Best campsites on the NC500: 8 top picks for 2026

The best campsites on the NC500 range from dramatic clifftop pitches in the far north to sheltered bays on the west coast, with eight standout sites covering the full circuit. This guide covers the top campsites on the NC500 that Camplify's community of owners and hirers return to year after year, from Durness in the north to the Black Isle in the east. Pick up a campervan from a local owner in [Glasgow](https://www.paulcamper.de/wohnmobil-mieten/glasgow/) or [Edinburgh](https://www.paulcamper.de/wohnmobil-mieten/edinburgh/) and you're on the road.

Browse campervans and caravans for hire in NC500 if you already know your dates.

The best NC500 campsites in the far north and west

The northern loop of the NC500 is where the landscape shifts into something genuinely otherworldly. Driving up from Inverness, the route pushes through Easter Ross and Sutherland before reaching the Atlantic-facing coastline of the far northwest. Most drivers allow at least a week for the full circuit; Camplify trip data shows that hirers who pick up in Glasgow or Edinburgh typically cover the route over seven to ten days. For the full route breakdown, the Scotland NC500 road trip: complete motorhome guide is a useful starting point.

Sango Sands Oasis

Sango Sands Oasis sits on the clifftops above Durness, where the pitches look directly out over a series of white sand beaches and turquoise water that would look more at home in the Hebrides than the Scottish mainland. The campsite is the most popular among Camplify travellers on the entire NC500, and the setting explains why: on a clear evening, the light over Sango Bay is extraordinary, and the village of Durness is within walking distance for a meal or supplies.

Facilities are practical and well-maintained, with electric hook-up pitches available alongside hardstanding options. The site accommodates motorhomes and caravans of varying sizes, though larger outfits should book a specific pitch in advance. There is a shop on site and a pub nearby, which makes this one of the more self-sufficient stops on the northern coast.

Book well ahead for July and August, and particularly around the late May bank holiday weekend when demand peaks sharply. Camplify owners who know this stretch of road suggest arriving mid-afternoon on busy weekends to secure the best cliff-edge positions.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 3.5 hours' drive from Inverness

• Best for: Couples, families, and anyone prioritising dramatic scenery

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, showers, on-site shop, dog friendly

• Book ahead: July, August, and bank holiday weekends

Applecross Campsite

The road to Applecross Campsite crosses the Bealach na Bà, one of the highest and most dramatic mountain passes in Scotland. Many campervans and motorhomes take the longer coastal approach instead, but however you arrive, the peninsula rewards the effort. The campsite sits at the edge of Applecross Bay, with views across the Inner Sound to Raasay and the Cuillin of Skye on the horizon.

Hirers who've stayed here rate it highly for its combination of genuine remoteness and practical comfort. There are electric hook-up pitches, clean facilities, and the famous Applecross Inn is a short walk away, serving fresh seafood that regulars on the best campsites NC500 circuit plan their stops around.

Pitches fill quickly in summer, particularly from late June through August. The site is well-suited to dog-friendly trips and family camping, and the surrounding area offers excellent walking and wildlife watching. Red deer, otters, and sea eagles are regularly spotted on the peninsula.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 1 hour from Inverness via the coastal road, or slightly less via Bealach na Bà (not suitable for large vehicles)

• Best for: Wildlife lovers, couples, families, dog owners

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, toilets, dog friendly, adjacent to Applecross Inn

• Book ahead: Late June through August

NC500 campsites on the east coast and Wester Ross

The eastern stretch of the NC500 follows the Dornoch Firth and the Cromarty coastline, passing through market towns and fishing villages that see fewer visitors than the more-photographed northwest. Wester Ross, to the west, offers a middle section of the route that combines mountain scenery with sea lochs and some of the finest coastal camping in Scotland.

Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park

Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park is a well-run, family-friendly site on the edge of the historic cathedral town of Dornoch, a short walk from the beach and town centre. The campsite is well-regarded by the Camplify community for its balance of facilities and location: Dornoch itself has good shops, restaurants, and the famous Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which gives non-golfers a pleasantly uncrowded town to explore.

Pitches include electric hook-up options and hardstanding for motorhomes and caravans. The site is maintained to a high standard and suits travellers who want a quieter stop after the more exposed camps further north.

Camplify owners in the area suggest Dornoch as a practical overnight for hirers who want to break the drive back south, with the town worth a proper half-day rather than just a fuel stop.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 1 hour north of Inverness

• Best for: Families, couples, golfers, those seeking a town-based stop

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

• Book ahead: July and August, and Open Championship years at Royal Dornoch

Gairloch Holiday Park

Gairloch Holiday Park occupies a sheltered position near the village of Gairloch on the Wester Ross coast, with views over the bay and easy access to some of the best beaches on the entire NC500 route. Camplify travellers consistently rate this site for its proximity to Gairloch Beach and the Inverewe Garden, a National Trust for Scotland property within easy driving distance.

The park is a solid all-rounder with electric hook-up pitches, modern facilities, and a welcoming atmosphere for families and couples alike. The village has a good pub, a marine aquarium, and a handful of independent shops, making it a comfortable base for a two-night stay.

For those planning a longer stop, the surrounding hills offer excellent hillwalking and the sea loch is used for kayaking and sea angling. Hirers who've stayed here note that the sunsets over Loch Gairloch make early evening at the pitch well worth staying in for.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Inverness, via the A832

• Best for: Families, couples, outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife watchers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, laundry, dog friendly, shop nearby

• Book ahead: July, August, and school half-term weeks

Camping near the Dornoch Firth and Loch Ness

The southern and central parts of the NC500 circuit offer a different pace. The Dornoch Firth has a quiet, understated quality that many hirers find a relief after the wilder northern roads, and Loch Ness needs little introduction, even if its famous resident continues to disappoint. These two sites suit travellers at either the start or the end of their circuit, and both are popular among those driving the 11 best NC500 campsites for motorhomes route.

Dornoch Firth Caravan Park

Dornoch Firth Caravan Park sits on the southern shore of the Dornoch Firth, with direct views across the water and a calm, unhurried atmosphere that makes it a favourite among Camplify hirers looking for a restful stop. The firth itself is a designated Special Protection Area, attracting ospreys, dolphins, and wading birds, which means the wildlife watching from your pitch can be surprisingly rewarding.

The site offers hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up and is well-suited to motorhomes and caravans. It is a smaller, quieter park than some others on this list, which suits travellers who prefer a less commercial feel.

Camplify owners familiar with this part of the route suggest pairing a stay here with a visit to the Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain, just a short drive away, which gives the site an additional pull beyond its natural setting.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 50 minutes north of Inverness, near Tain

• Best for: Couples, retirees, wildlife enthusiasts, whisky tourists

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, showers, dog friendly

• Book ahead: Summer weekends and bank holidays

Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site is set above the village of Foyers on the eastern shore of Loch Ness, with pitches that look directly across the loch. The Camping and Caravanning Club manages the site to a reliably high standard, and it is well-rated by the Camplify community for its combination of lochside scenery and practical facilities.

The Foyers Waterfall is a short walk from the site, a genuinely impressive drop into a gorge above the loch, and worth the fifteen-minute detour on any visit. The site has a motorhome service point, electric hook-up, and hardstanding pitches, and non-Club members can book in advance.

This is one of the best options for families on the NC500 who want easy access to the Great Glen Way and the visitor centres at Drumnadrochit, both within a reasonable drive.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 25 minutes from Inverness, on the B852 via the south shore

• Best for: Families, motorhome tourers, hillwalkers, Loch Ness enthusiasts

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding, motorhome service point, showers, laundry, dog friendly

• Book ahead: School holidays and July to August

Coastal and peninsula campsites on the NC500

The northwest and Black Isle sections of the route offer two very different camping experiences: raw, off-grid adjacent camping on an Assynt beach, and a relaxed bay-side site just across the water from Inverness. Both represent the best campsites on the NC500 for travellers who want to combine scenery with accessibility.

Shore Caravan Site Achmelvich

Shore Caravan Site Achmelvich is right on the beach at Achmelvich Bay in Assynt, one of the most striking stretches of coastline in Scotland. The site is a go-to for Camplify regulars who know the NC500 well, praised for its unbeatable position directly above the white sand beach and the genuinely peaceful atmosphere that comes with its remote location.

Facilities are basic by design, which suits the setting: this is camping as it should feel in the Scottish northwest, with electric hook-up available but without the resort-style additions that would feel out of place here. The site is suitable for campervans and smaller motorhomes; larger outfits should check pitch dimensions before booking.

The Assynt area offers some of the most dramatic hillwalking in Scotland, with Suilven and Stac Pollaidh within reach. Hirers who've stayed at Achmelvich consistently mention the stargazing: light pollution is minimal this far from any town.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes northwest of Inverness

• Best for: Couples, adventurous travellers, walkers, stargazers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, direct beach access, dog friendly

• Book ahead: July and August fill very quickly; early booking essential

Fortrose Bay Campsite

Fortrose Bay Campsite sits on the Black Isle peninsula, looking out over the Moray Firth from its position at Fortrose Bay. It is one of the best spots on the NC500 for dolphin watching, as the Chanonry Point bottlenose dolphin population regularly comes close to shore, particularly on an incoming tide.

A favourite spot for Camplify hirers finishing or starting the NC500 route, the site is close enough to Inverness to use as a practical first or last night stop, while feeling genuinely removed from the city. The town of Fortrose has a ruined cathedral and a good choice of local shops and cafes.

Pitches include electric hook-up options and the site is dog friendly, which makes it a natural fit for pet owners who want to end their NC500 trip with a relaxed, scenery-rich overnight.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approximately 30 minutes from Inverness, via the Kessock Bridge

• Best for: Couples, families, dolphin watchers, those beginning or ending the NC500

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, dog friendly, proximity to Chanonry Point

• Book ahead: Summer weekends and bank holidays

More camping destinations nearby

The NC500 sits within a wider network of outstanding Scottish destinations worth exploring before or after your circuit. Whether you continue south or take a ferry to the islands, there is no shortage of remarkable camping country nearby.

• Best campsites in Scotland – a wider round-up of top sites across the entire country, from the Borders to the Outer Hebrides

• Best campsites in the Scottish Highlands – focused on the Highlands region with options beyond the NC500 corridor

• Best campsites on the Isle of Skye – Skye is a natural extension of any NC500 trip, with spectacular campsite options across the island

• Best campsites at Loch Lomond – the closest major camping destination to Glasgow, ideal for a warm-up trip before the NC500

• Best campsites in Argyll – a coastal alternative south of the Highlands, with sea loch scenery and excellent wild camping access in Argyll & Bute

Ready to drive the NC500?

The best campsites on the NC500 are well worth booking early, particularly for summer and bank holiday travel. Pick up a campervan or caravan from a local owner near your starting point and you have the freedom to move at your own pace. Search available vehicles across Scotland and find the right hire for your trip.