NW Scotland car camping ideas

[Shewie]

Me and the misses are planning a trip up to NW Scotland in summer, probably a week to ten days or possibly more depending on the weather. I'm no stranger north of the border but I haven't ventured much further than Glenfinnan in recent years, I'm not counting my TGO trip last year.
We'll be car camping so looking for a mix of nice proper campsites and a few wild camps mixed in amongst. I have fond childhood memories of castles on lochs, fish and chips and The Rainbow Warrior in Ullapool, and almost getting blown off my feet in Durness. I remember spitting out raw salmon in a pub in Kyle of Lochalsh whilst my dad chatted to the bar man about some hair brained idea of building a bridge to Skye. I also remember getting dropped off by my folks somewhere near Drumrunie for a camping trip with my school mate, we got eaten alive by midges and in days before mobile phones, had to stick it out until the next morning when my mum came back to pick us up.

Can anybody recommend some nice family campsites up that way so I can start getting a route together.

Cheers

 

[Limaed]

Rich,

How about following the coast for a while? Badrallach nr Dundonnell is a nice site which also allows fires: http://www.badrallach.com/stay/camping.html

From here I would go to Achitbuie: http://www.portabhaigh.co.uk/index.html

Then perhaps onto Scourie:http://www.scourie.co.uk/index.htm

From the far North I would head for Durness (there is a good restaurant at the hotel here) then down past Ben Hope (there is a place you can camp next to the Loch, it's a very nice quiet spot despite being next to the road).

From there down to the Lazy Duck at Nethy Bridge: http://lazyduck.co.uk/camping-aviemore

Just a few ideas to get you started, I've stayed at all of these sites and would recommend them. Quite a bit to do in the local areas also, let me know if you want more detailed information.

 

[Nonsuch]

Arisaig - for that essential Local Hero experience. Calgary bay on Mull. Both quite rough, with limited facilities, but incredible views and beaches.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Yes Arisaig is special. You have the option of full on £15 a night sites or just a loo and sink but beachside sites,£5. The beachside sites with no hedging etc are almost midge free.

Beware that a lot of good sites are booked out by the English during August, so book a.s.a.p

 

[Shewie]

Rich,

How about following the coast for a while? Badrallach nr Dundonnell is a nice site which also allows fires: http://www.badrallach.com/stay/camping.html

From here I would go to Achitbuie: http://www.portabhaigh.co.uk/index.html

Then perhaps onto Scourie:http://www.scourie.co.uk/index.htm

From the far North I would head for Durness (there is a good restaurant at the hotel here) then down past Ben Hope (there is a place you can camp next to the Loch, it's a very nice quiet spot despite being next to the road).

From there down to the Lazy Duck at Nethy Bridge: http://lazyduck.co.uk/camping-aviemore

Just a few ideas to get you started, I've stayed at all of these sites and would recommend them. Quite a bit to do in the local areas also, let me know if you want more detailed information.

Arisaig - for that essential Local Hero experience. Calgary bay on Mull. Both quite rough, with limited facilities, but incredible views and beaches.

Yes Arisaig is special. You have the option of full on £15 a night sites or just a loo and sink but beachside sites,£5. The beachside sites with no hedging etc are almost midge free.

Beware that a lot of good sites are booked out by the English during August, so book a.s.a.p

Thanks chaps, I'll check those out.

I had a peak at Arisaig when we did the Shiel round a couple of years ago, I've been wanting to go back ever since.

Just looking at my ancient maps there looks to be a handful of sites on the road up to Morar from Arisaig, we'll defo swing by there.

Lots of English? It'll be like Magaluf but with rain and midges

 

[mercurykev]

I've just came back from a few days on Mull and Skye and have stayed at a few lovely sites on the west coast, here are my favorites:

Fidden Farm, Fionnphort, Mull - a stunning location with lovely beach
Shore Campsite, Achmelvich near Lochinver - http://shorecaravansite.yolasite.com/ an other stunning beach location
Sands Campsite, Gairloch - http://www.sandsholidaycentre.co.uk/ - dune camping, view of Skye and big beach to roam
Kinloch campsite, Dunvegan, Skye - http://www.kinloch-campsite.co.uk/ - head of a Loch Dunvegan near nice old hills.