Sands Caravan And Camping

Sands Caravan and Camping is a large coastal site at Big Sand, north-west of Gairloch, where sandy dunes give the camping areas their character. Tents and campervans can settle into sheltered spots among the dunes or choose raised pitches with broader views towards Skye and the Outer Hebrides. The beach is a central part of a stay here, with room for shoreline walks without planning a separate outing. Wooden camping pods offer an alternative to bringing a tent, while the modern shower and toilet block and on-site café add practical comforts to the open, beachside setting. Dogs are welcome, and online booking is available.

Gairloch Museum makes a worthwhile change of scene from the coast. Housed in a converted Cold War nuclear bunker, it explores local history and natural heritage through displays including a replica croft house and the original lens from Rubh Re lighthouse. For a separate walking outing, Flowerdale Waterfall is one of Gairloch’s established routes; the coast road through Badachro towards Redpoint offers another direction for exploring the area’s beaches and crofting landscape.

For a day further afield, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve near Kinlochewe brings a different landscape of ancient Scots pinewood and rugged mountain slopes. Its Woodland Trail explores the pinewoods above Loch Maree, while the Mountain Trail climbs beyond the trees into more demanding terrain: a distinct contrast to beach walks back at Sands.