Travellers' camp

A ramshackle collection of wooden structures and colourful caravans scattered across moorland just outside Newtonmore, the Travellers' camp is exactly the sort of place that makes you wonder how it came to be. There's no grand entrance or visitor centre - you'll simply stumble upon it if you're exploring the quieter corners of the Highlands, and that's rather the point.

What you're looking at is an actual working camp where Scottish traveller families have established a semi-permanent settlement. It's not a museum or a heritage site turned shiny for tourists. The ramshackle charm - wonky structures, salvaged materials, smoke rising from chimneys - tells a story about resilience and community that no Heritage Scotland placard could capture. You won't find gift shops or guided tours here.

Historically minded visitors will find it thought-provoking, though you're best approaching it with respect and curiosity rather than a camera constantly raised. Kids might find it interesting for twenty minutes, but it's not a place for running about. Walkers using the Newtonmore area as a base - perhaps staying at Invernahavon Caravan Park nearby - could easily pass through if exploring the moorland routes, though it's worth noting this is someone's home, not a roadside attraction.

The real appeal is the authenticity. It's a living piece of Highland culture that hasn't been repackaged for visitors, and that frankness is both its strength and the reason it works best as a quiet moment of discovery rather than a planned stop.