Wader

Forestry and Land Scotland 'Stay the Night': overnight in forest car parks

Forestry and Land Scotland lets self-contained motorhomes and campervans stay one night (6pm–10am) in selected forest car parks, from £10 a night paid via RingGo, first come first served, with no return within 48 hours.

  • Allowed – forest car parks
  • Not clear: 2
  • Checked 25 October 2026

At a glance

Who runs it
Forestry and Land Scotland (a Scottish Government agency – not a council)
Who can stay
Self-contained motorhomes and campervans only. No pop-up tents or pop-up toilets.
Overnight window
6pm to 10am, one night, no return to the same car park within 48 hours. Quiet hours 10pm to 7am.
Cost
£10 at most sites; £13 at Achnabreac, Strone Hill, Bridge of Orchy and Glen Lochy (which have chemical waste disposal). Chemical waste drop-off only: £5.
Pay
RingGo app or +44 (0)131 239 0000. In poor-signal areas you have up to 72 hours to pay.
Blue Badge
Blue Badge holders stay free
Booking
No booking – first come, first served

Not clear from the source

  • Sites change through the year (fewer in winter). Wader lists a few examples only – always check the live destinations page.
  • Only nine car parks are described as suitable for larger vehicles (over 7 m) or caravans; Wader hasn't listed all nine here.

Not a council – but it belongs here

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages Scotland's national forests and land, and its Stay the Night scheme is one of the clearest official overnight options in the country. It runs year-round, with fewer sites over winter.

The rules

  • Self-contained motorhomes and campervans only – no pop-up tents or pop-up toilets.
  • Arrive after 6pm, leave by 10am, one night only, and no return to the same car park within 48 hours.
  • Keep quiet between 10pm and 7am.
  • First come, first served – no booking.
  • Leave about 4 metres between vehicles, keep off verges, and don't block gates or trail entrances.
  • No fires, BBQs or generators. Take your rubbish home, keep dogs on a lead and pick up after them.

What it costs

Most sites are £10 a night. Four sites with chemical waste disposal – Achnabreac, Strone Hill, Bridge of Orchy and Glen Lochy – are £13, and if you only want to use the chemical waste point it's £5. Pay with RingGo (app or +44 (0)131 239 0000). Forest car parks often have poor signal, so FLS gives you up to 72 hours to pay. Blue Badge holders stay free.

Bigger vehicles and caravans

Only nine of the car parks are listed as suitable for vehicles over 7 metres or for caravans – and a caravan takes up two spaces. Check the destinations page for which ones before you go.

A few example sites

From the destinations page (capacity in spaces):

  • Upper Cheviot – 3
  • Lower Cheviot – 6
  • Innerleithen – 8, suitable for caravans (FLS warns it can flood)
  • Wauchope – 2
  • Achnabreac – 6, with chemical waste disposal
  • Raiders' Road: Otter Pool, Riverside and Stroan Loch – 3 each

Questions go to staythenight@forestryandland.gov.scot.