Best campsites on the NC500: 8 top picks for 2026

The best campsites on the NC500 include eight standout sites spread across the far north, the west coast, the eastern firths and the Great Glen. From cliff-top pitches at Sango Sands to the beachside setting at Achmelvich, these NC500 campsites cover every stretch of Scotland's iconic coastal route. Based on thousands of Camplify trips, this guide gives you the ground truth on where to stay.

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

The NC500 loops roughly 500 miles around the northern Highlands, starting and ending in Inverness. From Glasgow, you're looking at around three hours to Inverness before the route even begins. From Edinburgh, it's a similar drive northeast. Most Camplify travellers allow at least a week on the road, and many take ten days to do it justice without feeling rushed.

Choosing where to stop is half the pleasure. The campsites on the NC500 range from wild, no-frills clifftop parks to well-serviced family sites with electric hook-up and motorhome service points. This guide covers all eight, grouped by geography so you can plan your route sensibly. If you're planning a motorhome trip specifically, the Scotland NC500 road trip: complete motorhome guide is worth reading alongside this.

NC500 campsites on the far north coast

Sango Sands Oasis

Sango Sands Oasis sits on the clifftops above two sandy bays in Durness, at the very northwest corner of mainland Britain, and it is consistently one of the most popular among Camplify travellers on the entire NC500. The views from the pitches are genuinely hard to beat: the Atlantic stretches out below, the beaches glow white on a clear day, and the wind comes in hard enough to make you glad you brought a proper jacket. The site accommodates tents, tourers, motorhomes and campervans, with hardstanding pitches available for those who prefer not to wrestle with soft ground after a shower.

Hirers who've stayed here rate it highly for the sense of remoteness combined with a reasonable level of facilities, including electric hook-up, a shop and a café. Durness itself has a small community with a post office and a few local businesses, so you won't be entirely off-grid. Camplify owners who know this area suggest arriving before mid-afternoon in July and August, when pitches fill quickly and the coastal views draw a crowd. It's also a solid base for visiting Smoo Cave and the ferry crossing to Cape Wrath. For motorhome-specific pitch advice, see the 11 best NC500 campsites for motorhomes.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 4 hours' drive from Inverness (the nearest city-sized hub)

• Best for: Couples, solo travellers, photographers, those seeking dramatic coastal scenery

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, shop, café, toilets and showers

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

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Sango Sands Oasis.

Applecross Campsite

Applecross Campsite sits on the shoreline of Applecross Bay on the west coast, with views across the Inner Sound to the Cuillin mountains on Skye. Getting there means crossing the Bealach na Bà, one of Britain's highest and most dramatic mountain passes. The pass is not suitable for large motorhomes or long caravans, so if you're driving something substantial, the alternative coastal road via Shieldaig is the sensible choice. Hirers who've stayed here consistently describe the arrival, by either route, as one of the highlights of the entire NC500.

The campsite itself is simple and well run, with grass pitches close to the beach and a range of facilities including showers and electric hook-up on selected pitches. The village has a famous inn, a seafood bar and a community-run shop, which means evenings here tend to be rather pleasant. Camplify's community of owners and hirers often recommends Applecross as one of the best spots to pause for a night or two rather than a single overnight stop.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Approx. 75 miles south of Ullapool; around 2.5 hours from Inverness

• Best for: Couples, adventure travellers, those wanting a village atmosphere with real scenery

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up (selected pitches), showers, toilets, nearby inn and shop

• Book ahead: July, August and bank holiday weekends; the site is popular and small

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Applecross Campsite.

Camping on the NC500: the eastern coast and Black Isle

Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park

Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park is set in and around the woodland bordering the Royal Dornoch Golf Course, one of the oldest and most celebrated links courses in Scotland. The town of Dornoch is a delight: a medieval cathedral, good local restaurants and a long sandy beach within easy walking distance of your pitch. It's one of the best-positioned campsites on the NC500's eastern leg, and feedback from Camplify's community of owners and hirers places it among the most reliable family camping options on the route.

The site offers a good spread of pitches including hardstanding with electric hook-up, tent pitches and seasonal touring options. Facilities are well maintained and the location is calm without feeling remote. Camplify travellers heading here with children particularly rate the beach access and the low-key pace of Dornoch as a welcome change after the busier stretches further north. Dogs are welcome, making it a practical choice for pet friendly camping.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Around 65 miles north of Inverness; approximately 1 hour 15 minutes' drive

• Best for: Families, couples, dog owners, golfers

• Key facilities: Hardstanding and grass pitches, electric hook-up, showers, toilets, laundry

• Book ahead: Summer school holidays and bank holiday weekends

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park.

Gairloch Holiday Park

Gairloch Holiday Park occupies a prime spot above the village of Gairloch on the west coast, with wide views across the bay toward the Torridon mountains. Gairloch is a proper working village with a heritage museum, a handful of good places to eat and a beach that, on a rare sunny Highland day, is genuinely beautiful. The park suits both those driving motorhomes looking for a comfortable hook-up and those after a more relaxed, less polished experience. Camplify travellers recommend it as a strong mid-route stop when travelling the western side of the NC500.

The site is dog friendly and accommodates a range of setups, from motorhomes on hardstanding to tourers on grass pitches. Gairloch itself is a useful resupply stop, with a small supermarket and a petrol station. Hirers who've stayed here rate it highly for the combination of facilities and scenery, noting that the sunsets over the bay make a late arrival entirely forgivable.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Around 80 miles northwest of Inverness; approximately 1 hour 45 minutes' drive

• Best for: Families, motorhome travellers, dog owners, those exploring Torridon

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, hardstanding pitches, showers, toilets, onsite shop

• Book ahead: July and August, and any bank holiday weekend

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Gairloch Holiday Park.

Best campsites on the NC500: firths, glens and Loch Ness

Dornoch Firth Caravan Park

Dornoch Firth Caravan Park is positioned beside the Dornoch Firth, a sheltered sea inlet on the NC500's eastern stretch, offering a quieter and more sheltered alternative to open coastal sites. The park is tidy, well-run and popular among Camplify travellers who prefer a calmer pitch without sacrificing access to the route. The firth itself provides attractive views and a sense of real Highland solitude, particularly in the shoulder months of May, June and September.

It's a practical site with electric hook-up, good shower facilities and level pitches suited to caravans and motorhomes. The nearby Struie viewpoint and the Carbisdale Castle woodland walks make good half-day excursions from here. Based on feedback from Camplify's community of owners and hirers, this park works well as either a first-night stop heading north or a final-night stop on the return leg toward Inverness.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Around 50 miles north of Inverness; approximately 55 minutes' drive

• Best for: Couples, retirees, those looking for a quieter firth-side setting

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, showers, toilets, level pitches for tourers and motorhomes

• Book ahead: Summer peak and bank holidays; a popular stop on the eastern leg

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Dornoch Firth Caravan Park.

Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site sits on the southern shore of Loch Ness near Foyers, well away from the tourist noise of Drumnadrochit. The site is among the most highly rated on the entire NC500 circuit among Camplify travellers, and it's easy to see why. The loch is right there, massive and dark and properly atmospheric. The Falls of Foyers are a short walk away and are worth the effort, particularly after rain.

The site is run by the Camping and Caravanning Club and offers well-maintained facilities including electric hook-up, a motorhome service point, hardstanding pitches and good shower blocks. Non-members can book, though Club members receive a rate reduction. Hirers who've stayed here consistently describe it as one of the most memorable pitches on the entire route, combining accessibility with a sense of being genuinely in the landscape. Camplify owners who know this area suggest booking well in advance for any visit between June and September.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Around 25 miles south of Inverness; approximately 40 minutes' drive

• Best for: All traveller types; families, couples, solo motorhome travellers

• Key facilities: Electric hook-up, motorhome service point, hardstanding pitches, showers, toilets

• Book ahead: Essential June to September; a community favourite that fills fast

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site.

Top campsites on the NC500: the northwest and the Black Isle

Shore Caravan Site Achmelvich

Shore Caravan Site Achmelvich is set directly behind one of the finest beaches on the entire Scottish mainland, a small, curved bay of white sand and turquoise water near Lochinver on the northwest coast. It's compact, relatively basic and, on a bright summer day, quietly breathtaking. The site is one of the most highly rated among Camplify travellers on the NC500, and hirers who've stayed here frequently describe it as the pitch they'd return to first.

Facilities are straightforward rather than luxurious: electric hook-up is available, there are showers and toilets, and the beach is a two-minute walk from most pitches. That simplicity is part of the appeal. Camplify owners who know the northwest suggest that early arrival is important in summer, as the site is small and demand is consistently high. Lochinver, a few miles away, has a supermarket, a famous pie shop and a petrol station for longer stays.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Around 60 miles north of Ullapool; approximately 3 hours from Inverness

• Best for: Beach lovers, couples, those seeking off-grid camping atmosphere without full off-grid logistics

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

• Book ahead: Essential July and August; one of the most sought-after spots on the NC500

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Shore Caravan Site Achmelvich.

Fortrose Bay Campsite

Fortrose Bay Campsite sits on the Black Isle peninsula, facing Fortrose Bay and the Moray Firth. It's one of the better-known dolphin-watching spots in Scotland: the Chanonry Point colony of bottlenose dolphins is just along the road, and sightings from the shore are common in the right tidal conditions. For families, that alone makes it a memorable stop. The site is close enough to Inverness to serve as a start or finish point for those beginning or ending their NC500 journey, which makes it particularly practical.

The site is well maintained and pet friendly, with electric hook-up available and good facilities throughout. Fortrose town has independent shops, a café and a ruined 14th-century cathedral worth a short walk. Camplify travellers heading to or from the NC500 often use this as a first or last night stop, with Inverness city centre less than 20 minutes' drive away and the route proper beginning almost immediately.

Quick facts:

• Distance: Around 12 miles northeast of Inverness; approximately 20 minutes' drive

• Best for: Families, wildlife enthusiasts, dolphin spotters, those starting or finishing the NC500 near Inverness

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

• Book ahead: Summer weekends and bank holidays; popular for dolphin-watching visits

Can't tow? Get a campervan delivered to Fortrose Bay Campsite.

More camping destinations nearby

The NC500 sits within a wider network of Scotland's finest camping country. If you're extending your trip or planning a separate Scottish adventure, these destinations are part of the same region and well worth exploring.

• Best campsites in Scotland — a wider look at top camping across Scotland, from the Borders to the far north

• Best campsites in the Scottish Highlands — covers the broader Highland region beyond the NC500 corridor

• Best campsites on the Isle of Skye — Skye sits just off the western NC500 and makes a natural extension to any route

• Best campsites at Loch Lomond — a well-loved destination for those travelling north from Glasgow or central Scotland

• Best campsites in Argyll — covers the west coast south of the NC500, with sea lochs, islands and excellent family sites

Find your campervan or caravan for the NC500

The best campsites on the NC500 fill up fast, and the route rewards those who plan ahead. Browse campervans and caravans on Camplify to find the right vehicle for your trip, pick it up from an owner near you, or arrange delivery directly to your first campsite.