If you’ve stumbled onto this page, you must be familiar with the beautiful Isle of Skye, the second-largest Scottish island located on the West coast. Nicknamed ‘cloud island’ due to the mists that cover Cuillin Hills, this picturesque location has everything that you could ask for, including the famous lochs, mountains, moors and stunning sea cliffs for you to explore.
This island is fairly small, spanning around 50 miles long and 25 miles wide, meaning that you can properly explore the island in around 3-5 days. It is also one of the most accessible islands for campers hosting a range of campsites that you could stay at.
The question that you might be thinking is, where is the best place for me to pitch up for a few nights while I’m there?
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered. This island offers a range of fantastic campsites for you to pitch up your tent and enjoy the great views, each with its own unique feel. Luckily we’ve compiled a great list of the top 10 best campsites in the Isle of Skye with some useful descriptions to help you make your decision.
Quickfire list of campsites featured in this article:
- Loch Greshornish Caravan & Campsite
- Kinloch Campsite
- Reraig Caravan & Camping Skye
- Sligachan Campsite
- Portree Campsite / Torvaig campsite
- Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe
- Camping Skye – Broadford
- Uig Bay Campsite
- Shieldaig Camping & Cabins
- Staffin Campsite
Let’s dive a little deeper into 10 of our favourite campsites on the island:
1) Loch Greshornish Caravan & Campsite
Location: Loch, Greshornish, Edinbane, Portree IV51 9PS
Just on the shores of Loch Greshornish, you can enjoy the views of both the water and the hills. You’ll be staying alongside grazing sheep and a peaceful atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy the true Scottish experience.
The great thing about this campsite is that it allows for a range of different camping options such as the use of caravans and motorhomes, all the way to camping tents and even offers glamping options. This is a great choice as it offers a little bit of the camping world to suit everyone’s needs.
This is also a dog-friendly campsite, so you can bring your furry friend with you to enjoy the morning walk whilst taking in the views.
2) Kinloch Campsite
Location: Kinloch Campsite, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye IV55 8WQ
Are you looking for a cosy campsite with a warm feel? Kinloch campsite definitely fits the bill. It is a family-run campsite operating on the shore of Loch Dunvegan, giving an authentic feel in a more secluded part of the Isle of Skye. Those looking for a more off the beaten path style campsite need not look any further.
Offering stunning views of Skye, surrounded by the fantastic countryside, you also have the chance to explore a little further and visit Dunvegan Castle and relax on the coral beach. Not to mention, the village of Dunvegan is only just a short 5-minute walk from the campsite meaning you can pop out for a little shopping or enjoy some warm coffee.
This site comes equipped with a laundry, washing-up and a drying facility, also permitting barbecues, as long as they are raised well above the grass.
3) Reraig Caravan & Camping Skye
Location: Balmacara, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DH
This campsite is great if you want to go exploring on the west coast of Scotland. A great location that is set on the shores of Loch Alsh with the picturesque village of Plockton nearby. A short 5-minute drive to the east takes you to the Elean Donan castle and 10 mins to the west will take you to the Skye Bridge
With this campsite, it is advised to contact in advance if you are going to arrive in a caravan or motorhome over 7.5m to see if they can accommodate you.
4) Sligachan Campsite
Location: Sligachan, Isle of Skye IV47 8SW
Sligachan campsite is great if you are looking for a 1-night pitstop on your adventure. Located near is the Loch Sligachan and is just under the isle’s Cuillins mountains, making the perfect setup for a base on the eastern part of The Isle of Skye. An ideal start for your morning walk or afternoon climb
Just 5 mins away you will find a hotel with the excellent Seamus bar, perfect for a little drink or 3… Don’t worry, we won’t tell 😉
Also another dog-friendly stay, so bring your special four-legged friend with you.
5) Portree Campsite (Formerly Torvaig Caravan And Camping Site)
Location: Portree Campsite Torvaig, Staffin Rd, Isle of Skye IV51 9HU
Are you looking for the Torvaig campsite? Well, they’re now known as Portree campsite. New name, still the same awesome location. Just within walking distance of Portree town centre, you are in the perfect spot to visit Portree and also the rest of the island.
This campsite has excellent facilities, including showers, toilets, laundry and also WiFi, if you want to reconnect with friends and family and plan your next few days on your Portree camping journey.
6) Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe
Location: Carbost, Isle of Skye IV47 8TA
Perfect for all camping and coffee lovers. This campsite is attached to the Cuillin Coffee co, meaning that you get to wake up to the shore of the beautiful shore of Loch Brittle and the Black Cuillin Mountains with an amazing cup of coffee to start the day. What a dream!
Did you know that this campsite has won many awards?
- No.1 UK Campsite by The Daily Telegraph,
- Gold Campsite of the Year 2019 in The Great Outdoors Magazine Awards
- Voted ‘No.1 of the 10 Best Cool Coastal Campsites’ in the September 2020 issue of Coast Magazine
With this campsite, you know that you will be getting a quality experience. Not just that, it is perfect for those that want to escape the busy city and enjoy trekking with one of the most beautiful views in Britain.
7) Camping Skye – Broadford Campsite
Location: Pairc Nan Craobh, Broadford, Isle of Skye IV49 9DF
If you want a peaceful spot to camp out in, Camping Skye might be right for you. A beautiful campsite with a woodland setting situated just on the outskirts of Broadford village and just a 5-minute walk away from all the shops, restaurants and pubs.
This campsite offers something a little different from the rest on the list as it is a part of a community-owned woodland development. It also has allotments where community members and various groups can meet up to take part in different wellbeing activities. So if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, why not stop by.
8) Uig Bay Campsite
Location: Pairc Nan Craobh, Broadford, Isle of Skye IV49 9DF
Uig bay is more of a long stay relaxing campsite, there you can enjoy the view of the bay along the seashore. Here you will find a lot of people looking for a stopover point as they ferry across the sea on their way to the Outer Hebrides.
If you fancy a morning stroll, you can head to the village of Uig, which is only two minutes away offering the convenience of a bakery and quaint cafes.
Another awesome site that is dog-friendly, we love those.
9) Shieldaig Camping & Cabins
Location: Aurora, Temperance Brae, Shieldaig, Strathcarron IV54 8XN
One of the best campsites for watersports as it is located near the water in the heart of a fishing village overlooking Shieldaig Island. What’s even better, is that it is only a short 5-minute walk to the city amenities including freshly caught seafood at local restaurants and an evening pint at the village pubs.
This campsite has plenty of space for both campers pitching small tents and also offers the option to try stylish glamping pods if you fancy spending the night in a little bit of luxury.
Overall Shieldaig is quite a relaxing way to explore the Northwest highlands
10) Staffin Campsite
Location: Clachan, Staffin, Isle Of Skye IV51 9JX
If you are looking for stunning views, then this peaceful campsite offers you everything you need and more. With breath-taking sunrise views of the rugged Trotternish Ridge, you’ll wake up feeling like you’ve been transported to camping heaven.
Speaking of heaven, Staffin comes equipped with modern facilities including free hot showers and hair drying facilities which can set your day off in the right direction and leave you feeling in a great mood.
If you fancy exploring the local area, you can head off to some of the museums close by including the Croft House Museum or even take a look at the famous dinosaur footprints at Staffin beach. You can also head to Storr Lochs for some sea angling or traditional loch trout fishing to get a feel for some of the local activities.
Pick the perfect campsite
With so many choices to choose from, each of these campsites can offer you something different, whether that be stunning views, a cosy secluded feel or even a local community touch, all are great choices for you on the island.
Hopefully, now you have a better idea of the campsites that you can find and can now plan ahead for your next journey. If you are looking for more amazing camping locations, follow our blog for more information. Check out our Pinterest account for more cool pictures.