Selfish tourists blamed for ruining countryside
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THOUGHTLESS tourists are blighting north west Sutherland's stunning landscape by 'free camping' and failing to clear up after themselves.
According to Murdo MacPherson, secretary of Kinlochbervie Community Council, there has been an increase in the number of motorhome users spending the night in laybys, by the side of roads and in car parks, particularly at beauty spots.
Rubbish bins are overflowing, there are not enough public loos to cope with demand and some visitors are even using open spaces as a toilet.
Mr MacPherson's concerns are shared by Kinlochbervie man Alex Munro who contacted The Northern Times this week to say the state of the car park at Oldshoremore beach was a "disgrace".
Highland Council has been urged to improve its litter pick-up and refuse collection services in affected areas.
There have also been calls for the authority to reinstate No Overnight Camping signs at specific locations including Oldshoremore beach car park and Sheigra.
The weakness of the pound has prompted a surge in 'stay-cations' and the number of caravans and motorhomes on British roads is predicted to soar over the next five years.
The growing popularity of the NC500 has also led to more people heading north, but it's not all good news.
Mr MacPherson said: "Picnic spots and viewpoints are often occupied by motorhomes whose owners leave large amounts of rubbish in the small bins.
"They also use the John Muir Trust car park at the start of the path to Sandwood Bay and have blocked the toilets there with their waste. They are also blocking driveways and access to crofts.
"Wild toileting inevitably follows – often in full view of the public. Last week an Oldshoremore resident found a tourist defecating in front of her house and her husband had to clean it up.
"There has also been an increase in litter. On the beaches, locals are cleaning up the remains of barbecues and campfires, which leave scorch marks in the grass.
"Recently some people enjoyed a picnic at Loch Clash and then threw a plastic carrier bag full of rubbish directly into the sea where it bobbed in the harbour until someone waded out to get it."
Mr MacPherson believes that the No Overnight Parking signs, taken down following a legal challenge a few years ago, should be put up again.
Businessman Alex Munro is setting up a glamping facility near Oldshoremore beach car park.
He said that around four motorhomes parked there nightly, but on some occasions there had been as many as 15.
He claims the rubbish left in their wake is a health hazard and says he has been lobbying local councillors and officials in vain for the past year to have the overflowing car park bins emptied more frequently than every fortnight.
He said: "It's disgusting. When I went down to the car park last week the bins were overflowing and there was used nappies, dog poo and glass everywhere. I was so revolted I picked it all up myself and put it in my trailer for disposal."
He is querying why No Overnight Camping signs have been erected at Durness and Scourie but not at Oldshoremore and Sheigra.
Regular Sutherland visitor Su Gripton, from Nottinghamshire, told the Northern Times: "There are nappies, human excrement and bottles filled with yellow fluid in laybys on the way to Scourie. We saw folk wild camping near the graveyard in Scourie.
"I witnessed the occupants of one campervan throw waste water straight into Scourie Bay and saw campers from a tent urinating against community bird hide building."
A Highland Council spokesperson said: "Due to the issues raised, our community services have added another 1100 litre refuse bin at this site (Oldshoremore) and changed the timings of the street cleaning operative to report any fly-tipping.
"They are also trying to make arrangements for another vehicle to come in and deliver a weekly service here as soon as possible."
