Some of the best family holidays are camping holidays, and Scotland has some of the best campsites in the UK. One area in particular stands out, and that’s Sutherland in the north-west.
Famed for it rugged beauty, secluded white beaches, mountains, small lochs, peace and serenity, there are a number of stunning campsites in the area, most of them open from April onwards.
Campsites tend to be on the small to medium size in this part of the world, and pitches are usually on short cropped grass. Facilities can be pretty basic and apart from shower and toilet blocks, there’s no games’ room, pools, or other entertainment laid on.
This is ‘get away from it all’ type camping that’s suitable for families looking for more active holidays that include picnics, exploring the coastline and beaches, walking trips into the hills, fishing, cycling, or just relaxing in camp.
Sutherland is a magical part of the world and camping is one of the best ways of discovering the area for yourself. Spring is also a great time to come, just make sure you pack some warm clothes in case the nights get chilly.
In summer you can enjoy the long days and 'white nights' when it barely gets dark at all. If you’re coming from the south, head for Inverness and then take the A835 for Ullapool, on the north west coast.
The further you travel, the narrower the roads become, often single track roads with passing places. Ullapool itself is a bustling Highland village and harbour with a campsite, the Broomfield Holiday park, on the shores of Loch Broom, and is an excellent place to start your camping trip.
Heading further along the coast, there are places where you can wild camp if that’s your thing, but family camping is available throughout the area.
Past Ullapool, there is a campsite right on the beach, at Achmelvich and another, a little further up the coast, at Clach Toll Beach Campsite. Both offer great pitches on short cropped grass, yards away from white sandy beaches. One way to discover the area is to set up camp here and make day trips further north – Durness and Cape Wrath is easily within reach – or head inland to the famous mountains of Suilvan, Foinaven, and Arkle.
Durness village has a campsite on a headland overlooking the sea, with uninterrupted views in every direction, called Sago Sands. Pitches are on the cliffs overlooking a bay where whales, seals, and Bottlenose dolphins are frequent visitors.
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