Scotland's most scenic campsites with spectacular beach views
The beaches of Sutherland are a sight to behold, showcasing a kaleidoscopic array of colours from reddish-pink (Sandwood Bay) to honey-hued (Ceannabeinne) and golden (Kearvaig).
Clachtoll Beach, with its dreamy white sands and azure waters, can certainly hold its own in that illustrious company. The campsite – as the name suggests – abounds with joyous vistas, the beach itself mere minutes away, accessed via wooden walkways through the dunes.
There are serviced pitches with water and electricity. It is dog-friendly, also welcoming families, solo travellers, backpackers, cyclists and bikers.
The top-notch amenities include toilets, showers, a well-equipped kitchen, dishwashing sinks, Wi-Fi, a vending machine and small shop, as well as free use of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, wetsuits, buoyancy aids, children's beach games and a nightly fire pit.
Horgabost Campsite, Harris
Traigh Lar beach near Horgabost, Harris, Outer Hebrides (Image: Getty Images)
This basic-yet-stunningly beautiful beachside campsite is a brilliant base from which to explore the delights of Harris, providing a perfect pit stop for anyone on an island-hopping odyssey along the Hebridean Way.
There are grass pitches for motorhomes, campervans, caravans and tents. Although no electric hook-up, there are toilets, coin-operated showers, a communal fridge and washing-up sinks. Well-behaved dogs are permitted.
As for the views? We're talking pristine white sands and turquoise waters. Horgabost neighbours the famed Seilebost and Luskentyre – often likened to the Caribbean – with the trio of beaches sharing the same stretch of photogenic coastal road.
Invercaimbe Caravan Site, near Arisaig, Lochaber
Ideal for those who prefer a cosier site, there are 14 pitches for motorhomes, campervans and caravans in a gorgeous beach setting, with spellbinding views over to Eigg and Rum.
Located on a working farm only a stone's throw from the A830 – aka the mighty Road to the Isles – there is electric hook-up available, with laundry facilities, showers and toilets. Invercaimbe is also dog friendly.
You have the abundant charms of Arisaig nearby, where food and drink options include bistro-style eatery The Old Library and pub grub at The Crofter's Rest.
Rosemarkie and Fortrose Bay campsites, Black Isle
Spot a dolphin (Image: Getty Images)
A pair of gems – the Rosemarkie Camping and Caravanning Club and the Fortrose Bay Campsite – can be found on opposite shores of Chanonry Ness, a slender spit of land that extends towards the Moray Firth.
Both have handsome sea views and decent amenities, although the biggest lure is that you have one of the best bottlenose dolphin-watching locations in Scotland, a mere mile (1.6km) away at Chanonry Point. The resident pod appears most days, putting on a thrilling show of acrobatics as they play and fish in the strong currents.
This Black Isle promontory packs in the history, with a 19th-century Stevenson lighthouse and a links golf course, said to be the 15th oldest recorded club in the world. Then there is the Brahan Seer monument, a landmark with legend that is well-worth checking out.
Read more Scottish picks from Susan
Fidden Farm Campsite, Mull
Wake up to magical sea views and the sound of gently lapping waves. Proudly billed as 'a little slice of camping paradise', this sublime spot has been drawing those in the know for decades.
Initially home to a well-regarded B&B, each summer a clutch of walkers would arrive at Fidden Farm in the hope of pitching a tent on the picturesque shoreline. A field was set aside for this purpose, with a single drinking water tap.
This has since grown into Fidden Farm Campsite, now run by the third generation of the same family. Tents, caravans, motorhomes and campervans are all welcome.
The excellent facilities include toilets, showers, a coin-operated washing machine and dryer, Wi-Fi and device-charging sockets. For al-fresco dining, pull up a pew at one of the 40 picnic tables situated around the two roomy camping areas.
There are food vans that visit on different days. The Creel Seafood Bar comes on Thursday evenings, with The Foodie Shack Pizza Van arriving on Friday afternoons and Island Eats serving twice-weekly burgers and breakfast most mornings.
Susan Swarbrick is a columnist and freelance writer who loves history and the outdoors. Follow her on X @SusanSwarbrick and Bluesky @susanswarbrick.bsky.social
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Wales Online
19 hours ago
- Wales Online
Small village surrounded by world class waterfalls has a pub that sells unbelievable scallop sandwiches
Small village surrounded by world class waterfalls has a pub that sells unbelievable scallop sandwiches If you're walking the famous Four Waterfalls walk, this pub should be on your agenda for afterwards Inside the pub is the perfect mix of traditional and cosy (Image: Ruth Mosalski) There are few things greater in life than a walk followed by a pub lunch and a pint of cider. Luckily, Wales has so many incredible walking routes, whether you're in the hills of Bannau Brycheiniog or Yr Wyddfa, climbing The Sugar Loaf, Consti or the Garth, wherever you are, you should never be too far from a great boozer either. Except we know the hospitality industry is struggling, and with the deadly combination of running costs rising and our flexible income shrinking, there is a depressingly high number of good, rural pubs closing. If you've watched the latest series of Clarkson's Farm you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Beautiful stone buildings, with decades, if not centuries of stories, bust ups and boozing, are being lost, left abandoned all over the country because keeping a pub running is seriously hard work. The renovated historic pub from the outside (Image: Ruth Mosalski) So, when you find a good one, well you need to spread the word, so let me share with you the Red Lion in Penderyn. Personally, my demands are simple. Good food, whether pub classics, or something fancy, served with a good drop (in my case, a local cider or good chilled Pinot Grigio, but for my husband, good ales), is all you need and if you've been on a long walk, you've definitely earned those, right? Having spent the morning walking round the Four Waterfalls, and taking a very chilly dip in Sgwd y Eira, my husband's booking of the Red Lion in Penderyn was an excellent shout. View of the Sgwd Yr Eira waterfall in Bannau Brycheiniog (Image: Edd Mitchell/ GettyImages) The 9km walk in the Beacons is legendary, and to our shame despite it being an hour from our home, we'd never done it in full. In fact this part of the world is known as "waterfall country" where there are a host of stunning publicly accessible waterfalls. Setting off early to beat the crowds, and as a bonus bagging one of the handful of free parking spots available, our three hour ramble was complete in time for a lunchtime trip to Penderyn, just a few miles away. Plus, our aching thigh muscles needed a breather. Home of the famous distillery, somewhere we've taken visitors for tours not once, but twice, as we sat looking at the menus we said we couldn't quite believe we'd never heard of this pub. The pub has, in its current form, been here since the 1800s. Its website explains the rest: "By the mid 1970's it was in a very sorry state. Most of the building was derelict with cinder floors and only two rooms still in use; a small bar and damp lounge. "The roof's back was broken and there were over 30 vessels of various types catching the water coming in. "However in 1978 it was sold to Keith & Beryl James and so began a love affair with a building which has continued 7 days a week, 365 days a year to this very day. The bond with the building is so strong that their last holiday was in fact in 1977. "Over the last 40 years a substantial and sympathetic renovation has been undertaken to restore the Red Lion to it's former glory. Every penny of savings, pensions and turnover has been ploughed back in to the building by family to develop the '…little hidden gem….' customers love today." Keith and Beryl's daughter Natalie joined the pub in 2015, and this family's love affair continues. Given we'd travelled to it via a road which would generously be described as single track, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. The walk, the clambering, the swimming, would have seen me happy with a plate of scampi and chips but chef had other ideas. But I can tell you for certain, that as we sat down and opened the menu, I did not expect to see "compressed watermelon" or squid with Thai basil charred lime and pickled cucumber. Nor did I expect a scallop sandwich, or a Barti Ddu Rum chocolate delice. But the dish that makes my mouth water even just thinking back was the scallop sandwich. The scallop and bacon sandwich, served with fries and coleslaw was the star of the show (Image: Ruth Mosalski) Now, a £20.50 price tag for a sandwich may sound a lot, but I love fish, plus the description included a host of my favourite things - bacon, fennel, radish, pea and mint mayo and charred gem - check, check and check. So that was ordered, without a second look and we also added three dishes from the "small plates" menu, which range from £11 to £12.20, but you can get three for £30 at lunchtime. We also added on a side, of what was billed as crispy curry leaves, more of that later. The dishes all came together, and in a good amount of time for us to enjoy the first sips of our drinks but with that anticipation a rumbling tummy can bring. Pork belly small plates with peanuts, spring onion and soy dressing (Image: Ruth Mosalski) While I ate the sandwich last, it was, by far, the standout dish. Seriously well cooked, juicy scallops, were inside a bread roll with a good chew, thick bacon, plus the vegetable garnishes and sauces. The saltiness of bacon and sweetness of scallops is a well tested flavour combination, and adding it in a sandwich with the other ingredients, it was decadent and divine. We both pointed out we'd have wanted more of the pea and mint mayo squished in there, but when you did get a mouthful of that, it was divine. The chips were coated in paprika, and the coleslaw, the last thing I went to eat was left, partly through my overordering, but partly as it was a little too heavy on the onions. The cauliflower (£11) with miso puree, pickled radish, chilli oil, chickpeas and viola flowers was by far the best of the three small plates we picked. Sweet, but with chunks of soft cauliflower and crispy chickpeas, it not only looked beautiful but tasted it too. My second favourite dish of cauliflower with edible flowers and chickpeas (Image: Ruth Mosalski) While they were my standouts, there were a couple of others that didn't quite live up to the billing, but with a few tweaks absolutely could and were still perfectly acceptable pub grub. The crispy pork belly (£11) with toasted peanuts, chilli and soy dressing and spring onions, was the best of the rest. The larger pieces of pork held their succulence and fell apart when cut, but their smaller compatriots were a little on the dry side. That said, the huge peanuts and dressing were delightful. The squid, which was promised with pickled cucumber, thai basil, hazelnuts, charred lime and a lemon and garlic aioli promised big hitting flavours. While the squid itself was prepared and cooked well, I wanted that cheek sucking punch of the double citrus, and I didn't get it. It may be my Polish roots but I love anything pickled. Seriously pickled but this cucumber though had barely seen the vinegar enough to make me as giddy as seeing it on the menu did. There is not a pickled product I wouldn't eat, and yet I did leave some of the cucumber on the plate. Plus, for £12.20, it just felt a little small, even for a small plate. The squid itself was great, but it didn't quite deliver on punch (Image: Ruth Mosalski) Billed as a "bit on the side" I was fascinated by the sound of "crispy curry leaves" served with rocket, seeds and fennel. It sounded amazing. It was, in reality, a salad, and I had to hunt for the curry leaves within the, granted, big pile of leaves and seeds. Double, or triple the quantity of those fragrant leaves, and half the amount of dressing, this dish could be a knockout. As it was, it was a salad, not quite the intriguing proposition on the menu. We shared a pudding - which with a £12 price tag I imagine lots of people do - but the Barti Ddu rum chocolate delice was a great ending to the meal. The richness of the delice was countered by both the rum and the coffee soil. The vanilla ice cream something of a palate cleanser after the chocolate too. The Barti Ddu rum chocolate delice pudding (Image: Ruth Mosalski) All in all, I'm really glad we found this pub. The decor and its staff were great. It was the right mix of a traditional pub but done up with enough modern touches it didn't feel dark, dank or dingy. The staff were lovely, seating us earlier than our booking, and prompt with service and with big smiles, and no judgements at our large lunch order. This place is clearly hugely popular and its location means if you're a return visitor to the waterfalls, or going for the first time, you should absolutely visit. It's got a huge and beautiful beer garden, a pop up pizza spot The Little Lion, and has, I've since learnt, hosted street fooders like The Beefy Boys too. Article continues below It oh so nearly delivered on every count, but I wouldn't mind popping back for that sandwich any time. The Red Lion in Penderyn recommends bookings. Food is served at lunchtime and in evenings between Wednesday and Saturday with a Sunday lunch menu from noon until 4.30pm.
Wales Online
20 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh lad in Turkey shares holiday warning as he exclaims 'don't bother coming'
Welsh lad in Turkey shares holiday warning as he exclaims 'don't bother coming' A Welsh lad who headed to Turkey for his summer holiday has claimed people shouldn't 'bother' travelling to the popular tourist hotspot for a specific reason as he shared a video online The Welsh lad has urged people to not 'bother' travelling to Turkey (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Turkey is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits, with a staggering 4.4 million UK tourists visiting the country in 2024. According to Time Out, this made it the eighth most popular tourist destination for holidaymakers in the UK, behind places like Spain, France, and Greece, but numbers are rising every year. However, if you're planning on making Turkey your next holiday spot, one Welsh man has some advice for you: "Don't bother". The man, who posts on TikTok under the username @northwalesboii, said he had jetted off to Turkey for his summer holiday and had been left feeling disappointed with one specific thing. In his video, the man complained that everything was "too expensive", and told people that if they want to visit Turkey, they should be prepared to bring "a lot of money" with them. He did not state where in Turkey he was, but some of the most popular spots include the capital city Istanbul, as well as Cappadocia, Antalya, and coastal resorts such as Marmaris. The man stated: "Just to let you know, if you're coming on holiday to Turkey, bring a lot of money. You will spend it. Everything has gone up. Warning: The below video contains strong language. Content cannot be displayed without consent "It never used to be so expensive; it used to be so dirt cheap to come here. To eat out, to drink out. Not no more. It is f***ing expensive." Commenters on the video were split. Some agreed that the prices had gone up, with many claiming they had recently been on holiday and been charged 400 Turkish Lira for a beer, which works out at around £7.30. One person stated: "I go three times a year, and you are correct, it's gotten expensive. It will go up again. Next year, we're looking at different places." However, others insisted their recent holidays had been "cheaper than the UK". Someone argued: "Don't know what part you went to. We have just got back from Antalya, had a great time, and it was cheaper than the UK." Another added: "I don't know where you guys are going, but it's really cheap in Turkey. I do a lot of shopping and the food is cheap as well." In 2024, holidaymakers claimed that rampant inflation could turn Turkey into a "ghost town" in just a few years, as one social media user claimed the tourist hotspots were "becoming like London prices." He said at the time: "I'm sat in this place now - for a burger it's £12. For a water it's £2 - it's becoming like London prices. My sister, and her little family, said they're not going to come back again. Article continues below "I've seen some posts on here where people are saying, give it a few more years, and Turkey's going to be dead."
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
I drove to visit towns on each side of Welsh border but made one big mistake
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info As I live not far from the A470 in the north then the usual trip to the capital is straight down the middle of Wales - remaining on that very same road for all but a couple of miles. But I recently decided to mix it up and have a little explore on the border. In part it was to scratch a particular itch to visit the nation's book capital Hay-on-Wye - a place I had read and seen so much about but never ventured. I thought I would take in another spot on the way down and went for Ludlow in Shropshire, with its castle and historic centre. Compared to the A470 the border route is straighter but busier - so any time you gain in faster stretches is lost in queues. It's about a two and a half hour drive from Conwy to Ludlow without breaks so I was ready for a paned when I arrived. Unusually for me it was just myself on the trip rather than with all or any of the family - or some mates. This made it quieter and cheaper and I could pick my own in-car listening. It means you can quietly take things in, but you also miss the banter and sharing the experience, so swings and roundabouts. I parked up in the centre of the town and took a signposted walk around the castle walls. This fortress was built to secure the border against Welsh raids. It was erected by the de Lacy family - starting back in 1085 - with Walter de Lacy part of William the Conqueror invasion force in 1066. Huge town walls were added in the 13th century with Ludlow Castle stood within the circuit of the walls. (Image: Getty Images) The place isn't up there with the grandest of the North Wales castles but still an impressive sight. I walked down to a little cafe next to the River Teme - enjoying a coffee and sandwich in an outdoor area overlooking the water. (Image: Getty Images) I then wandered to Broadgate, the sole surviving medieval gate and in this area you can see some sections of the remaining town wall. The whole place oozes history and apparently there are almost 500 listed buildings in the town, with medieval and Georgian buildings in the centre. I'm not a huge shopper but did appreciate some of the shop windows and boutique stores. You could easily stay longer but my itinerary demanded I move on and it was back in the car for hour long onwards journey to Hay-on-Wye. This trip sees you cross the border back to Cymru - with Hay-on-Wye sitting literally just on the Welsh side. There is actually another castle with its origins back in the days of Norman conquest and quelling Welsh rebellions. Hay Castle was later strengthened in the 12th century and a mansion added in the 17th Century. (Image: Getty) The site was mainly derelict at the start of the 2000s but has been revived by the Hay Castle Trust and is now an arts and literature centre. However I was not here for the castle and parked up to explore some of the more than 20 bookshops in the town. (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne) It is named the 'World's First Book Town' - its book themed revival inspired by Richard Booth from the 1960s. He had read about some libraries that were closing down in America - went out there with some friends, where they crated up thousands of books and shipped them home. He opened his own second hand bookshop in the former fire station in 1961. This inspired others and soon books from across the world were flowing into the increasing collection of bookshops in the town. It is of course also now famous for its annual Hay Festival. With so much choice it is hard to decide where to start and I went for instinct over any research and popped into one that for no conscious reason drew me in. You can then easily get lost in these places with narrow aisles and towering bookshelves. I was not after anything specific so it was very much a pick and see approach before something sparked. It was one of four bookshops I went into and it was lovely to speak to a couple of the owners/staff and ask about recommendations. I ended up with a book per shop before deciding to do something a bit different. After a day in my car or walking around towns I felt like a nature inspired pick-me-up and had heard about The Warren - a riverside spot for walking or wild swimming. I had some gym shorts with me and decided to go and have a short dip, the cold water a tonic for a sore back from driving. After drying off it was back to the town centre for a quick coffee. Sitting there as the evening drew in and a further couple of hours of driving ahead I thought about my big mistake. (Image: Getty) I really should have booked a night - ideally with other people/ person. There was a lovely atmosphere in the town and finishing off the day with some food and a few drinks would have rounded off a fascinating day. This is though a very good excuse to come back.
