Horgabost Campsite
Isle of Harris
Community-run beachside pitches beside Harris's finest sand
About Horgabost Campsite
Horgabost sits on the west coast of Harris, a short walk from the beach of the same name and within sight of Luskentyre across the bay and Taransay just offshore. The site is run by the local grazings committee on machair and rough grassland behind the dunes, and its main appeal is location: pitches look straight out over turquoise shallows and white sand towards the hills of North Harris, with sheep grazing freely across the site.
Facilities are basic and in keeping with the crofting land the site occupies, with toilets and a water supply on site but no showers, electric hook-ups or shop, so most visitors arrive fully self-sufficient or plan to drive the short distance into Tarbert for supplies. The open, unmarked pitches suit tents, campervans and small motorhomes, and dogs are welcome on leads given the surrounding livestock.
The setting is exposed to the full force of Atlantic weather, so a sturdy tent and good pegs are essential even in summer, and there is little shelter from wind coming off the sea. In return, campers get one of the most photographed views in Scotland from their own doorstep, dark skies away from any significant light pollution, and easy access to walking routes along the coast and into the hills of North Harris.
Because the site is unfenced and informal by design, it fills on a first-come basis through the summer months and can feel busy by Hebridean standards in July and August, when the beach below draws day visitors as well as overnight guests. Arriving earlier in the day improves the chance of a pitch close to the dunes, and payment is generally made on an honesty basis or by a warden who calls round in the evening. Cash is worth carrying, since card facilities and mobile signal can both be unreliable this far from Tarbert.