Wild camping in
Scotland - Islands

An MBA bothy on the southeast coast of the Isle of Rum, accessed by a dramatic coastal walk from Kinloch. The walk takes about 3 hours along the coast with views of the Rum Cuillin. The bothy sits on a raised beach above the sea with a backdrop of Askival and the main ridge. It sleeps about 10 and has a fireplace. The island is a national nature reserve with Manx shearwaters, white-tailed eagles, and red deer. Wild swimming from the beach is possible. Access to Rum is by ferry from Mallaig. There are no shops on the island. The bothy experience here combines mountain, coastal, and island elements.

The Queen of the Hebrides is famous for its whisky distilleries but also offers excellent wild camping on its varied coastline. The Oa peninsula in the south has dramatic cliffs, while the Big Strand is miles of empty sand. The Rinns in the west face the full Atlantic. Nine active distilleries provide rainy-day entertainment. Camp on the machair grassland behind the beaches for shelter. The island is rich in birdlife, particularly barnacle geese in winter and corncrakes in summer. Access by ferry from Kennacraig or by air from Glasgow. The island has good shops and facilities in Bowmore, Port Ellen, and Port Charlotte.

Known as Scotland in miniature, Arran packs Highland mountains, lowland farms, and stunning coastline into one accessible island. Goatfell, the highest peak, offers wild camping on its flanks with views to Kintyre and Ireland. The north of the island is rugged and mountainous while the south is gentler farmland. Wild camping is best in the northern glens and on the moorland. The island has excellent facilities in Brodick and Lamlash. Access is by CalMac ferry from Ardrossan (55 minutes). The Arran distillery, cheese shop, and brewery make for excellent post-camping treats. Cycling around the island is a classic day out.

The Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde offers gentle, accessible camping on a sheltered island. The Victorian resort of Rothesay has a restored art-deco cinema and the remarkable Mount Stuart, a Gothic Revival mansion. The island is reached by a short ferry from Wemyss Bay. The west coast has quiet sandy beaches while the east faces the Firth of Clyde. Camping is available at several sites around the island with good facilities. The terrain is rolling farmland with wooded policies. Bute is less wild than the Highland islands but much more accessible. Ideal for families and weekend escapes from Glasgow.

A tiny Hebridean island accessible by CalMac ferry from Oban, Colonsay has superb beaches, a micro-brewery, and genuine island charm. Wild camping is straightforward on this quiet island. Kiloran Bay on the north coast is one of Scotland's finest beaches, a sweeping crescent of golden sand. The island has a hotel, shop, and cafe. At low tide you can walk to the neighbouring island of Oronsay with its medieval priory. The island flora is remarkably rich thanks to the mild Gulf Stream climate. Rhododendrons bloom spectacularly in the gardens of Colonsay House. The pace of life is gentle and the birding excellent.

Community-owned Eigg is one of the Small Isles, reached by ferry from Mallaig. The distinctive Sgurr of Eigg, a pitchstone ridge, dominates the island. Wild camping is welcomed though the community asks you to camp sensitively and avoid the cultivated areas around the township. The Singing Sands beach on the north coast is a beautiful camping spot. The island runs entirely on renewable energy. There is a small shop and tearoom. Wildlife includes golden eagles, otters, and basking sharks offshore. The community-ownership model has revitalised the island since the 1997 buyout. A ferry timetable means you need at least two nights to explore properly.

One of Scotland's wildest and least populated islands, Jura has just one road, one pub, one shop, and around 200 residents alongside 5,000 red deer. The three Paps of Jura dominate the skyline. Wild camping is excellent throughout but the terrain is extremely rough, with thick deer grass and peat bog making progress slow. The west coast is virtually uninhabited and George Orwell wrote 1984 at Barnhill on the remote northern tip. Access is via a small ferry from Islay. The raised beaches on the west coast are fascinating geological features. Midges and ticks are abundant. A genuinely wild island experience.

A NatureScot National Nature Reserve, Rum is a magnificent island of mountains, wildlife, and geological interest. The Rum Cuillin provide a superb ridge walk. Wild camping is permitted across the island but the community in Kinloch ask you to register at the village hall. Manx shearwaters breed on the mountain tops in vast numbers, and white-tailed eagles were reintroduced here in the 1970s. The Victorian folly of Kinloch Castle is a remarkable sight. Access is by ferry from Mallaig. There are no shops on the island so bring all supplies. The terrain is rough and mountainous. Midges are terrible in calm weather.

The most westerly island of the Inner Hebrides, Tiree is known as the Sunshine Isle due to its unusually high sunshine records for Scotland. The island is flat and windswept with stunning white-sand beaches and turquoise water. Wild camping is straightforward on the machair grassland behind the beaches. Tiree is one of the UK's best windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations. The annual Tiree Music Festival attracts thousands. The island has a shop, pub, and cafe. Access is by CalMac ferry from Oban (4 hours) or by air from Glasgow. The flat terrain and Atlantic wind make it very different from the Highland mainland. The light and colours are extraordinary.

The vast peat moorland of Lewis stretches across the interior of Britain's most northwesterly island. Wild camping here is about vast open spaces, dark skies, and solitude. The Standing Stones of Callanish are older than Stonehenge and make a dramatic backdrop. The moorland is flat and featureless in places, making navigation skills essential in poor visibility. The Atlantic coast has stunning beaches at Uig and Bosta. Stornoway provides all supplies. The island has a distinct Gaelic culture and many communities observe the Sabbath. Weather is dominated by Atlantic systems with frequent wind and rain. Summer brings near-continuous daylight.

The north coast of Mull around Tobermory and Calgary Bay offers superb wild camping on remote sandy beaches. Calgary Bay has a stunning white-sand beach ideal for sunset camps. The island is rich in wildlife with white-tailed eagles, otters, and dolphins. Tobermory, with its colourful harbourfront, provides supplies and excellent seafood restaurants. The island is accessed by ferry from Oban (45 minutes). Wild camping is straightforward along the northern coastline, with numerous small bays and headlands to explore. The Ross of Mull in the south has equally beautiful but more exposed camping. Iona is a short ferry hop from the southwest tip.

Orkney's dramatic coastline offers wild camping with 5,000 years of history as a backdrop. The sea stacks and cliffs at Yesnaby are spectacular, and the ancient sites of Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Brodgar are world-class. Camp on the clifftops (safely back from the edge) for views across the Pentland Firth to the Scottish mainland. Wind is a constant companion - bring a sturdy tent and strong pegs. The Orcadian light is extraordinary, with near-constant daylight in summer. Kirkwall and Stromness have good shops and facilities. Access by ferry from Scrabster or Aberdeen, or by air from Inverness, Edinburgh, or Glasgow.

A peaceful campsite on the south coast of Arran at Kildonan, with seals basking on the rocks offshore. The site has outstanding sea views to Ailsa Craig and Pladda lighthouse. Facilities include showers, electric hookups, and a laundry. The pitches are terraced on the hillside above the shore. Kildonan has a small hotel serving food. The south end of Arran is quiet and less visited than the north, with gentle walks and beautiful beaches. Wild goats roam the nearby hills. Birdwatching is excellent with gannets, puffins (on Ailsa Craig), and sea eagles. Open March to October. A genuinely special location.

Britain's most northerly islands offer wild camping in a stark, treeless landscape of dramatic cliffs, sea stacks, and sweeping beaches. The light in Shetland is unique, with the simmer dim providing near 24-hour daylight around midsummer. The cliffs at Eshaness and Hermaness are spectacular, with vast seabird colonies. Camp on the coastal turf but be prepared for relentless wind - a sturdy tent and storm pegs are essential. Lerwick has excellent facilities and the Shetland Museum is outstanding. The Norse heritage is everywhere, culminating in the Up Helly Aa fire festival in January. Otters are common along the coast.

Situated beneath the Black Cuillin at the famous Sligachan bridge, this campsite is an institution for Scottish mountaineering. The site is basic with toilets and cold water, but the location is extraordinary. The Sligachan Hotel next door provides hot food, real ale, and live music. The Old Bridge over the River Sligachan is one of the most photographed spots in Scotland. From here, routes lead into the heart of the Cuillin ridge and to the Red Cuillin. The river pools are popular for wild swimming. Can be very exposed to weather. Open April to October. No advance booking.

An MBA bothy near Rubha Hunish on the northern tip of the Trotternish peninsula on Skye. The bothy was a former coastguard lookout and has stunning views across to the Shiant Isles, Harris, and the Scottish mainland. The walk in from the road end at Duntulm takes about 45 minutes along the clifftop. The bothy is small, sleeping about 4, and well-maintained. The Trotternish Ridge walk, one of Skye's finest, terminates here. The clifftop location is exposed to weather. Dolphins, minke whales, and basking sharks are seen offshore. Uig, with its ferry terminal and shop, is the nearest village.

A small MBA bothy on the Isle of Mull, situated inland from the north coast near Loch Frisa. The bothy is a simple shelter sleeping about 4 in a remote moorland setting. Mull's sea eagles and golden eagles are frequently seen in the area. The walk in is about 2 miles from the nearest road. The surrounding moorland is rough with heather and bog. The bothy provides a good base for exploring the northern part of Mull away from the tourist centres. Tobermory is the nearest town for supplies. The bothy is simpler than many on the mainland but the island setting adds to its charm.

The west coast of Harris boasts some of Europe's finest beaches, with turquoise water and white sand that would look at home in the Caribbean. Luskentyre, Seilebost, and Horgabost are the most famous. Wild camping is legal in Scotland and the machair grassland behind the beaches provides flat, sheltered pitches. The landscape is lunar on the eastern side and paradise on the west. Wind can be ferocious but the light is extraordinary. Harris tweed is still woven in homes across the island. Access is via ferry from Uig on Skye or Ullapool to Stornoway. Summer days are incredibly long this far north.