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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know IABU.... Scottish Highlands tourism

290 replies

Firefightress1 · 08/04/2023 20:31

I know IABU as we were tourists before we moved to Skye but I'm absolutely gobsmacked by how busy it has been over the weekend. I know its not even the busiest time yet but I'm already struggling to get diesel to get to work and the coop is stripped bare. Had a campervan nearly drive into us earlier on the wrong side of the road at a junction and people parking in passing places on single track roads which means traffic is at a standstill.
We always followed the rules and pulled in/let people overtake but there seems to be a new selfish version of a tourist. I know we need to get used to it but people just blatantly disregarding signage and peeing/sh*tting all over the place is just awful!
I honestly don't remember it as bad as this when we were tourists but i guess we didnt live here then
There are so many facebook groups trying to make improvements but the tour buses and guides still insist on stopping at closed sights and encouraging groups to force open gates and move cones to gain access. Its causing so many issues to wildlife and repair operations that are badly needed.

OP posts:
DisquietintheRanks · 09/04/2023 21:08

If a restaurant can't find the staff to run adequately then maybe it shouldn't run at all - or could book less tables. No wonder the customers were pissed off.

Original poster
Firefightress1 · 09/04/2023 21:12

DisquietintheRanks · 09/04/2023 21:08

If a restaurant can't find the staff to run adequately then maybe it shouldn't run at all - or could book less tables. No wonder the customers were pissed off.

It's a massive issue that staff cannot get accomodation here. They were full anyway so nothing to do with lack of staff, why would they be pissed off that they didn't book one of the busiest weekends of the year.

OP posts:
bossonext · 09/04/2023 21:16

DisquietintheRanks · 09/04/2023 21:08

If a restaurant can't find the staff to run adequately then maybe it shouldn't run at all - or could book less tables. No wonder the customers were pissed off.

Does not justify abusing staff.

Original poster
Firefightress1 · 09/04/2023 21:21

Definitely and it's totally unrelated to the rude abusive idiot that thought he could rock up to one of 2 hotels in the town on Easter Sunday and book a room! She coped very well with a full restaurant, none of them complained the chef was serving too. They really come together here to stay open .

OP posts:
montysma1 · 09/04/2023 21:22

Or maybe do a bit of Arithmetic involving proportion of population.....

Xenia · 09/04/2023 21:23

We always respect the countryside and leave no trace.
Part of the problem is the UK has 18m more people than when I was born and now has record immigration 1 million a year (which is about 500k net immigration).

manontroppo · 09/04/2023 21:23

It does sound like the market can bear some more price rises - there’s clearly still a lot of demand. Your full restaurant could charge more and still serve the same amount of customers, if everywhere else is full, they can’t get staff and still they are turning people away.

Many Alpine ski resorts manage to deal with a short season and limited staff accommodation. It’s not rocket science, but I think many of our local councils just can’t manage it. It should be straightforward to make the NC500 a toll road. Locals would get a pass when you pay your council tax, charge camper vans a fee that lowers demand to something the area can cope with. Machu Picchu makes you buy a licence to visit in advance.

Original poster
Firefightress1 · 09/04/2023 21:24

montysma1 · 09/04/2023 21:22

Or maybe do a bit of Arithmetic involving proportion of population.....

Eh?

OP posts:
montysma1 · 09/04/2023 21:24

Not always.
I used to holiday in Skye every year. But haven't in the last 20 years .
It was certainly not like this .

montysma1 · 09/04/2023 21:26

I see the point is way above your pay grade.

montysma1 · 09/04/2023 21:27

mellicauli · 09/04/2023 02:13

@Trez1510 I guess the big advantage to being old and English in Scotland is that you can always turn your hearing aid down when all those bigoted comments based solely on your nationality come your way...

Try being Scottish in England love .

FrostyFifi · 09/04/2023 21:30

My DH was Scottish in England and it was absolutely fine.

mellicauli · 09/04/2023 21:33

@montysma1 Yes, shame on anyone making those kind of comments.

Original poster
Firefightress1 · 09/04/2023 21:41

montysma1 · 09/04/2023 21:26

I see the point is way above your pay grade.

Yes my lowly public sector job where I save lives with zero pay rises in 15 years makes me way below your pay grade. Troll

OP posts:
DisquietintheRanks · 09/04/2023 23:25

Nothing justifies abusing staff and its reasonable to expect people to book ahead- but a hotel that can't find seasonal staff because there's no accommodation locally? Come on, resorts around the world have been dealing with this for years. Actually in the 1950s British hotels had staff quarters. My dad was one of the original Spanish waiters living in hotel digs during his first years in the country. Councils and government definitely have a role to play but so do businesses.

Christmascracker0 · 09/04/2023 23:31

DisquietintheRanks · 09/04/2023 23:25

Nothing justifies abusing staff and its reasonable to expect people to book ahead- but a hotel that can't find seasonal staff because there's no accommodation locally? Come on, resorts around the world have been dealing with this for years. Actually in the 1950s British hotels had staff quarters. My dad was one of the original Spanish waiters living in hotel digs during his first years in the country. Councils and government definitely have a role to play but so do businesses.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/23293068.north-coast-500-staffing-shortages-threaten-scotlands-tourist-route/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-62162956.amp

North Coast 500: Staffing shortages threaten Scotland's tourist route

The man in charge of a string of hotels serving the North Coast 500 tourist route that he helped to create has said he is “determined” to…

https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/23293068.north-coast-500-staffing-shortages-threaten-scotlands-tourist-route/

Original poster
Firefightress1 · 09/04/2023 23:59

My job is needed and is not seasonal but was empty for 2 years until I took it. We wanted to rent first to see if it was for us but that was impossible so we either had to stay put or try and buy and it wasn't an easy journey.
We took the plunge and its been many ups and downs. I'm just glad we have a strong relationship or we wouldn't have survived and many haven't. There's still time I guess.

OP posts:
Whisper23 · 10/04/2023 11:00

We considered renting first as well so we could take our time over buying a place but there was not a single house available to rent on Skye or anywhere nearby on the mainland.

ajandjjmum · 16/06/2023 19:03

Well this threads a bit of an eye-opener.

DH and I have just booked a camper van to tour Scotland in early July, and thought I'd look on MN for some ideas on routes/camping sites etc.

Maybe I'll just cancel!

BeatriceFranklin · 16/06/2023 20:46

ajandjjmum · 16/06/2023 19:03

Well this threads a bit of an eye-opener.

DH and I have just booked a camper van to tour Scotland in early July, and thought I'd look on MN for some ideas on routes/camping sites etc.

Maybe I'll just cancel!

It depends where you’re intending to tour, some places are super busy, I know where I live is hoaching with tourists from May until mid October. A lot of popular campsites will already be booked up and I do think this is the reason loads of people wild camp. The NC500 is already mobbed judging by the amount of camper vans I’ve moved on from the end of our drive so far and that’s the route 98% of them were taking.

AwaaFaeHom · 17/06/2023 06:56

ajandjjmum · 16/06/2023 19:03

Well this threads a bit of an eye-opener.

DH and I have just booked a camper van to tour Scotland in early July, and thought I'd look on MN for some ideas on routes/camping sites etc.

Maybe I'll just cancel!

If it's eye-opening that the local people don't want tourists shitting in the open and leaving it there, toilet paper flapping in the wind, that locals don't want to be inconvenienced by people that decide that a passing place is a good park-up and don't know how to navigate single track roads - if the type of behaviour that people are complaining about on this thread is things that you think are ok - then feel free to buy your fuel in another part of the UK.

I'm sure that people in Wales, Northern Ireland and England just love all that!

ajandjjmum · 17/06/2023 08:33

AwaaFaeHom · 17/06/2023 06:56

If it's eye-opening that the local people don't want tourists shitting in the open and leaving it there, toilet paper flapping in the wind, that locals don't want to be inconvenienced by people that decide that a passing place is a good park-up and don't know how to navigate single track roads - if the type of behaviour that people are complaining about on this thread is things that you think are ok - then feel free to buy your fuel in another part of the UK.

I'm sure that people in Wales, Northern Ireland and England just love all that!

Show quote history

No-one with any decency would treat any places they visit as you suggest - although I don't dispute that there are those who do.

You just seems that you tar everyone with the same brush. Maybe there are some Scottish residents who appreciate that not everyone is the same, and I think that the majority of us know how to behave and are considerate, whilst spending our hard earned money appreciating another part of our country.

I have no desire to visit anywhere with massive crowds, or where the majority of people are unwelcoming. Certainly given us food for thought.

bossonext · 17/06/2023 13:49

ajandjjmum · 17/06/2023 08:33

No-one with any decency would treat any places they visit as you suggest - although I don't dispute that there are those who do.

You just seems that you tar everyone with the same brush. Maybe there are some Scottish residents who appreciate that not everyone is the same, and I think that the majority of us know how to behave and are considerate, whilst spending our hard earned money appreciating another part of our country.

I have no desire to visit anywhere with massive crowds, or where the majority of people are unwelcoming. Certainly given us food for thought.

Show quote history

What, do you want us to beg you to please come and spend your hard earned money in the local co op?

If you decide not to go to Scotland because of a mumsnet thread then whatever, no one is going to lose any sleep over it.

AwaaFaeHom · 17/06/2023 13:54

ajandjjmum · 17/06/2023 08:33

No-one with any decency would treat any places they visit as you suggest - although I don't dispute that there are those who do.

You just seems that you tar everyone with the same brush. Maybe there are some Scottish residents who appreciate that not everyone is the same, and I think that the majority of us know how to behave and are considerate, whilst spending our hard earned money appreciating another part of our country.

I have no desire to visit anywhere with massive crowds, or where the majority of people are unwelcoming. Certainly given us food for thought.

Show quote history

I am certainly not tarring everyone with the same brush.

Have you read the thread? The tourists that people don't want in Scotland are the ones that do the things that I described. And after reading the thread, you are considering not visiting.

If the fact that we don't welcome tourists that behave that way is putting you off, I have to wonder why

Christmascracker0 · 17/06/2023 15:25

Even people from other parts of Scotland come to the highlands and cause nuisance, it’s not specifically non-Scots!