Best campsites on the Isle of Skye: 8 top picks

The best campsites on the Isle of Skye span the island's dramatic length, from the Cuillin foothills in the south to the fossil-rich Trotternish coast in the north. This guide covers 8 top Isle of Skye campsites chosen by Camplify's community of owners and hirers, with honest advice on facilities, access and when to book.camplify.co.uk/blog/glasgow-to-skye-road-trip) by campervan is one of Scotland's great journeys.

Browse campervans and caravans for hire in Isle of Skye if you already know your dates.

Picking up a campervan from a local owner in Glasgow or Edinburgh makes Skye far more accessible than it might seem. Camplify trip data shows that most travellers allow at least five nights to do the island justice, with bank holiday weekends in May and the July-August school holidays seeing the heaviest demand across all sites below.

Best campsites on the Isle of Skye: Cuillin and west coast sites

Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe

Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe sits at the foot of the Black Cuillin ridge, at the end of a single-track road that feels like it was designed to test your commitment to adventure. This is the most dramatically positioned of all the Isle of Skye campsites, with Coire Lagan rising directly behind the pitches and Loch Brittle stretching to your front.

Popular among Camplify travellers for its raw, off-grid feel, Glenbrittle draws serious hillwalkers who want to be on the Cuillin ridgeline before breakfast. That said, the adjoining café has improved the site's comfort considerably and makes a reasonable base even for those who simply want to sit and look at mountains rather than climb them. The site has a motorhome service point, a shower block and a small shop. Pitches are largely hardstanding or firm grass with electric hook-up options available.

Hirers who've stayed here consistently rate it as one of the best campsites on the Isle of Skye for sheer atmosphere, though they're quick to note the road in is narrow and long vehicles should approach with care. For more motorhome-specific tips on arriving here, the 5 best motorhome campsites on stunning Isle of Skye guide is worth reading before you set off.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 1 hr 20 min from Portree; 3 hrs 30 min from Glasgow

• Best for: Hillwalkers, mountaineers, landscape photographers, dog-friendly camping

• Key facilities: Showers, café, small shop, electric hook-up, motorhome service point

• Book ahead: Essential from late June through August and all bank holiday weekends

Skye Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Skye Camping and Caravanning Club Site occupies a sheltered valley position near Edinbane, on the quieter western side of Skye. The site benefits from good tree coverage that offers a degree of wind shelter, which matters more than you might think on an island where westerly gales arrive without much warning.

Well-rated by the Camplify community for its clean facilities and reliable hook-ups, this site suits families and those who prefer a managed, maintained environment over the more raw feel of some of Skye's wilder pitches. The Camping and Caravanning Club's site standards mean reliable showers, hardstanding pitches and a motorhome service point. It's also conveniently placed for day trips to Dunvegan Castle and the Coral Beach at Claigan.

Camplify owners who know this part of the island suggest arriving mid-week if possible, as weekend demand spikes sharply in summer. Non-members can stay but may pay a slightly higher nightly rate.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 25 min from Portree; 3 hrs 30 min from Glasgow via Skye Bridge

• Best for: Families, first-time campervan hirers, pet-friendly camping, longer stays

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, motorhome service point, showers, club membership discounts

• Book ahead: Peak school holidays and bank holiday weekends

Camping on the Isle of Skye's north and Trotternish peninsula

Staffin Caravan & Camping Site

Perched on the Trotternish peninsula above the village of Staffin, Staffin Caravan & Camping Site is one of the most scenically rewarding Isle of Skye campsites for those exploring the north of the island. The Quiraing is a short drive away, and on a clear morning the landslip formations glow amber before the rest of Skye has woken up.

A community favourite, particularly among hirers who make the full circuit of the island, Staffin combines genuinely dramatic surroundings with a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. Facilities are practical rather than luxurious: showers, toilets and electric hook-up for motorhomes and caravans. The village itself has a small shop and a café, and the coastline here is known for its dinosaur footprint sites, which makes this a surprisingly good stop for families travelling with curious children.

The road through Trotternish is manageable for most campervans, though the Quiraing loop road is tight and better suited to smaller vehicles.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 35 min from Portree; 4 hrs from Glasgow

• Best for: Landscape seekers, families, geology enthusiasts, dog-friendly camping

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, toilets, nearby village amenities

• Book ahead: July and August, and the spring bank holiday weekend

Uig Bay Caravan and Campsite

The ferry port village of Uig sits in a sweeping bay at the top of Trotternish, and Uig Bay Caravan and Campsite makes the most of that setting. Pitches look directly across the bay, and on clear evenings the light on the water is the kind of thing that makes you stay an extra night.

Recommended by owners in the area as a smart base for exploring both the north of Skye and the Outer Hebrides (CalMac ferries to Harris and North Uist leave from Uig), this site has good practical facilities including electric hook-ups and a toilet and shower block. It's a well-organised site that suits those driving a loop of the island and arriving from the Staffin direction. The Edinburgh to Isle of Skye road trip commonly finishes or pivots at Uig.

For off-peak travellers, September is a particularly rewarding month here: the crowds thin, the midges ease and the bay light is at its most golden.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 55 min from Portree; 4 hrs 10 min from Glasgow

• Best for: Island-hoppers, touring couples, photographers, motorhome travellers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, toilets, close to ferry terminal

• Book ahead: Summer school holidays and ferry connection dates

Isle of Skye camping near Portree and central Skye

Portree Campsite

Portree Campsite gives you the rare combination of walking into Skye's main town and waking up to open countryside. Portree is the island's hub: there are proper restaurants, a Coop, a pharmacy and a harbour that looks good from every angle regardless of the weather. For those picking up a campervan from a local owner and arriving fresh to the island, this is a practical and welcoming first stop.

A go-to for Camplify regulars doing a first Skye trip, Portree Campsite offers electric hook-ups, hardstanding pitches and decent shower facilities. It's within walking distance of the town centre, which means you can leave the van parked and explore on foot. Families rate it particularly well for that reason. The campsite fills fast in summer so advance booking is strongly advised.

Quick facts:

• Distance: In Portree; approx. 3 hrs from Glasgow, 3 hrs 30 min from Edinburgh

• Best for: First-time Skye visitors, families, town-access camping, shorter stays

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, showers, toilets, walking distance to town

• Book ahead: Essential July to August; advisable from May onwards

Sligachan Campsite

At the crossroads of Skye, where the road from the bridge splits north towards Portree and south towards the Cuillin, Sligachan Campsite occupies one of the island's most famous viewpoints. The old stone bridge framing Sgurr nan Gillean behind it is one of Scotland's most photographed compositions, and from a campsite pitch, it's simply your view at breakfast.

The site is managed by the Sligachan Hotel, which means the adjacent pub and restaurant are a genuine bonus on a wet Skye evening. Camplify travellers heading here in summer should know that this is a working crossroads and the site sees considerable passing traffic, but the scale of the landscape quickly puts that into perspective. Facilities are adequate rather than extensive: showers, toilets and space for motorhomes and tents across a mix of grass and hardstanding.

For hillwalkers, Sligachan is an ideal base for the Cuillin approach routes without the single-track road commitment of Glenbrittle.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 30 min from Portree; 3 hrs from Glasgow

• Best for: Hillwalkers, photographers, pub-adjacent camping, central touring base

• Key facilities: Showers, toilets, adjacent hotel and pub, hardstanding available

• Book ahead: July and August, and the October half-term week

Campsites on the Isle of Skye: south and Sleat peninsula

Kinloch Campsite

Kinloch Campsite sits at the head of Loch na Dal on the Sleat peninsula, the southernmost finger of Skye that many visitors drive straight past on their way north. That's their loss. Sleat is greener and more sheltered than the rest of the island, and the views across to Knoydart on the mainland are quietly spectacular.

Recommended by the Camplify community as a rewarding place to spend the last night of a Skye loop before crossing back to the mainland, Kinloch offers a calmer, less crowded experience than sites further north. The campsite has electric hook-ups, shower facilities and good access for motorhomes. The nearby Armadale Castle and Gardens are within easy reach, as is the Mallaig ferry crossing for those planning an alternative route south.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 1 hr 10 min from Portree; 3 hrs 15 min from Glasgow via Skye Bridge

• Best for: Couples, off-peak travellers, wildlife seekers, those looping back south

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, toilets, pet friendly

• Book ahead: School summer holidays; quieter in May, June and September

Ashaig Camping and Caravan Site

Close to the hamlet of Breakish on the eastern side of the Sleat peninsula, Ashaig Camping and Caravan Site is an unfussy, down-to-earth site that serves travellers arriving via the Skye Bridge well. It's one of the first decent camping options you reach after crossing from Kyle of Lochalsh, which makes it a useful first night on the island without the pressure of driving further in fading light.

Facilities are functional: electric hook-ups, showers, toilets and open grassy pitches with views towards the water. The site is dog friendly, which the Camplify community of owners and hirers consistently highlights as a practical plus for those travelling with pets. Broadford village is close by for supplies, fuel and the nearest medical centre on the island. For those planning a 5 best Oban campsites stop as part of a wider Scottish tour, Ashaig works well as a bridge-crossing base.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 15 min from Skye Bridge; 3 hrs from Glasgow

• Best for: First night on Skye, dog-friendly camping, families, campervan travellers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, toilets, dog friendly, close to Broadford amenities

• Book ahead: July and August bank holiday weekends

More camping destinations nearby

Skye sits within a wider region of extraordinary Scottish camping, and many Camplify travellers combine an island visit with stops on the mainland. These guides cover the best sites in neighbouring areas.

• Best campsites in Scotland – a full tour of Scotland's finest campsites from the Borders to the far north

• Best campsites in the Scottish Highlands – mainland Highland sites that pair well with a Skye trip, from Glencoe to Torridon

• Best campsites at Loch Lomond – a natural first stop for those driving north from Glasgow before heading to Skye

• Best campsites on the NC500 – the north coast route shares Highlands scenery and often pairs with a Skye loop

• Best campsites in Argyll – loch-side and coastal sites through Argyll for those approaching Skye via the west coast

Ready to explore the best campsites on the Isle of Skye?

Finding the right campsite is only half the journey. Browse available campervans and caravans from local owners across Scotland at camplify.co.uk and pick up from an owner near you in Glasgow, Edinburgh or along the route north. The best campsites on the Isle of Skye fill fast in summer, so once you have your site booked, securing your vehicle early makes all the difference.