This guide is suitable for those planning to wild camp in tents, campervans or small motorhomes. It outlines camping spots near Loch Lomond, Fort William, and the Isle of Skye. We will be adding more camping locations soon.
Wild camping in Scotland is incredible. It is one of the only places in the UK where you can really get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in nature. What’s more, is that it is free to do so. If you are planning a wild camping excursion to Scotland, a big part of your time will probably be spent figuring out where to stay each night. This can be stressful. So, to make your wild camping experience smooth and enjoyable we’ve put together a few tips on locations and general things to take into consideration.
You may also be interested in our other guide: ‘Scotland road trip itinerary‘.
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Rules and considerations of wild camping in Scotland
First, it’s essential to familiarise yourself with the rules of wild camping in Scotland.
- Unlike the rest of the UK, it is legal to wild camp in Scotland. However, this does refer to tent camping only. Parking overnight in a campervan or motorhome is generally tolerated as long as you exercise discretion – avoid camping close to main roads and buildings and do not park in areas that state ‘private’ or ‘don’t park’.
- For tents, the same considerations apply as well as to avoid camping in enclosed fields of crops or with farm animals.
- Always take your litter with you.
- Avoid campfires.
- Leave the site as you found it.
- Try not to pour dirty or soapy water straight onto the ground as this can contaminate the natural environment.
- The summer months can get quite busy with campers and the best wild camping spots to the north of Loch Lomond often fill up by 6pm.
Best time of the year to wild camp in Scotland
It’s possible to wild camp in Scotland at any time of the year and each season will offer a different perspective:
Spring (March-May): Spring in Scotland sees temperatures gradually warming, averaging between 6°C and 15°C (43°F to 59°F). While snow can still be found in the Highlands and Cairngorms. Spring is a good time to wild camp but expect some cold nights and rain.
Summer (June-August): Summer is the warmest and driest season in Scotland, with average temperatures ranging from 15-17°C (59-63°F). The further north you go, the more daylight hours you’ll experience, with up to 20 hours of daylight in the far north. One thing to consider in summer though is the insects. Biting midges and mosquitoes can be a real problem in the summer which can be a nuisance while camping. Midges are especially bad on the Isle of Skye.
Autumn (September-November): As autumn arrives, temperatures begin to drop, but the russet colour of the leaves is a beautiful sight. The early part of autumn can still be mild and the insects have disappeared, so autumn is ideal for camping.
Winter (December-February): Scotland’s winters are cool and wet, with average low temperatures around 0°C (32°F). Snow can be found in the Highlands and high mountains. If you do plan to camp during the winter be prepared for the weather.
Wild camping locations in Scotland
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Due to overuse, most of the camping spots in the National Park are subject to camping byelaws – camping is only permitted within paid campsites or with a camping permit. However, if you drive a short way north out of the National Park there are some beautiful wild camping spots.
- Kilchurn Castle – a picturesque spot where you can pitch your tent in a grassy meadow with a view of Kilchurn Castle across the loch. Head to the Kilchurn Castle Panorama Viewpoint just off the A85.
- Strone Hill Forestry Car Park – located along the A85 about 7 minutes before you reach Kilchurn Castle is a small car park tucked away from the main road next to woods and a river. Most spots are big enough for a small motorhome and are fairly private.
- B8074 road – the turn off for this minor and narrow road can be found either on the A85 6 minutes before you reach Kilchurn Castle or on the A82 before you reach Bridge of Orchy. In summer this road is pretty much only used for wild campers. You’ll find plenty of private spots right next to the flowing river.
- Victoria Bridge Car Park – follow the West Highland Way, another narrow road off the A82 (at Bridge of Orchy), for about 8 minutes until you see a signpost for the Victoria Bridge Car Park. The car park itself is small and not particularly interesting, but if you follow the walking trail up into the woods you will come across meadows with fantastic views of mountains.
Fort William
If you are in this area and need an overnight stop, we recommend driving a short distance as Fort William itself is not the best place to camp.
- Along Loch Eil on the A861 road opposite Fort William – the turn off for this road can be found along the A830 about 20 minutes from Fort William. There are a few camping spots along this road which overlook the calm waters of the loch.
Isle of Skye
- The road from Carbost to Talisker Bay Beach – there are a few spots you can pull over on this unnamed, quiet road to camp overnight. We recommend camping close to the hill just before the end of the road near Talisker Bay Beach as there are great views through the cliffs out towards the sea. Note that you can’t actually drive down to the beach. The public road ends before a smaller road leading to Talisker Farm. You can, however, walk to the beach to pitch a tent.
- Neist Point – a great spot to camp if you plan on watching the sunset at Neist Point Lighthouse or from the top of the cliffs. Follow the signposts to Neist Point along the B884. There are lots of parking bays which makes it an easy spot to stay overnight for campervans and small motorhomes, but it does mean that it’s not very private. Tents can be pitched along the cliffs.
- Secluded unnamed beach near Kilbride – take the B8083 from Broadford and follow it for about 10 minutes until you reach a left turning before Kilbride. Take the left turning – the road is narrow with lots of potholes. You will pass a couple of houses and then a mine on the right-hand side. Keep going until you reach the water. There is a pebble beach and grassy patch you can pull over on to and camp for the night or pitch a tent on the hill to the left of the beach.
Packing list – what to bring
Here’s everything you should bring with you to wild camp in Scotland.
Equipment:
- Tent
- Sleeping mat
- Thermarest NeoAir Xlite is an ultra-packable mat while still retaining comfort. It has an R value of 4.5 so it is good for year round conditions.
- Sea to Summit Ether Light Xt Insulated is an excellent option if you want a comfortable nights sleep. It is thicker than a lot of mats on the market so it does back down slightly bigger than for example the Thermarest linked above, but it is still small and lightweight. It being thicker makes it perfect for side sleepers. It comes with an airstream pump bag for easy inflation and is compatible with the pillow locking feature. It also has a 3.5 R value so is suitable for 3 seasons.
- Sleeping bag or quilt
- Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass -1C sleeping bag is perfect for camping in Scotland. This unisex bag has a high performing warmth to weigh ratio and compresses small. A women’s version is also available with a -18C limit.
- Sleeping bag liner (optional)
- OEX silk mummy sleeping bag liner is ideal for adding extra insulation, as well as keeping your sleeping bag cleaner. It’s lightweight and packs down very small.
- Pillow – we love the Sea to Summit range
- Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow is by far the best camping pillow we’ve ever used. This inflatable pillow, is soft, comfy, light and packs down small. It is also compatible with Sea to Summit’s lock system, so if you have one of their sleeping pads the pillow will lock to it ensuring that it doesn’t move throughout the night. We’ve also tried it without a Sea to Summit sleeping pad and it stays pretty still no matter how much you toss and turn. The pillow comes in regular, large and deluxe sizes.
- Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow is another excellent choice especially if you are looking to knock a few more grams of weight off. It has also the same comfort and features as the Premium pillow.
- Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow is the ultimate luxury in camping pillows. This pillow is for those who want extra comfort while still being lightweight. Similarly to the others, this pillow also has the lock system feature.
- Stove
- MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Stove is fantastic. This portable and powerful stove has a flame adjuster for versatile cooking options and will also keep alight in strong wind.
- Fuel canister/gas
- Matches or lighter
- Cookset and cutlery
- GSI Outdoors Halite MicroDualist has everything you need for 2 people in a compact stacking set. A pot with folding handle and in-built strainer, 2 bowls, 2 mugs, 2 sporks. We’ve used it a number of times on camping trips.
- Biodegradable dish soap
- Dr Bronner’s All-in-1 Soap is perfect for bringing on camping trips. It can be used to wash face and hair, but we mainly use it to wash dishes.
- First aid kit
- Headlamp
- Lamp
- Battery back up
- Camping chair
- Hammock (optional)
Other items:
- Camp shoes
- Out of all the camp shoes/slippers available on the market today, we have found Crocs to be the best for their versatility (great for hot weather and cold weather with socks, dry off quickly if wet, can be worn on more rugged ground), comfort, and ease to slip on and off.
- Bug spray
- Mosquito head net (recommended if you are camping in Scotland in summer)
- Sea to Summit head net is great for keeping mosquitos and midges at bay. This head net is big enough to drape over your entire head and neck.
- Toiletries
