Caravanning in Scottish Highlands

Where the caravan sites are

BritStays lists 36 caravanning stays in the Scottish Highlands, and they cluster around a few bases. Inverness has the most, with 16. Aviemore follows with 8 and Fort William with 5. There are single listings in Elgin, Achnasheen, Nairn and Dingwall, and two more listed simply under Scottish Highlands. If you want plenty of choice, or a fallback when your first pick is full, start with Inverness. If you've already settled on a particular area, the shorter lists around Aviemore and Fort William are quick to compare.

Our listings don't record whether each site is on the coast or inland, so check each site's own description before you choose. A sea view or a quiet glen is worth confirming before you pay a deposit.

Matching a site to your trip

The facility data shows what's most commonly listed across all 36 stays:

• EV Charging Nearby: 19
• Near a Bus Stop: 12
• Pet Friendly: 11
• WiFi: 9
• Toilets, Disabled Access, Laundrette and Playground: 8 each

Families: only 8 sites list a playground, so filter for it if it matters. Boat of Garten Holiday Park lists a playground alongside a restaurant and cafe, which saves cooking every night. Bunree Caravan Club Site, listed under Fort William, includes baby changing. Kinloss Park in Aviemore has a swimming pool and gym, which is handy for burning off energy on a wet day.

Couples: if you'd like somewhere to eat and drink on site, Ledgowan Lodge Campsite in Achnasheen lists a bar and restaurant. Lochy Holiday Park, listed under Fort William, has a hot tub, takeaway food and a gift shop.

Dog owners: 11 of the 36 sites are marked pet friendly, including Bunree Caravan Club Site and Kinlochewe Caravan Club Site. Check each site's rules on numbers and breeds before booking.

Accessibility: 8 sites list disabled access, among them Dingwall Camping and Caravanning Club, Bunree and Kinlochewe. Ask the site directly about pitch surfaces and facility layouts, because a tick in a box can mean different things.

What the example stays tell you

Facility listings vary a lot from site to site. Some, such as Dalchalm Caravan Club Site and Coulmore Bay Caravan Park in Inverness, show no facilities in our data at all. That doesn't mean they have none. It means you'll need to ask. Only 8 sites list toilets, which almost certainly reflects gaps in the listings rather than the reality on the ground. Granny's Heilan' Hame Holiday Park in Inverness lists toilets and nothing else, so contact them if you need more detail.

Electric vehicle drivers are well served. Over half the sites list EV Charging Nearby, including Balnakeil Motorhome Stopover in Inverness, Silver Sands Leisure Park in Aviemore and Nevis Range Campervan Park in Fort William. If you'd like to leave the car parked for a day, Glen Nevis Self-Catering Park lists both WiFi and a nearby bus stop. Ledgowan Lodge Campsite is near a train station.

Things to do once you're pitched

The region's big names include Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Eilean Donan Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Castle Stuart and the Cairngorms National Park. Plan your days around one or two of these rather than trying to tick them all off. Driving between them takes up a lot of a short break.

For rainy days, or a slower pace, there are local museums:

• Around Inverness: The Highlanders' Museum, The Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre, The Old Court house, Dingwall Museum and Hugh Miller's Museum and Cottage
• Around Fort William: Clan Cameron Museum
• Elsewhere in the region: Highland Folk Museum and Am Fasgadh

When and how to book

We don't hold availability or price data for these sites, so we can't tell you which weeks fill first. Some general advice still holds. With 16 listings, Inverness gives you the best chance of finding a late pitch. Fort William has only 5 listed sites, so if you're set on staying there, book early, especially for school holidays. If you need a specific facility, such as a playground, disabled access or a pet-friendly pitch, remember only 8 to 11 sites list each one. The fewer sites that offer what you need, the sooner you should book.

Before you pay, confirm the essentials directly with the site: toilets and showers, hook-ups, dog rules and arrival times. Then plan your route between bases, and don't try to cover Inverness, Aviemore and Fort William all in one short trip.