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Camping in Glencoe Highlands

BertVerninskBertVerninsk Member ✭✭
in Camping and Caravanning

Friendly and inviting: Glencoe!


To experienced and non-campers alike, I found that a great place to explore are the mountains of Glencoe.

-Glencoe and River Coe


When you arrive in Glencoe only 5 minutes up the road is the Red Squirrel campsite which is the perfect place to pitch your tent. The Glencoe Village and Ballachulish village close-by you have access to small shops for food. Ft William is about 20 minutes away from Glencoe which offers lots to see and provides a nice change of scenery to a camper with access to a varied range of highland tourist shops, retailer, pubs and restaurants.

In terms of camping you can pitch your tent in various places, but personally I would choose the red squirrel.
It has a lot of facilities and accepts caravans also! Pitch you tent next to the River coe and make a fire.
 
Find out more: www.redsquirrelcampsite.co.uk



Another five minute walk from the campsite is the extraordinary pub, The Clachaig Inn. They do food and drink while they also provide rooms for staying. Band / soloist performances take place regularly. More details are below on the website. Remember to take a torch if you go late at night or you wont be finding your tent any time soon. No light pollution in the highlands!

Clachaig Inn Glencoe

Find out more: www.clachaig.com


There are many beautiful views, activities close by and walks to take... Kinlochleven village is about 10 minutes from the Red Squirrel which has a hydro-electric dam and various easy and hard nature walks. I recommend the stornaway haggis supper from the fish and chip shop there which would be worth a try before returning to the  - Bliss!

Find out more: www.glencoeactivities.com




If you have kids or are interested in Harry Potter the train they used in the film is available to ride for a price not far from Glencoe. It really is a beautiful part of the highlands of Scotland. Photos don't always paint the truest picture of Glencoe in my opinion. You should judge this for yourself rain sleet or sunshine!


 An atmosphere of its own; distinct from anywhere else in Scotland. That is why I would camp in Glencoe.




Where wit may sparkle all its rays,
Uncurs’d with caution’s fears;
That pleasure, basking in the blaze, Rejoice for endless years. (R.B)
Tagged:

Comments

  • VisitScotlandJulieVisitScotlandJulie Member, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✩
    I once camped at Red Squirrel and loved it. Amazing atmosphere.
  • BertVerninskBertVerninsk Member ✭✭
    I couldn't recommend it enough. Brilliant times had there and the claighaig. As you said the atmosphere is amazing - spot on friendly Scottish campsite. If you are a camper or hill walker/climber enthusiast this is the base-camp for you in the highlands imoh. 
    Where wit may sparkle all its rays,
    Uncurs’d with caution’s fears;
    That pleasure, basking in the blaze, Rejoice for endless years. (R.B)
  • BertVerninskBertVerninsk Member ✭✭
    @VisitScotlandJulie What did you get up to in Glencoe that made you camp at the Red squirrel?
    Where wit may sparkle all its rays,
    Uncurs’d with caution’s fears;
    That pleasure, basking in the blaze, Rejoice for endless years. (R.B)
  • VisitScotlandJulieVisitScotlandJulie Member, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✩
    @BertVerninsk it was just a short camping trip from Edinburgh to Skye and Glencoe on the way back.
  • Johnny5Johnny5 Member ✭✭

    Presumably it`s called Red Squirrel campsite because there are Red Squirrels there?

    We almost stayed there once but as my Mrs uses a nebuliser we needed a electric hook up. (We were motorhome newbies back then and we`re more organised now)

    We moved on to a site in Glencoe which resulted in one of the best sunset photographs I`ve ever taken.

  • annecorrannecorr Member ✭
    Fabulous place to explore!
  • MeekieMeekie Member ✭
    One of the best camp sites I've ever camped at.
  • Scot_Trekkers1Scot_Trekkers1 Member ✭✭
    The Glencoe Mountain Resort has a small area to pitch tents too and is great for staying overnight in vans, we converted our old RAV 4 car into a camper with a fold down double bed and pulled in and slept in the Mountain Resort Car Park many times. There are also toilets available, and a good bacon roll in the morning.
    There are a good few car parks to pull in and camp over night too along the road, we have a favourite spot at the bottom of Buchaille Etive Mor, we’ve pitched our tent and car camped here many times. Great view to wake up too. 
  • AshleysAdventuresAshleysAdventures Member ✭
    A friend and I are interested in a through-hike of the WHW in May and we are wondering if it is too cold to tent camp. We have done a week of cabin camping with no electric or heat in 4 degrees C weather before but that was in dry conditions. I am trying to find out how cold it gets at night in May, how much rain you get in May, and if it's too cold or wet for tent camping (for a couple of campers who don't have a whole lot of tent camping experience.)
  • VisitScotlandAmandaVisitScotlandAmanda Member, Administrator, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✪
    Hello @AshleysAdventures - this might be a good page to read up on: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/practical-information/weather/
    Kiwi gal, relocated to Scotland. 
    Instagram
  • Scot_Trekkers1Scot_Trekkers1 Member ✭✭
    Hey @AshleysAdventures , we camp all of the time and usually start around April time, May is usually warm enough to camp, but it can be different every year, Scotland’s a tricky country to predict, it can be sunny one April and Snowy the next. 
    But generally May is okay especially closer to the end of the month, you’d probably be looking at anything between 7-11 degrees at night, providing you have a good warm sleeping bag you will be okay. As for rain, that we can‘t predict, it’s highly likely it could be raining or you could be lucky and it could be beautiful, bring lightweight waterproofs to put over your clothes or a Poncho. Scotland is still beautiful even when it’s raining especially when you get to Glencoe. Hope this helps. 👍🏻
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