This tour takes you from east to west and north to south of the Scottish Highlands and to the Outer Hebrides. All these caravan parks take motorhomes and tents and are part of Thistle Holiday Parks, which have been awarded 4 or 5 stars by the national tourist board, which means that they are ‚excellent‘ or ‚exceptional‘. These parks also have firm pitches, many with hook-ups to electricity and water, plus shower blocks and launderettes. Most are close to public transport, so easy for backpackers to reach. We recommend that you spend at least two nights on these parks – take time to explore the area and to enjoy the scenery.
A few miles north of Inverness is the Black Rock Caravan Park, a small park, just off the main road to the north, set beside a river and sheltered by trees. It is in the village of Evanton, which has a shop and a pub, as well as a good bus service. Backpackers will get a special welcome – there is a bunkhouse, with kitchen.
If you decide to head further north, you come t the historic village of Dornoch, on the coast, and just beyond it Grannie’s Hielan‘ Hame, a large park, with a restaurant and leisure facilities, and right by the beach; you will find everything you need, right on the park.
From here head west through some of the most beautiful and remote countryside in the UK and on the shores of Little Lochbroom you will find Badrallach Camping Site; the magnificent scenery and the beaches are amongst the most spectacular in Scotland and you can hire a boat, bike, kayak or blokart. Public transport is further away, but the owners can come and collect you.
A few miles away is Ullapool, from where you can catch a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Stornoway, the main town on the Outer Hebrides; a few miles to the north is Laxdale Holiday Park, another small, family-run park which welcomes motorhomes and tents.
From the Outer Hebrides, you can catch another CalMac ferry to Uig on Skye and back to the mainland, before heading south to Gairloch and Sands Caravan and Camping Park – in a glorious location, right on the beach, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, well worth the long single-track road to get there.
The next step is south to Fort William and Oban and then on to Inveraray, where you will find the Argyll Caravan Park on the shores of Loch Fyne; nearby is the regal Inveraray Castle, one of the most important in Scotland.
Now it’s time to head for Glasgow, but make sure you stop at the Pine Trees Leisure Park in Tyndrum, close to Glencoe and on the West Highland Way. The park is ideal for motor homes and for tents – they have a large camping area, plus hiker huts for backpackers.
For more information on Thistle Holiday Parks and to plan your itinerary, visit:
Thistle Holiday Parks (in English)
For more information on Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries and their timetable and fares, visit:
Caledonian MacBrayne (in English)
Judith Sleigh
-Thistle Holiday Parks
Zusätzliche Informationen
- Webseite von Camping
- Webseite von Caledonian MacBrayne
Fotocredits: Udo Haafke / Thistle Holiday Parks
