Garden House Camping

A sheltered walled garden on a working farm gives Garden House Camping its distinctive setting at the western end of Coll. Small, remote and informal, this semi-wild campsite has 20 tent pitches and a couple of spaces for campervans, around five miles from the island’s ferry terminal. The garden offers protection from the weather, while the narrow approach track and overhanging trees mean access can be difficult for larger motorhomes. Dogs are not accepted because of the working-farm setting.

Facilities include electric hook-up, a wet room with shower, a toilet and a fridge for campers’ use. The atmosphere is laid-back: if the owners are out when you arrive, they allow campers to pitch up and will catch up with them later in the day. Booking enquiries are handled by email, and the season runs from 1 April to 1 October.

Several sandy beaches are around a five-minute drive away, though reaching the shore may involve a further walk from the road. For an island outing, Hogh is a broad beach looking towards the Outer Hebrides, with pedestrian access from Ballyhaugh or the RSPB car park at Totronald; undertows warrant caution in the water. Coll’s Dark Sky Community status adds another reason to spend time outdoors when conditions allow. Totronald is one of the island’s designated sky-viewing locations, with its car park set among dunes and machair. Clear nights in spring or towards the end of the camping season offer more darkness for stargazing than midsummer’s long twilight.