MountainTrail wrote:
Speak to local people along the NC500 and you would get some useful insight into the recent campervan ' plague '
I have a foot in both camps. I have a campervan and I live on the NC500 (for about a third of the time)
I am not saying that campervans do not cause some issues. There is much inconsiderate and irresponsible behaviour caused by some campervan/motorhome users, although I do think that much of this is down to the rental vans.
I also feel that the Scottish Tourist Board does have to take much of the responsibility for this. There is plenty of advertising saying 'Come to Scotland, do the NC500, it is beautiful'. This advertising, along with the easy availability of rental vans encourages people to come but the infrastructure is not in place to cope with the increased invited guests. There are not sufficient toilets or other disposal facilities in place.
I do think it would be a good idea for the rental firms to have to charge a 'wild camping fee', for want of a better term. If, for the sake of argument, an extra £70 per week was charged then this could be refunded if proof of using campsites is shown or, if wild camping this money goes into paying for improved infrastructure (not extra for the rental companies).
It would be a bit of a win/win. It encourages people to use campsites or, if not then more money to pay for facilities, and may also keep people away who do not wish to pay the small extra charge.