Discussion
Iwantafusca said:
“ Most people come for the stunning views and the roads, not the silence and lack of things”
Shirley these things go together?
If people are not spending in hotels/shops campsites etc , what else can be “monetised” ? Road tolls is a non starter imo
Why do the 2 go together? The scenery of the coastline and hillsides are not going to vanish if there is more infrastructure. Shirley these things go together?
If people are not spending in hotels/shops campsites etc , what else can be “monetised” ? Road tolls is a non starter imo
If people are not spending money you have to ask why. The answer is 2 part I think, 1 is that there are free options; Scotland's right to roam and wild camp does allow people to park up and camp overnight for free, and secondly there is a lack of caravan parks and campsites. It wouldn't be hard to restrict the right to camp, as happens around Loch Lomond, and then increase the organised provision of paid sites. These sites can then offer food and supplies too. That way money is kept within the Highland economy, and you solve a lot of issues around wild camping and camper vans in passing places.
The awareness of the NC500 isnt going to vanish, and especially with the reluctance to travel abroad people are going to want to visit more destinations in the UK. You can either embrace it, put the infrastructure in place and enable people to enjoy it in a way which is acceptable to locals and tourists, or stick your head in the sand about why people do things the locals don't like and complain about the tourists.
towser said:
leggly said:
Sorry, I edited it to add that detail.
No hassle - just highlights scarce resource up here having to deal with bams... should have got a crofter to pull them out gently. Condi said:
Why do the 2 go together? The scenery of the coastline and hillsides are not going to vanish if there is more infrastructure.
If people are not spending money you have to ask why. The answer is 2 part I think, 1 is that there are free options; Scotland's right to roam and wild camp does allow people to park up and camp overnight for free, and secondly there is a lack of caravan parks and campsites. It wouldn't be hard to restrict the right to camp, as happens around Loch Lomond, and then increase the organised provision of paid sites. These sites can then offer food and supplies too. That way money is kept within the Highland economy, and you solve a lot of issues around wild camping and camper vans in passing places.
The awareness of the NC500 isnt going to vanish, and especially with the reluctance to travel abroad people are going to want to visit more destinations in the UK. You can either embrace it, put the infrastructure in place and enable people to enjoy it in a way which is acceptable to locals and tourists, or stick your head in the sand about why people do things the locals don't like and complain about the tourists.
I have to agree with you...the genie is out of the bottle and I think it's fair to say most locals have accepted that and recognise that the infrastructure is at best basic. The problem is that lobbying for improvements (and even the opening of toilets!) has been falling on pretty much deaf ears since the NC500 boom started. If people are not spending money you have to ask why. The answer is 2 part I think, 1 is that there are free options; Scotland's right to roam and wild camp does allow people to park up and camp overnight for free, and secondly there is a lack of caravan parks and campsites. It wouldn't be hard to restrict the right to camp, as happens around Loch Lomond, and then increase the organised provision of paid sites. These sites can then offer food and supplies too. That way money is kept within the Highland economy, and you solve a lot of issues around wild camping and camper vans in passing places.
The awareness of the NC500 isnt going to vanish, and especially with the reluctance to travel abroad people are going to want to visit more destinations in the UK. You can either embrace it, put the infrastructure in place and enable people to enjoy it in a way which is acceptable to locals and tourists, or stick your head in the sand about why people do things the locals don't like and complain about the tourists.
In my book though pulling up in a passing place and throwing out a pop up tent and a case of lager doesn't make you a wild camper.....regardless of "right to roam" that sort of nonsense shoudl really be stamped on.
I live in a touristy enough area to be happy to leave them to it during peak times. There's the rest of the year to have it all to yourself.
I tend to take the same approach with other areas too. I'm pondering an October/November visit to the tippy top but we'll see what happens disease wise.
I tend to take the same approach with other areas too. I'm pondering an October/November visit to the tippy top but we'll see what happens disease wise.
Condi said:
Most people come for the stunning views and the roads, not the silence and lack of things.
What utter nonsense , Been there often have you ? Talked to people? If you tried getting out of your car and actually talking to other visitors - walkers, climbers , fishermen ,not just idiots in supercars - you'd realise that the emptiness and silence are absolutely fundamental parts of the appeal . Edited by Condi on Sunday 2nd August 17:22
coppice said:
What utter nonsense , Been there often have you ? Talked to people? If you tried getting out of your car and actually talking to other visitors - walkers, climbers , fishermen ,not just idiots in supercars - you'd realise that the emptiness and silence are absolutely fundamental parts of the appeal .
I disagree. People go do the Nc500 because of the pictures they've seen on the internet or in marketing material. People might go to other parts of Scotland or the Highlands for those reasons you mention, but they not the same people as doing the loop. All most people on the NC500 want is to see the stunning scenery and take some good photos to show their friends and family. As for going often, well yeah, I used to live up in Scotland so feel reasonably qualified to comment.
coppice said:
Condi said:
Most people come for the stunning views and the roads, not the silence and lack of things.
What utter nonsense , Been there often have you ? Talked to people? If you tried getting out of your car and actually talking to other visitors - walkers, climbers , fishermen ,not just idiots in supercars - you'd realise that the emptiness and silence are absolutely fundamental parts of the appeal . Edited by Condi on Sunday 2nd August 17:22
coppice said:
Condi said:
Most people come for the stunning views and the roads, not the silence and lack of things.
What utter nonsense , Been there often have you ? Talked to people? If you tried getting out of your car and actually talking to other visitors - walkers, climbers , fishermen ,not just idiots in supercars - you'd realise that the emptiness and silence are absolutely fundamental parts of the appeal . Edited by Condi on Sunday 2nd August 17:22
coppice said:
I'm trying to suggest people show some respect to a unique environment , which they seem hell bent on wrecking. Sorry to be so controversial .
You'd do better to try and get your message across with less spite and anger. I don't think there's a single person in this thread that disagrees with you in principle, but you're arguing for the sake of being angry.Well, Amidst all the Wild Camping...... I managed a drive from Lossie across to Dufftown to Tommintoul on the B9009, over the Lecht and on to Braemar for Coffee and ice cream before hacking back across the same route.
I did see plenty of campers on the side of the roads and beside the river. Plenty of waves from the sides of the road,
C70R said:
You'd do better to try and get your message across with less spite and anger. I don't think there's a single person in this thread that disagrees with you in principle, but you're arguing for the sake of being angry.
Thanks for the psychology lesson - I'll be roudn for counselling later -mates' rates is it ? Really , I'm not arguing 'for the sake of being angry' - why would I ? But because I feel strongly about the subject, and if I veer towards the A word, it just reflects my annoyance about the fact that somewhere I know and love is being ruined . Its what humans do - get cross because we care! coppice said:
C70R said:
You'd do better to try and get your message across with less spite and anger. I don't think there's a single person in this thread that disagrees with you in principle, but you're arguing for the sake of being angry.
Thanks for the psychology lesson - I'll be roudn for counselling later -mates' rates is it ? Really , I'm not arguing 'for the sake of being angry' - why would I ? But because I feel strongly about the subject, and if I veer towards the A word, it just reflects my annoyance about the fact that somewhere I know and love is being ruined . Its what humans do - get cross because we care! 
Condi said:
coppice said:
C70R said:
You'd do better to try and get your message across with less spite and anger. I don't think there's a single person in this thread that disagrees with you in principle, but you're arguing for the sake of being angry.
Thanks for the psychology lesson - I'll be roudn for counselling later -mates' rates is it ? Really , I'm not arguing 'for the sake of being angry' - why would I ? But because I feel strongly about the subject, and if I veer towards the A word, it just reflects my annoyance about the fact that somewhere I know and love is being ruined . Its what humans do - get cross because we care! A perfect illustration in response.
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