Has the NC500 been RUINED?? (Scotland Van life vlog)
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
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Did you know Scotland has a Pyramid? Yep, an actual pyramid- and you can walk to it! (Spoiler- be prepared for a HUGE climb.) I'll show you how, step by step.
Also, I answer one of the questions I had when I set out for the North Coast 500- has it been ruined? Is it now too late to enjoy the beauty of this area with a motorhome or campervan??
I hope you found this Scotland van life vlog series both helpful and entertaining. If you did, a thumbs up is always very much appreciated, and you're very welcome to subscribe (it's free!) to see more motorhoming adventures (bring on Ireland & Iceland!)
If you'd like to start from the beginning, here's part one of this Scotland road trip series: • Scotland Vanlife GONE ...
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See you next time!
Kat x
00:00 Finding Scotland's Secret Pyramid
03:25 Motorhome Parking at Balmoral Castle
04:07 Cairngorms & Falls of Dochart
05:57 Loch Lomond Motorhome Parkup
06:31 Has the NC500 been ruined?
#scotlandtravel #vanlifeuk #nc500
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To put some of your comments in context. NC500 is a private limited company and not a Tourist Board creation. The company effectively created and market a brand to which local companies need to subscribe (pay) to advertise under. They have been incredibly successful and the role of the Tourist Board is now to somehow manage and find a way to cope with the enormous influx of visitors for which, as you rightly say, the area does not have the infrastructure to support.
Whilst it has brought money to the area, the majority of the local population earn their living outside of tourism and so the financial benefits of the NC500 apply to the minority but the negative impacts affect everyone.
The negative impacts are down to the actions of a minority. Like you, the majority are very respectful of the area and locals, follow the "leave on footprints" message and are, I hope, made very welcome.
From experience, I would say the biggest issue is with hired motor homes. The hire costs of these vehicles are eye-watering and so some appear to view that hire cost as an "all inclusive" package and are reluctant to contribute to the local economies in the way you describe.
Their driving behaviours can also be quite distressing! MH owners will know their vehicles and be experienced in driving them including on single track roads, This is frequently not the case with hired vans! To give two examples. On one occasion I met a MH on a dead straight section of single track road - they drove through the passing place i was approaching and expecting to pass them at and they met me head on with no room to pass. They refused to reverse the 30 yards back because "they could not reverse the vehicle"! They also refused to let me reverse it for them as "I wasn't on the insurance" and "they didn't know who I was" - both true but it meant I was forced to reverse my car half a mile back to the next passing place! If you cannot reverse the vehicle, should you really be driving it? Should the hire companies not conduct a basic driving skills / competency test before they let the vehicle out?
In terms of not letting vehicles past - again I once followed a MH for over 11 miles at no more than 20 mph going through 44 passing places in the process ( I measured and counted on my return trip) On that occasion the driver told me " its a motorhome, how do you expect me to see what is behind me?" I politely pointed out that as i could see his mirrors at all times, he should have been able to see me had he bothered to look at any point in the 30 mins i was behind him! Visitors need to be mindful that the person behind may be a Doctor, District Nurse, carer or simply trying to get to work appointments on time, it takes seconds to let them past to get on with their day and for you to continue to enjoy your holiday.
Finally, "right to roam" and "wild camping" as described under the Scottish countryside code are willfully misunderstood terms which do not apply to motor homes. MH's should be no more than 15m from the adopted road and even then it does not allow gates to be opened, tracks to be obstructed accesses blocked etc. It is as a result of such inconsiderate wild camping that some areas are now being described as "Open latrines". Sadly I have also come across evidence of this.
I do very much stress that it is a tiny minority that are ruining the NC500 for everyone, visitors and locals alike and I am sure that on your channel I am talking to the respectful majority who I hope will continue to enjoy everything the area has to offer and be made very welcome.
😂😂 really
Maybe if NC500 is being so successful, they can pay to upgrade the roads and facilities to cope with all the people they have brought to the area. Current situation is totally unsustainable.
Ruined in 2015 when they named it the NC 500. I would go every year traffic free
Roads pre 2015 .Wonderful memories.
The NC 500 has gone from what was a quite remote and uplifting journey to being basically a massive carpark full of the 'me me' brigade in the summer months. The winter months are better if you want to get away from all of that but it is a more challenging time to go that's for sure.
I used to visit Scotland before the NC500 was even thought of.
It's dire now. Overcrowded, convoys of cars, motorhomes, bikes and motor bikes, most of whom don't know how to drive the roads. The single track roads have all the verges chewed up. The locals I speak to hate it.
Properly ruined a beautiful part of the world.
It wasn't the tourist board that named the NC500. It was a private company that was since it was sold. That's why there was never any consultation or infrastructure improvement.
It seems like hire campervans/motorhomes and the foreign registered visitors from Holland who were causing the problems when I was there in June2022 and the amount of campers and motorhomes using passing places as car parks/overnight stops was ridiculous, every small car park was full of Dutch reg campers or hire vans, it seems they come over to cycle the route with a campervan as backup and they just park up in the passing places until the rider gets there or they need help. On Rannoch Moor nr. Achallader view point a group of vans had taken over the lower car park and formed a circle so no one else could get in they had even built a fire pit and had washing out so had been there for a while this is not acceptable. Just because your motorhome is bigger than the oncoming vehicle does not mean you can bully your way through forcing bikes and cars off the road, we also have a motorhome and see drivers doing this often on the single track roads, also the Applecross pass is unsuitable for large motorhomes so I just wish some of the drivers would learn to read the signs before they try driving through it.
We did the NC500 the middle two weeks of June 2022, and just winged it. Stayed on a proper campsite every night, and never had trouble getting on anywhere. We were just after a grass pitch with no hookup etc, so that might have been a factor. In fact, most of the sites we were on were quite empty.
The NC500 has completely ruined north west scotland and local businesses aren't really benefitting because everyone is just racing around it like it is LeMans. Total nightmare. We used to go every year for a relaxed Highland adventure but we are going to France this year,
Irnbru is made from Girderrrs that’s what it tastes like😂
👍 I agree Kat, NC500 and Scotland general is beautiful but needs sensitive tourism improvements. Many individual landowners are creating ‘aires’ with Campra and seen on SFS website. Also as one who always follow Leave No Trace attitude, so many MH’s also do this and see many ‘neighbours’ at their parking with either stick or rubbish bags etc. MH’s have luxury facilities on wheels really and it’s a bit easier self containing our rubbish. You are doing a great job Kat promoting the positive side of MH’s and facilities 👍
Great video and think you nailed the downside of the NC500 especially how busy it gets in the summer.
It's not just the NC 500 that's been ruined by campervans. I live in Glencoe and the whole of the Highlands have been ruined by campervans and so called wild campers and the majority are from South of the border.
Same here on Skye , the place is ruined , just one big theme park
That's what happens when you give it a name and promote it heavily as a tourist destination. I'm from the Highlands originally, and it was not those from 'South of the Border' who did the naming and promoting.
Can you tell me where the theme park is on skye please??
Great stuff. Can't wait to get back to Scotland 👍
Thanks Kat., I am originally from Aberdeenshire and didn’t know about the overnight parking on the Balmoral Estate. Great video, also didn’t know about the cairn wall and pyramid! We’ll done.
I went in May booked as I went about 4/5 days in advance was fine couple of waterfall walks and documented attractions where parking was full but I found lots of beautiful alternatives and had a fab time everyone was friendly.
I first did the NC500 back in 2005 on a bike before it was even known as the NC500. Wow, it felt remote up there then - I felt like I was the only person up there.
Last did it in 2016, and it was defo busier then
Hi kat great and interesting blog just found your CZcams channel today yes I love Scotland as well I hired a motorhome last June wand went to the west coast and the isles of sky so so beautiful what a time we had used campsites three times rest wild camp fantastic,will be following you from now on ,take care keep safe,John 👏🤲🌹👀🤫🫢🤭🇬🇧😜😂🥱🤤🙁
we've been in september for the last two years to avoid the school holidays, 1st year with our campervan, part on sites, was a nightmare to find a campsite with space let alone somewhere to park, so second year booked a site for two weeks and took our motorcycle on a trailer, we used the bike to get around, no issues parking etc and used the camper to visit somewhere if the weather was really foul, a lot of places do close at that time of year, but it worked so much better for us, and we saw so much more than we would have in the camper alone and we didn't cause any traffic issues. so thats worked for us. the locals everywhere we went to were fantastic and friendly and one actually told us they know some of the issues with rubbish and bbq's were down to local " youngsters" in cars ! anyway, the highlands and islands were stunning and its reached the point now where it needs carefull planning to avoid it being ruined. even as a campervan owner i could see the problems on both sides. great vid ! thank you !
I have cycled It and yes its a fantastic route camping and hostels , stop at all the cafes and most of the shops August/ September great time to visit. so Ir your walking, cycling, diving, campervaning stop often put some walking footwear and stop often and explore you may even see a pyramid
If the vans were all prebooking and using campsites rather than the nonsense that they call "wild camping" they would be a lot more welcome. The number of times I have seen campervan dwellers pouring waste water out by the roadside is incredible, and it is getting worse.
The whole thing is out of control, the hire companies are not helping matters. Slow convoys of vans clogging the very few roads up here, waste and rubbish left by the roadside, arrogant van lifers who think they can basically do what they want, where they want... it is rapidly becoming a nightmare for us residents.
If I could ask for one thing it would be this - prebook your sites and if you can't (because they are full) go somewhere else. Don't just park up and despoil the beautiful landscapes that you are coming to enjoy. Remember, of the sites are full then the roads are probably already beyond capacity.
The NC500 was a horrendous mistake by an organisation looking to make money without consulting the local population or the tourist board. Life would be better without a predefined route and only the more adventurous visitor coming to explore rather than just ticking off a route from a list.
And don't get me started on the "charity challenges" and sports car clubs that don't think there are speed limits up here 🤣
The iron bru pastels are very nice to kat 👍
Irn bru & red kola the best drinks.
Great vlog.
As a campervan/hillwalker and also living on the 500, the 500 has ruined it for me. The first time I "did the NC 500" was approx 60 years ago well before somebody came up with the idea! "park-ups that I used to use and would be the only camper in, I find now if you can be seen from the road before long there is another few come and join which to me soils it. Lastly, only a few years ago I used to be able to go to my favourite C&M club site, I just used to phone and mostly have a pitch free for a few days, now I find it impossible to get even 2 nights. Has it helped ??? not really it is just a different type of visitor coming now, folks who used to come for a week or two now don't come. Rant over. looking forward to your Ireland trip
Great advice when to go
A mate of mine was in the Navy at Faslane, and lived with the locals. His son's mates genuinely believed that Irnbru was a fruit juice. 🤣
Thank you for the fantastic videos and advice on this. I am desperate to revisit this route
I used to regularly ride the NC500 on my motorbike before it was named that. Though the challenge then was also finding accommodation, as there were very few hotels and the B&B’s and Guesthouses would be permanently displaying “No Vacancies” as they were not legitimate businesses, just a clever way to claim tax rebates on refurbishing your home. I think the NC500 has seen more accommodation become available, and I agree they councils and government should provide more facilities for all types of tourist.
Your advice on visiting is fantastic. The summer season is also when the midges tend to be out in full. I used to either visit before Whitsun (late May) or around the August Bank holiday, which is not a bank holiday in Scotland and the tourist traffic was less as a result.
I did the NC500 in September 2021 with my brother in his Defender. The roads were in an appalling condition in places and really not up to the amount of traffic using them. Also unfortunately a lot of the visitors did not understand the correct way to use the passing places and just either parked in them or obstructed them. Beautiful countryside beening the best part of the journey.
Would I do it again...
No.
Loved this video Kat and your so right about motorhomers all being tarred with the same brush we have this problem in the Isle of Man not from tourists as such as most can’t afford the extortionate fares on the ferry!! The government however seem to want to blame motorhomers for mess and destruction when it’s quite the opposite the majority of the time, we take care of the beauty spots and report people who don’t (mostly people in cars) that don’t seem to grasp the fact you can take your rubbish home with you! Anyway rant over, loved the video never knew about the pyramid 😊 and Glencoe is as stunning as ever 😃 went to Ireland a good few years ago in the car and it’s just as beautiful 🤩 can’t wait to watch! Debs and Mark xxx
Thanks Kat!
Hello mick from Hull I like your motor home x
In April I buy my first motorhome in my life, 😊
yes to answer your question. To many vans, driven slow and have no consideration for others. Since the 1970s the area has become a play ground for rich tourist
Sadly, we’re not all rich 😏
There is also one near Sterling Castle.
A little known fact is that a proper Egyptian pyramid has 8 sides. Each one of the 4 sides goes inwards towards the middle slightly but it is not apparent visually without looking closely.
Hi, What are the costs of using electricity, taking water, cleaning the toilet etc. in such a park for motorhomes?, thanks, 😊
In 2020 we did the NC500 between lockdowns, unfortunately all the pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants were closed. Obviously we had to buy fuel and food, I didn’t like using Tesco shops most of the time, but I felt a lot better about it when I was talking to a campsite owner and he said “by using Tesco you’re keeping someone in a job”. I hadn’t thought about it like that before, but I suppose it’s true. However there were loads of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants that looked really good, so we are planning a return trip to visit some of them…….but nor during school holidays!
Never had an issue traveling in any of Scotland in our motorhome during the 6 weeks school holidays.
Never pre book campsites
Always set off north from Yorkshire and crack on no drama.
I hope that continues for you 👍
Do like a bit of Firkin Point 😂
I have cycled the west coast a number of times some 20 to 30 years ago and taken my motorhome on other occasions more recently. I remember for example when the Isle of Skye before the bridge was a relatively quiet place with appropriate narrow roads with passing places. That all changed after the bridge and all the main roads were massively uprated largely to accommodate coaches. The whole reason for visiting Skye has now been destroyed due to excess tourism. Looking to the future and reflecting on what has happened in Skye it seems inevitable that the 500 route will follow this course over the next few years. This will be to the detriment of the original residents who seek solitude but to the advantage of those who will make a better and sustainable living. Unfortunately it will also attract outside large commercial outfits who are likely to over develope the area, if allowed to do so. At least I have the memories of what all these once remote areas were like when I fist travelled through them.
NC500 is a victim of its own success Im afraid.
Love your videos.
If you try to wing it so to speak Kat you will get problems because the limited infrastructure up there needs to be planned for well ahead. You are an experienced traveller in a motorhome so imagine what the inexperienced end up doing when they are trying to wing it. Mid September to mid April would be a good stab as to when you might get it done reasonably peacefully. It's probably May to early September when because of the vast amounts of more people visiting you will get more problems. The last time we travelled up to Thurso yes there were signs everywhere just south of Thurso saying campers etc not welcome so imagine what hassle they must have had at some point to arrive at that. Cos let's face it Thurso is desperate for tourism. Although i think towns like this are missing a trick because there is a shortage of B*B Hotels but do we really want airbnb to try and move in I would say no because that will start the rot of it not being such an interesting place after all. Anyway we got a site with electric for £10 and got a curry from the Town for £20 and probably didn't see 50 people the whole time we were there. On to Bettyhill and Durness over the next couple of days.
Bacon 👍
I'm Welsh and think some people from Scotland and Wales, but NOT all want the income but not the visitors. You can't have it all ways, so make your mind up
Cairn its an i not an a
The NC500 was fine in March. Fairly quiet and no midges!
We have a Citroen Berlingo Microcamper so mainly stealth camped. Did it + Skye and carrying on down the West Coast over 14 nights.
Just one campsite at Portree on Skye (excellent) at a couple of nights in a hotel for my birthday.
I certainly would not do it in the tourist/midge season!
Glad you had a great time. It’s a lovely part of the world
@@WanderingBird We did! In June we’re planning to do the Northumberland 250 and the Scottish SWC linking them together via Hadrian’s Wall. Got 11 days and the start is only 2 hours away from us.
Sick and tired of reading and hearing about the NC500. Seems people need to be led or just follow like sheep. Did this trip about 10 years ago before the NC500 came into being but no way we would go back now. Do people not realise you can make up your own itinerary and avoid the crowds. The question should be has the NC500 ruined the Highlands, particularly the NW, not has the NC500 been ruined.
a lot of anger on here that appears to be from the "it was great when no one was here " brigade. just because you either live or visit a beautiful area doesn't give you exclusive rights to it. I visited last year and tbh didn't find it to be overly busy, but then I live in a city.
having said that there will always be morons who can't drive or leave their waste which is sad but no one says don't visit a city because you'll leave litter.
Why, instead of visiting these absurd and tacky modern monuments, don't you visit the real history, Hadrian's wall?
Perhaps because it's at least two hundred miles away from the location of the video? But point taken. A better suggestion might be some of the huge number of neolithic cairns and sites in the North and East of the Highlands.