I know IABU.... Scottish Highlands tourism

[Firefightress1]

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.

And are: second homes. We have convents in place for key pockets which means homes can only be purchased by locals. They, to be honest, turn them into airbnbs or guest houses but our area thrives on visitors. Without them, the area would struggle more.

• covenants 😆

I love Scotland and find the locals really welcoming but not been to Skye. We often go to Shetland (staying with family) and they aren't too busy, the rough 14 hour crossing and expense is enough of a barrier!

For many in the UK Hell is Other People. It is the same here where I live - so many people now take a daily walk including with dogs which leave mess up my road (a private road so most are rule breakers too - this is outer London. We have 18m more people in the UK than when I was born. If we could encourage about 20m to leave the UK to emigrate elsewhere and stop the now highest ever over 600k a year net immigration that might be a start to improving things. ,We have the same problem here too with those who leave litter and I do pick it up almost every day. I wish we could photograph and name and shame those who leave litter and dog waste and those who fly tip.

Oh Highlands, I feel your pain.

-Cornwall

Don't you claim to have a private island?

Petrol companies and national shops like co-op must understand the demand they will have at peak season- it isn't a shock - why are their logistics able to sufficiently supply anticipated demand.

Aren't not are

I've just read through all the comments that mention Skye.

There were two that mentioned locals not being friendly - one regarding a couple that moved there, and one very recent one that was posted after you said you were heading there. There haven't been hundreds of posts saying that locals are unfriendly. There have been literally two - and one was both a second hand account and not relating to tourists.

Lots of posts about it being busy with campervans - and you confirm that. There's are people saying it's stunning, that they love it there. Posts complaining about the tourists that treat it badly - you'll be less likely to see that or be affected by it given the short space of time you were there - and about second homes - again not really relevant to your experience.

What comments on here is it 'nothing like'?

It seems like you are reading a thread about the specific issues that high levels of tourism brings to an area that doesn't have suitable infrastructure, and deciding that means the locals don't like tourists.

I live in Edinburgh. I love Fringe. I hate the associated crowds and the fact that it means the place that I live is much more difficult to get around. I hate that (as a homogeneous mass) tourists don't seem to appreciate that people still have lives to lead and work out appointments to get to, and lurk around in large groups blocking pavements as they pay attention to everything around them except the people. But if someone was to stop and ask me for help - I would absolutely help if I could. And I would be genuinely happy to do so. And if I ended up chatting to tourists at fringe events (which happens every year), I am genuinely interested to hear about them, where they come from, why they've come to Edinburgh etc.

There's a difference between having an issue with the problems created by large numbers of tourists, and having an issue with individuals. This thread is mostly about the former.

Agree with everything you say OP but the places like the coop being stripped and no diesel is totally preventable surely? The tourists return each summer so why aren't they more prepared?! Road maintenance (as in making it easier for campers and pulling in on small roads), propper solid fencing and intermittent police patrol is another way to deter the anti-social shitting and traipsing through whatever they please.

The holiday home thing is a farce!!

(50450750q, yes, I did for 10 years in my 40s. In fact one reason for the sale of it was because people came - not isolated enough. Perhaps I need to find one in Alaska)

Its the balance between impact (traffic, visual, waste etc) and economic benefit thats out of whack with places like nc500 in a camper van.
If 20 people visit and spend very little (eg by camping for free in parking places, using only chain supermarkets not eating at lical pub or cafe or whatever, fuelling up in bigger towns rather than rural ££ places), whilst driving big cumbersome vehicles badly on narrow roads then it brings far less money in than 2 people staying in a listed building that has a new life as a boutique hotel eating locally caught lobster, whisky, and obscure gin. Its not a great economic model, but really why should Johnny Government try and limit access to beautiful natural areas to those with deep pockets?

Quite a few assumptions here.

In our case we paid between £30 and £50 every night to stay on a campsite.

We ate brunch at some super little places that DH had researched and found beforehand - Nanny's in Shieldaig was standout, as was the Store Cafe in Coldbackie - visited castles, went to Orkney - spending money on taxi, ferry, 3 cafes/pubs, coach trip, Italian Chapel, Skaill House and Skara Brae in one day. Visits to local deli's, pubs (Applecross Inn was great), restaurants (Lucano in Kirkwall and Clachan Grill in Ballater were stand-outs).

Driving more than competently on the NC500, being ultra cautious with passing places (had absolutely no issues - people were considerate and polite, as were we). Made sure to only stop at designated viewing points.

Did a wonderful tour of Lochnagar Distillery - and spend far more on whisky than a few nights in a B & B would have cost us!

The only judgement you made which is correct is that we filled up in towns.

We met some really pleasant and interesting people - locals and other travellers - and had a wonderful trip. Even the weather was pretty good!

On a totally different note, I am sure that I saw a black panther type of animal leap across the road ahead of us, fairly close to the Castle of Mey. Anyone know if this is an area known for sightings of big cats?

But if course its a generalisation: the sheer numbers absolutely are a problem for both visitors and locals (nobodys fault). It s pretty unusual to spend £50 a night every night for a campervan pitch, unless part of the cost is leisure facilities (pool, golf, aviemore..). Im not suggesting that everyone in a campervan is spending sweet fa. But relatively high-impact, low-value tourism isnt a great model for local communities (or for visitors). Your highlights illustrate that.
I grew up in what is now rhe Loch Lomond & Trossachs national park. Other areas should take note of the ruination and filth that over-visiting causes.

It is quite hard for the state to stop people going places (although the Ulez car charge/tax extension to my area of London later this year in a sense tries to do that - keep people at home as indeed did the appalling lock down laws when two ladies out for a stroll complying with the law were stopped by police because they each carried a coffee in their hands).