Sites in Highlands of Scotland
- Thread starter penazahar
- Start date
Highland region covers a fair amount of ground, is there anywhere you particularly want to be near?
We want to get up as far as John o Groats but we would be happy to leave the caravan further south and just drive up for a day visit. We also plan to do a circuit of the highlands so info on sites in Dingwall area, and at places down the West Coast would also be much appreciated
Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, CC site Inverness, CC site Dunnet Bay, Scourie Camping site, Durness ( could be a C&CC site), Poolewe C&CC site, Kinlochewe CC site, Bunree CC site, and there are many others. Would not recommend the site at John O'Groats.
The C.C. site at Dachalm-Brora is very nice with a beach 2 minutes away. 60 miles south of John O Groats and a pleasant drive via Helmsdale where theres an excellent chippy.
See the review I put on with pics on here ....
http://www.carryoncamping.org/viewtopic.php?t=201
See the review I put on with pics on here ....
http://www.carryoncamping.org/viewtopic.php?t=201
- Jun 20, 2005
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Hi Paul,
How long will you be away? All the sites mentioned are excellent.The sunsets at Scourie are breathtaking. Agree don't stay at John O'Groats site, but CC Dunnet Bay is lovely.Down the west coast after Scourie, Ardmair Point near Ullapool and then down to CC Morvich.
Cheers
Alan
How long will you be away? All the sites mentioned are excellent.The sunsets at Scourie are breathtaking. Agree don't stay at John O'Groats site, but CC Dunnet Bay is lovely.Down the west coast after Scourie, Ardmair Point near Ullapool and then down to CC Morvich.
Cheers
Alan
Went to John O' Groats this year.......what a disappointment........pay to get your photo taken at the milepost ( if you're daft enough )..... a few souvenir shops and that's about it.We stayed at Dunnet bay CC site which was recently refurbished and now has really good toilet /shower facilities.Walk onto the beach from the site and walk for miles.
Another site we found this year was :-
www.clachtollbeachcampsite.co.uk
The owners are so welcoming and helpful.The only drawback is a 7 mile single track road from Lochinver to get there,but well worth it in the end.Read the reviews for this campsite.....everyone raves about it.
Durness camp site is NOT a club site and is parked on the top of a high cliff.It was so windy when we were there.....certainly blew the cobwebs away!Toilets/showers were old and didn't appeal to me at all, so we only stayed 1 night.
If you like remote.....then the CC site Grummore ( Altnaharra ) is the place to be on the shores of Loch Naver.This is a NO facility site apart from electrics and water.A bird watchers paradise BUT 20 miles from the nearest shops and petrol etc.A wonderful place to chill out.
If you stop at the CC site at Inverness there are 2 large Tesco supermarkets where you can top up with groceries and diesel/petrol.The price of fuel in the highlands is horrendous.
Grantown on Spey also has a very good camp site with a top class toilet block and super pitches including Sky TV hookup.
Another site we found this year was :-
www.clachtollbeachcampsite.co.uk
The owners are so welcoming and helpful.The only drawback is a 7 mile single track road from Lochinver to get there,but well worth it in the end.Read the reviews for this campsite.....everyone raves about it.
Durness camp site is NOT a club site and is parked on the top of a high cliff.It was so windy when we were there.....certainly blew the cobwebs away!Toilets/showers were old and didn't appeal to me at all, so we only stayed 1 night.
If you like remote.....then the CC site Grummore ( Altnaharra ) is the place to be on the shores of Loch Naver.This is a NO facility site apart from electrics and water.A bird watchers paradise BUT 20 miles from the nearest shops and petrol etc.A wonderful place to chill out.
If you stop at the CC site at Inverness there are 2 large Tesco supermarkets where you can top up with groceries and diesel/petrol.The price of fuel in the highlands is horrendous.
Grantown on Spey also has a very good camp site with a top class toilet block and super pitches including Sky TV hookup.
Thanks a lot folks. Thats certainly given me a few to look at. Not sure whether the CC sites are Members Only but will check with them direct when I've decided which are in the right locations for us.
Not sure what the roads 'up the top' are like for towing so thought we might stay somewhere near Dingwall or Brora and then take car up to John o Groats area.
Would be grateful for any comments on suitability of roads up to Thurso/ John o Groats ?
Not sure what the roads 'up the top' are like for towing so thought we might stay somewhere near Dingwall or Brora and then take car up to John o Groats area.
Would be grateful for any comments on suitability of roads up to Thurso/ John o Groats ?
- Jun 20, 2005
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Paul,
Most of the roads are fine. Obviously there a number of single track ones with plenty of passing places and these posed no problem. Even the roads to Clachtoll and Grummore are no problem.The approach to Dalchalm was over a narrow bridge, easy enough.
If this is your first trip then I can say with cofidence you will not be disappointed with all the suggestions made here.
Cheers
Alan
Most of the roads are fine. Obviously there a number of single track ones with plenty of passing places and these posed no problem. Even the roads to Clachtoll and Grummore are no problem.The approach to Dalchalm was over a narrow bridge, easy enough.
If this is your first trip then I can say with cofidence you will not be disappointed with all the suggestions made here.
Cheers
Alan
Paul,
Another one for you:-
Ardmair Point 5 mls.north of Ullapool
www.ardmair.com
caravans pitched overlooking the water.Toilet facilities good and laundry facilities.
Grummore CC Site is members only.
Dalchalm CC site open to non members
Culloden Moor "
Another one for you:-
Ardmair Point 5 mls.north of Ullapool
www.ardmair.com
caravans pitched overlooking the water.Toilet facilities good and laundry facilities.
Grummore CC Site is members only.
Dalchalm CC site open to non members
Culloden Moor "
Paul,
Don't know what happened there but to continue....
Culloden Moor CC site ....open to non members....
as is Grantown on Spey
and Bunree
and Morvich
and Dunnet Bay.
The roads up there are fine for towing.....a lot quieter than down south and usually good vision ahead to see what's going on.Hubby said he would rather tow up north than down the Devon lanes any day.
Don't know what happened there but to continue....
Culloden Moor CC site ....open to non members....
as is Grantown on Spey
and Bunree
and Morvich
and Dunnet Bay.
The roads up there are fine for towing.....a lot quieter than down south and usually good vision ahead to see what's going on.Hubby said he would rather tow up north than down the Devon lanes any day.
Thanks Maureen
Thats all really helpful. Especially the Non Members info. Will save me a few phone calls. Thanks again
Thats all really helpful. Especially the Non Members info. Will save me a few phone calls. Thanks again
Paul
when are you going and have you made your plans yet? Can't wait for our tour of The Highlands starting 18 September for 16 nights.
Apart from a stopover on the long journey from Northampton, first base will be Dalchalm as our relatives are nearby in Golspie. I can echo everything that Lord B says about Dalchalm -a really peaceful site, superb walking along the beach with lots of wildlife. Last time our dog was being swooped on by Arctic Terns then found an adder on the shoreline! The red deer rut should be on and there are plenty of deer to be seen and heard (awesome, chilling sounds!) especially near Loch Brora - there is a park by the road where the keeper lives and there are nearly always at least 50 or so there as dusk is approaching. We drove then walked further up the glen and saw and heard 2 stags fighting on the top of the hill.
We then go onto new territory for us - over to the west coast to Clachtoll and we are really looking forward to it from all the reviews and pictures we have seen. Then, instead of admiring the views in Perthshire on the way back home with a promise to come and explore one year, we are finally are going to stay there for 5 nights at a CL just outside Blairgowrie.
Sorry for the length of this post, but just thinking about up there has made me wax lyrical!
when are you going and have you made your plans yet? Can't wait for our tour of The Highlands starting 18 September for 16 nights.
Apart from a stopover on the long journey from Northampton, first base will be Dalchalm as our relatives are nearby in Golspie. I can echo everything that Lord B says about Dalchalm -a really peaceful site, superb walking along the beach with lots of wildlife. Last time our dog was being swooped on by Arctic Terns then found an adder on the shoreline! The red deer rut should be on and there are plenty of deer to be seen and heard (awesome, chilling sounds!) especially near Loch Brora - there is a park by the road where the keeper lives and there are nearly always at least 50 or so there as dusk is approaching. We drove then walked further up the glen and saw and heard 2 stags fighting on the top of the hill.
We then go onto new territory for us - over to the west coast to Clachtoll and we are really looking forward to it from all the reviews and pictures we have seen. Then, instead of admiring the views in Perthshire on the way back home with a promise to come and explore one year, we are finally are going to stay there for 5 nights at a CL just outside Blairgowrie.
Sorry for the length of this post, but just thinking about up there has made me wax lyrical!
Paul, I know you feel you must go to John o' Groats but you will be sadly disappointed. It really is a dump, and that's from a Scotsman! With some investment, it could be so different! We were at Dunnet Bay in April. Fabulous sunsets but it was a bit windy! I agree that the roads to the north are fine for towing.
Depending on how many nights you intend staying at CC sites, it may be well worth joining as the cost of your subscription is covered with only 5 or 6 nights. I think non-members pay
Depending on how many nights you intend staying at CC sites, it may be well worth joining as the cost of your subscription is covered with only 5 or 6 nights. I think non-members pay
Everyone in Britain has heard of John O Groats has they have Lands End but like Malcolm said, it's a dump. Even the hotel is in ruin and the harbour was full of filth, discarded rubbish and fishmens nets. The only other delights is a gift shop and a place to have you're photograph taken but don't use your own camera, theres a man with one waiting to rip you off ;O) I suppose he has to recover the cost of the finger posts.
If you do go up to Dunnet Bay make sure you do the day trip to Orkney - really good value with guided coach tour of highlights of Orkney, we were even able to take our dog on the ferry and coach.
Jan
Jan
Hi Maureen
You have just answered my question re Clachtoll camp site, do you have a camper van or caravan? My husband wants to stay at Altnaharra but I feel it won't be worth the journey for 3 nights. We hope to travel around the highlands but don't want to have to retrace our steps too much.
Last year we got as far as Dingwall & Ullapool, because we come from Devon we hope to be away 6 weeks. If you have any other suggestions I would be grateful.
Margaret
Gairloch camping & caravan park in Strath - great site and within walking distance of all you need.
Margaret,
Sorry to take so long to reply......we've been away on holiday.
We have a caravan in answer to your question.
Normally we allow 3 weeks for our trips north ( but then we are only starting from Glasgow.)
Altnaharra is a lovely spot to chill out for a few days......there's a lot of rumours flying round at the moment that after next year the lease might not be renewed....which will be a shame .....so go before you miss the chance.
from Inverness we headed west to Ullapool and then Clachtoll/Durness/Altnaharra/ and then on to Dunnet and back down to Inverness before heading home.
If you want to ask anything else I'll try to give you an answer.
Sorry to take so long to reply......we've been away on holiday.
We have a caravan in answer to your question.
Normally we allow 3 weeks for our trips north ( but then we are only starting from Glasgow.)
Altnaharra is a lovely spot to chill out for a few days......there's a lot of rumours flying round at the moment that after next year the lease might not be renewed....which will be a shame .....so go before you miss the chance.
from Inverness we headed west to Ullapool and then Clachtoll/Durness/Altnaharra/ and then on to Dunnet and back down to Inverness before heading home.
If you want to ask anything else I'll try to give you an answer.
- Jun 20, 2005
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Hi Maureen
Grummore Altnahara is a wonderful place by Loch Naver. The mere fact of driving into the wilderness makes it a rather magical place.
I do hope the lease gets renewed. It's not much use to anyone else and it's not like the sheep are short of space.
Is this the 21st century Highland Clearance??
Cheers
Alan
Grummore Altnahara is a wonderful place by Loch Naver. The mere fact of driving into the wilderness makes it a rather magical place.
I do hope the lease gets renewed. It's not much use to anyone else and it's not like the sheep are short of space.
Is this the 21st century Highland Clearance??
Cheers
Alan
Alan,
If it is a Highland Clearance it won't take too long......there's not much there to shift !!!!
Try the big sands site just outside Gairloch just google it. The drive up to it is great and the view down the valley to Loch Maree is the best in Scotland...
Great minds
I was going to pose the same question as fancy doing the Highlands in May.
Wondered what the roads were like A832, AA87,A836,A838.
I was going to pose the same question as fancy doing the Highlands in May.
Wondered what the roads were like A832, AA87,A836,A838.
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