Home   News   Article

Family flee Reiss beach due to explosives


By David G Scott

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
The tent was pitched on Reiss beach near the path leading from the car park. Pictures: Hannah Shade
The tent was pitched on Reiss beach near the path leading from the car park. Pictures: Hannah Shade

WILD campers "panicked" and fled in terror from an apparent targeted attack with explosive devices at Reiss beach on Tuesday night.

Twenty-four year old Hannah Shade from Edinburgh was camping with her young children Ferne (6) and Lori (3), friend Kerri Heyes and dog Theo when a "massive bang" went off right beside their tent at around 11.30pm.

"We set up camp around 7pm and everything was inside our tent so we had no mess lying around and we weren’t loud or causing any bother," said Hannah who is six-months pregnant.

After getting the children to sleep at around 10pm, Hannah and her friend Keri, who is also 24, sat on the empty beach for a while and enjoyed the peace and calm of the tide coming in.

They retired to the tent and prepared for a restful night when they were suddenly startled by an explosion.

Hannah with her children Ferne and Lori in their tent at Reiss.
Hannah with her children Ferne and Lori in their tent at Reiss.

"We were laying in the tent with the kids when we heard the first bang – it was right at our heads. I thought someone would’ve been standing right outside the tent, we checked because it was so close.

"When we got out the tent there was smoke coming from the back of it. Then we stood outside for a few minutes trying to work out what it was before another one went off about 10 metres to the left of the tent."

Hannah described it as a "big bang" followed by a flame and lots of smoke.

"We got packed up so fast – we didn’t even put the tent in a bag, just grabbed it. While we were going up and down from the car to bring the stuff up, more [bangs] were going off right next to us."

Hannah described how her children were very distressed by the event and were crying. Theo the dog was also "terrorised" by the explosions and was shaking violently.

Reiss beach is a popular location for locals and tourists. Picture: DGS
Reiss beach is a popular location for locals and tourists. Picture: DGS

The pregnant mum thinks they were definitely targeted by whoever was setting off the explosive devices and said there was around four of them.

"I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else or a similar kind of experience? It’s totally ruined our holiday and now we’re scared to go camping again.

"There were other people in camper vans in the car park who also heard all the bangs, they thought it was a gun and were very concerned."

Hannah and her friend took turns to drive through the night, setting off from Reiss beach car park at 12.20am and arrived in Edinburgh at around 5.30am.

"We didn't really want to go home and thought of trying to find an Airbnb [online accommodation rentals] but it was too late. We felt really unsafe and very scared so decided to head home.

"We drove 10 hours in one day between the pair of us and [were] absolutely exhausted on the way home."

Hannah said the three-day NC500 trip was originally planned with camping sites to be included on the itinerary but she found many were closed or would not allow tents.

She said that prior to the incident "one very rude local" approached them at around 8.30pm.

"[She] told us we were a disgrace and wild camping should be illegal because of the mess. We made it clear we were following all the rules and we would leave nothing but our footprints behind but she still wasn’t happy.

Hannah said that she and Kerri decided to go camping without their partners as they had work commitments and "did not think for a second" they wouldn’t be safe.

Reiss beach on Wednesday evening with many enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
Reiss beach on Wednesday evening with many enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

"My kids never want to go camping again. It was a terrible experience and I hope something can be done to prevent it happening to other families.

"We stuck to all the rules we were being loud or antisocial or messy. Very hard to understand. We have contacted the police – they are looking into it and will get back in touch with us."

After sharing her experience on a NC500 tourist page on Facebook many commented on the thread to sympathise and offer free accommodation in the future.

A local holiday cottage owner said: "This is not the Highland welcome we want to give our visitors.

"I hope there's an innocent explanation. I have offered Hannah a free stay with us next year so she can enjoy Caithness safely with her family. We've had human waste left at our own gate, but frightening people isn't ignorance, it's malice and it's dangerous."

A man in Scourie called Gillon Johnstone wrote: "The police need to be told about this, there seems to be a group of local thugs in the wick John o groats area who are intimidating and threatening tourists."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ""Police Scotland received a report of loud bangs heard by people camping at Reiss Beach in Caithness.

"The incident happened during the evening of Tuesday, 21 July and reported to police after 5pm on Wednesday, 22 July.

"Officers had patrolled the area earlier on Wednesday with no issues raised or further complaints received."

Click here to read more news.




This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More