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Just sorting out our main camping trip for the summer and have booked a week at Camusdarach but am stuck over the second week. Think Clachtoll looks fantastic from reviews but is 4hour drive from Camusdarch so uses up a whole day of the holiday by the time we have decamped and a 6 hour drive back home to the Borders. As OH drives 60 miles a day for work he isn't so keen so wondered about Gairloch instead as isn't quite so far. Has anyone been to both and can advise me whether the extra drive is worth it? We have two kids 8 & 5 who are adamant they want the whole fortnight near the sea but I also wondered if there might be a bit more to do near Gairloch if weather isn't up to being on the beach all day! (Have considered staying at Camusdarch the whole fortnight but the owner said we would have to move the tent after 7 days to preserve the grass so might as well move on)

Any advice much appreciated!

Hi Rachel, I have stayed at both sites and would say Clachtoll is worth the drive up as the site is lovely the owners are really helpful and the beach is just stunning. On the slight down side its very exposed to the winds and can become rather "cosy" in high season. Theres no shop on site so if you need supplies its about 7 miles down to Lochinver.

Gairloch Sands is a lovely site to. It is equally exposed to the winds but as its a huge site theres lots of sheltered bits to pitch some with a picnic table. It has a shop on site which sells just about everything and its not far into town for anything else you may need.The beach is a little  pebbley where as Clachtoll is just pure white sand but then again after a week in Arisaig you will be suffering from white sand blindness anyway.

Lovely walks to be had from both sites and facilities are of a good standard on both. Should you decide to go to Clachtoll I would suggest you book in advance especially if you want an EHU. Whichever site you decide on you won't be disappointed.

Went to Clachtoll last year and had beautiful weather, walk straight off site onto beach, great owners spotless facilities. It is a bit open though if weather turns, we went out one day in beautiful sunshine and it came over black and threw it down, when we got back it had flattened most of tents. There's a site just down the road that seemed more sheltered lovely beach in a bay, Achmelvich, a basic shop. The area is well worth the drive, we towed a caravan up there.

 Agri

Clachtoll Campsite;-

The "overcrowded" Clachtoll Beach;-

Hi Rachel, I am sorry that my pictures of the campsite at Clachtoll only cover a very small part of it. Really I was just taking a pic of my van. It is a large site but I imagine that it could be a bit windy.

There were some whales swimming down the Minch while we were there so if you do go to Clachtoll, take a decent set of binoculars.

hi, i have stayed at both campsites, thought i would also mention the local high school has summer activities for children of school ages at reasnable prices e.g trampolining, also hot croissants in the morning if you're quick enough. i will bestaying at both this year, i love clachtoll butyou have to book and we dont stay longer than 4 days as my teenagers get a bit edgy for some technology! we live in the highlands so great scenery is something we take or granted but clachtoll is so laid back and the site managers are .brill