Scottish tourism chief pledges to 'redouble' efforts to curb problems caused by wild campers

Scottish tourism’s figurehead has pledged that efforts to persuade people not to trash wilderness areas will be “redoubled” as he admitted that problems being created by wild campers were “deeply disappointing”.

Wild campers have flocked to remote areas of the Highlands since lockdown travel restrictions were eased.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said it would be working with a host of different agencies over the next few weeks to step up efforts to curb levels of anti-social behaviour which have blighted scenic areas since travel restrictions were eased last month.

It is working with social media influencers and creating videos to try to reduce problems being caused in areas like Loch Lomond, the West Highlands and the Cairngorns.

Mr Roughead said Scots were “letting themselves down” abandoning makeshift campsites in remote areas and leaving piles of rubbish behind rather than take them away when they return home.

However, he also suggested some issues had been exacerbated by some camping facilities and public toilets not being reopened yet around the country.

VisitScotland is urging people heading to remote areas for camping holidays to use “proper campsites” to help protect Scotland’s natural environment and “often fragile eco-systems.”

It is targeting “novice campers” who may be unfamiliar with wild camping guidelines set in an official Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which is underpinned by a “leave no trace” message.

A new wild camping guide VisitScotland has produced says: “It is essential and responsible to be considerate of your surroundings.”

It urges people to leave camping spots as they found them, avoid digging or removing vegetation and asking local residents if they plan to pitch anywhere near housing.”

Mr Roughead said: “The kind of pictures we have seen are not helpful at all. It’s very annoying and deeply disappointing. It’s antisocial behaviour. But what we have to do is redouble our efforts.

“I think it’s been about people who are maybe to the countryside and not understanding the access code, and not understanding that we have to protect those assets and not understanding that you have got to respect the local communities that they are visiting.

“People are letting themselves down. Those kind of pictures are not helpful at all. It’s very annoying and deeply disappointing. But we have to redouble our efforts.

“

There’s definitely something we can do, but it’s not just us. It’s about a coalition of agencies and local authorities. Everybody has to take responsibility for this and keep communicating the key messages.

"People should understand what the access rules are, they should respect the community they are visiting, they should enjoy themselves responsibility and they should take their rubbish back home with them – it’s not the hardest thing to do."

A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said: “Along with partner organisations, such as the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Lochaber Chamber, National Park Authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Wild Scotland, we are working together to target novice campers with the aim of influencing them to use outdoor spaces more respectfully.

“This includes responsible travel messaging throughout our website and social media channels, updated content on our camping and motor pages on our website, new videos in production supporting responsible wild camping and motor home holidays, and working with media and influencers to identify relevant content and contributors who can authentically communicate to this demographic."

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