11 Of The Best Campsites On The NC500 2026

If you’re road-tripping the incredible 500 mile route around the very northern tip of Scotland and wondering where to pitch up each night, then this is the blog for you.

Whether you’re taking a campervan, caravan, family tent or tiny lightweight shelter, I’m sharing 11 of the best campsites for peaceful nights under the stars. I’ve selected these sites based on my own personal experiences staying there, their fantastic facilities and epic locations with the best views.

Plus, to make planning your trip easier, I’ve plotted each of the campsites on the map below. As you can see, these picks are perfectly spaced around the NC500 route so you’ll never be far from a great rest stop. Read on to discover the full list working from east to west (the direction I’d recommend driving in!) and find more helpful tips below.

1. Fortrose Bay Campsite

Location: Fortrose (30 minutes from Inverness)

Price: £22 per night including one tent or campervan with two adults

Kicking things off just 30 minutes drive north of Inverness you’ll find the beautiful and tranquil Fortrose Bay. Not only is this campsite perfectly positioned facing the beach with sweeping views of the sea and Black Isle coast, but it’s one of the best places to spot bottlenose dolphins. The UK’s most northern colony of bottlenose dolphins call this bay home and being able to settle into your tent and watch them jump across the water is pretty special!

When it comes to facilities, the site has two sparkling clean toilet and shower blocks, a spacious wet room to dry soggy clothes, a communal kitchen with a fridge/freezer and a laundry area with washers and driers. Dogs are also very welcome!

Plus, Fortrose itself is a historic seaside village with a supermarket, bakery, café and handful of restaurants and is just a short walk from the campsite. Which makes stocking up on supplies for the journey or grabbing a bite to eat after a long day of exploring even easier!

2. Brora Caravan & Motorhome Club Campsite

Location: Brora

Price: From £16 per night for a tent and one adult

Heading up the north east coast, the next top spot is Brora. Here the beaches turn to pure golden sand and this campsite is perfectly positioned to make the most of it with pitches just 300 yards away.

The site is really well organised and clean so you can relax and make the most of opportunities to swim, watch Arctic Terns nesting by the beach or walk the scenic coastline.

Again, in terms of facilities they offer everything you could need with spacious toilet and shower blocks, a laundry room and dish washing area. Another great thing about this campsite is that you’re allowed BBQs and there’s additional dog parks and walking routes for those bringing furry friends.

3. Wick River Campsite

Location: Wick

Price: £19 per night for a tent and car with one adult, additional adults £2 per night

Further northeast you’ll come to the historic town of Wick, surrounded by brooding ruins of former castles. To explore this area to its fullest, spend the night at community-run Wick River Campsite where all profits go towards the support and development of the local area. So you can sleep soundly knowing you’re aiding a brilliant cause.

Not only that but this campsite is ideally positioned for easy access to Wick town centre and enjoys views over pretty Wick River. Plus, in July this year (2024), they just opened a brand new facilities building with beautifully modern and fresh toilets, showers, laundry room and washing up areas. So there’s not a dated shower in sight here!

4. Little Croft Highlands

Location: Mey

Price: £20 per night for a tent pitch and two adults

Curving around onto the north coast, you’ll come to the best reviewed campsite of them all – it’s five star Little Croft Highlands. This site is well-loved for a reason – it’s calm and quiet tucked off the beaten track, has easy access to tiny Scarfskerry harbour for swimming and gives you incredible sunrise and sunset views.

Owners, Christian and Vicks have poured their love into this campsite and it shows. Everything is thoughtfully designed, from their little indoor lounge area to shelter from the rain to extra helpful kitchen supplies.

You can also enjoy fresh hen and duck eggs from their resident on-site flock and sit back to watch Bert, Earnie, Rupert and Jasper the pygmy goats jump and play in their pen.

5. Halladale Inn

Location: Melvich

Price: £23 per night for a tent and two adults

Onwards towards iconic Melvich with its golden sand beaches and turquoise waters you’ll find Halladale Inn. This site was originally a crofting house built in 1882 which has been transformed into a cosy café and bistro to serve hearty breakfasts, lunch and dinner to weary travellers.

The reception also doubles as a shop selling local crafts, souvenirs and essentials while the kitchen has a microwave and kettle for making your own meals so you definitely won’t be going hungry here. Overall this is a really lovely friendly campsite with well kept facilities and some great food and drink right on your doorstep.

6. Sango Sands Oasis

Location: Durness

Price: £12 per person (£17 from November – March)

One of the most popular campsites on the whole NC500 route is Sango Sands and once you see the view, you’ll understand why…

The camping pitches are perched on the cliff above the beautiful golden sands of Durness, with winding paths and trails leading down to the water. Visiting this campsite is like an activity in itself – you’ll want to arrive earlier in the day to explore the beach, walk the cliff paths and go for a swim before sitting back to watch sunset by campfire.

And to fuel up after your day of adventure, why not have a BBQ on the beach or head to the on-site restaurant for freshly made pizza. Does it get any better than that?!

Just note – as this campsite is so popular in summer it fills up quickly so arrive earlier in the day to secure a pitch with a great view!

7. Scourie Caravan Park

Location: Scourie

Price: £13 per night for a tent pitch and one adult, additional adults £10 per night

Starting your journey south, peaceful Scourie awaits you. This smaller campsite is right on the water overlooking puffin haven, Handa Island and is the ideal spot to relax. We had a great evening here sitting out to watch the waves and wandering along the rocky shore before dinner.

All the facilities are perfectly clean and the grass is mostly flat and incredibly well maintained by their friendly team. You can’t go wrong with a night at this tranquil gem!

8. Clachtoll Beach Campsite

Location: Clachtoll

Price: £20 per night for tent pitch with one adult, additional adults £6 per night

Continuing on you’ll reach family run campsite, Clachtoll Beach. Again, as the name suggests this spot has a pretty special view over the grassy dunes, shimmering beach and water so clear it’s part of an award-winning snorkel trail. Guests also regularly spot dolphins, porpoise, minke whales and eagles as well as a whole host of sea birds.

To help you make the most of this position, the campsite also has a selection of canoes, kayaks and paddle boards that are free to use as well as beach games and fire pits. For handmade cakes, fresh eggs, local ice cream, milk and juice there’s also a little shop selling all kinds of irresistible treats.

So if you want to get out on the water and sample local produce then this is the place to be – you’re in for a magical stay!

9. Port a Bhaigh

Location: Altandhu

Price: £19 per night for a tent pitch and one adult, £27 for two adults

Port a Bhaigh meaning ‘Port of the Bay’ in Gaelic is a family run campsite that still sits on original land passed down through the generations. Today, it’s a calm haven for those travelling the NC500 and looking for the perfect waterside rest.

Just 50 pitches edge the bright blue water of the bay giving you prime access to swimming, canoeing or birdwatching while a small on-site shop sells everything you could need for a comfy and tasty stay. Expect friendly owners, spotless facilities and a great night’s sleep!

10. Sands Caravan & Camping

Location: Gairloch

Price: £27 per night for a tent pitch, car and two adults

Further southwest again you’ll come to Sands Caravan & Camping which continues the theme of epic coastal views. This time you’ll have unobstructed views across to the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides alongside picture perfect sandy beaches and rolling hills. If you’re keen to explore the striking Torridon mountains, this is also an ideal base as many of the trails start nearby.

In terms of facilities, you’ll stay cosy with three heated toilet and shower blocks, an indoor cooking and dining area, and a games room. You can also make the most of the Barn Café which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in their beautiful airy wood-panelled space.

11. Shieldaig Camping & Cabins

Location: Shieldaig

Price: £12.50 per person per night for a tent, £28 per campervan or roof tent for two people per night

Last but by no means least is your final stop – stunning Shieldaig campsite. This is a newer campsite, developed in 2019 by a young family with a love of the outdoors. With that in mind, the campsite is designed to be more peaceful and focus on your connection with nature.

You can feel this straight away as the site is nestled between the loch and a striking pointed hill that feels like something out of a film. It’s an incredible place to reflect on your journey around the NC500 and enjoy some last hikes and walks in the mountains.

There we have it – that’s my round up of the best camping spots on the iconic NC500 route. I hope you enjoy your nights under the stars as much as I did! If you have any questions about driving the NC500 or visiting wider Scotland, drop them in the comments box below and I’ll do my best to help. Happy travelling!

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