Tourists Flock To Melvich Bay Caravan Park As Owners Grow Focus On Sustainability

New venture features in The Times list of UK’s best beaches for 2025

A new Highlands caravan and camper van park has reported “exceptional” demand from holidaymakers in its first three months.

Melvich Bay Caravan Park, a scenic 25-acre site on the north coast of Sutherland, on the popular North Coast 500 coastal touring route, says bookings for its pitches are 50% ahead of expectations and the site is approaching 70% occupancy.

“Demand from visitors has been exceptional,” said Director and local farmer Angus Forbes, who launched the business in March with two co-directors. “Customer satisfaction has been overwhelming and we’re heading towards 66% occupancy on the site. We were only expecting 25% occupancy in the first three months.

“We’ve even had an enquiry from a couple interested in coming up from the central belt to get married on our park – which is unexpected – but flattering!”

Melvich Bay Caravan Park enjoys panoramic views of Orkney and the North Atlantic Ocean and lies on the outskirts of the village of Melvich, a short walk away from a sandy beach.

A recent (July 2025) article in The Times – Best Beaches Guide of the top 50 beaches in the British Isles Revealed: the UK’s 50 best beaches for 2025 included the Melvich Bay camper van park, “where a short walk over dunes leads to a wide curve of ochre sand.”

The park’s owners launched the business to address a shortage of facilities for travellers on the increasingly popular North Coast 500 route. They hope to grow bookings month by month on reputation, recommendations and the appeal of its premium pitches.

“We’ve been particularly surprised by the number of overseas visitors hearing about us, from countries including Germany and Australia,” Mr Forbes said.

Reviewers include holidaymaker Kelvin Pitt, whose Google review describes the outlook of the beach as “second to none” and adds that he would “recommend this site all day long.”

Another reviewer reports: “Uninterrupted views across Melvich Bay to Orkney…I got pictures of Northern Lights here.”

With demand well ahead of expectations, the directors are increasing their focus on sustainable tourism. In a letter being sent to local stakeholders including Highland & Islands Enterprise and Highland Council, Melvich Bay Caravan Park director Malcolm Morrison calls for the Leave No Trace campaign – which urges North Coast 500 holidaymakers to take their litter home – to be “beefed-up.”

“The North Coast 500’s Leave No Trace policy already makes it clear on its website that illegal disposal of waste is unacceptable, but it is the belief of my co-directors and I that a substantially beefed-up campaigning should be developed and broadcast widely throughout the region ahead of this year’s busy tourist season,” Mr Morrison writes.

He urges stakeholders including Highland & Islands Enterprise, local Chambers of Commerce, Highland Council, Scottish Water and all caravan, campsite and motor home park owners in the region, to collaborate on this goal and says Melvich Bay Caravan Park will be pleased to participate.

“While thousands of annual visitors to our Highland communities have been an economic boon, the environmental disruption of litter and, worse, recklessly discarded biological waste, has been a rightful source of local complaint,” Mr Morrison notes.

He makes the point that all pitches at Melvich Bay Caravan Park have direct access to both power and water, while “all visitors have full access to our family toilet and shower block which, critically, incorporates a wastewater disposal facility which can accommodate both chemical and grey waste.”

Melvich Bay Caravan Park has 30 pitches of 12 square metres for camper vans, motorhomes and other visitors and charges £35 for an overnight stay.

For further information, please visit: www.melvichbaycaravanpark.co.uk