Skye Residents Blame 30,000 Annual Campervan Trips for Litter and Human Waste

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 29

Residents on the Isle of Skye say some campervan visitors are leaving litter, roadside urine and even chemical toilet waste in scenic areas and on croft land.
More than 30,000 campervan and motorhome trips are made to the Scottish Highlands each year, and locals say Skye lacks enough public toilets and waste-disposal points to cope.
Crofter Calum Beaton said human excrement and paper were left in his fields, while resident Julia Dawber said up to nine campervans can park near her home and some occupants urinate in full view.
NatureScot said Scotland's Outdoor Access Code requires visitors to leave no trace and makes clear that access rights for wild camping do not extend to parking or staying overnight in campervans by roadsides.
Local business owner Sarah MacKinnon said about 95% of visitors behave responsibly, underscoring the tension between tourism's economic value and the strain caused by a minority of offenders.