Camping in Isle of May National Nature Reserve

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Just a few miles off the coast of the charming fishing port of Anstruther, the Isle of May packs a lot into its petite size. The island has a history rich in stories of Vikings, pilgrims and smugglers but today it is best known for its seabirds. In early summer, the cliffs that ring the island heave with breeding birds, including razorbills, kittiwakes, guillemots and more than 40,000 pairs of puffins, while the shoreline is dotted with seals. Visitors can experience the dazzling, noisy spectacle from along the clifftop path and the sheltered visitor center. The island is a designated national nature reserve, which you can only visit as part of a day tour. While you can’t camp on the island, nearby mainland options include Silverdyke Caravan Park in Anstruther and Sauchope Links Holiday Lodge and Caravan Park in Crail.

97% (28) 142 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Isle of May National Nature Reserve

Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

1. Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

88%
(25)
5 units · Glamping · Perthshire , Scotland
Luxury woodland cabins, each with a private hot tub, in the grounds of a Scottish castle
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
from 
£140
 / night
Fernlea - Campsite & Pod

2. Fernlea - Campsite & Pod

100%
(2)
7 units · Motorhomes, Glamping · Scotland
Welcome to Fernlea. We would love to have you visit us, either on our 5 pitch campsite for motorhomes and caravans, or in 2025 to our new luxury glamping pod. Fernlea is our home in the heart of an agricultural plain called “The Carse of Gowrie,” which runs for 20 miles or so along the River Tay between Perth and Dundee. It’s a beautiful area that we hope you will love too. We are a short walk from the village of Errol, with access to lovely walks along the Tay. We are adjacent to the local bus route (just stick your arm out!), the Sustrans cycle route 77, plus only a mile or so from the A90 Perth to Dundee / Aberdeen road. We are perfect for both a short stopover and a longer break with a fascinating local area to explore. All pitches have hard standing, water on each pitch, grey waste disposal adjacent to the pitch, and a 10 or 16 amp electric supply with a chemical toilet waste tank with rinsing tap behind our garage. We are also within easy access to Fife and the southern area of the Highlands. Walkers and bird watchers will find many footpaths by the River Tay and can climb the local hills to see buzzards, hawks, ducks, and migrating geese throughout the seasons. Any visitors requiring repairs or accessories for their van will find the large Perthshire Caravan dealership nearby. Every Sunday, one of Scotland’s largest car boot sales and markets is held less than a mile away. Facilities on the CL Site: - Dog walk from the site - Information room - Recycling facilities - Battery charging - TV reception: good - 16 amp electric on 4 pitches, 10 amp on 5th - Water on all pitches - Chemical toilet disposal point - Lawned site, with gravel hardstandings - Latest arrival time: 9:00 PM - Latest departure time: 12:00 PM Shop/village of Errol within 1 mile. Errol Village shop, Pub, Lass O’Gowrie Cafe, Fish and Chip Shop, Butchers. Nearby: Cairn O’Mohr Winery, Rait Antiques Centre, Errol Sunday Market, Lass O'Gowrie Cafe, Fruit Shack - Pick your own strawberries, We look forward to seeing you soon!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£22
 / night
Beirhope Alpacas

3. Beirhope Alpacas

98%
(137)
11 units · Tents · Kelso, Scotland
A small, off-grid campsite with alpacas in the historically rich southern Scottish borders
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£20
 / night
Laverock Law Cottages and Glamping

4. Laverock Law Cottages and Glamping

100%
(1)
1 unit · Glamping · Bamburgh, Northumberland, North East England
We are perfectly situated to explore both the Northumbrian Coastal area, including Holy Island , Bamburgh etc but also great for those who wish to discover the amazing Cheviot hills. Our site is managed organically and has won awards for sustainable tourism, itself a true escape and nature paradise.
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£135
 / night
Muiredge

5. Muiredge

100%
(16)
8 units · Glamping · Perth and Kinross, Central Scotland
Rural glamping in a converted railway carriage, shepherd's hut, or bell tent in blissful Scotland
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£100
 / night
Bachilton Farm Holidays

6. Bachilton Farm Holidays

100%
(4)
2 units · Glamping · Perth and Kinross, Central Scotland
A pair of yurts with hot tubs on a farm between Perth and Crieff
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£155
 / night
The Snug at Logie Farm

7. The Snug at Logie Farm

100%
(7)
1 unit · Glamping · Falkland, Fife, Central Scotland
Luxury glamping pods with all mod cons, with an elevated position overlooking the River Tay.
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£275
 / night
Organic Welltree

8. Organic Welltree

100%
(2)
2 units · Glamping · England
Welcome to Organic Welltree's beautiful eco-friendly yurts. Looking for a place to stay in the heart of Scotland, Perthshire for that perfect organic, vegetarian or vegan holiday? Come and enjoy our unique rooms in Scottish design or try luxury glamping and back-to-nature living in our well equipped yurts like a Home from home no matter where you’re from, a place to relax, enjoy nature and escape from the city.
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£100
 / night
Dod Mill Fishing Hut

9. Dod Mill Fishing Hut

1 unit · Glamping · Lauder, Scotland
Artistic riverside cabins in the grounds of a 17th-century watermill
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£150
 / night

Just a few miles off the coast of the charming fishing port of Anstruther, the Isle of May packs a lot into its petite size. The island has a history rich in stories of Vikings, pilgrims and smugglers but today it is best known for its seabirds. In early summer, the cliffs that ring the island heave with breeding birds, including razorbills, kittiwakes, guillemots and more than 40,000 pairs of puffins, while the shoreline is dotted with seals. Visitors can experience the dazzling, noisy spectacle from along the clifftop path and the sheltered visitor center. The island is a designated national nature reserve, which you can only visit as part of a day tour. While you can’t camp on the island, nearby mainland options include Silverdyke Caravan Park in Anstruther and Sauchope Links Holiday Lodge and Caravan Park in Crail.

97% (28) 142 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Isle of May National Nature Reserve

Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

1. Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

88%
(25)
5 units · Glamping · Perthshire , Scotland
Luxury woodland cabins, each with a private hot tub, in the grounds of a Scottish castle
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
from 
£140
 / night
Fernlea - Campsite & Pod

2. Fernlea - Campsite & Pod

100%
(2)
7 units · Motorhomes, Glamping · Scotland
Welcome to Fernlea. We would love to have you visit us, either on our 5 pitch campsite for motorhomes and caravans, or in 2025 to our new luxury glamping pod. Fernlea is our home in the heart of an agricultural plain called “The Carse of Gowrie,” which runs for 20 miles or so along the River Tay between Perth and Dundee. It’s a beautiful area that we hope you will love too. We are a short walk from the village of Errol, with access to lovely walks along the Tay. We are adjacent to the local bus route (just stick your arm out!), the Sustrans cycle route 77, plus only a mile or so from the A90 Perth to Dundee / Aberdeen road. We are perfect for both a short stopover and a longer break with a fascinating local area to explore. All pitches have hard standing, water on each pitch, grey waste disposal adjacent to the pitch, and a 10 or 16 amp electric supply with a chemical toilet waste tank with rinsing tap behind our garage. We are also within easy access to Fife and the southern area of the Highlands. Walkers and bird watchers will find many footpaths by the River Tay and can climb the local hills to see buzzards, hawks, ducks, and migrating geese throughout the seasons. Any visitors requiring repairs or accessories for their van will find the large Perthshire Caravan dealership nearby. Every Sunday, one of Scotland’s largest car boot sales and markets is held less than a mile away. Facilities on the CL Site: - Dog walk from the site - Information room - Recycling facilities - Battery charging - TV reception: good - 16 amp electric on 4 pitches, 10 amp on 5th - Water on all pitches - Chemical toilet disposal point - Lawned site, with gravel hardstandings - Latest arrival time: 9:00 PM - Latest departure time: 12:00 PM Shop/village of Errol within 1 mile. Errol Village shop, Pub, Lass O’Gowrie Cafe, Fish and Chip Shop, Butchers. Nearby: Cairn O’Mohr Winery, Rait Antiques Centre, Errol Sunday Market, Lass O'Gowrie Cafe, Fruit Shack - Pick your own strawberries, We look forward to seeing you soon!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£22
 / night
Beirhope Alpacas

3. Beirhope Alpacas

98%
(137)
11 units · Tents · Kelso, Scotland
A small, off-grid campsite with alpacas in the historically rich southern Scottish borders
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£20
 / night
Laverock Law Cottages and Glamping

4. Laverock Law Cottages and Glamping

100%
(1)
1 unit · Glamping · Bamburgh, Northumberland, North East England
We are perfectly situated to explore both the Northumbrian Coastal area, including Holy Island , Bamburgh etc but also great for those who wish to discover the amazing Cheviot hills. Our site is managed organically and has won awards for sustainable tourism, itself a true escape and nature paradise.
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£135
 / night
Muiredge

5. Muiredge

100%
(16)
8 units · Glamping · Perth and Kinross, Central Scotland
Rural glamping in a converted railway carriage, shepherd's hut, or bell tent in blissful Scotland
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£100
 / night
Bachilton Farm Holidays

6. Bachilton Farm Holidays

100%
(4)
2 units · Glamping · Perth and Kinross, Central Scotland
A pair of yurts with hot tubs on a farm between Perth and Crieff
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£155
 / night
The Snug at Logie Farm

7. The Snug at Logie Farm

100%
(7)
1 unit · Glamping · Falkland, Fife, Central Scotland
Luxury glamping pods with all mod cons, with an elevated position overlooking the River Tay.
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£275
 / night
Organic Welltree

8. Organic Welltree

100%
(2)
2 units · Glamping · England
Welcome to Organic Welltree's beautiful eco-friendly yurts. Looking for a place to stay in the heart of Scotland, Perthshire for that perfect organic, vegetarian or vegan holiday? Come and enjoy our unique rooms in Scottish design or try luxury glamping and back-to-nature living in our well equipped yurts like a Home from home no matter where you’re from, a place to relax, enjoy nature and escape from the city.
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£100
 / night
Dod Mill Fishing Hut

9. Dod Mill Fishing Hut

1 unit · Glamping · Lauder, Scotland
Artistic riverside cabins in the grounds of a 17th-century watermill
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£150
 / night

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Camping in Isle of May National Nature Reserve guide

When to go

The Isle of May is open to visitors from early April through the end of September: it remains closed over winter in order to protect the large number of seal pups born around its shores. May and June are the best months to see breeding seabirds, which number up to a quarter of a million at the peak of breeding season.

Know before you go

  • Boat trip options include journeys by ferry and rigid inflatable boat (RIB). Note that the RIB is open to the elements (waterproofs are provided).
  • Once onshore, you are free to explore independently until departure time. Your tour operator will provide maps of the island.
  • Rangers greet visitors at the pier and can answer your questions.
  • There is an accessible restroom in the island’s visitor center.
  • While most trips depart from Anstruther, RIB tours also depart North Berwick.
  • During winter, you can watch the seal pups via live camera feed at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.

Top regions near Isle of May National Nature Reserve