Motorhome, Caravan, Campervan and Tentbox Guide

We’re delighted to welcome responsible caravan, motorhome, campervan and car/van with tentboxes owners to the Outer Hebrides! We want you to have an amazing time exploring our islands — and to keep coming back. By staying at our local campsites or using designated overnight parking spots, you’ll be helping to support island businesses, protect our beautiful landscapes, and respect the wishes of our communities. 

We have some great resources in this section with maps, leaflets, a short film and top tips to help you have a great trip! Take a look at our Google map of with all our campsites, overnight parking spots, toilets, recycling points and chemical toilet disposal sites and to complement this we have our Campervan and Motorhome leaflet guide which you can download. 

Help our islands remain a great place to visit and support our communities by taking time to read and follow the guidance. 

• Book ferries and campsites (where possible) well in advance and plan your journey carefully. The Outer Hebrides can get very busy!
• Please do not dispose portable toilet contents in anything or anywhere other than the specially designed chemical toilet disposal points throughout the islands. There are limited chemical toilet disposal points, but there are campsites you can use the facilities for a fee
• Dispose of waste appropriately. If you see an overflowing bin, please don’t add to it or leave waste next to it - take it home. Please do not dispose of waste in bins belonging to businesses or residents. Only use designated public bins. You can also dispose of Household waste at the Waste Depot points listed on the leaflet map  
• Please use recycling points to minimise waste and help maintain the environment
• Support our fragile island economy.  Use the campsites provided. We have lots of shops and petrol stations which sell a wide range of goods; you can purchase all you need on our islands
• Use a stove for cooking if possible - there are gas stockists through the islands. If you must have an open fire, keep it small, under control and remove all traces before leaving. Please do not have an open fire on the machair (coastal grassland). Remember, if there has been a prolonged dry period, fires can easily get out of control
• Note that many roads are single-track and some are not be suitable for larger motorhome vehicles (e.g. road to Huisinis in Harris and the South Lochboisdale/North Gendale road in South Uist)
• Please ensure you read this important safety information from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (our council)

To help keep the Outer Hebrides special, we ask all visitors with motorhomes, campervans, caravans and tentboxes to stay overnight only in organised campsites or designated spots (see the Google map). Many of these are in some of the most breathtaking locations on the islands — perfect for a memorable stay. Parking outside these areas isn’t permitted, and you will be asked to move on. By choosing the right place to park, you’re helping to protect our landscapes and support local communities. 

Here are some guidelines:

• Please do not overnight park on the machair
• Please do not park in passing places – this restricts traffic flow and can be dangerous
• Please do not park in local business car parks, block access or views and ensure you are not intruding on local residents or businesses
• Avoid over-crowding. If another vehicle is parked in a secluded designated spot, try not to park right next to them, instead find your own spot elsewhere
• Always leave access for emergency vehicles
• Leave our islands as you find them - take your rubbish with you, Leave no trace
• If you overnight park in a non-designated area, you will be asked to move. 
• Follow our Outer Hebrides is a Special P.L.A.C.E. code

• Keep left
• Be courteous to other road users – please check your mirrors regularly and pull in and let the traffic behind you pass. Others may be driving to work or trying to catch a ferry
• If you see vehicle flashing headlights, it maybe someone attending an emergency. Pull in and let them pass
• Please do not park on roads, in passing places or at the access to fields. Use designated parking spaces
• Take extra care when passing cyclists and walkers, particularly on single track roads
• Many areas of the Outer Hebrides are unfenced, and livestock often wander along the roads and verges. Take extra care as they may suddenly decide to cross in front of you. Look out for deer along the roadsides, especially at night, as they can jump out suddenly

Driving on Single Track Roads

• Please use the nearest passing place to let traffic pass
• Never cross the road to pull in to a passing place. Stay on your side and let the oncoming vehicle use the passing place
• Pull in and let traffic behind you pass to avoid creating a queue
• Be aware that, on occasion, you may have to reverse to let a vehicle pass if you have just passed the nearest passing place
• If you see a large vehicle approaching in the distance, be prepared to stop in the next passing place and wait for them to go by you
• Note that, vehicles coming up a hill have the right of way and it is the vehicle going downhill that has to stop

Please respect the machair (coastal grassland).  It is a haven for wildlife and is vital to our islands, particularly local crofters, whose livelihoods depend upon the rich grazing for livestock. Damage can be caused by driving over it as wheels break through the top layer, causing erosion. Please help us to protect the machair for our wildlife and future generations.

The Scottish Access Code notes that wild camping access rights do not apply to motor vehicles - this inludes cars with tentboxes. The Code also highlights the risk of impacts due to high levels of use in particular areas and quotes "You need to be aware that whilst you might visit a place only occasionally and feel that you cause no harm, the land manager or the environment might have to cope with the cumulative effects of many people. Acting with awareness and common sense underpins responsible behaviour" 

• Don’t drive in dune areas
• Use the designated parking spots
• Stick to access tracks. Keep away from livestock, particularly where there calves and lambs are present. Keep dogs on a short lead, to avoid disturbing livestock and wildlife
• Litter is not only messy, it is also harmful to animals. Please take your rubbish with you
• Close gates after you.  If  they were already open, leave them open
• Do not light a fire on the machair or use foil BBQ's
• Please do not park or overnight park on the machair 
• Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which is available at: www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot