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No access through Beinn Glas campsite

No access through Beinn Glas campsite


Postby MarilynMunro » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:57 pm

A word of advice for anyone thinking off heading to Inverarnan and the hills above, Beinn Chabhair, Ben Glas. Whilst walkers were always encouraged to traipse over a swamp to avoid the delicate souls in the campsite, the ever helpful and accomodating owners have now erected a fence reminiscent of the West Bank, and notices that the gate will not be opened before 0900, my son finding this out first hand at the start of the week, although he was invited to wait outside the gate for 90 minutes and they would then open it.
Good old Scottish hospitality and the spirit of access to all, argh, make s my blood boil.

I can only imagine the devastation that people seeking access must wreck on the countryside that some people see fit to cordon off their little bit of Shangri La
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby GillC » Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:13 pm

That is just plain stupid, what are they thinking about,,certainly wouldn't use their facility if I needed a spot to camp in the area. Shoddy and just makes them look REALLY stupid! Hope you contacted them, point out the lack of trespass laws in Scotland and storm the bloody gate!
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby GillC » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:45 am

I just emailed the campsite about this,,I want a formal response in black and white.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby magicdin » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:54 am

Campsite is within Loch Lomond National Park

Your son should contact the Local Access Officer :-

Kenny Auld (Lomond and the Trossachs) 01389 722640 - kenny.auld@lochlomond-trossachs.org

Or

Mike McManus (West Highland Way Officer) 01389 722600 - mike.mcmanus@lochlomond-trossachs.org
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby basscadet » Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:06 am

Aye, I noticed when we were there in June that they lock the gate between 10 at night and 9 in the morning.. I also noticed that some peeps had sorted some stepping stones about 30 yards from the bridge, toward the drovers... :wink:
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby NickyRannoch » Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:50 am

Surely a polite notice reminding walkers to be aware that they are walking through a campsite and to respect campers in the early hours would be sufficient.

As others have said it would be worth contacting the NP access officer for his view on this.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby GillC » Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:25 pm

I emailed the site today,,stating that a walker had been refused access until 9am and asking them to confirm their policy....got this response,,,,,,,

"Hi, I have no idea what you are talking about.

June Palmer"

I responded saying I would pass this on to the person who had this experience,,,following message then received.

"We have a security gate on our bridge access which opens at 7am but anyone wishing to join the West Highland Way can do so 1 mile North of us before this time so we are not restricting walkers at all. The only area is our back yard and where my staff caravans are that we do not allow anyone as this is our private area.

June"

Wonder if June knows who or why others are giving a different message. The access to the WHW "1 mile North" isn't helpful for the likes of Chabhair....
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby weebirdie » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:31 pm

They clearly state (in red, no less, that's how important it is) on their website that the bridge gate opens at 7am. Did someone have a cheeky lie-in that day?

Seriously, though, why be so awkward about this kind of thing? Who on earth 'dodgy' would be looking to access the area that early in the morning? Given the trouble with parties on the East side of Loch Lomond, I can understand to an extent having extra rules in place in certain areas; but are a bunch of ne'er do wells REALLY likely to rock up in there at breakfast time?

Sadly, we witnessed some pretty horrible behaviour towards WHW walkers at Cashel whilst we were there. We were staying at Sallochy and walked through a storm to try and get some toilet roll as Sallochy had run out we figured that as they were both Forestry Commission there was a chance they would have given us some and we would have restocked all the Sallochy composting loos for the other campers); and the staff refused to let a group of walkers even stand at their dish-washing area to change their clothes in the dry - they had to stand under a sapling in the carpark. And once they had fleeced us £1.50 for two rolls of Charmin, they escorted my partner and I and our two small kids (7 and 4) back out into the torrential rain. There was to be no hanging around.

Then we saw the 'Caravan Club Friendly' sign and it all clicked into place. But I would certainly never recommend the site to anyone, walkers or not. Do these places not realise the power of social media? They are just cutting off their noses to spite their faces.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby bootsandpaddles » Tue Aug 27, 2013 7:32 am

weebirdie wrote:Sadly, we witnessed some pretty horrible behaviour towards WHW walkers at Cashel whilst we were there. We were staying at Sallochy and walked through a storm to try and get some toilet roll as Sallochy had run out we figured that as they were both Forestry Commission there was a chance they would have given us some and we would have restocked all the Sallochy composting loos for the other campers); and the staff refused to let a group of walkers even stand at their dish-washing area to change their clothes in the dry - they had to stand under a sapling in the carpark. And once they had fleeced us £1.50 for two rolls of Charmin, they escorted my partner and I and our two small kids (7 and 4) back out into the torrential rain. There was to be no hanging around.

Then we saw the 'Caravan Club Friendly' sign and it all clicked into place. But I would certainly never recommend the site to anyone, walkers or not. Do these places not realise the power of social media? They are just cutting off their noses to spite their faces.


Whilst I would not defend people being treated badly I think this story needs to be put into context. I know that there is a history of walkers on the WHW behaving very badly at this camp site, stealing toilet paper and filling empty bottles with liquid soap to take away from the toilets for example. I can understand that the people who run the site would consider that the facilities that they provide are for the use of people who have paid to use them. There are always two sides to every story.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby GillC » Tue Aug 27, 2013 7:50 am

WHW aside,,the initial point here is that you cannot cross the land to reach the hills behind, eg Chabhair,,(mind you,,I did it from the North, purely to a)avoid the campsite and b) tie it in with An Caisteal and Beinn a Chroinn.

WHW walkers, if passing through,,may use the loo, or, if staying at Inverarnan, pass round the campsite,,as requested, but their start the following day, should not be hampered in this way. Some truists would feel that being forced a mile up the road, and off the WHW route, constitutes not doing the proper route..... Establishments such as BG, Kingshouse etc should embrace the walkers, BG is unfortunately too close to Glasgow and suffers for it but by treating everyone like a trouble maker or a nuisance, you alienate a bigger group,,the ones who actually care how they are treated.

Why don't they make a small charge for the loo, to non campers, or offer filled rolls etc, surely the chance to increase business andimprove relationships with potential customers is good for business? Same for Kingshouse/Glencoe. No use of facilities for wild campers, not even to let them fill water bottles or use the loo. Missing a trick there.

And the debate rolls on,,

I for one, wont use the BG campsite,,too many tales of noisy revellers, and inhospitality....maybe not for all,,but bad publicity goes a LONG way.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby bootsandpaddles » Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:21 am

Just to clarify: in my post I was referring to Cashel campsite not Beinn Glas.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby rabthecairnterrier » Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:37 am

The LandReform Act 2004 includes responsible wild camping along with the other statutory access rights. "Wild" camping means lightweight low impact camping for short periods in areas well away from and out of sight of houses and roads. The only exception is a small and tightly defined area on the East side of Loch Lomond which was exempted becasue of pressure of numbers and associated anti-social behaviour. The definition of wild camping does not include roadside car-based camping - therefore Coire Gabhaill fine, Clachaig not.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby rabthecairnterrier » Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:38 am

Oop! sorry, wrong thread.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby IamAJMiller » Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:59 am

I've stayed there twice, once on the WHW and another just 'cause I was in the area. Both times were absolutely fine and no late night revellers or anti social behaviour, also all the staff/owners seemed very pleasant. My only complaint was that the food and drink was very expensive but then I guess they've got a captive market so they can charge what they like!

So to read a post like this is strange as it goes against my experiences. I'm sure WHWers who aren't staying there but using the facilities are a huge pain but it's up to the owners to solve this problem without denying access to the hills. I have to be honest I don't fully understand the outdoor access laws so I will be watching this thread and it's outcome carefully.
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Re: No access through Beinn Glas campsite

Postby MarilynMunro » Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:48 pm

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this, Thanks to GillC and magicdin for the contact info and prompt, I have phoned Kenny Auld and I'm waiting on his return call.
Update on the scenario at Beinn Glas, the gate IS locked until 0900 for public access, although would be opened from 0700 for residents :crazy:
The gate is sited a couple of feet from the main road prior to the bridge, is about 9- 10 feet high with spikes or obstructions around the sides to prevent anyone circumventing their security measures, my son didn't notice any stepping stones over the Falloch, but I d imagine they would have to be fairly substantial. Their point about accessing the WHW 1 mile north is missing the point of access to all, especially the hills above the campsite. As was said earlier if they were ever so slightly more welcoming, maybe hillwalkers might use their shop/ facilties and so boost their takings.

IamAJMiller wrote:So to read a post like this is strange as it goes against my experiences. I'm sure WHWers who aren't staying there but using the facilities are a huge pain but it's up to the owners to solve this problem without denying access to the hills. I have to be honest I don't fully understand the outdoor access laws so I will be watching this thread and it's outcome carefully.


Whilst I understand the point your making, my initial point is solely about through access to hills above this campsite, solowalkers at 0730 in the morning are hardly likely to cause carnage, and as you, I don't fully understand my access rights but only want to walk to a point causing as little disruption as possible.
I'll post up any and all info I get back
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