Camping on the isle of skye (campsites isle of skye)
Looking for the best campsites on the Isle of Skye? Or what whisky distilleries to visit? Or how about the best things to do? Well we have you covered as we will be sharing everything we know about the stunning Isle of Skye in this post.
Scotland has a number of what I would call magical places. Somewhere that you can get lost in the dramatic surroundings and feel startled by the greatness of it all. Some places that come to mind is the Glencoe Mountain Pass or Fingal’s Cave & Skara Brae but there is one place that’s even more magical, the Isle of Skye.
The Isle of Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides, formed from a massive upward current of magma millions of years ago. Many of the mountainous features left today are a clear sign of the islands volcanic history. The Cuillin Ridge for example, the remnants of what would have been one of the most prolific volcanoes on the planet, 15 miles long and 2 miles high. Anyways, enough with geological history, you’re here for campsites, a few sight-seeing suggestions and the best whisky distillers nearby.
The Scenery
I’m not going to go into a huge amount of detail on this subject, there’s plenty blogs out there that give some really good detailed guides. But, what I will do is list some places I think should be on your Isle of Skye bucket list.
- Fairy Pools (a series of pools where you can paddle, be warned it can be very busy since its only a short walk from the carpark)
- The Storr (stunning mountainous terrain, you can hike up to the plateau where you will find some excellent views and a sheer cliff face).
- Quiraing (a green valley which feels out of this world)
- Dunvegan Castle & Gardens (Oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland)
- The Fairy Glen (another very green out of this world place)
- Neist Point (coastal cliff faces)
- Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls (Large coastal waterfall that sometimes blows upwards due to winds)
- Portree (main village on the island but still a quaint fishing village)
- Lealt Falls (water fall)
- The Cuilins (Old volcanoe and multiple munros)
- Inaccessible Pinnacle (one of the most challenging munros in Scotland)
- The Isle of Rasasay (A small island of the coast of Skye where a ferry runs multiple times a day)
Campsites on the isle of Skye
Here at CampingScotland.com we love small, independent, tent friendly campsites. Thats why you won’t find any Caravan Club campsites on our website. Our selection of sites on the Isle of Skye are all unique in their own way. So wither its a 1 night stop off, or somewhere to base yourself for longer were sure you will find that perfect pitch. To find out more info on each, including contact details, maps and whats nearby just click on the links.
Portree Campsite
Small campsite located just outside the village of Portree on the Isle of Skye with stunning views out across the Cuillin Mountain Range. The site has 40 hard standing pitches for campervans and an open grass area for tents. There is a modern toilet, shower and washing block and WIFI is available through the site. The village of Portee is around 20-minute walk where you will find shops, bars, restaurants and bus services. The campsite is just far enough away from the town lights that clear skies are visible at night offering stunning views. Dogs are welcome and although campfires are not permitted BBQ’s are so long as they are raised from the grass. The site requires booking to be made ahead (no walk-ins), this can be done by contacting the campsite via phone or email. Further afield from the village you will find all the wonders of Skye including the fairy pools, spectacular waterfalls, the old man of Storr and plenty of mountains to hike. For whisky lovers, there are 2 distilleries on the Isle of Skye offering daily tours or why not take the short ferry to Raasay where you will find another whisky distillery. There is a maximum stay of 10 nights at the campsite and it opens between March until the end of October.
Kinloch Campsite
Family run campsite located on the shores of Loch Dunvegan, located in the north west of the Isle of Skye. The site has various hard standing pitches for campervans and a mixture of electric and non-electric tent pitches, some of the pitches offer camping right on the loch shore giving you some excellent bird watching opportunities. The site has a toilet, shower, laundry and washing up block and free to use sockets for those needing a phone charge. Pitches are bookable on the campsites website where you can select from a range of different options. The village of Dunvegan is a short walk away where you will find a selection of pubs, restaurants and shops. Dunvegan Castle, Neist Point and The Coran Beach where you can wild swim are all a short drive from the site, further afield the nearest whisky distillery is Talisker. There is a bus service to Dunvegan from Portree for those on foot or anyone looking to visit some of the island during the day.
Camping Skye
Camping Skye is a relatively new campsite (opened in 2018) which is located in the west end of Broadford village. The site has 26 pitches on hard standing for campervans and 26 grass pitches for tents. There is a toilet, shower, washing up and laundry block with electrical hook up also available. The site is a short 5-minute walk to the village where you will find shops, pubs, restaurants, a fish & chip shop, pizzeria and a bus stop. Fires are not permitted however there are several picnic benches scattered thought the site where BBQ’s are possible. For whisky fans, you will find 2 new distilleries nearby and 1 well established, Torabahiag in the south, Raasay in the North (short boat crossing require) and Talisker to the West.
Staffin Campsite
Small campsite set beneath the Trotternish Ridge on the Isle of Skye with views over the Hebridean Minch. The site is located at the top of Skye around 10 miles from Uig where you will find the Ferry service to the Hebrides. The site has various hard standing pitches for campervans and an open grass area in for tents, electrical hook-up is available. There is a toilet, shower, laundry, small shop and bothy which offers much welcomed shelter for campers during times of bad weather. The site is a short walk to Staffin (1 mile) where you will find a Staffin Stores and Mackenzie Stores where you can stock up on supplied. For walkers, there is a footpath from the campsite to Staffin Bay and for experienced mountain walkers, the Quirang and The Storr are nearby. For those on foot a bus service runs Mon-Sat from the campsite to Portree, finally it is recommended to book ahead by emailing [email protected] due to being very busy during the summer.
Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe
Award winning campsite located on the Isle of Skye and voted best campsite in the UK by the Daily Telegraph and best coastal campsite from The Great Outdoor magazine and it is easy to see why. The campsite sits on the stunning Loch Brittle beach where wild swimming and water sports are possible and it is shadowed by the dramatic Cuillin mountains behind which are excellent for hikers and mountain climbers. The site has 120 pitches on a mixture of hard standing and grass, a toilet and shower block, electrical hook up and onsite café. From the café you can order freshly baked bread and croissants to enjoy each morning whilst you soak in the views from your pitch. Fires are not permitted within the campsite however are permitted on the beach, BBQ’s must be on raised surface to prevent damage to the grass. Locally you will find the Cuillin mountains, fairy pools and a raft of coastal and inland walking trails. For whisky drinkers, the closest distillery would be Talisker which is 9 miles north of the site where you can join one of the daily tours (book a tour in advanced during summer months).
Uig Bay Campsite
Small coastal campsite located in the town of Uig on the Isle of Skye with hard standing pitches for campervans and a large grass area for tents. The site has a toilet and shower block and electrical hook up is available for both campervans and tents. Next door is The Isle Of Skye Brewery where you can stock up on excellent refreshments to compliment your campsite BBQ. A short walk along the coast is the town of Uig where you will find pubs, restaurants, shops, bus service and the ferry service to the Hebrides. This is a great campsite for those looking to explore Skye or a stop of on a bigger island hopping adventure. For whisky fans your easiest distillery to get to is Talisker or if you fancy something a bit different head over to Raasay on the short boat ride where tours run daily in the islands new distillery.
Whisky Distilleries Nearby
All three of these distileires offer tours, Torabaig and Talisker are on the Isle of Skye and Raasay is via the small frequent passenger ferry (day trips to the island are easy to plan). Click on each distillery to learn more.
Campsites & Distilleries Map
Looking a little further afield, check out all our campsites and whisky distilleries below. Alternatively, head over to our Campsite Finder where you can apply filters to find that perfect campsite.
Have you been to the Isle of Skye? Let us know what you thought of this magical island and what campsites you visited along the way
