Applecross Campsite

Applecross Campsite occupies a hillside above the village, looking across Applecross Bay towards Raasay and Skye. It has a sociable, road-trip character, particularly in peak season, when NC500 travellers and outdoor enthusiasts make it a lively stop on the peninsula. Accommodation ranges from tent and touring pitches to camping huts and rental caravans, with campervans and dogs welcome. Toilets, hot showers, laundry and dishwashing areas cover the practicalities, while the on-site Flower Tunnel bar and restaurant is a distinctive polytunnel-style setting serving local produce and seafood. Village pubs and the shoreline give further options beyond the campsite.

There is more to exploring Applecross than driving its mountain pass. The River Walk follows the southern bank of the River Crosan between Sea Bridge and Home Bridge, while the Sand Path traces an old coastal thoroughfare before descending to Sand beach. These are separate routes around the peninsula, rather than walks necessarily beginning at your pitch. At Clachan, the volunteer-run Applecross Heritage Centre explores local history through artefacts, photographs and records, adding context to the crofting settlements and historic landscape.

Arrival deserves some planning, especially with a touring vehicle. The Bealach na Bà has sharp bends and steep gradients and is unsuitable for caravans, large motorhomes and inexperienced drivers; the coastal approach via Shieldaig offers an alternative to crossing the pass. Choosing an approach appropriate to your vehicle matters more than treating the mountain road as an essential part of a stay.