Driving up to the Glencoe Mountain Resort he manages, Andy Meldrum was stunned to find the car park packed with motorhomes and campervans, despite poor snow conditions limiting skiing to the lower slopes.
Night after night over the festive period, around 50 vehicles stayed over at the resort near Ballachulish. Yet instead of a welcome financial boost, the influx brought frustration and significant loss.
A System Reliant on Honesty, Widely Abused
Clear signs request a modest £5 donation for overnight parking and use of facilities like 24/7 toilets and showers. An honesty box and online payment system are in place. However, Mr Meldrum discovered only about £60 was collected each morning, against an expected £250.
This meant just a quarter of those staying paid the requested fee. The situation was compounded by abuse of the wastewater disposal service, which costs an additional £5. On New Year's Eve alone, staff witnessed eight different vans sharing one key to avoid the charge.
Venting on social media, Meldrum hit out at "disrespectful" owners who used his business as a "dumping ground," leaving bags of general waste behind. His post resonated widely, garnering nearly 5,000 likes and 800 comments.
Part of a Wider Highland Malaise
The incident at Glencoe is not isolated. It reflects a growing tension across the Scottish Highlands, exacerbated by the soaring popularity of motorhome travel and routes like the North Coast 500 (NC500).
Since its launch a decade ago, the NC500 has boosted tourism but also led to local complaints about traffic, litter, and environmental damage. A 2023 report by Highland Council rangers logged 8,657 'outdoor toileting incidents', including 125 cases of campervan toilet waste being dumped.
Ann Edwards, chair of the Highland Caravan and Campsites Association, reported similar issues at her Golspie campsite. She described "entitled" people helping themselves to showers and bins, forcing her to install digital locks. "It's happening all round Scotland," she stated.
Failed Schemes and Calls for Action
Efforts to manage the problem have struggled. The Highland Council's voluntary Campervan and Motorhome Scheme (HCMS), launched in summer 2024, aimed to raise £500,000 but brought in just £20,000.
Campaigners are now petitioning the Scottish Parliament to prohibit vehicle camping outside designated zones. Robin Pettigrew, a prominent NC500 critic, advocates for a vehicle levy policed by number plate recognition to make those causing damage pay for repairs.
Meanwhile, the industry defends responsible tourists. Kevin Forbes, who runs Roam N' Roost rentals, argued policy should not be set by a "minority who shout the loudest." He called for more investment in facilities like Europe's 'aires' to standardise waste disposal and fresh water access.
Back at Glencoe, Andy Meldrum worries for the future of his rural business. Relying on goodwill, he foots the bill for maintaining the car park and waste services. "Ultimately, there could come a time when we just decide it's not worth it," he warned, hoping it doesn't come to that.
