10 YEARS OF THE NC500: What impact has it had?
The North Coast 500, a 516-mile scenic route circling the Highland coast, showcases some of the most beautiful views to be seen in Scotland – if not the whole UK.
Since its launch a decade ago in 2015, the route has grown in popularity every year, garnering world-wide acclaim, and attracting those who are keen to escape to the Highland wilderness and reconnect with nature. Consequently, the route particularly caught the attention of caravan, motorhome and campervan drivers.
However, the route’s undeniable success and popularity could also be described as its greatest weakness, with many of the small communities on the NC500 reporting that they cannot cope with the growing numbers of tourists due to limited infrastructure.
Challenges like single-track roads that are too small for motorhomes, inadequate provision of public toilets and limited bins and waste disposal facilities have become apparent along the length of the route. This has resulted in issues such as increased road collisions, human waste being left dumped in beauty spots and overflowing bins in many villages during peak visitor season.
So called “wild camping” on beaches, in laybys, and even on private property has become common, and residents report finding campfire scorch marks, trash and disposable grills in the wake of visitors – threatening the very beauty of the wilderness that has attracted them in the first place.
On one hand, tourism revenue from the NC500 is vital to the Highland economy. But on the other, many communities feel they are at breaking point due to over-tourism. The problems posed by the NC500 are undeniably tricky – and almost everyone has very strong opinions about it.
The controversial nature of the NC500 has sparked multiple online campaign groups on the likes of Facebook, such as NC500 The Dirty Truth and NC500 The Land Weeps, which aim to expose the problems “caused by over-tourism and irresponsible behaviour”.
An example of the impact of over-tourism in the Highlands, was Callum the stag. As a well-known character to locals and tourists alike, Callum was often spotted in Torridon’s Beinn Eighe car park.
Unfortunately, it is believed that due to being fed the wrong foods by visitors, Callum lost most of his teeth and, therefore, the ability to forage for himself, reportedly then having to rely on locals feeding him throughout the winter. As a result, Callum was put down in June last year by the National Trust for Scotland, who said the decision was “the kindest option” for the stag.
Later in 2024, a new sign was spotted at the NC500 beauty spot of Struie Hill in Easter Ross. The Highland Council sign urged people to “not use this area as a toilet”, after it – like a number of other Highland beauty spots – became victim of being used as a dumping spot for human waste.
Last year, an NC500 motorcyclist shared how she had to cut her trip short after a motorhome “insisted on trying to squeeze” past her bike on a single-track road near Applecross – knocking her off in the process.
Unfortunately, these are not just isolated incidents reported for the route.
In December, we spoke to David Richardson – the development and engagement managed for the NC500. He said: “Scotland needs clear, enforceable regulations covering where campervans can stay and what constitutes acceptable behaviour.
“The current ambiguity around ‘wild camping’ must be addressed, and straightforward rules to prevent misunderstandings introduced. However, rules mean nothing without enforcement. We need visible and consistent monitoring to deter violations, and the imposition of last-resort penalties if required.
“We need more government support for local communities. Tourism is the critical economic driver for the north’s most fragile areas and the same commitment shown to large-scale projects like the Green Freeport must be extended to these communities to safeguard their long-term viability.
“The north Highlands’ future depends on collaboration and investment, politicians, governments, policymakers, businesses and communities working together to create strong and sustainable local economies and communities.
“NC500 Ltd has always been more than willing to engage.”
