One of my favorite walks on the Isle of Skye in Scotland was the walk out to Camasunary Bay. As we were camping on our Isle of Skye trip, why not combine that with an overnight stay?! We set off sans tent after finding out we could sleep in the Camasunary Bay bothy. This was a fantastic walk and such a cool experience! It was also a great way to beat the crowds on Skye! If you want to know more about bothies in Britian, check out my bothy guide here!

What is a Bothy?

A bothy is a small hut/cottage found in remote (usually mountainous) regions of the UK. Bothies are basic—it’s really just a shelter to sleep in. There is no electricity, running water, toilets, garbage collection, or heating. They are really there just to provide shelter and keep you dry. Bothies are unlocked and free to use by anyone.

You should follow the same principles of camping and any outdoors activity when staying in a bothy. Leave no trace, take out all the trash you take in, and do toilet business well away from the bothy and water. Groups (6 or more) should not use a bothy. The Bothy Code also reminds users to leave the bothy clean and tidy for the next visitors (preferably with dry kindling for the next visitors, if possible), never leave perishable food, ensure fires are safely put out before leaving, and make sure doors and windows are properly shut before you leave.

Camasunary Bay Bothy

The bothy at Camasunary Bay has two rooms. One is for sleeping, one is for eating. There are wooden sleeping platforms, built into the room, with ladders to climb onto the second bunk. There are also bench-like platforms as well. The bothy can accommodate about 15 people between the bunks and the benches.

The second room is a dining area, with two tables and benches. There is also a small area with leftover items. Please respect the bothy and bring out everything you bring in. If you can, help keep the bothy clean by bringing out any trash left by others.

Keep in mind there is no electricity, running water, toilets, or heating at the Camasunary Bay bothy. The building is insulated though, and I was perfectly warm with just my sleeping bag overnight in May. They had little candles, which was nice to light at night! We lucked out and actually had the whole bothy to ourself. There was a group of about 6 guys who were camping in the bay, but besides them we had the entire bay to ourselves.

Walking to Camasunary Bay

The walk to Camasunary Bay starts off the road from Broadford to Elgol, the B8083. This is a single-track road, with passing places to allow cars to safely pass one another. The road is gorgeous just for the views! There is a large layby where you can park for the start of the walk. The layby is approximately 11.3 miles from Broadford (or 3.2 miles from Elgol, if you’re driving from there). It has space for about 10 cars.

The walk to Camasunary Bay is just under 3 miles one-way. Altogether, it took me about 1.5 hours from the starting point to reach the bothy. There is a sign at the start of the trail where you enter through the first gate. Remember you should always be prepared for the elements and have appropriate outdoor gear on any hike.

The first part of the walk has a few ups and downs, and crosses a few streams. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous! The path is well-defined and very easy to follow.

After about 20-30 minutes, you’ll reach the second gate. The path gets a bit rougher, with more uneven rocks and steeper inclines.

Eventually, the walk flattens out as you walk around the top of the coastal cliff. Not long after, the bay and the valley open up in front of you. You can see the Cuillins in front of you, as well as Loch Na Creitheach (a freshwater lake). Seriously, the views are incredible!

The path makes a sharp left turn and carries on down to Camasunary Bay. You can see three buildings in the bay. The furthest to the left is the bothy (where I spent the night!). The middle is privately owned, I think it’s a holiday cottage. The furthest to the right is the previous bothy, which is now used again by the landowner and private property.

Once you get into the bay, make sure to explore the inlets and rocky beaches to the left of the bothy! It felt so peaceful and so remote being here. I absolutely loved it here! If you’re wanting a step-by-step guide to doing the walk, I found this website really useful.

The sunset here was amazing. You can see out to the island of Soay and even further away.

This is the view I went to sleep with…

…And this is the view I woke up to the next morning!

Not into camping or staying in a bothy? Accommodation on Skye can get booked up months in advance. If you want to do the walk, staying in Broadford or in Elgol (or somewhere in-between) would be the most convenient. I recommend Hostelworld for booking hostels, and Booking.com for hotels. You can also sign up to and search accommodation on Airbnb here! There are no trains that run on the Isle of Skye, but if you’re looking for train connections in Scotland, I always book through Trainline. If you’re planning to fly to Skye, the nearest airport is Inverness. I use Skyscanner for booking flights! Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

I can’t recommend the walk to Camasunary Bay enough. It was definitely one of my favorite experiences from my trip to the Isle of Skye! The walk is gorgeous, the location is so remote and quiet, and it’s a great way to get away from it all. Staying in the bothy was a really unique experience, and saved carrying out the tent to the bay. Don’t miss Camasunary Bay on a trip to Skye!

Have you ever stayed in a bothy or visited Camasunary Bay? Share your experiences in the comments below!

You might also like my other Scotland posts:

A Bothy Guide for Beginners: What to Know About Bothies in Britain

The Best Wild Camping Spots On The Isle of Skye

Alternative Isle Of Skye: 4 Ways To Avoid The Crowds

My Outdoor Gear Guide For Hiking And Camping In The UK

Ben Nevis: Hiking Britain’s Highest Mountain

12 Tips For Planning Your Scottish Highlands Road Trip

Scottish Highlands Road Trip: What To See In Glencoe

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