The best campsites and places to camp near Inverness
Hi and welcome to CampingScotland.com, in this blog post we explore the best areas and campsites near the Scottish Highland Capital, Inverness.
The first question we need to answer before we start is how far is to far? Well for this post since were looking for campsites near Inverness were going to go with campsites that are within a 1 hour drive from the city centre.
So where are the best areas to camp that are a maximum 1 hour drive from the city centre? Well you have the NC500 to the North, the Moray Coast to the East, Aviemore to the South and Loch Ness to the West.
If you want to skip right to the map just scroll down where we have centered it on Inverness and set the zoom at around a 1 hour drive (you can also zoom out if your willing to go further).
Which areas?
Do you go North? South? West? or East? Well that depends on what you are looking for. I won’t go into to much detail on each of the locations but I will give you a summary of what you can expect from each to help narrow down your search.
The North (Start of the NC500)
North of Inverness you will find the start of the NC500 passing through North Kessock, Invergorden and reaching up to Dornoch where you will find great beaches, wild coast lines and plenty of whisky distilleries.
The West (Loch Ness)
To the (South) West you will find the famous Loch Ness where you do a bit of nessie spotting.
The South (Cairngorm National Park)
Head South to enter the Cairngorm National Park where you have the Adventure town of Aviemore, Loch Morlich and the Cairngorm Mountains to explore.
The East (Moray Coast)
To the East of Inverness you will find the Moray Coastline with its small towns and endless sandy beaches. Venture far enough and you will stumble upon Spey Bay, the end point on the most famous whisky river in the world, The River Spey.
The Map
Click on any of the icons on the map to find out more about each campsite.
If you want to narrow your search by applying filters or explore all the campsites in Scotland on a bigger map then head over to our Campsite Finder section.
North Coast 500 Campsites
If your looking for the best campsites on the North Coast 500 then head over to our blog post dedicated to just that. We list all the best campsites on an easy to see map, making your NC500 adventure planning a doddle. Click on the image below to learn more.
Best Campsites Near Inverness - TOP 6
We couldn’t do a post about campsites near Inverness without mentioning what we believe to be the top 6. These campsites are our personal favourite, click on each to find out more.
Dornoch Caravan Park
Large family run campsite located on the stunning Dornoch Coastline with direct access to a golden sandy beach. This is a large campsite with campervan and tent pitches on flat open grass, some with electrical hook up some without. Dornoch beach is a short walk from the bottom of the campsite where you will find golden sandy beaches and clear swimmable (cold) water. The town centre is also only a short walk away where there are a selection of bars, restaurants and shops, if you’re a whisky fan be sure to visit Dornoch Castle Hotel’s famous whisky bar where you will find a vast selection of old and rare drams. The Dornoch Championship links golf course is also a short walk away for those who play golf, slightly further you will find The Glenmorangie Distillery where tours are available daily.
Cannich Woodland Campsite
Small laid back campsite located in the village of Cannich in a woodland setting set at the head of the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve a short distance from Loch Ness. The site offers hard standing pitches for campervans and open grass spaces for tents all surrounded by woodlands. There is a communal toilet and shower block and also a couple of glamping pods for those who prefer something more robust than a tent. There is a café onsite (Bog Cotton Café, with mountain bike hire also available from the owner Matt who is a keen mountain biker and outdoor adventurist (£17 per day). A short walk into the village of Cannich you will find the Slaters Arms pub serving hot food and beers, perfect to refuel after a day hiking or mountain biking in the local hills. A short drive away is Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin which is a well know wild swimming spot, Loch Ness is also a short drive and the closes distillery is The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery.
Glenmore Campsite
Large loch side campsite located just outside the outdoor adventure village of Aviemore at the foot of the Cairngorm Mountains. Glenmore campsite caters for campervans and tents on grass hard standing pitches in a woodland setting with electrical hook up available. A short walk through the woods takes you out to a golden sandy beach at Loch Morlich where you will find a water sports rental centre and café. A short walk near the entrance of the site is the Pine Marten Bar where you will find live music and plenty booze. A short drive away is Cairngorm Mountain Resort where you can ski, sledge and snowboard in the winter or hike in the summer. A drive further down the mountain you will find the village of Aviemore with bars, restaurants, shops and cafes.
West Beach Caravan Park
West Beach Caravan Park is located in the North-East coast of Scotland in the village of Hopeman, situated on a golden sandy beach where wild swimming and water sports are possible. The site has various tent and campervan pitches scattered through the caravan park and 4 communal shower and toilet blocks available through the park. The village of Hopeman is a short walk where you will find a pub, local restaurants and shops, further afield you will find golf courses, coastal walks and various whisky distilleries. All the pitchers have electrical hook up and dogs are welcome to the site, there are also glamping pods available for rental for those looking to leave the tent at home.
Fortrose Bay Campsite
Fortrose which is a historic seaside village is only a short walk from the campsite, with supermarket, butcher, baker, café, and restaurants. It lies 15miles NE of Inverness and is a great base to explore the rest of the Highlands or a stop of if on the ND500. The site has a toilet and shower block and is located next to a pebble beach.
Ace Adventures & Hideaways
A camping and glamping site in Moray offering various glamping options and 10 tent pitches, each with their own fire pit. This site is described as likened to wild camping and is in a woodland setting. It is possible to camp with your own campervan however you must call ahead as the pitches are small and limited. Just a short drive to the Moray coast where you will find stunning beaches and also close to many whisky distilleries. The site also runs an adventure centre where you can book white water rafting trips.
