Wild Camping
Wild Camping in Isle of Skye
The most dramatic island camping in Scotland — and the most overtouristed
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:26
- Sunset
- 21:17
- Civil dawn
- 04:38
- Civil dusk
- 22:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
About this region
Skye offers some of the most dramatic wild camping scenery in Scotland — black gabbro crags, basalt columns, white sand beaches and the Cuillin skyline. The island is also Scotland's most-visited tourist destination and in summer the most-photographed camping spots (Fairy Pools, Quiraing, Neist Point) are heavily used.
Best camping spots
- Trotternish Ridge (walk-in camp, spectacular basalt landscape)
- Rubha Hunish (northernmost point, dramatic headland)
- Camasunary Bay (wild beach, 5km walk-in from Kilmarie)
- Loch Coruisk (remote, Cuillin interior — serious walk-in or boat)
- Neist Point (lighthouse headland, windswept)
- Staffin Bay (coast camping, basalt stacks)
Getting there
Via Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh. Internal road network has limited wild camping access — the best spots require 1–10km walk-in. Fairy Pools car park area is heavily managed. Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale for southern Skye.
Best months
May (before midges peak) and September (midges reducing, crowds less)
Key challenges
Midge pressure is intense June–August in sheltered areas; road network congested in summer; "Instagram spots" have real leave-no-trace problems; some landowners have introduced informal camping management
Why come here
Most dramatic scenery in Scotland; Cuillin views from every direction; Trotternish basalt landscapes are unique in Britain; combination of sea and mountain camping
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the best wild camping on Skye away from the crowds?
- The Trotternish Ridge (the long basalt escarpment on the northern peninsula) gives walk-in camping away from road access — the ridge above the Quiraing is spectacular and requires a 2–3km walk-in to get away from the car park crowds. Rubha Hunish (northernmost tip) requires a 30-minute walk and is rarely visited despite being exceptional. Camasunary Bay (5km walk-in from Kilmarie) is the best beach camping on the island.
- How serious is the midge problem on Skye?
- Very serious from mid-June to mid-August. Skye has very-high midge risk on the scale — the combination of warm temperatures, high rainfall and sheltered west-facing terrain creates ideal conditions. A head net is essential for any camping June–August. Key mitigation: camp in breezy, exposed spots (ridges, headlands, beaches) rather than sheltered glens; avoid dusk and dawn outside; use a repellent with 50% DEET. The wind-facing Cuillin approaches are usually more bearable than sheltered Portree-side glens.
- Can I camp near the Fairy Pools?
- The Fairy Pools area (Glen Brittle) is heavily managed and the car park is paid. Wild camping in the immediate Glen Brittle area is not prohibited under access law, but the footprint is extreme — the whole glen is overused in summer. If you want to camp near the Cuillin, the Glen Brittle campsite (formal, paid) is a better option for facilities. Camasunary Bay gives a better wild camping experience with the same Cuillin access.
- Is it possible to reach Loch Coruisk by boat?
- Yes — boat trips operate from Elgol to Loch Coruisk (the Bella Jane and other operators), landing at the loch shore. This removes the challenging walk-in over the Bad Step (a grade 1 scramble at the Coruisk approach). The loch is one of the most remote and dramatic wild camping spots in Scotland — hemmed in by the Cuillin on three sides. Check weather carefully; Coruisk boats do not operate in rough conditions.