Van Life Campsites in Sutherland

Sutherland is perhaps the most remote and spectacular corner of mainland Britain. The north-west Highlands here — Assynt, Coigach, and the far north coast — contain landscapes that look like nothing else in the UK: Torridonian sandstone mountains rising from ancient Lewisian gneiss, crystal sea lochs, and vast blanket bog stretching to the horizon.

Sandwood Bay — accessible only on foot, four miles from the nearest road — is one of Britain's finest beaches. Van lifers park at Blairmore and walk in, overnighting in the vehicle before the morning hike. The stacks of Handa Island and the Smoo Cave on the north coast are equally compelling.

The Flow Country — the world's largest blanket bog — covers much of east Sutherland. It may not sound romantic, but on a clear autumn day with the peat dark and the light golden, it's extraordinary. RSPB Forsinard Flows is a remarkable visitor experience and the whole area has recently been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.