Planning a motorhome or campervan journey across the North Coast 500 in Scotland? Listed below are a number of the greatest NC500 campsites for motorhome, campervans, caravans & tents to remain in a single day, together with opening time (some are open all 12 months), services every campsite has, route planning, plus ideas for wild tenting alongside the NC500 route.
Remember to seize your FREE Scotland guidelines that can assist you keep organised.
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Are you able to camp wherever on the NC500 (North Coast 500)?
While you’re planning a North Coast 500 tour in any automobile, however particularly with a motorhome, caravan or campervan, the place to remain is among the greatest concerns.
Let’s begin with some info.
The North Coast 500 is a collection of public roads in Scotland, which had been there lengthy earlier than the route was created. It is free to drive the NC500– however you have to to pay for gas, meals and campsites.
As a result of these are public roads, you can not simply camp wherever on the NC500- there are many slim roads with solely passing locations and in the event you parked in a kind of you’d trigger chaos!
There best possibility is to remain in one of many many campsites alongside the route- we listing a few of our favourites beneath.
Are you able to wild camp on the NC500 in a campervan or motorhome?
There are some strict guidelines about wild tenting in a motorhome or campervan in Scotland. It isn’t as simple as you would possibly assume and it is definitely not a ‘proper’.
The brief reply is you ‘can’ wild camp in some locations alongside the route, however you have to be very cautious to not block the highway or entry to buildings or farmland, not trigger harm or depart any hint and also you MUST transfer on if requested.
There has additionally been some stress between the locals and visiting vans, which remains to be simmering. Once I drove the NC500 in my motorhome, I wild camped a number of the nights, however alongside the busy west coast I selected to remain in campsites because it made it much less tense for me.
Finest NC500 campsites for motorhomes
Fortunately, there are LOADS of campsites alongside or close to to the route of the NC500. Some are open all 12 months spherical, however many are seasonal, opening solely close to Easter (some don’t open till July) and shut by the tip of September.
If you’re planning to drive the NC500 throughout July and August, it pays to do your analysis and ebook a web site in advance- particularly one of many ones with superb views or good services.
In the event you’re motorhoming in Scotland exterior of peak season (which we extremely advocate), then it is best to have extra flexibility and never have to ebook up fairly to this point prematurely.
Having stated that, if there’s a spot you actually wish to keep at, reserving is at all times a good suggestion.
READ MORE: See our North Coast 500 motorhome itinerary right here
It’s additionally most likely a good suggestion to affix one of many large motorhome golf equipment to your trip- both the Tenting and Caravanning Membership or the Caravan and Motorhome Membership- or each.
Being a member could make it simpler to ebook websites AND may give you a spot to empty waste in the event you want to- they’re normally extra accommodating for members.
Planning a visit to Scotland?
We have completed the arduous be just right for you!
Seize our full Scotland journey planner and get:
- 80+ concepts for locations to go to
- Maps and itinerary recommendations
- Routes and issues to see alongside the way in which
- Ideas, customs and far rather more!
Finest Motorhome Campsites alongside the North Coast 500 route
It doesn’t matter which method you go across the NC500- it’s going to at all times be one of many most scenic drives in Scotland.
To make this publish simpler to navigate, I’ve cut up the route into sections going clockwise so you could find campsites which could be just right for you.
After all, I can’t embrace each campsite in right here, so listed here are a few web sites which you would possibly discover helpful to search out different choices:
The completely different sections of the NC500 are:
- WESTER- ROSS – Inverness throughout to the west coast and up the SW nook
- SUTHERLAND- The remainder of the west coast and many of the northern coast, apart from the very NE
- CAITHNESS- the highest NE Nook, round John o’Groats
- EASTER ROSS and the Black Isle Peninsula -East coast all the way down to Inverness
- INVERNESS-SHIRE- the realm round Inverness
NC500 Route Map
This is the map of the NC500 route, with a number of the most vital factors on them.
You may learn extra in regards to the factors and methods to plan your North Coast 500 motorhome tour right here
We have damaged this publish up into the next sections:
- greatest NC500 campsites on the west coast
- campsites for motorhomes and campers on the north coast
- greatest NC500 campervan and motorhome campsites on the east coast and close to Inverness
We have picked a number of campsites, from large vacation parks with indoor swimming pools, to smaller websites with fundamental services however a extra tranquil setting.
You can too see an interactive map of one of the best campsites alongside the North Coast 500 route right here:
For every, we have included the deal with, after they’re normally open in the course of the 12 months, in the event that they’re canine pleasant, tough costs and if they permit campfires and/ or BBQs.
NC500 Books
In the event you get pleasure from researching earlier than a visit, you would possibly discover these books helpful:
Remember to seize your motorhome logbook to document your whole superb adventures!
Finest NC500 campsites for motorhomes on the west coast
The Wee Campsite
The Wee campsite is small however has unimaginable views of the loch. The essential services embrace showers, bathrooms, wash-up and electrical hook-ups.
Tackle: Croft Street, Lochcarron, Highland, Scotland, IV54 8YB
Open (tough information): Normally April till finish of September
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? Sure
Costs: from £15 per unit (+pp)
Max Van Dimension: 7.5m
Applecross Campsite
Applecross is a small however standard village, set on the shores of a peninsula proper within the SW nook.
There are solely two routes to get there- one alongside the northern coast of the peninsula and one over the tops of the encompassing hills- often called the Bealach na Bà- one of many steepest and highest roads within the UK.
The campsite at Applecross has spectacular views of the Isle of Skye and the western shoreline.
Tackle: Applecross, Strathcarron, Ross-Shire, UK – IV54 8ND
Open (tough information): Starting March till finish October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? Free-standing BBQ allowed, no campfires
Costs: from £13 for a motorhome/campervan/caravan (+pp)
Sands Caravan and Tenting Park
Sands Campsite has an enviable location proper on the coast, near the city of Poolewe and the mountains of Wester Ross.
There’s a store promoting recent bread, groceries, gasoline and alcohol, laundry facilties, children playground plus an onsite cafe in excessive season and lots to do within the space.
Tackle: Sands Caravan & Tenting, Gairloch • Wester Ross • IV21 2DL
Open (tough information): Normally April till October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? Sure
Costs: from £24 for a motorhome with 2 adults
Broomfield Vacation Park
In the event you fancy a little bit of nightlife, Ullapool is an efficient stopping level and Broomfield Vacation Park is among the few campsites close to Ullapool. It’s additionally an ideal base in the event you’re getting a ferry to the Isles. They’ve electrical hookup, children play space and bathroom blocks.
Tackle: West Lane, Ullapool, IV26 2UT
Open (tough information): April till finish September
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQs
Costs: from £24/ evening for a motorhome and two individuals
Shore Caravan Web site
Shore Caravan Web site is family-friendly campsite is on the award-winning Achmelvich Bay and is simply 4-miles from the small village of Lochinver.
The seashore is the primary attraction and you may anticipate finding households browsing, swimming and rockpool searching. There are additionally mountaineering routes close by.
Services embrace a rest room block with showers, launderette, on-site store, chip store and WiFi. They’re strict about their services being for company solely.
Tackle: 106 Achmelvich, Lochinver, Sutherland, IV27 4JB
Open (tough information): Open April- October
Canine pleasant?: No
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? Campfires allowed not on grass
Costs: from £15 (+pp)
Clachtoll Seashore Campsite
One of the crucial iconic seashores on the NC500 is Clachtoll beach- and you may keep in a single day proper subsequent to it.
The campsite has electrical hookup, showers, rest room blocks (with hairdryers) and laundry services. There’s even a merchandising machine and WiFi.
This family-run web site may be very environmentally acutely aware and actively encourages campers to make use of eco-friendly chemical substances in waste tanks when disposing of onsite as nicely.
Tackle: Clachtoll Seashore Campsite, 134 Clachtoll, Lochinver, Sutherland, IV27 4JD
Open (tough information): Open all 12 months
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQs
Costs: from £19 for an unserviced pitch (+pp)
Scourie Campsite
Scourie Campsite is on the sting of Scourie Bay, with breathtaking views throughout the bay and islands. They’re additionally close to the ferry which runs to Handa Island so you may see the puffins.
They’ve arduous standing pitches, plus rest room blocks, dishwashing and waste.
Tackle: Scourie, Lairg, IV27 4TE
Open (tough information): April to September
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQs
Costs: from £18 (+pp)
NORTH COAST & CAITHNESS NC500 campsites for motorhomes
Sango Sands Oasis
Sango Sands Oasis campsite is perched above the sandy Sango Sands seashore and is among the hottest campsites on the North Coast 500 route.
Smoo Cave is simply down the highway and the views over the North Sea are spectacular. It was voted probably the greatest campsites within the UK by the Occasions. Ceannabeinne Seashore and the Golden Eagle zipline are close by.
Services embrace electrical hookup, arduous standing and grass pitches, rest room blocks, waste disposal, laundry services and a restaurant with bar.
You solely have to ebook if you’d like electrical hook-up. Non-serviced and grass pitches are first come, first served.
Honest warning: it may possibly get windy alongside this coastline- it’s very uncovered. I acquired caught in a storm there and it was VERY rocking within the motorhome!
Tenting out of season: From mid November to mid March it’s possible you’ll keep right here in a single day for simply £10 with electrical hookup. You can too use their water refill. The bathrooms are closed however there are public bathrooms out there subsequent to the native grocery store.
Tackle: Sango Bay, Durness, Sutherland, IV27 4PZ
Open (tough information): All 12 months in the event you don’t want services
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? No
Costs: From £10pp (extra prices for youngsters and electrical energy)
There’s an onsite bar and restaurant, stocked stuffed with all one of the best Scotch Whisky, this cosy campsite is good to your keep within the north-west of Scotland.
Dunnet Bay Caravan and Motorhome Membership Web site
Dunnet Bay is one other campsite with breathtaking views and a close-by seashore. Near the city of Thurso, it’s in a superb location to go to John o’Groats and Orkney. That is the place we left our motorhome for the day after we visited Orkney on our motorbikes (you may as well take your motorhome or camper to Orkney, even when only for the day.)
Dunnet Bay is a Caravan and Motorhome membership web site and there are services to match- rest room blocks, laundry, electrical hookup and loads of issues to do close by.
Tackle: Dunnet, Thurso, Highlands, KW14 8XD
Open (tough information): March till finish of October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £20 (+pp)
John O’Groats Caravan and Tenting Web site
If you wish to camp proper subsequent to John o’Groats, that is the campsite to do it. The views are fantastic and the services are good- electrical hookup, rest room blocks and laundry services.
Tackle: County Street, John o’ Groats KW1 4YR
Open (tough information): April till finish of October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £24 for a caravan or motorhome
EAST COAST NC500 campsites for motorhomes and campers (inc BLACK ISLE and Inverness)
Wick River Camptite
The Wick River campsite is a sheltered campsite on the banks of the River Wick and solely a 5-minute stroll into the city of Wick. Close by are outlets, eating places, swimming, golf and seashores.
Tackle: Riverside Drive, Wick, Caithness KW1 5SP
Open (tough information): Might till finish of September
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? No
Costs: from £26 for a motorhome and a couple of adults.
Brora Caravan Membership Web site
The Brora Caravan Membership Web site is on a reasonably sheltered stretch of shoreline, but is simply 300m from the seashore.
It’s a preferred web site with birdwatchers, because the Arctic Tern nest on the seashore. Close by are lochs and the ocean for swimming or fishing- you would possibly even see whales, seals or dolphins. Brora village is just a few miles away and has outlets and a few eating places.
Tackle: Dalchalm, Brora, Highlands, KW9 6LP
Open (tough information): March till finish of October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £15 (+pp)
Dornoch Caravan and Tenting Park
The Dornoch Caravan and Tenting Park sits proper on the award-winning Dornoch seashore and near the small city of Dornoch.
It’s solely a 5 minute stroll to Dornoch Cathedral and there’s Dunrobin Fort (probably the greatest castles on the NC500) and a golf course close by.
Tackle: The Hyperlinks, Dornoch, Sutherland-shire IV25 3LX
Open (tough information): April till finish of October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: £27 for a unit with 4 individuals with electrical
Grannie Heilan Hame Vacation Park
As websites go, it is a good one. There are such a lot of services, together with loopy golf, a jacuzzi, children membership, zipwire, bowling, indoor pool, tennis courts- and that’s earlier than you even get to the seashore and the unimaginable views.
The location sits on the white sand seashore of Embo and is near the historic city of Dornoch.
Onsite there’s a store, bar and restaurant. It’s a Park Dean resort, so it’s not quiet- or low-cost, however if you’d like leisure, that is the place for you.
Tackle: Dornoch, Sutherland, IV25 3QD
Open (tough information): Feb till October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £16 pp
Dingwall Tenting and Caravanning Membership Web site
This Dingwall campsite overlooks the well-known Cromarty Firth and is a peaceable place to unwind. Pitches are stage and there’s a mixture of grass and hard-standing, many with electrical. There are rest room blocks and washing services.
It’s near the market city of Dingwall which has a variety of outlets, a grocery store and eating places.
It’s additionally a terrific place to go away the motorhome and catch a practice into Inverness or to Kyle of Lochalsh on the West coast; a shocking route taking in a few of Scotland’s most lovely surroundings.
The Dingwall Heritage mountaineering Path passes the campsite and follows the River Peffery to a picnic space on the Cromarty Firth.
Wildlife lovers can hopefully spot dolphins at Cromarty, or see Crimson Kites on the Black Isle. Ospreys might be seen in close by Udale Bay. For native tradition, go to the Victorian village of Strathpeffer or go to the Black Isle Brewery, Munlochy for excursions and tastings.
NOTE: TV and Wifi alerts could also be poor.
Tackle: Jubilee Park Rd, Dingwall IV15 9QZ
Open (tough information): April till finish of October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £9.25pp
Black Rock Campsite
Black Rock campsite is near the Black Rock gorge- a 120 deep chasm carved by the River Glass.
The park is near the village of Evanton, simply 15 miles north of Inverness and Dingwall (with the practice station) is simply 4 miles west. There’s a bus service to achieve each of those locations.
There are 33 gravel touring pitches, all stage with water drainage, electrical hook up and an aeriel socket. There are additionally rest room and washing services, plus freezer packs, a store and a pub simply exterior, which gives 10% low cost to campers.
Tackle: Balconie St, Evanton, Dingwall IV16 9UN
Open (tough information): April till finish of October
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £25 per evening
Ardtower Caravan Park- close to Culloden
If you wish to go to Culloden, Ardtower Caravan Park is a superb possibility. 95% of pitches have an uninterrupted view in direction of the Black Isle and the views past. There’s first rate wifi in most areas and trendy services.
Tackle: Culloden Street, Inverness, IV2 5AA
Open (tough information): All 12 months (could shut in February/ March for upkeep)
Canine pleasant?: Sure
Campfire/ BBQ allowed? BBQ
Costs: from £28 for a grass pitch with 2 adults.
Planning a visit to Scotland?
We have completed the arduous be just right for you!
Seize our full Scotland journey planner and get:
- 80+ concepts for locations to go to
- Maps and itinerary recommendations
- Routes and issues to see alongside the way in which
- Ideas, customs and far rather more!
NC500 motorhome campsites open all 12 months spherical
Listed below are a couple of campsites we all know of alongside the NC500 that are open all 12 months. (Please do examine in advance- simply in case they’ve modified their phrases since we wrote this).
Waste Disposal factors for motorhomes and campervans on the NC500
It sickens me how incessantly the information has tales of idiots who’ve determined to simply dump their waste (human or in any other case) together with the highway, or in a nook of a automobile park- with completely no regard for the harm their actions are having each on the setting and on the general public notion of motorhomers and campervanners.
WARNING: Locals have began a NC500 ‘watch’ to report troublemakers and individuals who depart behind harm or waste- and you would end up banned from some other campsites on the route, so please act responsibly.
It’s true that the NC500 route has some areas the place disposing of waste might be tricky- particularly out of season when many locations are closed.
Nonetheless, there are alternatives round, and the federal government is working to place extra choices in place, so please do use them. The best possibility is to ebook right into a campsite and use their waste disposal factors and refill on freshwater.
There are even a few campsites alongside the route the place you may get rid of gray and black waste hygienically, even in the event you select to not keep on that campsite (you have to to pay a cost for utilizing their facilities- as they need to pay to get your waste handled and eliminated.)
A few these are:
If you recognize of any extra NC500 motorhome campsites you’d advocate, be happy to go away them within the feedback so others can profit. Protected travels!
