Van life guide: Scotland
Van Life in Grantown-on-Spey: Best Spots, Meetups & Where to Park
Find fellow van lifers, plan walks and brews, or meet someone special in Grantown-on-Spey. Grantown-on-Spey is a Georgian planned town on the River Spey, a gateway to the northern Cairngorms.
The van life scene in Grantown-on-Spey
The wide Strathspey valley opens around the town, with Anagach Woods and the Spey close by. The Cairngorm mountains rise to the south.
If you are parked up in Grantown-on-Spey, it is simple to find your crew when you share a walk with fellow van lifers. Grantown-on-Spey is part of our Cairngorms guide, and Aviemore is a short drive south.
Meeting people in Grantown-on-Spey
Start with a walk somewhere public and busy, let a friend know where you are going, and keep your exact pitch to yourself until you know someone. With VanDates you choose what you are open to, whether that is friendship, convoys or romance, and you only ever show an approximate area.
Grantown-on-Spey at a glance
- Where: Highland, Scotland
- Best time to go: May to September
- Local flavour: Speyside whisky, local venison and shortbread
- Approximate location only: never your exact pitch
Best spots in Grantown-on-Spey
Must-see stops in Grantown-on-Spey include the Square, Anagach Woods, the River Spey, Lochindorb, the Cromdale Hills and the Speyside Way.
Things to try: a walk through Anagach Woods, a stroll along the Spey, a visit to Lochindorb, a stretch of the Speyside Way.
Parking up and staying legal in Grantown-on-Spey
Grantown’s Square and car parks are small in summer. The recreational fire byelaw in the Cairngorms National Park applies from 1 April to 30 September each year, so do not light open fires.
In Scotland, access rights cover lightweight tent camping in small numbers for two or three nights, but they do not include motor vehicles, so staying overnight in a campervan or motorhome is different. Landowners and councils can restrict where you park, and some areas, such as parts of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, have camping byelaws. Use campsites, motorhome stopovers or pubs that welcome vans, and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code guide to camping. Please leave places as you found them, be considerate to residents, and see our Community Guidelines and Safety Tips.
Ready to meet van lifers in Grantown-on-Spey?
Join The Crew. Discover who is parked or travelling near you, join upcoming community meetups, or find someone special who truly gets life on the road. Membership is £1.99 a week and you can cancel any time.