Scottish villagers 'smothered by visitors' plea for help from Nicola Sturgeon

A Highland community is being “swamped” by campervans and campers, its bus firm has claimed.

Neil Fuller, who runs The Durness Bus company in Sutherland has complained of camping, fires, toilet waste and vehicles parked on verges.

He said its fragile sand dunes and ground-nesting bees were being threatened by the “relentless” influx.

The concern came as VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead pledged to redouble efforts to persuade visitors not to trash wilderness areas.

Campers are claimed to be "swamping" Durness. Picture: @thedurnessbus.

A petition to halt promotion of the North Coast 500 road route, which goes through Durness, has attracted nearly 1,000 supporters.

However, others questioned whether visitors to the village near the north-west tip of mainland Scotland were causing a problem.

In a series of tweets to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon posted last night, @thedurnessbus said: “We are being smothered by the sheer volume of visitors.

"Relentlessly every day they fill every possible space in and around our parish.

Cars parked by the roadside in Durness. Picture: @thedurnessbus.

"But it’s the same across the north west Highlands.

"Wet wipes flying in the wind, wacky races on the road. We need help!

“Please help, our little village is being swamped.

"27 tents on the wrong side of the campsite fence on Sango [Sands Oasis campsite] tonight [Saturday].

Campervans in Durness Picture: @thedurnessbus.

"Parking on the verges, in passing places and in the machair, multiple fires and no end in sight.

“This is a fragile dune system with rare wild flowers and rarer ground-nesting solitary bees.

"It’s being overwhelmed by footfall let alone the cars, campsites, fires and of course the toileting.

"It is relentless, day after day after day.”

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

North West Highlands Geopark co-ordinator Dr Laura Hamlet tweeted: “If ever there was an urgent need for community-led destination management planning, it is NOW.

"Communities like Durness and Applecross are quite literally being swamped, overwhelmed and trashed.”

Lydia tweeted: These people arrive and have no concept of caring about the fragile ecology of the dunes around Durness.

“It is heartbreaking.

“Please only come to the north if you have a campsite booked.”

BACKGROUND: Police tow vehicles and charge drivers after visitors block roads near Scotland beauty spots

Sango Sands Oasis campsite owner James Keith told The Scotsman: "People are trashing the place with total impunity.

"Police need to be given powers to move them on, it's totally out of hand.

"In no way, shape or form is this wild camping.

“The Scottish Government needs to gets its act together - it doesn’t care.”

Douglas Thomson, president of the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland, tweeted in response: “I'd heard that it was as bad as this, but hadn't seen pictures till now.

"It's clear that visitors have no understanding of where they are or the damage they're doing, but it's less easy to see a solution unless Police Scotland start towing cars that obstruct the roads.”

But Niall McOwan tweeted: “I’m getting fed up with the campervan bashing.

"I have parked here before and picked litter locals have probably walked or driven past.”

Hugh Morrison, Highland councillor for north, west and central Sutherland, who lives in Durness, told The Scotsman: “85-90 per cent of holidaymakers are spot on, but there is an element who do not care.

"Some have a carefree attitude that someone else will pick up their litter and deal with their fires.

"Around 300 people live in Durness and it has at least doubled or trebled this summer with visitors.

"There is not the infrastructure in place for that number of people.

"Most of them are very good, but if the bins are full it is not all their fault.

"It’s very difficult when people get to an area and find campsites are full, so have to wild camp.”

Police Scotland said it would deal with vehicles obstructing roads and parked illegally.

Inspector Alan Dron, its rural crime co-ordinator, added: “It is important to distance the term "dirty" camping from the term "wild" camping.

"Informal camping, away from official campsites, provides a great way for people to enjoy Scotland’s outdoors and can take a number of forms including wild camping in remote places or camping close to parked vehicles.

"All forms must be carried out responsibly, in particular to protect the environment.

"Examples of this include taking away all litter and removing all trace of your visit, making sure there is no pollution (eg from human waste) or environmental damage (eg from fires - use a stove if possible), parking any vehicles safely, not blocking roads or entrances and trying not to damage the verge, respecting other campers and avoiding overcrowding, being considerate to land managers and owners and not camping in enclosed fields of crops or where there are farm animals.

"Access rights are not an excuse for anti-social or illegal behaviour.

"Where possible, officers from Police Scotland will take appropriate action to clamp down on this inexcusable, inconsiderate and unnecessary behaviour.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland’s tourism offer is world leading and many businesses across the country rely on the sector for their livelihood.

"While it is good news that the tourism industry has been able to reopen in a safe and sustainable way, we all have a part to play in enjoying what Scotland has to offer responsibly.

“Anyone visiting tourist attractions or destinations must be mindful of local communities and respect those living in the area.

"We have some of the best experiences in the world here in Scotland and if everyone acts considerately we can all enjoy them safely while supporting the local economy.”

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