LICKISTO BLACKHOUSE

Isle of Harris, Hebrides

What’s special about it? Perched snugly above a sea loch at the end of what is known as ‘the golden road’ (because it cost a fortune to build across the rugged terrain), this quirky, homespun campsite is not as wild as it first appears. The 15 camping pitches are personally mown out by the owner and there are a couple of yurts, but pitches are all separated from each other by wild grasses, high heather, gap-toothed drystone walls and the general scoops and lumps of the landscape, giving everyone their own individual space.

Things to do This is a wonderful spot to do very little, other than walk, take in the views and enjoy a slower pace of life. As you hike, notice the wooden bridges and walkways that dot the area, which are made from telegraph poles discarded at the roadside by a telecoms company. You can pick veg from the site’s polytunnel and catch fish at the water’s edge, where campfires are also allowed. Pub-wise, you are not flush with options, but you can head to the bar at the Harris Hotel in Tarbert or try the hip Tap Room at the Loomshed Hebridean Brewery. Do we need to pack a trowel? The site has a restored 200year-old blackhouse, thatched with local heather, where you can cook, have a shower or relax. There are loos, too.

In the know Book a stay outside of summer and you’re likely to be entirely alone, save for the ducks and, if you’re lucky, the otter, who makes her evening commute back down the loch with supper in her mouth. That’s what counts as rush hour at Lickisto. lickistoblackhousecamping.co.uk