There are very few places in the world that can match Scotland for its breathtaking scenery, cultural landmarks, and of course, their kilts, bagpipes, and haggis.
It was recently voted the most beautiful country in the world by Rough Guide, seeing off stiff competition from Canada, New Zealand, and Italy. It’s no wonder over 15 million tourists (and growing) flock there every year to take it all in!
With so many tourists, the most popular landmarks can be extremely busy. If you visit Edinburgh Castle on a nice weekend in August, for example, expect the crowds and the high tourist prices. Same goes with the National Museum of Scotland.
But if you want to see a different side to Scotland, one that isn’t dominated by snap happy tourists and one that will get you back to nature, then you should wild camp your way around everything wonderful that Scotland has to offer.
Wondering where to start? Read on as I show you the best places to wild camp in Scotland!
What Is Wild Camping?
Wild camping is allowed in most parts of Scotland, which means that as long as you follow some common sense rules, you can pitch your tent wherever you like.
There is no better way to explore and enjoy the Scottish countryside other than wild camping. Witnessing the sunset across picturesque landscapes and watching the sky turn to stars with no one else around is the perfect food for the soul.
Places to Wild Camp in Scotland
Planning a wild camping trip in Scotland is easy because there’s no right or wrong way to do it. You could spend an entire week completely lost with no idea where to go and still have an amazing time!
But of course, it’s best (and safe!) if you do a little planning beforehand. So here are some places to check out:
The Lochs
Scotland is famous for its Lochs and finding one to wild camp by is a must. The most famous Loch in Scotland is Loch Lomond, partly due to the (fictional?) monster that’s thought to reside there.
Because of its fame, Loch Lomond can get exceptionally busy, whether you’re looking to stay the water or just find somewhere to pitch up. By all means, visit Loch Lomond and tick it off your bucket list!
But once you’re done, get away from the crowds and head to a quieter Loch. Not to worry, there’s plenty to choose from!
Loch Awe is about 90 minutes from Lomond and has significantly fewer tourists. What I did after the amazing trip was to take a boat out and explore the uninhabited islands for a fraction of the cost of Loch Lomond.
And if you’re feeling really adventurous, spend the night there, get a fire going, and just sit back and enjoy. When I visited the area, I was amazed with the amazing surroundings and how serene it was, with the many stars and colorful sunrise.
Pro tip
If you want a good fire, the local garage stocks bags of Certainly Wood dried logs which are far easier to get going and burns just like a fire should.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye can be accessed from the mainland by bridge and offers unlimited wild camping opportunities with stunning surroundings. After my memorable camping trip, I visited Oyster Shed with family, which offers mouthwatering seafood dishes (be prepared though, it’s literally a shed).
It was such a sumptuous meal and a perfect ending to the camping trip.
After that, I would recommend you to take a worthwhile trip to the Fairy Pools, which looks like a dream (children will certainly enjoy it!).
It likes to rain on the Isle of Skye, and while it was fun, I would recommend you to prepare for the wet weather when pitching your tent. It’s all part of the fun.
Finally- Take Your Pick!
There are so many good spots to wild camp in Scotland that it’s impossible to list them all!
Plus, the ones you choose will depend on the route you take.
Glen Nevis, Glencoe, Harris, Isle of Arran, Cairngorms, Kilmory Bay, Sandwood Bay - the list goes on. And that means even more adventures and room for you to explore the great Scotland!
Conclusion
I hope that this article on Scotland and where to wild camp around the area has helped you know where to go next time you’d like to take on a whole new adventure. So don’t wait any longer! If you’ve been planning on wild camping, start off with the beautiful and amazing Scotland.
Do you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences when wild camping in Scotland? Then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.​
(This is a guest post)
I’m glad you didn’t list specific places to wild camp – I’m sure you know of many but publicising them just means they’ll get overcrowded. I’ve lost many of my favourite spots because of this. Good post!
Hi Di,
Sorry to hear that!
You are right, thank you for sharing your story with us.