Motorhome Wild Camping Scotland: 2024 Guide

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How to Wild Camp in Scotland in a Motorhome or Campervan

Scotland is a hugely popular motorhome destination offering dramatic landscapes of huge skies, towering mountains and gorgeous coastlines. Add to that fantastic roads and routes, rich history and delicious local cuisine, and it’s no wonder it’s such a popular motorhome holiday destination.

There are also plenty of great campsites and overnight stops, but if you prefer to wild camp in the untamed and remote landscape in your motorhome, we’ve got all the information you need to do so safely and within the rules in our wild camping in Scotland guide.

Motorhome Wild Camping in Scotland

What is Motorhome Wild Camping?

Wild camping in a motorhome is the practice of staying overnight in a spot that is not in a campsite, aire or other designated motorhome camping place. It means camping without access to tap water, toilet facilities or showers and no means to plug in for electricity.

Often called off grid camping, wilding or free camping, wild camping in a motorhome is not the same as wild camping in a tent, when you have to carry everything you need, including your sleeping bag, cooking equipment, food and water bottles on your back.

In fact, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code does not recognise that wild camping can be done in a vehicle (that includes motorhomes, campervans, cars with rooftop tents and cars) and only recognises wild camping in a tent.

Terms like free parking and off grid parking may be more appropriate when camping in this way in Scotland.

blue and white campervan driving along a road lined with tall grasses, with mountains in the background — Driving through beautiful Glen Etive

Should I Motorhome Wild Camp in Scotland?

As we were putting together this post, it occurred to us that we were encouraging an activity that has received quite a bit of negative press attention in recent years and has led to local community resistance to motorhome visitors in many of the popular tourist destinations in the UK, including Scotland.

The number of people travelling and using motorhomes in the UK since 2020 has increased exponentially, especially in the summer months, due to EU travel restrictions and increases in motorhome ownership, leading to overcrowding at many popular beauty spots and attractions.

Places like the Scottish Highlands, home to the North Coast 500, and the Isle of Skye have been overwhelmed by the numbers of visitors since the pandemic. Often roads are too narrow for large vehicles and local infrastructure is unable to cope with the influx of so many vehicles and people.

Wild campers can exacerbate the problem when they camp irresponsibly or illegally and leave their waste behind. We’ve all seen the images on the news and social media of people dumping the contents of their toilet cassette in a lay-by, causing traffic jams on single track roads or camping on private land without permission.

We are wild campers at heart and love the solitude, peace, big landscapes, and freedom to get away from it all. We will continue to wild camp in Scotland in remote spots well away from major tourist attractions and abiding by the law. We will always be discreet and respectful and remember that our holiday destination is someone else’s home.

If you follow the rules and regulations and leave no trace, then there is no reason you shouldn’t take a Scottish wild camping trip in your motorhome.

Scotland 2 Week Motorhome Itinerary

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Let us do the hard work for you! Get up every day knowing your campervan trip is planned with driving routes, overnight stops and attractions marked out for you on your interactive map.

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Laws for Motorhome Wild Camping in Scotland

It is illegal to wild camp in the United Kingdom (including Scotland) in a motorhome or campervan without explicit permission from the landowner. In reality, locating and asking the landholder (potentially a national park or government body) would be impossible and you can’t just pitch up on private land for an overnight stop and hope for the best.

The Land Reform Act 2003 provides rights of access to most land, subject to responsible behaviour as defined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

You may think that this gives rights like Norway’s allemannsretten (everyman’s rights), which allows free roaming and wild camping. The code states:

In Scotland, as a general rule, you can go on to most unenclosed land to enjoy the outdoors as long as you behave responsibly.
Access rights extend to wild camping. This type of camping is lightweight in tents, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place.

The code is also very clear that those wild camping rights do not apply to motorhomes or campervans and says:

Access rights do not include motor vehicles. If public or private land owners restrict or regulate parking on their land, you must comply with this.
Follow the Highway Code, Road Traffic Act and the guidance in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, including the specific advice on parking. Respect the interests of others, care for the environment and take responsibility for your own actions.
Plan ahead and book into a managed camp site or other informal camping provision for campervans and motorhomes where possible, especially when travelling popular routes like the North Coast 500.

Parking sign showing 'campervan or motorhome only' with white buildings in the background

How Can I Wild Camp Legally in My Motorhome in Scotland?

Having read the legal stuff, you may be thinking that it’s not possible to wild camp in a motorhome in Scotland. That’s understandable!

But if you follow our tried and tested wild camping tips and simple rules, you’ll find it is possible to wild camp in Scotland legally and safely. In fact, once you’ve got your first wild camp done and dusted, you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about!

wilderness camping Scotland on the Isle of Arran — Motorhoming on the Isle of Arran

Scotland Wild Camping Know How

If this is your first time wild camping in Scotland, the do’s and don’t we share below will help keep you safe, secure and legal.

Things To Do Motorhome Wild Camping in Scotland

Do use a motorhome camping app to help with research and find the best legal wild camping spots.
Do use your common sense about whether the spot you have chosen is suitable for a vehicle. If you’re unsure then it probably isn’t the right place.
Do think about safety, security and peace of mind when parking up for the night.
Do remember that motorhomes and campervans can ‘Park to Sleep’ in any designated formal lay-by, although you must not practice camping activities i.e. get your table and chairs out.
Do have a second option in mind if your first free wild camping spot is not the right one.
Do explore areas away from tourist hot spots for the best experience.
Do care for the environment and leave no trace. This means avoiding areas where the flora and fauna, including the unique Scottish machair, may be sensitive and fragile.
Do respect other’s privacy and don’t park right next to another motorhome in a remote spot.
Do avoid large congregations of motorhomes and campervans.
Do practice discretion. Loud music, BBQs, fires, washing lines, levelling devices and awnings are a definite no-no!
Do remember to take a fold-up shovel in case your toilet cassette reaches capacity and you don’t carry a spare. Go as far away from buildings, watercourses, open water and wildlife as possible, dig a hole and do it the old-fashioned way. Remember not to leave soiled toilet paper for others to find or animals to dig up. Use a nappy sack or dog waste bag until you can dispose of it properly.
Do try a dry composting toilet that separates solids and liquids. You won’t need water or chemicals as no flushing is required. It’s a completely natural system for your human waste, which gives you plenty of time to relax out in the wild.
Do carry enough fresh water for your needs.

a silver campervan parked alongside a track surrounded by grasses and heather — Stopping for lunch in the Cairngorms National Park

Things Not To Do Campervan Wild Camping in Scotland

Don’t park where there are signs stating ‘no overnight parking’.
Don’t park overnight within sight of people’s houses or on private property.
Don’t stay for more than one night.
Don’t block access to tracks and fields.
Don’t dispose of or drain black or grey waste until you are in a designated place to do so. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have been know to prosecute motorhomers disposing of their waste illegally. CaMPA (Campervan and Motorhome Professional Association) has an interactive map showing all the designated points in Scotland here.
Don’t use public toilets to dispose of black waste – they are not a designated place to empty a chemical toilet.
Don’t drive off with your drain tap open and hope no one will notice.
Don’t make a mess and leave behind litter, rubbish or unwanted camping items.
Don’t light an open fire or use fire pits in the summer or times of drought. You may be responsible for any fire which gets out of control.
Don’t chop down trees if you do make a campfire (yes, really, people do that). Bring your own firewood with you.

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How to Find Free Overnight Motorhome Parking UK & Europe

Wondering where and how to find the best free overnight motorhome camping spots? We share all the resources and motorhome parking tips you need for a great night’s free sleep when you’re on the road.

The Internet & Apps

The best way to find wild camping spots for motorhomes and camper vans is to use apps like Park4Night and Campercontact. Both have user feedback, interactive maps, thousands of wild motorhome camping sites, spots and places where you can park and camp for free, as well as official campsites and overnight stops.

Some of these spots are in more remote or rural locations with no one else for miles, places with no light pollution where you can see the Northern Lights and incredible views.

The app will usually provide you with a few images of the place and reviews from other motorhomers who have wild camped there, which is helpful when you are considering the appropriateness of the place or if you’re in a larger vehicle and want to be sure of access.

We like both these apps because they have some of the largest databases in the sector with the best places, but there are lots of other motorhome parking apps which you could try.

a grey VW campervan parked overlooking a valley of autumn heather — Campervan at the Loch Tulla Viewpoint, Bridge of Orchy

Brit Stops

You could also use Brit Stops for free overnight motorhome parking in Scotland. Pubs which belong to the Brit Stops scheme allow motorhomes to stay in their car park at no cost.

Some people have a drink or meal but this is not a requirement of the scheme. It’s unlikely you will find services at many Brit Stops but you will find a warm welcome.

wild camping motorhome by the beach — Wild Camping on the Isle of Mull

Informal Motorhome Camping in Scotland

Many of the national parks in Scotland have informal (non-commercial) overnight camping sites which cost as little as £3 per night to stay at in a motorhome… not quite campervan wild camping in Scotland but pretty close!

Forestry and Land Scotland trialled a ‘Stay the Night’ scheme, which ran successfully at participating sites between 2021 and 2023. Thankfully, the trial was successful and the scheme has become a permanent fixture.

You have the added benefit of knowing the environment in these areas is being looked after, as well as being able to fill up with fresh water and empty your waste.

You can research these online, but to get you started check out the informal sites known as camping management zones in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

a green campervan parked in a grassy meadow beside a derelict stone building and road — Roadside parking on the Isle of Mull

Highland Council Car Parks

Although not really wild camping, parking in a Highland Council parking area is definitely off grid! There are no services so you need to be self-contained for your overnight stay, and you will have to pay a small fee, but these car parks can make a great place to stay for the night. Designated motorhome parking is in place at the following car parks:

Torvean Car Park, Inverness
Nairn Harbour, Nairn
Dunnet Head Car Park, Caithness
Dunnet Seadrift Car Park, Caithness
Noss Head Car Park, Caithness
Reiss Beach Car Park, Caithness
Riverside Car Park, Wick
Durness Village Tourist Info Car Park, Sutherland
Golspie Shore Street Car Park, Sutherland
Ullapool Latheron Car Park, Wester Ross
Gairloch Harbour Car Park, Wester Ross
Little Gruinard Beach Car Park, Wester Ross

view of a promontory from a motorhome window — Neist Point Lighthouse, Isle of Syke

What Motorhome Essentials Do I Need for Wild Camping?

Ensure your motorhome or van is set up for wild camping so you can be self-sufficient when you find that perfect spot. We suggest you need the following five wild camping essentials, plus a few nice-to-haves:

Solar panels – 1 x 120w at least. Find out more in our easy guide to motorhome electrics. If you don’t want a fixed panel on your roof, a portable solar panel like this would work well.
Fully charged leisure batteries – at least 2 x 100ah for an overnight stay if the weather is dull.
Full gas bottles – for heating, hot water and cooking. It gets pretty cold overnight in the Scottish mountains!
Enough fresh water for your needs.
Ideally, a spare toilet cassette. Failing that, a folding shovel!

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