Wild camping in
Scotland - Lowlands

An MBA bothy in the heart of the Galloway Forest Park, Scotland's largest forest park and first Dark Sky Park. The bothy sits in remote moorland surrounded by forested hills. The walk in from Loch Trool takes about 5 miles through the forest. The bothy sleeps about 6 with a fireplace. The surrounding area has excellent mountain biking and walking, with the Southern Upland Way passing nearby. The dark skies are exceptional, with the Milky Way visible overhead on clear nights. Red deer and wild goats inhabit the forest. The terrain is mixed forest and moorland. Newton Stewart provides supplies.

A Forestry and Land Scotland campsite in Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow. Set in mixed woodland with well-spaced pitches and good facilities including showers and electric hookups. The country park offers walking trails, a deer park, fishing loch, and mountain bike trails. Edinburgh is 20 miles away, making this a good base for exploring the capital while camping. Linlithgow Palace, Mary Queen of Scots' birthplace, is nearby. The Bathgate Hills provide gentle walking. The campsite is popular with families due to the park activities. Open April to October. A practical, well-run site without being spectacular.

A well-maintained campsite on the outskirts of St Andrews, the home of golf. The site has modern facilities with showers, electric hookups, and a small shop. St Andrews' historic town centre, university, and world-famous Old Course are within walking distance. The Fife Coastal Path passes nearby, offering excellent clifftop walking. The East Neuk fishing villages of Crail, Anstruther, and Pittenweem are a short drive south. The beaches around St Andrews are stunning. A practical base for exploring Fife rather than a wilderness experience. Open March to October. Popular with golfers and families visiting the town.

An award-winning eco-campsite in Perthshire with mountain bike trails, a farm shop, and sustainably managed camping. The site offers woodland pitches, open field areas, and Nordic kata tents for hire. Facilities include compost toilets, solar showers, and a bike wash. The emphasis is on sustainability and outdoor adventure. The mountain bike trails on site are excellent and free to use. The nearby Crieff and Comrie have shops and restaurants. Walking routes into the surrounding hills are plentiful. The site hosts events and workshops throughout the season. Popular with families and mountain bikers alike. Open year-round.

Camp in the grounds of a magnificent clifftop castle designed by Robert Adam, managed by the National Trust for Scotland. The campsite sits within the extensive Culzean Country Park with its beaches, gardens, and woodland trails. Facilities include showers, electric hookups, and access to the country park. The castle itself is one of Scotland's finest stately homes. The coastline here offers sea caves, rock pools, and views across to Arran and Ailsa Craig. Ayrshire has gentler weather than the west Highlands. Maybole is the nearest town for supplies. An excellent family camping option combining history, nature, and coastal scenery.

A small shelter near the village of Durisdeer in the Lowther Hills of Dumfries and Galloway. The Southern Upland Way passes through this area. The bothy provides basic shelter for walkers exploring the rounded grass and heather hills. The terrain is gentle compared to Highland Scotland but the walking is excellent. The village of Durisdeer has a remarkable church with an ornate marble vault. The Lowther Hills are crossed by ancient drove roads. Lead mining was important here historically. Biggar and Moffat provide supplies. The area is quiet and under-visited, offering solitude on the Southern Upland Way. Ideal for those new to bothy culture.

Britain's largest forest park and Scotland's first Dark Sky Park, Galloway Forest offers wild camping beneath ancient woodlands and open moorland. The Merrick, southern Scotland's highest hill, provides a good walking objective. Camp beside one of the many lochs or in forest clearings. The forest is home to red deer, red squirrels, and various raptors. Mountain biking trails at Glentrool and Kirroughtree are excellent. The lack of light pollution makes this one of the best stargazing locations in the UK. Access points include Newton Stewart, New Galloway, and the Raiders Road forest drive. The terrain is gentler than Highland Scotland.

Adjacent to one of Scotland's premier mountain biking centres, this Forestry and Land Scotland campsite sits in mixed woodland near Peebles. The 7stanes mountain bike trails are directly accessible from the site. Facilities include showers, electric hookups, and a camp shop. The forest also has excellent walking trails and the Go Ape adventure course. Peebles is a lovely Borders town with independent shops, cafes, and the Tontine Hotel. The River Tweed flows through for fishing and kayaking. Edinburgh is 45 minutes by car. A solid base for active holidays in the Scottish Borders.

The shores of Loch Tay in Highland Perthshire offer accessible wild camping with the backdrop of Ben Lawers, one of Scotland's highest Munros. The southern shore road is quieter and has numerous spots to pitch beside the water. Killin at the western end is an attractive village with the Falls of Dochart. Kenmore at the eastern end sits at the outflow of the River Tay. The loch is popular for water sports and fishing. The crannog centre (reconstructed Iron Age lake dwelling) is fascinating. Mountain biking trails are developing in the area. The north shore road is busier but gives access to Ben Lawers NNR.

A small campsite beside one of Scotland's finest surf beaches on the Kintyre peninsula. Machrihanish has a 3-mile sweep of golden sand facing the Atlantic, producing the best surf in mainland Scotland. The site has basic facilities with showers and electric hookups. Campbeltown, the main town on Kintyre, has shops, pubs, and a whisky distillery. The Mull of Kintyre is a short drive south, with views to Ireland on clear days. Paul McCartney's farm is in the area. The peninsula is quiet and under-visited, with excellent coastal walking and birdwatching. Open Easter to October.

A scenic campsite on the east shore of Loch Lomond, run by the National Park Authority. The site has views across the loch to the Arrochar Alps and direct water access for kayaking and swimming. Facilities include modern showers, electric hookups, and a campsite warden. The iconic oak trees at the waterline are among the most photographed in Scotland. The West Highland Way passes nearby. Balmaha village is a short walk south with shops, a pub, and boat hire. Climbing Conic Hill above Balmaha gives panoramic views of the loch and its islands. Popular and busy in summer - pre-booking essential.

Scotland's most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway is a dramatic headland with a lighthouse and RSPB reserve. Wild camping on the clifftop grassland provides views across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man, England, and Ireland on clear days. The cliffs host breeding seabirds including gannets, guillemots, and razorbills. The coastline around the mull is spectacular with sea stacks and caves. The terrain is short clifftop grassland with exposure to wind. Drummore, Scotland's most southerly village, is nearby. The mild climate of the Rhinns of Galloway supports some surprisingly exotic garden plants. Logan Botanic Garden has a subtropical collection.

A Mountain Bothies Association bothy in the Ettrick Forest area of the Scottish Borders. Situated beside the Captain's Road, an ancient drove road, the bothy is a compact but well-maintained shelter sleeping around 4-6. The surrounding hills are rolling and grassy, typical of the Borders landscape. The Southern Upland Way passes nearby. Access from Ettrick village is about 4 miles along a forest track. The area is quieter than Highland bothies and you may have the place to yourself midweek. The Borders hills offer gentle walking with extensive views. Take wood for the fire as local sources can be limited.

Edinburgh's local hills offer surprisingly good wild camping just minutes from the city centre. The Pentland Hills Regional Park stretches for 16 miles southwest of the city with rolling moorland, reservoirs, and hill summits. Camp on the higher ground away from paths for privacy. The terrain is open grassland and heather moorland. Glencorse and Loganlea reservoirs are scenic spots though camping right beside them is discouraged. Access from the city is excellent via Flotterstone, Swanston, or Balerno. Water is available from burns. The hills rarely exceed 600m but the walking is excellent and the views to Edinburgh, the Forth, and the Highlands are superb.

Scotland's coast-to-coast long-distance trail crosses 212 miles from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath. Wild camping along the route is legal and there are many excellent spots on the rolling moorland and in the forested valleys. The route passes through the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park and the Borders hill country. The terrain is gentler than Highland Scotland but the route is long and remote in places. Towns and villages along the way provide resupply points. The route is quieter than the West Highland Way, making wild camping more peaceful. The Borders section crosses the rounded Cheviot-like hills with extensive views.

A campsite near the dramatic ruins of Tantallon Castle on the East Lothian coast. The site has views to the Bass Rock, the world's largest gannet colony. Facilities include modern showers, electric hookups, and a small shop. The coastline here has excellent sandy beaches at Seacliff and Yellowcraig. North Berwick, a charming seaside town, is a short drive away with the Scottish Seabird Centre. The John Muir Way coastal path passes through the area. Edinburgh is 25 miles away. The golf courses at North Berwick and Muirfield are world-famous. A great coastal camping option near the capital.

Often called the Highlands in miniature, the Trossachs offer accessible wild camping within easy reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Ben Venue and Ben A'an provide excellent hill walks with wild camping opportunities. Note that the Trossachs, like Loch Lomond, have camping byelaws requiring permits in designated areas during peak season (March-September). The area around Loch Katrine and Loch Achray is particularly scenic. The village of Callander provides supplies. The area inspired Sir Walter Scott and has a romantic, literary heritage. Mountain biking and kayaking are popular. Less wild than the true Highlands but more accessible.