Machrihanish Holiday Park in Argyll, Scotland, has been named the UK's best coastal campsite in a new ranking, with pitches starting from just £26 a night. The site scored 8.85 out of 10, praised for its affordability, facilities, and location just 0.6km from Machrihanish Bay Beach.
Location and facilities
Visitors have easy access to three miles of golden sand backed by wildlife-rich dunes, where seals, seabirds, and otters can often be spotted. The campsite is dog-friendly, allowing pets to stay free of charge, and received a facility score of 90 out of 100 and a 4.7-star Google rating.
Rankings and trends
The rankings were compiled by price comparison website idealo, which analyzed popular UK coastal campsites based on affordability, guest reviews, distance from the beach, and facilities. The findings come as more Britons choose to holiday closer to home, with 19% opting for UK breaks. Searches for "UK campsites" have risen by 16% over the past month to around 43,000.
Adenike Herzog-Osikomino of idealo suggested that holidaymakers could save more by avoiding peak summer weeks. She said: "Many of the campsites in this study apply dynamic or seasonal pricing, meaning a pitch in late May or early September can cost considerably less than the same spot in late July or August." She added: "If school holiday dates are not a constraint, travelling in the shoulder season is one of the most reliable ways to reduce the overall cost of a trip."
Top 10 coastal campsites
- Machrihanish Holiday Park, Argyll
- Beryl's Campsite, Devon
- The Hollies Leisure Resort, Suffolk
- Llanungar Caravan and Camping, Pembrokeshire
- Watermouth Valley Camping Park, Devon
- Manor Farm, Norfolk
- Beadnell Bay Camping, Northumberland
- Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite, Dorset
- Watertop Farm, County Antrim
- Treveague Campsite, Cornwall
Beryl's Campsite in Devon took second place, with pitches from £27 a night, while The Hollies Leisure Resort in Suffolk was third with prices from £23. Watertop Farm in County Antrim was the cheapest, with pitches from just £20 per night.
