Scotland has some of the best camping anywhere in the world.
From glorious coastal pitches to peaceful lochside hideways, you’ll find an incredible variety of sites. They range from those with full facilities, including swimming pools, bars and restaurants down to tiny farm sites in remote glens, that can only be accessed along single-track roads.
Here are 10 of our favourites
1 SANDS CARAVAN AND CAMPING PARK
Gairloch, Wester Ross IV21 2DL
01445 712 152
www.sandsholidaycentre
Some campsites are worth visiting for their spectacular location, some for their excellent facilities and others for their relaxed atmosphere. Sands campsite enjoys all three and that makes it a must-visit site. Set in a beautiful spot on the West Highland coast, a two hour drive from Inverness, this is about as remote as it gets. The 55-acre site itself is pretty informal – basically you can put your tent up wherever you like. That means you can choose a sheltered spot in amongst the dunes or pitch on more open ground with views across the water to Skye. Either way, the wonderful beach is just a couple of minutes’ walk away. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the sea water round here is relatively warm, making it perfect for the kids to have a paddle. You can also hire kayaks from the site shop – or a bike if you prefer to stick to dry land. Kids love the freedom they get on this site – the play area is full of youngsters from first light until sundown, and, being so far north, in the summer that can be as late as 11pm. Facilities on the site are more than adequate, with three heated toilet/shower blocks, a games and TV room and an indoor cooking and eating area. The well-stocked site shop sells camping gear, souvenirs and groceries with fresh bread delivered each day, as well as meat and sausages from the local farm. It also sells an interesting range of fancy gins from all over Scotland – apparently the owners are aficionados. The excellent Barn Café is open all day and does a wide range of tasty snacks and meals, including takeaway pizzas. You could quite easily spend a week on site and never feel the need to leave, but if you do want to go further afield, Gairloch village has a few gift shops, a chippy and an award-winning museum. You can also observe the marine life on board a glass bottomed boat or go a bit further out to sea in search of whales. It’s certainly a long way to travel to reach this idyllic part of Scotland, but when you get here you’ll know it was worth it.
2 ROTHIEMURCHUS CAMP & CARAVAN PARK
Coylumbridge, Aviemore, Inverness-shire PH22 1QU
01479 812800
www.rothiemurchus.net
The big appeal here is to walkers, with several good walks starting off from the campsite. These include a delightful lochside stroll through ancient Caledonian pine forest. Centuries ago the Highlands were carpeted in woodland like this but now only pockets of the original ancient forest remain. Lurking amid the trees is Loch an Eilein, a favoured fishing spot for Speyside’s ospreys and home to the ruins of an ancient castle. The site is owned by the Rothiemurchus Estate, which has developed a host of tourist attractions on its land. The campsite offers 22 woodland and riverside pitches, showers, laundry and dish-washing areas.
3 SUNNYSIDE CROFT
2 Bunacaimbe, Arisaig, Inverness-shire PH39 4NT
01687 450643
www.sunnysidetouringsite.co.uk
Sunnyside is a family-run croft situated on the Road to the Isles coastal route between the villages of Arisaig and Morar/Mallaig. This West Highland coast location, with beach access, is ideal for exploring the area, or as a stopover when touring the Highlands and Islands. The site is close to the harbour at Mallaig, where there are ferry services to Knoydart, the Small Isles and the Isle of Skye.
4 DRUMROAMIN FARM
South Balfern, Kirkinner, Wigtownshire DG8 9DB
01988 840613
www.drumroamin.co.uk
There are some campsites where you are instantly made to feel at home, and Drumroamin Farm certainly falls into that category. Owners Lesley and Ralph Shell go out their way to welcome visitors and as campers themselves, they know exactly what their customers want. It’s the little things that make all the difference. For example, while some campsites might make do with one or two hooks in the showers, here there are six – enough to hang your towel, all your dry clothes and your washbag. Located at the end of a long and winding road, in a part of the country where there seem to be more cows than people, Drumroamin Farm is a long way from everywhere. And that’s what makes it appealing. The site is flat and enjoys views out over Wigtown Bay and the hills on the other side of the water. Pitches are fairly regimented byut this means there is lots of open space for kids to play freely. The facilities block is superb and spotlessly clean at all times – as well as the gents and ladies showers, there’s a family shower room and a washing-up room that doubles as a laundry. Next door, there’s the playroom, with a pool table, TV, two comfy sofas, a library and dining tables, plus loads of information on the local area. It’s a welcoming haven if the weather is bad and you don’t fancy being cooped up in your tent all evening. Outside there are picnic tables and a covered, outdoor barbecue area. For the kids there’s a small playpark and a covered sandpit, as well as all that space. Galloway is dark skies country and star-spotters flock here all year round to take advantage of the fact that there’s so little light pollution.
5 HONEY COTTAGE CARAVAN PARK
Ettrick Valley, Selkirk TD7 5HU
01750 62246
www.honeycottagecaravanpark.co.uk
You need a good base to get the best out of the great border forests that cover large tracts of hill country between the Glasgow/Edinburgh central industrial belt and Northumberland and Cumbria. Honey Cottage is ideal; set amidst the vast and lovely Ettrick Forest, it is an oasis of peace and quiet and the smell of pine forest hits you the moment you step out of the car. The Ettrick Valley is Scotland in miniature – winding rivers deep in wooded valleys with moors and mountains rolling off into the distance and set high up above the beckoning tree line. If you really want to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern day life and right into the heart of a woodland setting the kids will love, then this site is the place to come. This is a great family site with the Ettrick water running alongside and you can splash around in the pools created in the shallower parts of the river by the owners. There is also fishing available in the river with permits being issued on the site. A bridge crosses the Ettrick giving access to the forest and there are five miles of bank side walking along the river itself. Peace, quiet and an unhurried lifestyle are the order of the day at Honey Cottage.
6 BRIGHOUSE BAY HOLIDAY PARK
Borgue Peninsula, Kircudbright, Dumfries and Galloway DG6 4TS
01557 870267
www.gillespie-leisure.co.uk
An environmental wildlife haven set within 1200 acres of countryside with extensive woods, nature trails and glorious views. The campsite has its own sandy beach and an all-tide slipway. The park has a golf course, 9-hole family golf and a driving range. There’s also a bar and bistro, indoor swimming pool, steam room, fitness room, games room and coarse fishing. This family park caters for all ages.
7 CASHEL CAMPING IN THE FOREST
Cashel, Rowardennan, Dunbartonshire G63 0AW
01360 870234
www.campingintheforest.co.uk
Located on the shores of beautiful Loch Lomond, Cashel offers breathtaking views over the water and the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Campers can launch their boats directly from the campsite and explore the loch’s small islands, many of which are privately owned. Walkers will find much to explore along footpaths in and around the site, including the West Highland Way. Or venture up Ben Lomond, a Munro of 3,192ft, just four miles away. If you are looking to explore the loch’s islands, Cashel provides a great starting point as you can rent a boat nearby and launch directly from the shore. Younger campers will also enjoy the small children’s playground. For a traditional village pub, Balmaha is just three miles away and also has a boat yard with boats for hire as well as fishing trips and cruises available. Places to visit in the nearby area include GoApe! and Loch Lomond Shores at Balloch, which has its own Sealife Centre. Cashel has its own shop which provides essentials for campers.
8 PETTYCUR BAY HOLIDAY PARK
Burntisland Road, Kinghorn, Fife KY3 9YE
01592 892200
www.pettycur.co.uk
Pettycur is situated overlooking miles of golden sand and a sea that offers safe bathing. Half an hour away in North Queensferry is Deep Sea World which is Scotland’s largest aquarium. There are over 2,000 aquatic creatures and the largest collection of sharks in Europe, along with one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. There are various exhibits including ‘Jaws’ which showcases some of the planet’s most extraordinary creatures.
9 THURSTON MANOR LEISURE PARK
Innerwick, Dunbar, East Lothian EH42 1SA
01368 840643
www.thurstonmanor.co.uk
Lying to the east of Edinburgh and north of the ancient border town of Berwick-on-Tweed, Thurston Manor is set in 250 acres that were once part of a large estate very close to the lovely Lammermuir Hills. The Scottish capital is just over 30 minutes drive away, making a day trip easy. On-site you will find a fishing lake (mostly fly fishing) among the trees and also a small but pleasant indoor heated swimming pool. Next to the pool there is a gym, sauna and steam room. For younger kids there is a playground and the site has a nice picnic area too. Food and drink is on offer at the restaurant and two bars and there is entertainment put on in season. There is also a shop that sells basics and some souvenirs. This is a real family site that can get hectic and busy in school holiday times with regulars coming back year after year.
10 SHIELING HOLIDAYS CAMPING SITE
Craignure, Isle Of Mull PA65 6AY
01680 812496
www.shielingholidays.co.uk
Home to the elusive osprey, many seals, dolphins and even a pod of killer whales that visits each year, Mull is a magical place. From the moment you disembark the ferry at Craignure you feel remote and away from it all. Shieling campsite is located within a few moments of the ferry terminal at Craignure and is a superb place to pitch your tent - the location is magnificent overlooking the sea and includes glimpses of faraway Ben Nevis on clear days. The site is in two parts with the camping field in the upper area with the best views. You can bring your car to your pitch to set up and break camp but that is all – the rest of the time it has to stay in the designated parking areas to keep the field uncluttered and clear. The views from the camping field are simply superb. You are incredibly close to the sea on just about any part of this site and there are seals on the rocky beach below. Kids will love it here. You can go crabbing off the old pier just outside the site and there’s a superb play area next to the harbour . More than anything there is a general feeling of freedom and peace.
