arrive in Edinburgh. All that’s left to do is pack your bag.
