Residents of the Isle of Skye, a picturesque Scottish island known for its dramatic landscapes, are voicing frustration over a surge in tourist misbehavior, including urination on doorsteps and roadside littering. The island, which attracts tens of thousands of campervan and motorhome trips annually, has seen a rise in complaints about human waste and chemical toilet dumping.
Resident Describes Brazen Behavior
Julia Dawber, a local resident, told the BBC that she has become accustomed to witnessing tourists urinating near her home overlooking Skye's coastline. She reported that as many as nine campervans can park near her property at once. "When I'm having dinner people are coming out and going for a pee - I can see it," she said. She added that tissue is sometimes left behind, calling the situation "absolutely disgusting." While she acknowledged the lack of public toilets nearby, she noted that visitors could be more discreet, stating, "There are trees and there's rocks and you could easily be discreet, but some of the people are just choosing to be brazen and they're just doing it right by the road."
Limited Toilet Facilities Exacerbate Problem
The Isle of Skye, home to just over 10,000 people, has only 10 public toilets run by Highland Council. Some businesses participate in the Highland Comfort Scheme, allowing the public to use their facilities, but the overall shortage has become a growing issue as campervan tourism expands. Crofter Calum Beaton reported finding human excrement on his farmland and chemical toilet waste dumped in his household bin. He recalled an incident where waste left beside the road affected his livestock work: "I remember a day last year another lad was with me and waste and paper had been left there and he had taken sheep in and the next thing we noticed that the dog was covered in it. The dog had to be cleaned before being put back in the van."
Mixed Views on Visitor Behavior
Not all residents condemn tourists outright. Photographer Danielle Stewart, who travels the Highlands in her campervan, noted that countries like Spain and Portugal provide far better facilities for motorhome users. Sarah MacKinnon, a takeaway owner in Torrin, estimated that around 95% of visitors behave responsibly and leave no mess, though she observed lower customer numbers compared to previous years.
Guidelines for Responsible Tourism
NatureScot, Scotland's nature agency, urges visitors to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which emphasizes respecting others, caring for the environment, and taking personal responsibility. The organization stressed that the code does not permit overnight parking of campervans or motorhomes beside roads, although Scotland's access rights allow responsible wild camping in lightweight tents that leave "no trace."
