To think friend is being daft to think this will work

[lastqueenofscotland]

A very good friend of mine and their partner are planning a holiday in Scotland soon for 10 days. All fine, however it’s a cycling trip where they will need to find somewhere else to stay every night. They do this every year and often book on the day and it’s usually fine. However obviously everything is different this year!
Currently they have only found one campsite as so many are full/closed/at minimal capacity.
My friend is getting increasingly panicked while her partner is very much happy to wing it and hope for the best.
I have tried to gently tell them I think this idea is foolhardy, but I’m actually a bit worried for them. AIBU to maybe stress how daft of an idea this actually is, and suggest they pick one base and explore from there?

Agent all the bothies are shut. I’ve just checked their website.

Ok thank you. Slightly split opinion, but I will put across that I think it’s really not a good idea.

@IAmFourEels

Yes, I think you should say it's ridiculous and that they should book a room somewhere. Sounds to me like she's looking for confirmation that she's not being paranoid, and actually does have valid reason to panic. And, as previous posters have said, sometimes it's ok to tell close friends if they're being bonkers!

This.

Book a hotel, with somewhere to park their bikes securely, or hire a campervan with a bike carrier.

The "why do you care?" posts are annoying. It's not about her being over invested, it's just interesting to see others' views.

Personally, if I were your friend I wouldn't be following their plan. Especially cycling, I'd be worried about being stuck with nowhere to stay and I think the worry would ruin any enjoyment. Exploring from one base seems more sensible. Others might have more of a sense of adventure and risk but I think her DH is unreasonable to press on if she isn't comfortable.

I'm in the far west, so it may be better elsewhere, but wild camping isn't quite as wild as usual this year! There are real problems being caused by the number of people camping on roadsides, by harbours and yes, in farmers' fields. Massive camper vans seem to be breeding in our area and are causing pollution problems when they empty their waste tanks. Most people are happy to see tourists usually and the culture here is very welcoming of visitors, but people have had their patience sorely tested this year.

Cyclists can usually find accommodation here easily, but the hostels are all closed and many B&B's are too, or at the very least only taking advance bookings. If the wife is worried then she can either refuse to go or quietly book somewhere (anywhere!) at least for the first night so they don't have to turn round and go home straight away.

You can't wild camp in national parks in case they are planning a route through any.

If she is asking for your opinion then you can give it and be quite honest about it but then you have to leave them to it and stop worrying about them.

I bloody hate the, lets just see what happens I’m sure it’ll be fine thing!

I think it’s bonkers personally. I know each to their own but I wouldn’t like it.

@Sexnotgender

I bloody hate the, lets just see what happens I’m sure it’ll be fine thing!

I think it’s bonkers personally. I know each to their own but I wouldn’t like it.

I agree but the OP is getting too involved. She should say what she thinks when asked and then stay out of it. (And bite her tongue and try not to say 'I told you so' when it all goes wrong.)

They shouldn't bank on being able to find somewhere to eat. We are in the far NW, and prebooked one meal out this week. Tiny pub, 6 socially distanced tables, fully booked all week. landlord said he'd had 70 calls about booking a table that he'd had to disappoint.

Let them get on with it. But if she's anxious then she should cancel. Couldn't think of anything worse thsn a cycling holiday in the rain.

I am quite happy to and well seasoned in wild camping across Scotland but I do so knowing there are proper campsites, the bothy network and hostels available in inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances. These things are not available this year, so when we went to Scotland a couple of weeks ago, we booked into a hotel as a base camp and explored within a limited area.

Proper wild campers leave no trace that they were ever there and choose their spots very carefully so as to inconvenience nobody. These frustrated holidaymakers camping willy nilly and leaving a trail of mess might mean considerate campers and hikers aren't welcomed any longer. They make me exceedingly cross.

Your friend doesn't need to gently suggest anything. She needs to firmly insist.

I'd inwardly raise an eyebrow and let her get on with it.

Please get your friend to book if they can and explore from one base. I have a pal who runs a teeny caravan site in southern Scotland. Usually he has maximum of 2 touring caravans. This year he’s fully booked out. Since the caravan sites could open earlier this year he’s had more visitors in total than he has had in the past three years of being open year round. There may not be much so your friend will need to get onto it quickly.
Bothies are closed. Yes there’s the right to wild camp. Your friends will need a sturdy tent that they can transport while cycling. There’s been some heavy rains and storms. A cheap festival tent won’t withstand any heavy weather. If they are worried about the security of their bikes overnight (though theft is unlikely if they are in a remote area) they’ll need locks or a tent big enough to keep the bikes in. There’s a pdf leaflet on responsibilities while wild camping in Scotland here www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/camping-scotland

It's legal to wild camp in Scotland. So they can just do that. Sounds lovely.

Obviously if wild camping they will need to carry their litter till they find a bin, and take a trowel for pooing.

Wild camping will be the thing. Just plan for it.
4k bikes sounds the very minimum they need to make it an enjoyable trip.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-53713593

I hope your friends aren't planning to cycle here.

I do hope your friend isn't going to hide behind you as an excuse 'lastqueenofscotland doesn't think its a good idea so I'm not going' scenario

All campsites v busy in Scotland this year, I'd say prebooking is essential. Restaurants and cafes also pretty busy. There are so many fly-campers this year, making a real mess of the countryside - I've never seen so much rubbish, plastic waste, used nappies, wet wipes etc. It's bloody grim.

They're bonkers. Friends have abandoned their plans of doing the NC500 as they are struggling to find accommodation and what is available is extortionate.

Even though you can wild camp in Scotland if you look up the definition of doing it legally, even that could be a challenge with road bikes. They need to book ahead, simple as. If they can't get availability now then they're not going to magically find something when they arrive!

Campervan with bike racks seems perfect to me.

Your friend's boyfriend is daft to not realise that everything that managed to open booked out fully this summer and campsites cut back on numbers they could take safely.

Perhaps your friend needs to learn to stand up for herself in her relationship and say 'no' we need to to it differently this year because I'm not comfortable going this year under these circumstances.

Most bothies are closed, and holiday-makers are urged NOT to visit them:
www.mountainbothies.org.uk/2016/08/bothies-currently-unavailable/

The North and West Highlands are suffering very, very badly from midges at the moment. It's been wet and (moderately) warm - there have been billions of them. I apologise for Daily Mail link, but today's Scottish edition has an amazing video of a camper hiding inside his tent because of a midge swarm. Scroll down to the bottom of this: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8648709/PICTURE-EXCLUSIVE-Boris-Johnson-FINALLY-breaks-cover.html

I'm sure your friends will behave better, but wild campers have been a real nuisance in Scotland this year, and caused environmental damage and pollution. As a result, your friends might not find themselves very welcome in some areas. The Highland Council has been calling for urgent action www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2382352/highland-council-demands-immediate-action-on-uncontrolled-wild-camping/

Very, very important wild camping Code of Conduct here www.campsites.co.uk/guides/wild-camping/wild-camping-code-of-conduct