The Best Campsites in the Scottish Highlands: 15 Top-Rated Sites

Camping in the Scottish Highlands means white-sand beaches on the west coast, lochside pitches under big mountains and long summer evenings when it barely gets dark. It is also the part of Britain where camping feels most like an adventure, whether you are touring the North Coast 500 in a motorhome or tucked into a pod in a glen. We list over 200 campsites across the Highlands, including more than 80 with glamping. These 15 are among the best rated, grouped by area and by the kind of trip they suit.

Camping in the Highlands: what to expect

The Highlands cover a huge area, so it pays to choose a region. The west coast, from Torridon up through Gairloch to Assynt, has the most dramatic scenery and beaches. The far north, around Thurso and John o' Groats, is open and windswept. The Great Glen links Fort William, Loch Ness and Inverness, and the Cairngorms around Aviemore offer forests, lochs and Britain's largest national park. Distances are long and roads are often single-track, so allow plenty of time between sites.

Best for the west coast and the North Coast 500

Clachtoll Beach Campsite, Assynt

Clachtoll Beach Campsite near Lochinver is rated 4.8 from over 1,200 Google reviews, and the setting explains why: pitches by a sandy bay with the mountains of Assynt behind. It takes tents, caravans and motorhomes, with hook-ups, Wi-Fi and dogs welcome.

Sands Caravan and Camping Park, Gairloch

Sands Caravan and Camping Park is also rated 4.8 from over 1,200 reviews and sits by the beach near Gairloch. It takes every type of unit, including glamping, with hook-ups.

Shieldaig Camping and Cabins, Torridon

Shieldaig Camping and Cabins is rated 4.9 from over 700 reviews and is within walking distance of Shieldaig village on Loch Torridon. It has pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes plus glamping, with hook-ups.

Ferry View Night Stop and The Crofters Snug, far north

Near John o' Groats, Ferry View Night Stop at Canisbay is rated 4.9 from over 350 reviews and takes tents and motorhomes, with hook-ups, Wi-Fi, campfires and dogs welcome. Near Thurso, The Crofters Snug has motorhome pitches with hook-ups and glamping, rated 4.9 from over 200 reviews.

Best for the Great Glen and Fort William

Bunroy Camping and Caravan Park is a riverside site at Roy Bridge, east of Fort William, rated 4.8 from over 650 reviews, with a shop, hook-ups, Wi-Fi, some glamping and dogs welcome. It is well placed for Ben Nevis and Glen Roy. On Loch Ness, Forest Glen Holiday Park at Invermoriston is rated 4.9 and takes tents, caravans and motorhomes with hook-ups, and Caledonian Cabins at Invergarry is a 4.9-rated tent and motorhome site in the middle of the Great Glen.

Best for the Cairngorms

Loch Garten Lodges and Caravan Park is rated 5.0 from over 230 reviews and has tent and caravan pitches plus glamping, in the Abernethy forest close to Loch Garten, well known for its ospreys. Lazy Duck near Aviemore is a 4.9-rated site with tent pitches and glamping. For more on the park, see our UK national parks staycations guide.

Best for glamping

Highland Premier Glamping Pods near Beauly is rated 5.0 from over 270 reviews and is an easy drive from Inverness. Highland Heights Luxury Glamping near the Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer is also rated 5.0. Further north, Loch Shin Luxury Pods near Lairg is rated 4.9, and Mountview Pod near Lochinver is a dog-friendly pod with Wi-Fi. Our glamping for first-timers guide explains what to look for.

Best for the Moray Firth coast

Barrow Campsite Nairn is rated 4.8 from over 400 reviews and takes tents, caravans and motorhomes plus glamping, with hook-ups. The Moray Firth coast around Nairn is one of the drier corners of the Highlands, with long sandy beaches.

Where to base yourself

Inverness has the widest choice and is the start of the North Coast 500. Aviemore is the base for the Cairngorms, and Fort William and Glencoe put you among the biggest mountains. On the west coast, Ullapool and Lochinver suit Assynt and the islands, while Dornoch, Wick and Thurso cover the east and north coasts. Browse every site on our Highlands campsites page.

Practical tips for camping in the Highlands

Prepare for midges. From early summer to early autumn, midges can be fierce on still, damp evenings, especially in the west. Bring repellent and a head net, and choose breezy pitches where you can. May and September are often the most comfortable months.

Book popular sites ahead. The best-known NC500 and west coast sites fill up in summer, so book ahead rather than relying on finding a pitch on the day.

Know the wild camping rules. Scotland's access rights allow responsible wild camping on most unenclosed land, but not with vehicles, so motorhomes should use campsites or official stopovers. For more ideas, see our guides to wildlife and nature staycations and dark sky staycations.