Spotlight on: Sands Caravan & Camping

If you’re going to drive hundreds of miles to reach a campsite you need to know it’s going to be worth the journey to get there. And, thankfully, in the case of Sands Caravan and Camping, it really is.

Set in a beautiful spot on the West Highland coast, a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Inverness, this is about as remote as it gets. Our trek north from Lincolnshire took 12 hours, split over a couple of days but, when we arrived, we were blown away by what we found. Some campsites are worth visiting for their spectacular location, some for their excellent facilities and others for their relaxed atmosphere. Sands has all three.

In an idyllic setting just minutes from a wonderful beach, the 55-acre site is the sort of destination that offers a bit of everything – superb facilities, a relaxed atmosphere and wonderful views across the water to the Isle of Skye. You can hire kayaks from the site shop – or a bike if you prefer.

Facilities on the site were more than adequate with three heated toilet/shower blocks, a games and TV room and an indoor cooking and eating area. The site shop was great, with loads of local produce for the BBQ, and the excellent Barn Café was open all day, serving a wide range of tasty snacks and meals, including takeaway pizzas.

You could quite happily spend a week relaxing here without ever leaving the site, but we found time to do a bit of exploring. On a memorable boat trip out on Gairloch Harbour, we spotted sea eagles, puffins and black-throated divers, as well as otters and seals. And, a few miles further north, we visited the pretty village of Poolewe. Loch Ewe was a significant naval port during World War II and has a fascinating history. The National Trust’s Inverewe Garden was also spectacular to visit.

Sands Caravan & Camping
Gairloch, Wester Ross IV21 2DL
01445 712152

This site review first appeared in MMM magazine, February 2020 issue, submitted by Iain Duff.