The North Coast 500 is one of the most popular road trips in the UK and as its popularity rises so does the number of campsites to choose from. We’ve picked some of the best caravan and campsites the NC500 has to offer from great facilities to family-run warm welcomes and natural beachside sites with stunning Scottish coastal sea views.

Ardtower Caravan Park in Inverness

With a beautiful setting close to the world-famous Culloden Battlefield, the Ardtower Caravan Park is a great first stop for your North Coast 500 adventures.

The service area is built to the highest standards with geothermal renewable energy, underfloor heating and great little extras such as shaver points. There are also great facilities such as a BBQ hut, infant and toddler bathing area, laundry room, kids play park and free wifi.

Pitches come with 16 amps hookup connection as standard and some cater to the larger-longer motorhome which needs extra power requirements.

Dogs are welcome but need to be kept on short leads while outside the walking area provided.

Ardtower Caravan Park is also committed to the environment, operating a recycling waste management system, investing in solar panels for their renewable Geo-Thermal Ground source system and have a large Harvesting water tank system collection field spring and roof rainwater.

 

Grannies Heilan Hame in Embo

The perfect seaside spot with stunning views of the Dornoch Firth, Grannies Heilan Hame is perfect for the whole family.

Kids will enjoy the indoor pool and the sandy adventure playground while adults can sit back and relax at the spa bath and sauna. When it’s time to head out and explore you are in the perfect spot to enjoy some of the best of the Scottish Highlands with castles, waterfalls and wildlife parks as well as the historic town of Dornoch all nearby.

At the end of the day enjoy a meal and drink at the Coast Bar and Restaurant on site before the evening entertainment begins.

Facilities include crazy golf, an indoor pool, amusement arcade and outdoor adventure playground as well as an indoor soft play area so your little ones will be kept happy. There’s also tennis courts, a basketball court, wildlife nature trails and dog walking areas so you will be well deserving of a drink and meal at the Coast Bar and Restaurant, Grannie’s Fish ‘n’ Chip shop or Grannie Mac’s Bar.

Inver Caravan Park in Dunbeath

A great stop off point for travellers heading to or from the Orkney Islands, Inver Caravan Park just north of Dunbeath, a village in south-east Caithness with its rugged cliffs, sandy bays and charming little harbours its an excellent spot for motorhomes and campervans.

There are hard standing pitches for motorhomes and smooth grass pitches with electric hookups for campervans, all allocated on a first come, first served basis. Facilities also include mains water, recycling facilities and a dump station for grey water disposal.

Windhaven Cafe, Camping and B&B

The most northerly campsite on the UK mainland and the most northerly cafe on the North Coast 500, the stunning site of Winhaven Cafe, Camping and B&B overlooks Brough Bay where you can watch the seal colonies from his viewing point and is in a great position to view the Northern Lights if you get lucky enough to have them occur while you’re there.

Just a 20 minute drive from Thurso and close to Dunnet Head Lighthouse, John O’Groats and Wick, this campsite is a family owned and run business with Clare and Phil heading up its day to day operations and Aunty Babs lending a helping hand.

There is a cafe on site which sells snacks and hot drinks from 11am to 4 pm and closed Wednesdays. They can also provide packed lunches for bikers and walkers heading off for a days excursions.

Facilities include four electric hook-up points, there’s a laundry service, shower and toilet block, recreational room and dogs are welcome. The 2.5 acres of well kept grass fields have wonderful sea views over the Pentland Firth with the Orkney island often viewable in the distance.

Kyle of Tongue Hostel and Holiday Park in Tongue

Situated on the shores of the picturesque Kyle of Tongue, with beautiful views of Castle Varich, Ben Hope and Ben Loyal. Kyle of Tongue Hostel and Holiday Park has a fully equipped campsite and caravan park with a communal and friendly as well as excellent facilities.

They have both hard standing pitches and grass areas which are well lit, there’s a heated toilet block with separate male and female changing rooms, disabled shower and baby change areas. The campsite has a helpful reception area with a small licensed shop in the hostel open from 8:30 – 8pm. There’s also outdoor washing areas, laundry faciltiles, electric hook ups, waster disposal and water points throughout the site as well as a locked bike storage area.

Dogs are welcome. however they must be kept on leads and exercised off campsite but there Is a beach just a short walk away fo them to enjoy.

Sango Sands in Durness

Looking out over award winning beaches and amazing sea views with sightings of whales, seals and the occasional bottlenose dolphin, Sango Sands Oasis Camping and Caravan site is an ideal spot along the North Coast 500.

Next to the camping site is the popular Sango Sands Oasis Restaurant and Bar which not only has great local food but a range of Scotch whisky and a warm welcome from the locals.

The campsite is usually open from April to October with limited facilities in the off season. For campervans and motohomes not needing electric hook up then pitches are at a first come, first served basis. Facilities include toilet and shower block, waste disposal, dishwashing and laundry facilities. Pets are welcome and free of charge but must be kept under control.

The local village has a well stocked mini supermarket, petrol station, cashpoint and most importantly a chocolatier! There’s a host of beautiful beaches nearby and stunning walks enjoying the rugged Scottish coastlines as well as surfing, golf and zip wire for the more active and the famous Smoo Caves.

Clatchtoll Beach Campsite, Assynt

An award winning family friendly run campsite just 100 metres away from the stunning white sand Clachtoll beach and Split Rock. Clachtoll Beach Campsite is in the beautiful Assynt area just one hour from Ullapool and two hours from Inverness. The village of Lochinver with a small selection of shops, butchers, cafes and restaurants is just 5 miles away.

On site they have both serviced (water and electric) and unserviced pitches all laid to grass with some astro turf pitches. The serviced pitches mainly have sea views and the unserviced views of the hills behind. Dogs are also very welcome and the beach in-front is perfect for a morning walk.

A perfect spot for exploring the spectacular Assynt hills on foot and hiking some of the nearby Munro’s. For those looking for an easier stroll there are beautiful coastal walks along the beaches and the clifftops. Assynt is also a popular fishing spot with an abundance of wild brown trout and salmon in the loch and mackerel, cod, haddock and flat fish for the sea anglers.

Gruinard Bay Caravan Park

The Gruinard Bay Caravan Park has a beach-front spot is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty on Scotlands West Coast. A small, privately owned friendly caravan park where dogs are welcome as long as they are staying in your motorhome or caravan and not one of the sites lettings.

Hot showers are free and awnings available at a small charges as well as supplies of Calor gas available. Within just a 3 minute walk you have a small grocers, post office and petrol station.

The site has grass and hard-standing pitches with the majority being seafront and each pitch has fencing which provides privacy and shelter. There’s a toilet and shower block with washing up sinks, hot water and chemical toilet disposal points. Electric hook-ups and water taps are found throughout the park.

Catch and release trout fishing is also available on site.

The site is open between April and October.

Sands Caravan & Camping in Gairloch

Located on the beautiful west coast of the Highlands with stunning views of the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides, the Sands Caravan & Camping is a laid-back caravan spot. You can choose whether you set up sheltered amongst the sand dunes or on a raised pitch with unrivalled views as long as within the designated areas.

Facilities include a reception, a licensed grocery shop selling freshly baked bread between April and October as well as groceries, camping equipment, toys, books, gas and kites! There is also onsite laundry with washing machines, dryers and an iron as well as indoor cooking area, picnic tables, games room, play area and, dog walking area and local fishing and hikes.

An informal 55 acre site alongside an award winning beach, the perfect camping spot on the west coast.

Shieldaig Camping and Cabins

The Shieldaig Campaign and Cabins is a new touring campsite ideally located for the outdoor adventurer along the North Coast 500, Torridon and the Applecross Peninsula. The site is on an elevated site overlooking the beautiful Shieldaig Island, in the heart of a historic fishing village which provides campers with some useful amenities.

Facilities include new heated shower and toilet facilities, washing up area, laundry as well as 20 hard standing powered plots for motorhomes and caravans. 5 minute walk from the campsite is is a local pub and seafood restaurant as well as a fabulous coffee shop with amazing cakes and a local stop stocked with essentials.

Port a Bhaigh Campsite

Port a Bhaigh is a stunning, family-run campsite in Altandhu, a hamlet approximately 5 miles northwest of Achiltibuie on the Coigach Peninsula. The campsite is open 365 days a year and offers hardstanding and tent pitches a stone’s throw away from the sandy shores of the Minch with spectacular views over the Summer Isles.

The washrooms at the campsite are clean, centrally located and only a short walk from the pitches. Facilities at the wash rooms include 24-hour toilets, showers, a dish washing area and a laundry. There is also a well-stocked shop on site with a selection of groceries and emergency camping equipment.

Am Fuaran Bar is a fantastic (and very conveniently situated) Bar and Restaurant a short walk from the campsite. As well as being the perfect spot for sundowners after setting up camp, Am Fuaran offers a great selection of traditional and seafood meals with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

The sheltered bay is a great spot for watersports such as snorkelling, sea kayaking or paddle boarding.