Ardtower Caravan Park
Culloden Road, Inverness, IV2 5AA
Price per night: from £30
Starting off your NC500 motorhome trip, Ardtower Caravan Park is in a scenic highland setting close to the world-famous Culloden battlefield. As it’s between Culloden and Inverness (the start of the NC500), it’s a great stopover for your first night – or why not stay on for another day and visit the award-winning visitor centre at Culloden Battlefield? The caravan and camping park is award winning too, with spotless bathrooms, pitches with electric hook-up, and many more modern comforts.
Campsite features:
- Award-winning caravan and motorhome park between Inverness (2.5 miles) and Culloden Battlefield (2.5 miles)
- Stunning views of Moray and Beauly firths, Bonnie Black Isle and the mountains and hills beyond
- Choice of standard or serviced pitches, all with electric hook-up and suitable for larger motorhomes
- Café serving breakfast and evening pizza: sit in or take away
Dornoch Camping and Caravan Park
The Links, Dornoch, Sutherland-shire IV25 3LX
Price per night: from £27
NC500 campsites for motorhomes next to award-winning beaches will be a hit with all types of traveller, and this is one of the best on the route. Dornoch Caravan and Camping Park, a five-minute walk from the small town of Dornoch, is right by award-winning Dornoch Beach, a golden expanse of sand stretching for miles on Dornoch Firth. Site facilities should be a hit too: there’s a shop, motorhome service point and much more.
The park is 20 minutes’ drive from another North Coast 500 highlight, Dunrobin Castle – but no need for a day trip, as you’ll pass the castle on the next leg of the route.
Campsite features:
- Award-winning family-run campsite by a beautiful beach, next to a championship golf course
- 120 pitches spread over 25 acres
- Putting green, play area and games room
- Showers, launderette and hook-ups all available
John O’Groats Caravan and Camping Site
County Road, John o’ Groats KW1 4YR, UK
Price per night: £12 per adult; pitches from £20.50
John O’Groats Caravan and Camping Site is a good choice for those looking for a comfortable and convenient vacation destination on the Caithness coast. The campground offers a wide range of accommodation options and amenities, as well as easy access to a number of attractions and activities.
Take the opportunity to explore the iconic John O’Groats harbor, tour Castle Mey or visit Dunnet Bay. Other local attractions include the Orkney Islands, John O’Groats Beach and Duncansby Head Nature Reserve.
Campsite Features:
- Rental of camping pitches, touring pitches, glamping pods and static caravans.
- On-site facilities such as shop, laundry and showers.
- Children’s play area and games room.
- Close to a variety of attractions and activities including John O’Groats Harbour, Dunnet Bay, Castle Mey and Orkney Islands
Dunnet Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Dunnet, Thurso, Highlands KW14 8XD
Price per night: £9.50 per adult; pitches from £11
As our first two picks showed, NC500 campsites for motorhomes have a high chance of being near a famous attraction. Dunnet Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Site is no exception, set just half a mile away from beautiful Dunnet Beach.
World-famous John O’Groats and ferries to Orkney are 11.5 miles away. The campsite is also close to the town of Thurso (8 miles), where there are plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. Or stock up on supplies and bring them back to the site, as the park allows barbecues.
Campsite features:
- The most northerly Caravan and Motorhome Club site in Britain
- Five miles from the country’s most northerly point, Dunnet Head
- Dog friendly; dog walk straight from the site
- Showers, disabled-access facilities, launderette, motorhome service point and gas sales
Sango Sands Oasis
Sango Bay, Durness, Sutherland IV27 4PZ
Price per night: £10 per adult
Camping on the cliff tops above award-winning beaches is the order of the day at Sango Sands Oasis Camping and Caravan Site, on the north west tip of Scotland halfway along the NC500 route. It’s only a mile from yet another famous attraction – Smoo Cave – as well as the craft village and eateries of Durness village. On-site facilities include electric hook-up and a breakfast bar.
Campsite features:
- Cliff top camping with breathtaking sea views: look out for whales, seals and dolphins
- Under four miles from Ceannabeinne Beach and the Golden Eagle zipline
- New modern toilet and shower block, waste disposal and laundry facilities
- Breakfast bar serving coffee and hot food; evening bar open daily in summer
Clachtoll Beach Campsite
134 Clachtoll, Lochinver, Sutherland IV27 4JD
Price per night: from £19 (one adult)
Just over halfway along the NC500 route, settle down at another of the scenic NC500 motorhome campsites by a beach at Clachtoll Beach Campsite, five miles from Lochinver. This friendly and eco-friendly campsite is directly on the NC500 route and just 100 metres from stunning Clachtoll Beach and the imposing Split Rock.
Facilities include new toilet and shower facilities, a laundry with free detergent, and serviced pitches, most with sea views. This is the NC500 motorhome campsite to bring four-legged friends to: the owners stress that they’re “very, very dog friendly”.
Campsite features:
- Award-winning family- and pet-friendly family-run campsite a minute’s stroll from the beach
- Wide range of facilities including disabled-access and family bathroom with free nappies and wipes; freezer and fridge facilities and secure media charging lockers
- Undercover barbecue area with seating: open fire most nights
- Shop selling fresh eggs, homemade cakes and local tartan products
Broomfield Holiday Park
West Lane, Ullapool IV26 2UT
Price per night: £17 (one adult); from £22 (two adults); under-16s free
Any list of the top NC500 campsites for motorhomes should include Ullapool, the village on the west coast that’s a gateway to many of the Scottish islands. Our top pick for Ullapool motorhome campsites is Broomfield Holiday Park, for its extremely convenient location a five-minute walk from Ullapool seafront and just 0.2 miles from the ferry terminal. Things are pretty spectacular on site too, with plenty of well-kept amenities and a lochshore setting over 12 acres.
Campsite features:
- On the shores of Loch Broom very close to Ullapool village
- Family run for over 60 years
- Ideal base for island ferries: the Stornoway ferry passes the site
- Set on 12 acres of level grass overlooking the Summer Isles and Loch Broom
Sands Caravan and Camping
Gairloch IV21 2DL
Price per night: £18 (one adult); £24 (two adults)
Also on the west coast, Sands Caravan and Camping provides seaside camping in a beautiful setting. With views towards the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides, this spacious and excellently-equipped campsite is a perfect place to park up on a NC500 trip.
Even better, it’s all part of the Sands estate, where loch and river fishing is included in your pitch price. Barbecues and campfires are allowed; stock up on food and supplies in Gairloch three miles away.
Campsite features:
- Dog-friendly beachside camping over 55 acres: pitch in the raised area for stunning views, or park up among the sand dunes
- Play area, dog walking area, café and shop
- Bike and kayak hire: launching slip on site
- Covered indoor cooking and dining area
Inverewe Gardens Poolewe Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Poolewe, Achnasheen, Highlands IV22 2LF
Price per night: from £15.50
NC500 campsites for motorhomes come in the garden variety too! Inverewe Gardens Poolewe is a Camping and Caravanning Club site surrounded by more than 2,000 acres of conservation estate – the tropical Inverewe Gardens. It’s on a peninsula at the edge of Loch Ewe, with glorious views over the loch and plenty of walks all around. Poolewe village is an easy amble from the site at just under half a mile.
Campsite features:
- Club site surrounded by a 19th-century tropical gardens estate
- Within 10 minutes’ walk of local village, supermarket, bakery, café, hotel restaurant and safari tours
- Pitches on hardstanding or grass, with or without electric hook-up
- Showers, laundry, dishwashing area, gas sales and dedicated accessible facilities
Reraig Caravan and Camping
Balmacara, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DH
Price per night: from £15
If you want to visit the Isle of Skye while on the North Coast 500 route, consider making Reraig Caravan and Camping a mainland base. And even if not, this is a gorgeous setting to park up for a night or two, on the shores of Loch Alsh only five minutes’ drive from Eilean Donan Castle.
“Meticulously maintained” and “One of the most beautiful and well maintained sites we have stayed on throughout Europe” are among the many 10/10 reviews for this peaceful site, a perfect pitstop as you reach the final leg of the NC500.
Campsite features:
- Peaceful campsite five minutes’ drive from Kyle of Lochalsh
- 100 metres from a shop and with a hotel restaurant and pub next door
- Men’s and women’s showers/toilets, plus washing-up sinks, grey water disposal and fresh water filling area
- Barbecues allowed