Category Archives: Wild Camping

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2021 Day 8, Knockan Crag Nature Reserve

We left Kinlochbervie and headed south to Kylesku Bridge where we had tea and homemade cake for a mid morning stop.

At newton we branched off right on the B869 headed towards Clashnessie and Lochinver, the road was very narrow with some scary hills and bends, plenty of passing places and quiet roads enabled the wife to keep her eyes open most of the way, Clashnessie Beach was lovely.

We then headed into Lochinver but never stayed long as raining and couldn’t really find the right place to stop.

We continued on towards Ullapool and found a lovely stop over at Knocken Crag Nature reserve, a tarmac car park with toilets and fresh water set up out the of the way with amazing views over a loch and some great information regarding the rock formations.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2021 Day 7, Loch Clash Kinlochbervie

We left Altnaharra and headed across NW along the A838, the midges were out in force so we barely stopped except for brunch tucked away overlooking Loch Stack.

Osprey or Eagle Nest

We arrived at one of our favourite stops Kinlochbervie, a night stop well worth a visit, £15 a night with EHU, £10 without or £5 if you just want to empty and top up.

Fresh water and CDP, bins and a very well stocked shop, the views across the harbour are fantastic, this plays fills up quick so I would aim to be here between 12 and 2 if you can, after that you may struggle.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2021 Day 5, Bonar Bridge

We left Fortrose and headed north, just a short 1 hour drive to a lovely spot called Bonar Bridge, as you approach from the south there is a turning into the car park area on the right, there are concrete bays as you enter but if you go all the way through it turns to a gravel area right at the end and opens up into a viewpoint of the water and valley.

Amazing Views as we headed through the mountains down towards Bonar Bridge
The view from our Motorhome Window.

There are toilets here but currently closed, no facilities but the town is a very short walk across the bridge with conveniences store, take away and a pub.

Seal’s catching fish and swimming in the water.
NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 13, Final Day.

We left Loch Tulla Viewpoint heading towards Killin, we had breakfast before we left but did find an American Diner on route that had a great breakfast menu and coffee.

We arrived in Killin and managed to find a space in the small car park, not many places you could fit a 7.1m Motorhome but we were lucky.

Amazing Waterfalls after the rain.

The Village is beautiful and definitely worth a wander, food, coffee and gift shops.

The Falls Of Dochart were truly spectacular, we even watched salmon jumping.

We were supposed to stay here but decided to start the long drive home and ended up at the Forestry Commission Car Park at Ae-Naze, £3 to stay the night with no Services.

This was virtually the end of our NC500 Tour, just driving and sleeping left now, we had an incredible time and will definitely return, we personally preferred the Lochs and the East side and would concentrate on those areas when we return, possibly 2021.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 12

We left Inverness heading south along Loch Ness, this day mostly consisted of amazing views as we drove towards Killin and The Falls of Dochart.

We stopped at Lidl in Fort William for supplies, lots of parking so no probs for Motorhome’s, we then carried on stopping for photos.

We arrived at our stop for the night, Loch Tulla Viewpoint, Lots of hard standing parking with gorgeous views, no bins or services but worth it.

Our view for the night.
NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 10

It was a very rainy day today, we woke to rain, it stayed most of the day and only brightened up a little nearer the end of the day.

Our first stop was Corrieshalloch Gorge, the car park (paid) was full but there was a few stops on the way there, we turned around and headed back to park up in one and even though it was raining decided to walk back along the road and visit the gorge by foot, as it turned out, a great idea 🙂

A nice steady path down to the swing bridge over the falls, just breathtaking, amazing views especially after all the rain we have had.

The bridge was limited to 6 people and did actually swing 🙂
A very deep ravine, the photo does not do the drop justice.

Once over the bridge we headed left down to another viewing platform.

We then moved on to our stop for the night, Black Water Falls, a free car park set back along way from the road and almost right by the water/falls.

Lovely woodland walk both sides of the water.
NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 8

We left Kinlochbervie and carried on south along the west coast, no real agenda except driving, stopping to take photos and keeping an eye out for off site parking to stay overnight.

We did find a ruined castle, well worth a stop and cup of tea.

Ardvreck Castle

We picked a spot using SearchforSites (app) and started off on a winding road with good passing places.

We ended up at Loch Lurgainn, a very popular car park for walking up a stunning outcropping.

We had to wait for a space to get the Motorhome in but once settled it was very quiet and a lovely spot to spend the night.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 7

We left Rispond car park on the beach and headed west, we found Smoo Cave, the car park itself was very small but we did manage to find a space.

Boat tours are available on some days but not the day we visited 🙁
Steep steps down but worth the walk.

We then headed on and found CoCo Mountain on the right, a craft village and cafe renowned for its Hot Chocolate, decent car park even for Motorhome’s.

We then carried on to our night stop at Kinlochbervie, we stopped right on the harbour itself called Loch Clash, it was £15 with EHU but only £5 without, full use of water, waste and Chemical toilet emptying, the view was amazing with another seal in the harbour as a bonus.

You pay at the spar just as you enter the harbour, good selection of food and drinks, very pleasant owners.

Although it says 5 vans plenty of room for more
Popping up for air every 20 mins or so
Our view for the night

As a bonus Karen made a cake while we enjoyed the view, win win.

Jam and cream sponge, delicious.
NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 6

We left Dunnet Head and headed west, we had booked a visit to the Dunnet Bay Gin Distillery, it was very interesting , you sit in a small boat shed arranged in a semi circle (4 sheds) facing the host, 3 tastings of Gin and Vodka with folklore and distillery facts, worth the £10 each, we booked on line.

We then headed slightly back on our selfs to empty at the Ferry View Nightstop, full waste empty and water top up for £5, well worth it.

Our plan was to head towards Durness and sango sands camping with some tea stops on route.

As we drove through Castletown we noticed a lovely stop on the right just past a ruined building overlooking the bay, great spot for a bit of lunch.

We finally found a spot for their night at Rispond in a set back lay-by, amazing views of the bay with a lot of people camping by the beach.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 5

We left Helmsdale harbour and headed north again with a bearing of John o Groats, we stopped at another lovely little harbour called Lybster Harbour.

It’s a long winding road down with plenty of passing places and parking at the bottom even for my 7.1m Motorhome.

As with a lot of these places the cafe, information centres and toilets were all closed so after a walk around the harbour wall we carried on with our journey.

We then carried on, we arrived at a very busy John o groats, we managed to find a place to park and paid the £2 donation for parking (per day) then went for a walk around the shops and take some photos.

All the stickers have been removed from the sign post and a separate board erected just for stickers 🙂

After having some lunch we headed to Dunnet Head for our free night stop. They have stopped parking on the actual car park at Dunnet Head but we managed to get a space just before you enter on the right hand side.