NC500 this year

[kelsaycobbles]

How bad is it? Has the pressure eased this year?

We are hoping to go camping and walking around fisherfield hills and pre covid we would usually just turn up and park up somewhere out of the way or find a campsite or friendly pub

But last year on our return from Orkney we were shocked at the chaos

And we see that the NC500 runs from Ullapool to gairloch - is everywhere still overrun ? Will we face hostility where we used to find friendly welcome ? Will we be stuck behind convoys if slow moving vehicles? Will the lay bys be littered with waste of all kinds ? Will we feel part of the problem ?

Not personal experience but there was a lot on the radio over Easter about it being rammed

Following as we are wanting to do it next year but a) dont want to be constantly jostling with crowds and b) dont want to add to the problem

I am up and down the A9 regularly and it can be back to back campervans. I think this summer will be very very busy again.

My parents village is now on the NC500 route and people just park in lay-bys overnight despite there being two campsites nearby, it’s such a joke.

Yes bins will be overflowing.

I don’t think people will be hostile to you.

If anything I think it will be worse this year. Reason being I do bits of the A9 regularly and have already seen an increase for this time of year in both tourists and roadworks. The NC500 isn’t built for this level of tourism.

I live on skye and if its anything like here, its horrendous and not enjoyable! I need to get to work and have to leave nearly an hour earlier to get there.
People just stop their cars in passing places and pitch up.
This is my first spring/Summer living here and I can't believe how inconsiderate some people are.
That aside I'm always friendly and helpful to any tourists I meet, I was one once but we always left no trace and pulled in to let people past. It's the wee things.

It's much worse this year, and not just the NC500. Campervans everywhere, lay-bys and car parks full and hospitality understaffed and under huge pressure. Add to that ferry chaos 😔 I don't know what the answer is. Such a shame.

Thank you to those who have updated, we are now changing our plans for next year. Although we would love to do the NC500, we don't want to add to the congestion etc. Also it doesn't sound massively enjoyable as a holiday at the moment!

It's not that I want to do it ! It's just hard to go to the north west highland and avoid

I guess the ferry problem doesn't help as petiole might have to scrap plans to head to the islands

Sent DH map hunting for a different area

We couldn't get fuel this morning so our planned day out for hubbies birthday lunch is now a coop lunch at home. The campervans sook it up in the mornings.

It’s already as busy as August and that’s before the school holidays begin.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code doesn’t extend to motorised vehicles so you can’t just “park up wherever you like”, despite what some on social media will tell you. Likewise, you may park in a lay-by and spend the night there (unless there signs up prohibiting it), but under The Road Traffic Act 1988 you may not exhibit “camping behaviour” (ie no tables and chairs outside your vehicle, no awnings etc).
Responsible tourism is always welcome here but sadly the irresponsible ones are frustrating local communities.

I was there 2 weeks ago (not doing the NC500 but taking in a number of the places, plus others besides) and whilst I’ve nothing to compare it to, it didn’t feel overwhelmingly busy.

Wall to wall campervans and caravans at th moment and it's not school holidays.

Which places? As someone who lives in the NC500 route I can assure you the roads are chock a block with rented motor homes, the majority of which are being driven by people which no idea how to drive in a single track road

Investment, facilities, policing and legislation. More campsites, improved roads, legislation against campervans overnighting outside campsites or littering and policing to enforce these. Look to places like the Lake District which deal with even larger numbers of tourists. Require campervans to book campsite spaces up ahead. The argument against ‘spoiling the countryside with car parks and campsites’ falls flat because the cars are already there parking indiscriminately and causing wider harms. It is a bit like when they build a footpath up a mountain; you may remove the sense of wilderness but you also remove the fifty foot wide erosion scar.

The Highlands has always had a culture of welcoming visitors and there being no 'rules' as people were responsible and respectful. We really have killed what we love 😥

So we had a long look at maps and managed to get away from the NC500 - so quiet , beautiful , welcoming

Short staffed everywhere though

and only two lunatics - one car driver hurtling round the single track who looked absolutely terrified when we managed to stop before she drove into us, and one motorhome who was heading away from the hospital which would be the only reason to justify that kind of reckless driving

Glad you enjoyed your trip ☺️