Wild Camping
Wild Camping in Northwest Highlands
Scotland's most remote and rewarding wild camping — and its most midge-prone
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:15
- Civil dawn
- 04:30
- Civil dusk
- 22:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
About this region
The northwest Highlands from Torridon to Cape Wrath is the wildest and most remote camping country in Scotland — a landscape of ancient Torridonian sandstone mountains, sea lochs, white sand beaches and near-total absence of habitation. The access right applies broadly with almost no permit complications.
Best camping spots
- Sandwood Bay (4km walk-in, most remote beach in mainland Scotland)
- Suilven base camp (Glencanisp approaches)
- Torridon hillside camps above the tree line
- Cape Wrath coastal approach camps
- Fisherfield Forest (the Great Wilderness — 3+ day expeditions)
- Achmelvich Bay (western sea coast)
Getting there
Limited road access — A835 to Ullapool, A838 northwest coast road, A894 through Assynt. Many best spots require 5–25km walk-in. No public transport beyond local postbuses. Fly-drive or motorhome camping popular.
Best months
May (before midges) or September. June–August requires serious midge management.
Key challenges
Midge pressure among the worst in Scotland June–August; genuinely remote — mobile coverage patchy; rescue times can be hours; river crossings can stop access after rain
Why come here
Arguably the most spectacular camping in Britain; Assynt landscape (Suilven, Stac Pollaidh) unique in Europe; near-zero light pollution; white sand beaches; genuine solitude
Frequently asked questions
- What is Sandwood Bay and why is it famous for camping?
- Sandwood Bay is a 1.6km stretch of remote pink-sand beach backed by sea stacks and dunes on the far northwest coast — accessible only by a 7km (return 14km) track from Blairmore near Kinlochbervie. It is considered one of the finest beaches in Britain and the wild camping there, with the Am Buachaille sea stack at the southern end and total absence of facilities or habitation, is exceptional. A mountain bothy (Strathan) lies further north. Plan for 2–3 hours walking each way.
- Is the Fisherfield Forest accessible for camping?
- Fisherfield Forest (also called the Great Wilderness) is the largest area of roadless land in the UK — a plateau of remote Munros and lochs accessed from Kinlochewe or Little Loch Broom. The approach is 10–16km depending on route. Camping is unrestricted under access rights, but the terrain is genuinely remote: expect full navigation in cloud, river crossings that can be impassable after rain, and no mobile signal for significant distances. Only attempt as a multi-day trip with full mountain skills.
- When is the northwest Highlands midge-free?
- May is the window before midges peak in earnest — reliable from early May to mid-June in most years. September sees a significant reduction as temperatures cool. The first frost usually kills the majority of adults. In practical terms, the breezy coastal and ridge locations (Sandwood Bay, Torridon ridge camps) remain usable in summer because midges cannot fly in wind above about 8mph. Sheltered inland locations (Fisherfield, Beinn Eighe corries) are brutal June–August.
- Do I need a 4-season tent in the northwest Highlands?
- In summer, a 3-season tent is fine for most locations — it is the rain and wind rather than cold that you are managing. Coastal and ridge pitches can experience severe Atlantic storms even in July; a tent rated to at least 3,500mm HH and with proper pegging points is essential. In spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), a 4-season or expedition-weight 3-season tent is advisable as snow is possible. In winter, expedition tents and full mountaineering skills are required.