Locals fume at campervans

[mikebeaches]

Another 'shouty' headline and story in the Express.

Think it's perhaps one I saw on the BBC yesterday - about the NC 500 route in Scotland.

'Horrendous!’ Locals fume at campervans spoiling popular North Coast 500 road trip route​

Locals have blasted tourists for ruining the scenic 516-mile road route, dubbed Scotland’s ‘Route 66’. The North Coast 500 goes around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle.

Locals fume at 'horrendous' campervans ruining popular road trip route

HOLIDAYMAKERS in Scotland have complained of campervans and motorhomes clogging up one of the most popular road trip routes in the UK.

www.express.co.uk

The official Route 500 website warns drivers... ..."Wild Camping’ under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is only allowed when camping by foot, bike or other non-motorised transport. It DOES NOT apply to motorised vehicles such as campervans or motorhomes".

 

[Googlebot]

Ignore and move on, another headline designed to outrage and make you click on it in disgust.

Usually caused by one isolated incident amongst thousands who haven’t caused issue.

 

[JJ]

I think I know where the problem lies...

The Daily Express.


JJ

 

[Northernraider]

Tired of hearing about greeting faced locals in the highlands , cornwall the lakes etc etc etc . They need to stop their whining and get a life.

 

[Gaston aires]

HEADLINES.
Motorhome types enrage locals, pooing in lakes leaving litter, brings their own food with them spends no money. Midnight sex rituals etc.
Everyone loves headlines Like this.
Nice motorhomers stay, clean up before leaving and spend money in local area, goes to bed early ?
Who reads that kind of boring headline?
Phil

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[maison]

We have just covered part of the NC500. It was very quiet and every café, gift shop we stopped at and spent money, greeted us with open arms.

We perceived no animosity at all. On the single track sections we pulled into the passing places as necessary and so did many of the locals, for us. We always received a thank you wave and made sure that we did the same if people gave way to us.

We ate at local pubs/hotels and they were also quiet but more than happy to see us and our non-Scottish pounds.

It appears that, once again, those who simply shout loudest are assumed to represent the views of all.

 

[Off da Grid]

It’s a public road, if there is no weight limit or width restrictions no problem.
If you choose to go that way why not.
No different to driving down most places in East Sussex.

 

[Clipgate]

Do you think it's only motorhome issues the popular press exaggerate to influence and bully minds? Phycological group think is powerful.

 

[dash300]

We have just covered part of the NC500. It was very quiet and every café, gift shop we stopped at and spent money, greeted us with open arms.

We perceived no animosity at all. On the single track sections we pulled into the passing places as necessary and so did many of the locals, for us. We always received a thank you wave and made sure that we did the same if people gave way to us.

We ate at local pubs/hotels and they were also quiet but more than happy to see us and our non-Scottish pounds.

It appears that, once again, those who simply shout loudest are assumed to represent the views of all.

You'll never make a journalist with that attitude!

 

[Off da Grid]

I bet the majority of those who are moaning have got big cars or 4x4s both of which are equally wide on the whole.

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[BusyBuilder]

As we live on the NC500, we hadn't done it, till last week.

We set off and went north on east coast, first stop was Helmsdale harbour for the night, popped £5 in the RNLI box for parking and was accompanied by about 6 others (slambangers mostly). Next stop was Sinclair Girnigoe (Castle) although it said no overnighting for motorhomes (you could argue cars could overnight ? so why not motorhomes ?) 3 of us there that night.
Next was Castletown Beach just passed Dunnet Head, couple of vans joined us. The places you could camp on road up to Dunnet Head were full of (campers) rubbish and Ranger was out cleaning it up. Not impressed by it.
Next was The Farr Inn near Bettyhill, 4 vans no cost, had a couple of pints in the Inn, lovely beach.
Next was Balnakiel Beach by Durness, one of the best beaches I have ever been on, 2 miles long clean white sand, absolutely no rubbish. stopped in a small stopover (all 6 places taken, EHU and clean water £20 no waste facilities). Durness was heaving and sites were full, nowhere to even park for an hour. You can park by the beach and overnight without any problem, plenty of bins.
Then Stoer Lighthouse,£10 for the night. 3 slambangers with us, then home to Alness on east coast.

No problems at all, all locals very welcoming and never a problem finding somewhere to wild camp, except Durness, which we half expected. Glad we did it and will do it again. So 7 nights away cost us £35 in fees/donations, and about another £70-80 buying in local shops/pubs/cafes.

The only problem was cyclists, who for some reason don't like using passing places on single track roads.