These were the questions we had about wild camping before we set out, so we’ll be sure to answer all of these and more as we tell you about our experiences wild camping in Scotland. Maybe it was simply because the weather was perfect the entire time we were there or maybe because it’s just that gorgeous! All Contents Copyright © ForgetSomeday.com. (Kind of near where this photo was taken.) Our friend James, who has spent a lot of time on Skye, cautioned that we should have a back-up accommodation plan for each wild night of camping in case the weather took a turn for the worse. The air was astonishingly crisp and smelled like moss and the sea. The walk is very clearly marked from this overnight car park to the Bay! Luckily, this one had no overnight restrictions so we could leave the car and hike across the peninsula to the bay. We could only attempt to hike in the Cuillins if we had a semi-clear day, and we could only camp in certain spots if there was no risk of flooding. If you’re looking to rent a campervan/motorhome for your next camping adventure, Bunk Campers has pick-up locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow (Scotland), Dublin and Belfast (Ireland), and also in London (England). *It was brought to our attention by a reader that chemical toilets should never be dumped into a public toilet. SOLITUDE – I think more than saving money, the majority of wild campers choose to do so for the freedom and solitude that comes with parking (or pitching their tent) away from others in the great outdoors! So, to answer the questions I know you all have about wild camping with a campervan/motorhome, here goes…. How lucky that you got to live in Edinburgh! Turns out it wasn’t the main house that was giving me the heebie jeebies. I really like the idea of having the freedom to stop and already be in your accommodations. (Bothies are huts that are open to the public to provide shelter for hikers and back packers.) Answer 1 of 10: Hi Guys, I have never done a wild camping before (though I have done camping a number of times). I studied in Edinburgh (which was amazing!) Campion Cloves Flower. This parking area sits right off a road, but there was hardly any traffic in the evening. English (US) Español; Français (France) 中文(简体) Our first time wild camping near Loch Carron in Stromeferry. Since we were still getting to know the ins and outs of the campervan, we stayed at campsites for the first 5 nights. We simply showered on the nights we stayed at campsites and took sponge baths on the nights we wild camped. My husband and I have already rented our campervan for our three week Scotland adventure September 2017. For our second evening in Cairngorms, we secured an awesome parking spot overlooking the River Dee on the east side of the park. So far my only overnighters have been at a pub carpark (free to stay if a meal and beer bought in the pub) and nr a beach for £10.00 at Findhorn Bay on the Moray coast. And there weren’t any other human beings in sight (just the way Mike likes it). for 11 days and I appreciate all the tips you have outlined here. What is the price out of season for a campervan 2 people from sky to north uist please. In the end, we decided not to complete the final 200m of the climb because the fog was rolling in, it was getting late, and we still had to find where we would camp that night. I have the best of all worlds – a Ford Autosleeper, a 2-man tent, an electric bike and I live nr Elgin in Morayshire. A vicious rainstorm with high winds was predicted to roll through the area the next day and night. We didn’t get to go to Scotland when we were last there. We pulled into a few other potential spots before deciding on this one, simply because the ground was too uneven everywhere else we tried. Your photos-especially of the stars looked amazing! [MC Ed. So we set out with a map full of possible plans and plenty of flexibility, ready for an adventure! At any rate, there are many incredible road trips in Scotland, so I think it’s about time you had another campervan adventure!! The impressive view stretches across the ocean to the islands o… Parking: spacious parking lot at the main spot. Nice photos by the way! Glenbrittle Campsite and Cuillin Coffee are located on … We arrived at Neist Point when it was almost dark and were frantically looking for an appropriate spot to pitch our tent. ... Neist Point, and the Fairy Pools and Coire na Creiche), there are … Neist Point was our favorite! Find all the transport options for your trip from Portree to Neist Point right here. That being said, there is no entrance fee to get into the park, so that can justify the premium a bit! Isle of Skye offers some of Scotland’s most scenic landscapes! Given our consideration of these two extremes, we decided to split our trip to the Isle of Skye into two parts. This individual further explained that the chemicals used in chemical toilets kill bacteria whereas a reticulated sewage system needs the bacteria to break down the sewage. So you know just how much we LOVE photographing the night sky, I will tell you that we planned our entire campervan trip around the phases of the moon in order to see the stars in the dark sky more clearly during a new moon. We decided to head up to a formal campsite in the northern region of Skye, near Dunvegan Castle, so we could take hot showers and dry our jackets slightly under hand dryers (this felt like cheating on real camping, but I’m OK with it). We will continue to wild camp and as always, in remote spots well away from major tourist attractions and abiding by the law. (Just be sure you’ve turned the gas off before driving.) While the succession of waterfalls was beautiful, the photos we took of it don’t depict reality. An adult white-tailed eagle flew south past the tip of Neist Point. Will I be able to take a shower and use the toilet? We’d like to thank Bunk Campers for providing us with a discounted campervan rental in exchange for this review. Armed with our waterproofs (British for rain jackets), we set out on the hike, which was on a wide and clear walking path around the 10-mile circumference of the forest. I considered it as a wild camping spot, (we'll just have 2 small tents) but was put off by the possibility of lots of other campers! I’ve never heard of this term but it sounds interesting to say the least. . We had originally planned to drive after dinner to Neist Point, an iconic peninsula with a lighthouse in the northwest of Skye. I had seen the iconic bay in some articles on the Walk Highlands site, and it looked remote and magical. We decided to seize the opportunity for clear weather and try climbing Bla Bheinn (pronounced “Blaven”), a Black Cuillin peak in the east of Skye. Again we had fresh fish for dinner, served with a generous helping of Talisker Dark Storm. We had an SUV in Iceland and it was perfect for getting around! I am wondering how hard was it to drive the camper van on the roads of Scotland as well as find parking places when you weren’t wild camping. So we headed to Eilean Donan Castle instead and then on to Neist Point Lighthouse. This sounds like a wonderful trip and a great way to discover Scotland. Skye Wilderness Safaris offers guided day walks through the most scenic and remote areas of Skye. Fog + no working compass + sudden ridge drops = no fun. More exhausted from our climb up Bla Bheinn than we realized, the hike across Elgol peninsula took us up and down a few rolling “hills” with all of our gear for the night. How neat! We drove first to the small village of Elgol, looking for a car park that was marked on the OS map, from which it looked like we could follow a toe path north along water’s edge to the bay. Ok, I’m convinced!! It is certainly not our intention to provide inaccurate information. There is a car park here and also places for wild camping… Note: in the moment, I found myself reflecting on how more experienced husbands than I often refer to specific moments in their marriage when they were faced with two options: a more comfortable wife or a less comfortable wife. Neist Point. Use common sense, park a good distance from any roads, and respect the area you choose to park. That looks an awesome trip. Scotland is a gorgeous country with so much beauty and history to discover! Bookmarking this for when we spend a summer in the UK. Honestly, it creeped me out to camp on the bay because the main house felt haunted to me (I know Mike is rolling his eyes again) [MC: Yep.]. About half-way through the hike, after passing numerous waterfalls and encountering several roaming deer, we set up camp on the edge of the forest overlooking Loch Eynort. This is likely useful information for people who, like me, thought they could just park wherever they liked! Feeling extra adventurous, we decided we give wild camping a go for the first time! I was wondering if you had a location (maybe a pin point on google maps) for where you parked your car overnight when hiking to Camasunary Bay? The castle itself wasn’t much to write home about (this sounds absurd, but once you’ve lived in the UK for a while, a castle is a castle), but we enjoyed strolling around the gardens and taking advantage of the rare hour-long period of clear skies. I want to share a few things about each location which you have to consider as a landscape photographer. Within minutes, the aurora appeared and moved across the night sky. Again, we’re going to focus on wild camping in a campervan, as that was our experience! But before we get started with our experiences, let’s talk about the definition and legalities of this popular Scottish leisure activity. Wild Flower Meadow. I spent a few weeks studying our trusty OS maps of Skye, identifying potentially ideal wild camping spots (ideal meaning they weren’t in areas marked ‘boggy’ – there was no way of really knowing how suitable an area would be until we turned up). And you simply MUST do some wild camping at Neist Point… one of our favorite memories to date. Be considerate of others and others’ property, clean up after yourself, and leave no evidence that you were there. Isn’t wild camping all about roughing it, even if just a little?! We are not the campervan company; just a couple who rented from Bunk Campers ourselves. We need to sleep in a five-star hotel and we need to sleep under a tree. Thanks for sharing and safe travels! We are vanping (I think it works!) Things to be careful of: - take enough water Rome2rio makes travelling from Portree to Neist Point easy. If we had to pick a favorite view from our wild camping adventures, it would definitely be Neist Point on Isle of Skye. If you’re planning a trip around the North Highlands, please check out our North Coast 500 Destination Guide. But it was a blast!! Driving the North Coast 500 in a Campervan, 3 Reasons to Visit Isle of Mull in Scotland, https://wildaboutscotland.com/2014/11/30/wild-camping-in-scotland-camper-vans-and-motorhomes/, https://forgetsomeday.com/travel/scotland. The steep path led us down to the bay, where we found a perfect campsite right on the water. Love your photos and really enjoyed watching your very inspiring video . I am pleased to say I recognized the large, clearly spelled out writing on the wall and went against my stubborn and committed nature. We did a very similar trip in Iceland and it was one of our best trips! The walking highlands website gives me a starting point location for the “Peninsula of Elgol” loop but it looks like there is no overnight parking allowed from your post. Much of the structure was damaged, trash was strewn about, and creepiest of all: there was a human sized stuffed doll hanging in a noose, with some satanic red graffiti, “In God We Fail”. We are heading out of Inverness up to Orkney, back to Bonar Bridge for the Invercharron Games, over to Skye (we will DEFINITELY check out Neist Point!) Our Aero model campervan with Bunk Campers. I love that a pub offers free parking in exchange for a meal and beer purchased. Even if it isn’t the season for the Northern Lights, these locations should be perfect for star gazing, provided you have clear skies! Neist Point Lighthouse. As always, all opinions are our own and are an accurate reflection of the experiences we had. Just a few minutes later, the clouds rolled in and the northern lights had disappeared. To make matters more interesting, compasses tend not to work in the Cuillins due to the magnetic properties of gabbro, the primary rock making up the mountain range. Were there any other wild campers when you visited? Wish everyone would be as respectful, as to not give it a bad name, but not everyone is as conscientious as you. This is meant to be a great place to watch the sunset. Yea, it’s a nice freedom for sure. Sounds like you have a great itinerary planned out. You would need to contact the company directly for pricing information: http://www.bunkcampers.com/. The weather didn’t stop us from getting out of the car, though it did prevent us from doing the full hike recommended by Walk Highlands. But as my friend Kyle pointed out later when I was telling him about our trip, it was probably a great mental exercise in appreciating the journey and not the destination. It lies between the Black Cuillins and Loch Brittle beach and offers the feel of wild camping but with full facilities. Prior to this adventure, we hadn’t heard much about wild camping, as it isn’t common practice in the States. We came across this helpful post which does an excellent job explaining the differences between true wild camping (in a tent) vs free camping (in a motorized vehicle). We decided to drive a little ways down the road to another car park, and hike a few miles to Camasunary Bay. We are very much night sky enthusiasts, so another big perk to wild camping is the ability to get away from cities and the light pollution they create. Wild Camping Scotland . My husband and I are planning a trip in two years and I just LOVE this!! We crawled into the tent and into our sleeping bags, and read our books for the next few hours while the rain beat down above. The sheer cliffs are bottomed with rocky coastlines, and its slopes are populated with dozens of sheep. Just a final thought, can you not get independent USB charges for your camera batteries? Wishing you a wonderful trip! Man, there is some gorgeous scenery there! Required fields are marked *. NO SET SCHEDULE – Because it rained A LOT on one particular day of our drive along the North Coast 500, we didn’t make it as far as we had hoped. Recently, Mike and I came across a quote from Francis Mallman, an Argentinian chef famous for his Patagonian cuisine and over-the-fire cooking techniques –, “I think human beings need contradictions. As mentioned, we were able to run the heater using the propane gas and diesel. This would also allow you to recharge your batteries, dump your waste water, refill your water tank, empty your chemical toilet, and take a warm shower if your campervan doesn’t come with a shower (or you simply choose not to use the shower in your vehicle, like us). Neist Point Campsites - Here you can find details, in depth reviews, Videos, pictures and more about the Surrounding Area for all the Campsites near Neist Point or in Neist Point. Neist Point - the most westerly headland on Skye - is an iconic destination, with stunning cliff scenery, a fine lighthouse, an outlook to the Outer Hebrides, and the … There was a single gannet in the Minch off Neist. After an incredibly beautiful drive to the isle, we arrived at the car park at the bottom of Bla Bheinn. We need opposites. 130 138 11. The biggest challenge in finding a place to wild camp in a campervan is finding level ground! We trudged up and over the final hill to discover a view of the Cuillin ridge, the mountains cascading down to the bay, and the beginning of a sunset. There is a knob on the fridge where you can select the power source – electricity, gas, or battery, so you have many options for keeping your food from spoiling while you’re out in the wild! I remember doing a big tour of Scotland in most of those places you were visiting and man, it was freezing!! A few nights later we visited an area of Isle of Skye known for their dark skies (Kylerhea), but had no luck as the sky was completely clouded over. All in all Neist Point is a breathtaking place with dramatic views, a wealth of wildlife and lots to see. Looks like a fun trip. The answer always seems to be highly-obvious-after-the-fact. While wild camping at an overlook along Loch Carron, we went outside to photograph the stars and got much more than we expected. No heat, no toilets, etc!! So looking forward to this trip . Klee Blossom Bloom. I suggested that we visit Dunvegan Castle after setting up camp, mostly because I wanted to take a photo of a Scottish castle for my friend’s eight year old daughter (mission accomplished). So beautiful! The sun was just about to set behind the mountains when we arrived, so our timing was perfect! It ended up being an ideal place to settle in – we watched wave and wave of stormy clouds roll past Loch Eynort. . Every year, Portugal, especially areas such as the Costa Vicentina, receive hundreds of people who exchange the comfort of a hotel for a caravan.. We took a few moments to admire the elements beating down against the coast, and the cascading waterfall on the edge of the beach, before heading into Carbost to find some hot coffee and a dry spot to warm up. So, admittedly the term ‘wild camping’ is used inaccurately throughout this post. We visited on a rainy day in the off-season, so I can only imagine how busy this gets in the summer. You should definitely give it a try; though I personally would be a little scared about being by myself that far away from everything! ... Skye Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Situated near Portree and 14.1 miles away, as the crow flies from Neist Point. Location | Glenbrittle. If you take the B884 up the west side of Loch Dunvegan and follow the road to its end by Loch Mor you will find yourself on the fringe of Neist Point, the most westerly point on the Isle of Skye and another excellent place for sunsets. Neist Point is the most westerly headland on Skye, so in clear weather, we may have been witnesses to a spectacular sunset. New rules regarding wild camping mean that campers will have to find an official site to stay. Neist Point on Isle of Skye in Scotland. Learning that it was not natural honestly took a bit of magic out of the forest, but we still enjoyed being so remote nonetheless. The one thing that won’t work while you’re wild camping is the plug outlets; these only work when you are plugged into electricity at a campsite (not even while you’re driving).
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