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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

West coast of Scotland Oban and north from there campsite suggestions this summer

17 replies

Poppity · 26/03/2009 13:47

We are going camping (trailer tent) in Scotland this summer. Up to Oban as we have friends there, then want to head North along the West coast.
Anyone know of any campsites? We prefer the smaller, more rural and less facilities ones really, with space for the kids to have a bit of freedom.
Also if anyone has any suggestions for must see places, that would be great too,
Thanks!

OP posts:

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mawbroon · 26/03/2009 20:19

Sands holiday centre at Gairloch is great.

North Ledaig at Oban is nice, but does have quite a lot of facilities!

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Northernlurker · 26/03/2009 20:28

is this too lacking in facilities?

Beautiful spot but would involve taking the ferry over and that's not cheap. Loads to see on Mull though.

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Fennel · 26/03/2009 20:29

Red Squirrel campsite at Glencoe is very nice. Few facilities and lots of space.

DP's favourite ever campsite is north of Lochinver, about an hour north of Ullapool, if you want to go that far. Right on the beach at a place called Achmelvich.

There are lots of other nice, low key campsites all up that coast, we've stayed in quite a few of them. One at Poolewe, right by the coast. Another by the sea inlet just north of Glencoe, you can swim in the sea from it. But I can't remember the names of those ones, we always just turn up and stop when we see a site we like.

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mawbroon · 26/03/2009 20:32

Ooooh, yes. Achmelvich is lovely.

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Fennel · 26/03/2009 20:39

All my favourite campsites don't have websites, but the one at Achmelvich is called Shore caravan site. Here are the reviews on ukcamping. www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=1728

On Skye, Glen Brittle campsite is lovely. by the beach, in the middle of mountaints.
www.dunvegancastle.com/content/default.asp?page=s20

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EsmeWeatherwax · 26/03/2009 20:50

Oh yes, would second Gairloch one, its my favourite place in the entire world, and Glenbrittle in Skye is absolutely beautiful! There's loads of walks round it too, including the Fairy Pools, lovely!

Gruinard Bay in Laide is good too, although again, maybe further North than you are thinking of.

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Mercedes · 27/03/2009 09:48

I remember going to Gairloch about 20 years ago to a campsite at the back of the village so everything was walkable.

I had a quick google and I think its the Gairloch camping and caravan park.

Gairloch was fab - lots of walks, the beach.

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Millimat · 27/03/2009 21:36

Not got a map in front of me. Is that near Mull? I want to go there becasue thats where they film a lot of Balamory and DS would be over the moon if he could see Balamory. But it's a long way to go so would need lots of other things there to see and do as well. Am going to put on a seperate post also to see if anyone has been to the site near there.

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Poppity · 27/03/2009 22:19

Wow! Thanks for all those, they all look great.
We may go straight up to Ullapool way after Oban, although I really like the look of it around Arisaig too, anyone have any experience around here. It seems the midges may be fewer here than further north?
We have to go in the summer holidays, so I'd like to have a few places in my sights if we don't book, they all say they're very busy at peak times.
Thanks again!

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Kbear · 27/03/2009 22:31

Go to Caolasnacon - see www.kinlochlevencaravans.co.uk. Been going there all my life, love it, my kids love it, friends love it, it is quiet, wild, lochside so you can have fires on the beach, lovely people run it, nice clean showers and toilets, Q U I E T.

Don't miss it.

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midnightexpress · 30/03/2009 11:48

Morvich is beautiful - it's caravan club, but I think they allow tents too. You're about 15 miles from the bridge over to Skye from here.

Also second Achmelvich, which is absolutely gorgeous, as is Arisaig.

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midnightexpress · 30/03/2009 11:51

I have heard bad reports of Red Squirrel though - it tends to get lots of climbers adn young folk, so can be quite erm rowdy, especially at weekends. if you wanted somthing quieter, it sunds like the Kinlochleven one might be a better bet (though I haven't been there myself).

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nuttysquirrel · 05/04/2009 00:12

Sorry to say Poppity, that midges are pretty much everywhere on the west coast, but being next to the sea does help, well only if its windy.....

If you are going to 'Balamory' a great way to get back (and head north) is via the Fishnish to Lochaline vehicle ferry,
maybe visit Sanna bay
www.sannabay.co.uk/

......and Tioram Castle
www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/tioram.htm

and up to Arisaig.....nice campsite
www.road-to-the-isles.org.uk/camusdarach-campsite.html

Calmac ferry to Skye from Mallaig then mini ferry to Glenelg...
www.skyeferry.co.uk/

then visit brochs pub etc.....
www.glenelg-inn.com/ www.lochalsh.co.uk/glenelg_broch.shtml

then north to Plockton....ullapool and my favourite area Inverpolly and the Summer Isles.....
could go on for ages, good general website is www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/index.html

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HolyGuacamole · 05/04/2009 00:31

Oh another vote for Sands at Gairloch, beautiful and right next to the gorgeous beach.

Check my profile pic, it's a beach near Arisaig, next to a campsite called Camusdarach. It is in the middle of nowhere, very quiet and peaceful. It's very clean, environmentally friendly and well laid out, clean toilets and showers but not much else (no shops or anything onsite). It's a very beautiful location, fantastic sunsets.

Nearest town is Arisaig a few miles away. There's also lots of nice walks and gorgeous scenery around, loads of roaming space for the kids.

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HolyGuacamole · 05/04/2009 00:32

Whoops, never noticed that nuttysquirrel mentioned Camusdarach

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blithedance · 05/04/2009 00:42

Ah the well known Dead Squirrel...

Vote for Glenbrittle here. Spend lovely days on the beach and fab fab fab walks into the Cuillins. Sligachan is near a pub, but needs to be as it's more sheltered and therefore midgy. You simply must go to Skye. Take the Mallaig ferry, (not forgetting the Ragamuffin shop on the pier), then over the bridge and head around to Applecross (the most beautiful place) and then the beaches get better the further north you go.

My IL's are caravanners and experts on the West Coast. They fond of Bunree, also we've stayed on Invercoe (both Glencoe area). Achmelvich is one of their favourites - I've seen the photos and it looks beautiful.

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Poppity · 09/04/2009 14:35

Thanks for all the info, we had looked at Red Squirrel, so I'm grateful for the inside info!
We have booked Portnadoran site near Arisaig, so many along there were already full!
We'll definitely go to Skye, and hope to go to Balamory too.
I hope we can get to some of the other places you've all let me know about, I've looked them up and bookmarked them all. Think I'll have to do an itinerary!can't wait!