Berneray

[steve4kay]

i spent an idyllic couple of weeks on the outer hebrides in september this year including 2 days on the island including berneray.. a lovely spot but most unwelcoming..check out www.campberneray.co.uk. and i rest my case !!! since prince charles spent some time there pretending to be normal (dont get me on about our so called monarchy) the islanders are all above their station and have there heads up their bottoms !!! i am going back there in september but will studiously avoid berneray.

 

[sea lion]

Does it matter what that site says? Providing the island is not all privately owned, I don't see how anyone can stop you. You can always park on the highway as you would park a car, surely?

 

[rogerangie]

Oops. Yet somewhere else shot themselves in the foot.

 

[campberneray]

Hello all and steve4kay,

Just a quick note. Summer of 2006 Berneray had 1346 campervans, caravans and camping cars just at the east beach staying overnight from April through to October. Now go to http://www.campberneray.co.uk/tariffs.html and do your sums it amounts up to quite a large amount of lost revenue for the crofters whose land that you and others have camped on for years for free.

Given that most turn up with dogs which means that sheep cannot graze this area, the clear up that most/some leave behind etc, its only fair to charge a token amount to use their land. If you or other fail to see reason you simply will be moved on.

Also you will need to keep checking http://www.campberneray.co.uk/contact.html to see if any landowner/crofter has decided to join the scheme and allow camping etc, on their land. May I add that surprisingly every bit of land is owened by someone and nothing in life is free.

Regards

 

[steve4kay]

those prices are way off line !! for that kind of money you can use a recognised site with full facilities !! when i was there in september for three weeks i pumped approx. £750 into the hebrides economy including about £50 in your own little ardmoree store. perhaps you should consider setting up your own site managed by local volunteers along the lines of your community stores, the one at uig is excellent !! £ 80 spent there buying diesel etc..you just cant have your cake and eat it too !!!you will be pleased to note that the MMM magazine has been notified of your website so motor homers can make up there own minds!!! i for one will give your island a wide berth in june and concentrate on lewis and harris where the islanders are less insular and more welcoming !!! chew on that berneray !!!

 

[double decker]

Hi, Happy New Year to you all,Having read the posts re:Berneray it looks like a place to stay well clear of to Me, Campberneray states that 1346 Caravans and Motorhomes stayed on the East Bay between April and October, a total of around 210 days that is about 7 a night,hardly flooding in,but I do agree that Land owners should recieve some payment and in turn provide some basic facilities for the fee,the tarrifs suggested are laughable for a patch of grass without even a dump etc,from Campbernerays tone (if he is the one) inviting people to abuse the facilities it dont seem as though any one is welcome,is this were The League of Gentlemen was filmed?

 

[irenerobbie]

berneray

Is the Scottish "right to roam" act pertinent to this discussion. As i understand the spirit of the act is to allow people to roam and stay on land as long as you are conciderate of others and clean up behind you. Sounds fair.
Bereray is a stunning location and we shouldn't be deprived of it .

 

[sagart]

Hello all and steve4kay,

Just a quick note. Summer of 2006 Berneray had 1346 campervans, caravans and camping cars just at the east beach staying overnight from April through to October. Now go to http://www.campberneray.co.uk/tariffs.html and do your sums it amounts up to quite a large amount of lost revenue for the crofters whose land that you and others have camped on for years for free.

ME: I have a croft on Skye as does my son just up the road.....lost revenue? Most crofts are barely used, pay miniscule rent to the landowner and are not private owned by the crofter. The income is negligible so the loss is practically nil and the suggested charges sheer extortion.....wonder why so much opposition to wild camping comes from incomers with B&B's or links to hotels?

"Given that most turn up with dogs which means that sheep cannot graze this area, the clear up that most/some leave behind etc, its only fair to charge a token amount to use their land. If you or other fail to see reason you simply will be moved on."

ME: Sheep cannot graze? We never object to dogs if under control which is the main problem and no one should leave mess behind at any rate....have you seen the mess sheep leave?

"Also you will need to keep checking http://www.campberneray.co.uk/contact.html to see if any landowner/crofter has decided to join the scheme and allow camping etc, on their land. May I add that surprisingly every bit of land is owened by someone and nothing in life is free.

Regards

"

The point is, ask for permission to avaoid problems. When I stayed on Berneray last September I was advised by a local where to park and where I could get water.....she then advised me on suitable flat walks for my disabled wife and was quite charming, stopping by regularly for a chat.
The only problem I had was with an incomer who failed to understand Scottish legislation about the "Right to roam" and land access and who clearly assumed that as he had moved north with a large bank balance he had exclusive rights to the entire island.
Then finding I live in a Gaelic speaking area he felt the need to give me a lecture on how we should be grateful to be receiving the benefits of civilisation. Abair amadan!