Camping & Caravanning

in

North Scotland

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Aberdeenshire

Highland

Moray

Western Isles


Other regions in Britain


North Scotland contains what is probably the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in Britain.

The coastline is most spectacular on the north and west, where giant arms of rock reach out towards the islands. Between them are deep lochs, linked from east to west by countless rivers and streams feeding innumerable lakes surrounded by wooded glens and majestic peaks. The most dominant inland feature in the country is the great rift which extends diagonally from Inverness to Fort William, in which the Caledonian Canal provides a continuous waterway from the North Sea to the Atlantic.

The best known centre in the south is Aviemore on the ski slopes of the Cairngorms. At nearby Kingussie is the Highland Wildlife Park where bison, beaver, lynx and even rarer osprey can be seen in a natural setting. Southwest lies Ben Nevis, at 4406ft Britain’s highest mountain, and farther west still Loch Morar, our deepest lake.

On the west coast is Skye, linked between Fort William and Mallaig by the famous Road to the Isles. Ferries to the island run from Glenelg and Kyle of Lochalsh as well as from Mallaig. Portree and Broadford are handy bases for exploring the island. From Uig, in northern Skye, boats leave for the Outer Hebrides. Facing Skye between the Kyle of Lochalsh and Ullapool is a wild and magnificently remote region of mountain peaks and forests, for which Applecross, Torridon, Gairloch and Kinlochewe are obvious centres. Further north is Lochinver, most famous of all the west coast fishing villages.

The northern coast has its own rugged grandeur and fine beaches at Balnakiel Bay, reached from Durness. Here too are the cliffs of Clo Mor, at 900ft Britain’s highest, and the waterfall near Kylesku which plummets 660ft. The towns of Golspie, Dornoch, Helmsdale and Brora are each lively holiday centres with good beaches and facilities. Inland lie extensive nature reserves and national forest parks with awe-inspiring lochs and towering bens. Further south the Firths of Dornoch, Cromarty and Beauly flank not only high peaks but lush and fertile farmland and valleys brilliant with displays of wild flowers through the season.

The bold right angle of the Grampian coastline has many charming seaside villages and towns on its northern edge, while on the eastern edge after Peterhead fifteen miles of sands and dunes roll on towards the granite fishing port and resort of Aberdeen. West of Aberdeen is the pretty Dee Valley, with the royal hunting lodge of Balmoral and Braemar, home of the Highland Games. The Grampian is the main centre of whisky, too, and distilleries can be visited near Dufftown, Elgin and Keith.

Campsites on the west and north Highland are sparse. The eastern Highland is slightly better served, but the campsites all tend to be along the coast. The few inland often have primitive facilities and are very crowded in season. Sites in the east are more regularly spaced, but are too few to cope with the high demand in season.

For full details of all parks listed on our website, see the latest edition of Camping Caravanning Britain. Priced at £8.50, the book is available from WHSmith, Waterstone's, Blackwell's and other bookshops; alternatively, to order a copy directly click here.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this website is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers can accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. Always phone a park before visiting to check facilities and prices.