Your guide to wild camping on the NC500
The North Coast 500 is well known for it’s beautiful rural landscapes, and so it’s no wonder that it has become a popular destination for those wanting to spend a night or 2 under the stars. Whether you are looking to keep things minimal by wild camping on the NC500 or stay at the many available sites with full facilities – there is something for everyone. All we ask is that you “tread lightly” and familiarise yourself with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Camp Sites on the NC500
Use campsites when possible, to access appropriate facilities and have the best experience. By pitching up at an official campsite, it means that our natural environments and their often fragile ecosystems remain intact.
The North Coast 500 is home to many awe-inspiring, remote campsites – in some sites, you’ll feel as though you’re wild camping, although you’ll have all the facilities of a fully maintained camp site. Whether you are looking to keep things minimal or stay at sites with full facilities – there is something for everyone. Our campsites welcome tents, campervans and motorhomes etc unless stated otherwise.
You will find a full list of amazing campsites along the route here.
Wild Camping on the NC500
If you are planning a wild camping trip on the North Coast 500, be sure to familiarise yourself with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. It’s simple – all campers should follow a policy of ‘leave-no-trace’.
Here are some top points to follow:
- Be considerate of local people, wildlife and farm animals.
- If it is busy, move on.
- Avoid lighting fires and use a stove where possible – Wildfires are a danger at all times of the year in the North Highlands
- Be discreet, consider how your campsite may impact the landscape, local people and land owners, keep away from buildings, roads, and historic structures.
- Camp alone or in a small group
- Take everything away with you, including all your litter, remove all traces of your tent pitch and cooking areas.
For more information download Nature Scots leaflet on Camping in Scotland.
Campfires
Please do not light campfires, use a stove for cooking it is the best way to prevent wildfires and avoid destroying our woodlands, trees and peatlands.
Campfires on peaty ground or near trees can cause major damage to both local communities and our wildlife. Much of the North Coast 500 landscape is made up of peatlands and forests, meaning there is a high risk of wildfire.
Never light a fire anywhere when there is a high fire risk.
What to do when you need to go!
Of course when you are out in the wilds you don’t have the convenience of toilet facilities. So what do you do when you need to go? Lets face it, nobody likes to talk about poo, and nobody wants to see it either, so make sure you know what to do when you need to poo in the great outdoors as outlined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
If you do need to poo when you’re out and about, please do the following:
- Carry a small trowel and dog poo bags with you.
- Dig a hole 30 meters away from water, buildings and other people or animals.
- Bury your poo in the hole and cover it.
- Bag up all toilet paper or sanitary items and take with you to dispose of in a bin when you get to one.
- If you are unable to bury your poo, please poo in a bag and take it with you to dispose of in a toilet or bin when you find one.
Leave no trace
Whether you are travelling by car, bicycle, motorcycle, campervan, motorhome or foot, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste responsibly. Not only can litter ruin the amazing views along the North Coast 500, it can also pose a hazard to wildlife and the environment. Clearing up discarded litter can also be difficult, dangerous and expensive to clean up.
If you find that there are no bins, or that the bins provided are full, DO NOT leave your waste at the roadside or beside a bin, take it with you and dispose of it responsibly, recycling where you can.
Points to remember…
- Leave your camping spot as you found it
- Be discreet, arrive late and leave early
- Do not light fires, use a stove if possible
- Avoid digging or removing vegetation and boulders; choose a flat, dry area to pitch your tent
- Wild camping access rules do not apply to motorised vehicles. Learn more about parking in the outdoors and read our guidelines for campervans and motorhomes
- Avoid sites that are at risk of overuse