Motorhome and campervan owners face new £100 fines for overnight stays in two Highland council car parks popular with tourists on the North Coast 500 route. The ban, recommended by Highland Council's Sutherland County Committee, targets car parks in Durness and Golspie, where overnight parking currently costs £10 per night.
The move follows complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour and inappropriate waste disposal by campervan users. The council’s parking enforcement team is expected to begin policing the ban soon, with the aim of limiting overnight parking to designated caravan and camping sites only.
Parking penalty charges are set at £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. Councillor Jim McGillivray, who proposed the motion, noted that campervan owners often ignore signs in Dornoch warning against overnight stays, despite a nearby private campsite.
However, concerns have been raised that the ban could displace campervans to laybys or wild camping spots, potentially causing greater disruption in rural areas. Council officers also fear enforcement costs could exceed £40,000, with additional expenses ranging from £4,100 for overtime to £41,000 for new full-time staff. Updating signs and markings is estimated to cost £1,000.
