Pay for your ‘Wild Camping’ in Scotland…… (3 Viewers)

[Cookieboy68]

Can't remember tbh

It was way longer than ours

 

[Lenny HB]

The reason for this is that large numbers of tourists create problems of their own.
If Scotland is now finding tourist numbers are a problem, they they'll need to charge too.

But Scotland created the problem themself's by encouraging the tourists but they don't want supply any facilities for them. They are making a fortune out of the tourists and they are now trying to screw them even more.

 

[bigtree]

Krankie never learned and I doubt if her apprentice Useless will either.

All part of the learning proces tv

 

[monzer]

Krankie never learned and I doubt if her apprentice Useless will either.

Really poor patter. We're all better than that.

 

[monzer]

The tourist hot spots of the world charge tourist tax, that's just a fact of life. The reason for this is that large numbers of tourists create problems of their own.

Which brings me back to my point that all this extra income from the hoardes of tourists is not being spent responsibly. Same with the vehicle tax, the roads are sh*t because apparently there are too much cars on the road now. More cars means more tax so it should be spent proportionately.

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[bigtree]

Ah the well known Robert the Aussie

It’s actually William the Aussie.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

But Scotland created the problem themself's by encouraging the tourists but they don't want supply any facilities for them. They are making a fortune out of the tourists and they are now trying to screw them even more.

I wonder how much revenue that part of the country gets via the NC500. I know if I had a business up there that relied on tourism I'd want some investment to ensure it continues.

 

[bigtree]

Really poor patter. We're all better than that.

Really, I don’t think so.

 

[andysam]

Problem with the Highlands (where I live) is its approximately 10% of the UK but we only have a population of about 250,000 and get around 6 million visitors, we can't afford to pay for the facilities the everyone expects.

I don't mind paying for Aires facilities but there was only one on my NC500 trip (and poorly advertised). I get it's the end of the "season" but for goodness sake would it kill local people not to be so curt when dealing with you. I spent a fair bit of money in the Highland Council economy. If the retailers aren't paying that in their rates to the Council, then surely that is for the Council to to address with the retailers. I spend around £1k over the 2 weeks we were there, perhaps that money ought to have gone abroad instead?

I live in a National Park and pay around an additional £200 per year for the up keep of the Park in my Council Tax so that others can visit.

 

[bigtree]

Which brings me back to my point that all this extra income from the hoardes of tourists is not being spent responsibly. Same with the vehicle tax, the roads are sh*t because apparently there are too much cars on the road now. More cars means more tax so it should be spent proportionately.

That’s up to the Scottish government to spend the income from the hoards of tourists that they have attracted plus improve the local infrastructure but their hands are tied by the champagne socialists (greens).

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[Tio64]

But Scotland created the problem themself's by encouraging the tourists but they don't want supply any facilities for them. They are making a fortune out of the tourists and they are now trying to screw them

Who is "Scotland"? Do you mean the government or private business/enterprise, because the two are completely different.
How is Scotland making a fortune, beyond any other tourist spot?
I'm currently on a campsite in Chartres, France (very nice). We've been charged a tourist tax. I'm not aware of what facilities i will recive from the city for this. Everything I've received, be it a cup of coffee or the pitch in the campsite we're in, I've paid private businesses for.
The businesses pay rates etc but these are fixed, not based on head count. The taxes that the businesses collect on behalf of the government, go to the government and not the local council.
But the council is responsible for maintaining roads, paths, parks, gardens, parking spaces, bus and coach spaces etc. I can understand how high numbers of visitors can increase costs to the council.
Im really not bothered about paying the odd euro here and there in tourist taxes. As a percentage of the cost of our trip, combined they're roughly zero.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

I hope the NC500 finds a happy medium in the future as I really fancy doing it with my family. However I really prefer to go places where I'm welcome or at least positively tolerated. Next year we are going to pitlochery and Aviemore area which I've always enjoyed. I can't image the Highlands being really busy, the only time I've been was nearly 25 years ago when I went to Wick on a train(s) and it felt really remote and isolated.

 

[Tio64]

I don't mind paying for Aires facilities but there was only one on my NC500 trip (and poorly advertised). I get it's the end of the "season" but for goodness sake would it kill local people not to be so curt when dealing with you. I spent a fair bit of money in the Highland Council economy. If the retailers aren't paying that in their rates to the Council, then surely that is for the Council to to address with the retailers. I spend around £1k over the 2 weeks we were there, perhaps that money ought to have gone abroad instead?

I live in a National Park and pay around an additional £200 per year for the up keep of the Park in my Council Tax so that others can visit.

I'm paying £1.5k for our month over here i guess (we've been eating out a lot ), but im still paying tourist taxes. I doubt there's many worthwhile places left in the world where its not charged. It really doesn't amount to a lot.

 

[jess12]

I hope the NC500 finds a happy medium in the future as I really fancy doing it with my family. However I really prefer to go places where I'm welcome or at least positively tolerated. Next year we are going to pitlochery and Aviemore area which I've always enjoyed. I can't image the Highlands being really busy, the only time I've been was nearly 25 years ago when I went to Wick on a train(s) and it felt really remote and isolated.

I hope you do the trip it's fantastic it took us just over 3 weeks but we did take a lot of diversions never in all the times I have been in Scotland have we ever been treated badly quite the opposite struggled a bit on times understanding a few that we met in Glasgow

 

[Coolcats]

I haven’t read all the posts, what I will say is that having recently visited Europe we were paying a visitor or local tax which was only a few Euros and no issue doing so. We also found that we had free entry to a local pool and free train and bus around the Black Forest. So before people get out of thier trees a tourist tax could be a positive thing for the local communities we travel through after all the claim is we spend money and the locals are grateful for it. But more often as Motorhomers we spend little in those communities we spend a day or so in.

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[Tio64]

.

 

[Tio64]

I hope the NC500 finds a happy medium in the future as I really fancy doing it with my family. However I really prefer to go places where I'm welcome or at least positively tolerated. Next year we are going to pitlochery and Aviemore area which I've always enjoyed. I can't image the Highlands being really busy, the only time I've been was nearly 25 years ago when I went to Wick on a train(s) and it felt really remote and isolated.

We spent a month motorhoming in Scotland back in September 2020, in a break between lockdowns. Due to restrictions in international travel lots of people were doing the same, and we had a great month.
The reason i mention this and the relevance to this thread is, the numbers who travelled and spent time in Scotland at that time really did put pressure on the local facilities and economy yet we still had a great time.

What we found really amusing was that during our trip we were reading all the 'horror' stories about motorhomes and wild camping and so on, whilst experiencing precisely NONE of it. We didn't see or experience a single negative event (other than very high winds one time) yet the stories in the likes of the Daily Mail were painting a completely different picture.

Go to Scotland, it's great, and if I can pay a nominal tax that is genuinely ring fenced to help the local infrastructure, then thats fine by me. Im already used to paying it anyway throughout Europe.

My only other comment regarding the NC500, is that I do wish that those in fast cars and motirbikes who do want to have a blast would do so a bit more quietly and less anti socially, that's all.

 

[Bear]

What we found really amusing was that during our trip we were reading all the 'horror' stories about motorhomes and wild camping and so on, whilst experiencing precisely NONE of it. We didn't see or experience a single negative event (other than very high winds one time) yet the stories in the likes of the Daily Mail were painting a completely different picture.

Yup no surprise really. The trouble with msm and social?media you dont really know what's the truth or is it something they want you to belive in.

 

[Turnersnhooch]

Interesting hearing the points made. Re actually someone being in the hot spot during the so called calamity time in 2020. And saw non of the rucas we were all led to believe. I'm sure some areas had issues but the tabloids don't always tell the truth rather than hyp. What ever happens with taxes or nominal fees per sai It won't stop me travelling up North. I just hope it is managed properly n the funds raised go to the areas needed n not the fat cats pockets. Which is usually what happens. I love the old fashioned honesty boxes .where you can pay what you feel you have used. But in today's society I think they would be a target for the unscrupulous. Also recently returned from the Northumberland coast. Found so many car park machines which you can pay via the app thingy. N saw lots of people on phones complaining they couldn't get through to pay. We always carry a bag of coins. We walked up put £6 in the slot out popped a ticket done. 3 hours happy days. Too many people rely on a cashless lifestyle. Bring back cash before we loose it.
P.s when we got back to the car park 2 hours later one of the couples we saw on the way out was still there on the phone. WTF.
P.p.s £6 seems to be the norm for 3 hours in these parts with only a couple of free car parks found. Yep free on the beach. Wow. Shhhhh

 

[Bear]

Interesting hearing the points made. Re actually someone being in the hot spot during the so called calamity time in 2020. And saw non of the rucas we were all led to believe. I'm sure some areas had issues but the tabloids don't always tell the truth rather than hyp. What ever happens with taxes or nominal fees per sai It won't stop me travelling up North. I just hope it is managed properly n the funds raised go to the areas needed n not the fat cats pockets. Which is usually what happens. I love the old fashioned honesty boxes .where you can pay what you feel you have used. But in today's society I think they would be a target for the unscrupulous. Also recently returned from the Northumberland coast. Found so many car park machines which you can pay via the app thingy. N saw lots of people on phones complaining they couldn't get through to pay. We always carry a bag of coins. We walked up put £6 in the slot out popped a ticket done. 3 hours happy days. Too many people rely on a cashless lifestyle. Bring back cash before we loose it.
P.s when we got back to the car park 2 hours later one of the couples we saw on the way out was still there on the phone. WTF.
P.p.s £6 seems to be the norm for 3 hours in these parts with only a couple of free car parks found. Yep free on the beach. Wow. Shhhhh

Tabloids and msm lot of hype and pushing narrative rather than actual truth and news.
That's the trouble with all these recent "taxes", where does it all dissappear to?? Cleaner air, better roads, better services, back pockets through pay rise and expenses??mmmmm I wonder.
Cash is king and if folks really do belive the "cashless is better " bull thems in for a surprise IF it happens.

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[Tony50]

said in a nutshell... the FLTs want it all for nothing

We have that as you know in a seaside town in Suffolk, they seem to think facilities cost nothing our Council tax is very high now we pay nearly £2012 per annum for a 2 bedroom Bungalow

 

[Margsmit]

Just had two weeks on the Outer Hebrides absolutely great time. Mainly staying on sites never paid more than £25 including electrics.

 

[rangi]

Lot of fuss on social mejaa about the 500 at the mo.

 

[MarlyandMango]

Fed up with hearing the Scots winging about tourists, it's there own fault. The Scottish tourist board kept promoting Scotland & the NC500 and now they do nothing but moan when the tourists come. It's their problem not ours.

Don’t tar us all with the same brush. Unfortunately we are stuck with a government in Scotland that will try to raise tax in any way they can, 23% tax for the working person, additional tax if you want to buy a second house, tax on AirBnB’s and the list goes on and on. Some of us like nothing better than venturing out of Scotland and further afield and paying whatever it costs to do so. Motorhoming is fun & to be enjoyed with worrying what it costs.

 

[MarlyandMango]

Im not against a charge per se IF it goes to the right places. But the trouble is though, like other 'tax' schemes recently introduced where does the millions gained go too?

They went to buy Nicola Sturgeons Motorhome

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[AndyPK]

‘Battle-Bus’ surely………??!!

 

[MarlyandMango]

‘Battle-Bus’ surely………??!!

Battle axe more like it with a face you would never get fed up slapping

 

[Tony50]

Start with the Hire companies, renting out 4/6 berth vans with only one toilet cassette, and little if no proper instruction on how to not upset the locals by ditching rubbish & WC waste in inappropriate areas.

I have been known to litter pick in the most remote places, which always angers me, but I draw a line at WC waste.
NC500 victim of its own success, not enough thought has gone into providing basic facilities, like public toilets, waste bins, that lets face it, everyone in all forms of transport needs, even the locals.
Then maybe we can discuss the added value of a tourist tax.
LES

You from the North I'm from South East, Felixstowe , just told yesterday Camper on seafront challengeed/ caught emptying toilet cassette in sea from beach , a person said "you can't do that" apparently he replied "there's enough sh+t in the sea already mine won't make much difference " . (These are not his exact words , but,words to the effect.) Also the public toilet block were closed and the road drains now stink . I cannot believe any person or persons can be so ignorant, so those who act like this don't cry when you get banned.

 

[Silver-Fox]

They went to buy Nicola Sturgeons Motorhome

That little story has gone very quiet.

Anyone know what happened

 

[MarlyandMango]

That little story has gone very quiet.

Anyone know what happened

Probably preparing a luxurious suite at Corton Vale womans prison

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