Disappointing!

[rach82]

Just come back from a tour of the Scottish Highlands - had a fabulous time but very disappointed to see other CV & MH users parking for the night in 'no overnight parking areas' and leaving rubbish!!!

We found once we passed Perth the yellow signs dissapered and in fact we felt very welcome - we passed many places suitable for parking - too many to mention (or remember)

We passed a van at Glenshee with some rubbish bags behind them, we assumed they were ready to take with them - but when we later passed the MH was gone and the bin bags still there!!!

Also we had a great spot by the river at Glen of Orchy (welcomed campers) with two other vans a MH and 4 tents - yet two other MH's decided it was ok to park on the carpark with a 'no overnight parking' sign' right next to the hotel. (we would not normally stay with other vans etc but this spot welcomed campers and we were 2nd there)

These people ruin it for the rest of us! No wonder the authorities and locals want to put a stop to it

We felt very welcome as wild campers in Scotland - there are some magic spots if you just look hard enough (and I don't mean laybys by the road)
I feel if people keep behaving in this way - it may not stay this way for very long!!!

Right, moan over - when I have worked out how to do it - I will tell you of happier times of the trip and post pics

 

[Boxerman]

It only takes a couple to spoil it for everyone, I cannot understand people leaving bags of rubbish in some of these beautiful spots!

We've never explored Glen Orchy, each time we pass (every year) we say we'll do it next year but haven't yet

We've camped in Glen Etive, a bit further north, it's beautiful with plenty places to camp, it's very popular for wild campers though - vans and tents so you need to pick your spot quite early.
As it's blocked off at the far end by a gurt lump of water, you have to come out the same way as you went in, with a big van you could find it "interesting" finding somewhere to turn round, also in some parts the tree branches overhang the road, some were too low for our hightop a couple of years ago so there would be no chance with a coachbuilt or A class. The glen is about 13 miles long though so you should find somewhere

Frank

 

[Deleted member 5816]

Its not just visitor that leave rubbish. If you turn onto the Kinlochleven road at the bottom of Glencoe at the first lay-by on the left we have stopped for a cuppa and a dog walk many times, look over the crash barrier at the huge amount of household rubbish dumped there locals who cannot be bothered to dispose of rubbish correctly find the nearest deep gulley and dump it there.
We watched a local dump a full set of patio tables and chairs including a reclining chair this year.

The current fad by Motor Caravanners is to dump in the household wheelie bins that are by the road in the Highlands you sometimes see these by the road with not a house in sight this is a common sight they are not there for anyone to dump in when the householder comes along to put their rubbish in they are finding them full hence the new name for us Bin fillers?

I am glad you enjoyed your first taste of Scotland Rachel how did the dog take to it. We usually find ours picks up sheep tick but not this year.

Alf

 

[christine]

It makes me so angry to see rubbish left behind by others. We, also, try not to camp where others are, preferring not to live with other people's mess. We have frequently collected rubbish left by others, but this is mainly in England, I don't think we have camped anywhere "messy" in Scotland.

Like rach82, we will not camp where there is a "no overnighing" sign. We don't want to feel ill at ease or unwelcome.

There are still plenty of places to wild camp in the north of Scotland, I think it is just this year many more people are heading for Scotland in motorhomes and tents. Surprised some enterprising landowners haven't set up dump and fill points, could be a good little earner!

 

[Guernsey Donkey]

Its will be a sad day if motorhomes are stoped from wild camping because of the few "Dont Care" its not in my garden attitude people, it was disturbing to read the above messages - Here on the Western Isles the Western Isles Council put skips in various villages about the Islands, they are for general houshold rubbish and holliday makers are encouraged to use them and help keep the Islands tidy and worth visiting.

SO - use them please - you wont have to drive long B4 you see a GREEN skip and if not ask at a local shop or house. For all of you that do care and not leave rubbish all over the Scottish Highlands and Islands landscape a BIG BIG thankyou and we wish you happy touring.

Hope to welcome you all back in the not to distant future.

Isle of Lewis

 

[j77ake]

hi, i agree with what you have said , but as you said you only seen one doing that (one too many)that does not say that there is a lot doing that, i have been all round scotland in my m/h in the past 12 years , and i have never ever seen a m/h leaving its rubbish behind, so as you quite righly said this was only a one off, and im sure that as every m/h owner that reads this will feel the same , i do hope this does not put you , or anyone ,off touring beautiful scotland in the future regards, j77ake,,

 

[sagart]

21st. July 2009.
Pulled into a viewing area overlooking Loch Lomond just a few yards from a German registered van.
The couple were busy, as I assumed, tidying up the interior from the items scattered around....I jokingly said to my wife "I should photograph them in case they are dumping litter".
Next morning, no German van but three bags of rubbish, a used disposable barbecue and the cardboard boxes two folding chairs and a table had been packed in were left behind.
No doubt an old German custom to leave an offering to the gods of the parking area

 

[Deleted member 3802]

that last reply answers my question what rubbish?how does it build up in a motorhome we have a carrier bag hug on a hook each time we stop all teabags, tins ,packaging goes into it then when we pull off it is tied in a knot put on the floor between the wifes feet till we see the next rubbish bin whats hard about that

 

[MikeH]

Exactly the same except our rubbish bag goes under the passenger seat.

The only "big" rubbish we get is chip papers, wrappers from toys etc and these get put in the nearest bin to the place we bought them. I`m sure theres a requirement by local councils for shops etc to provide bins outside their premises.

 

[Deleted member 967]

Its will be a sad day if motorhomes are stoped from wild camping because of the few "Dont Care" its not in my garden attitude people,

Technically we were all stopped wild camping by the Public Health Act of 1936 and the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

Before these acts we could camp anywhere. They introduced the concept of herding campers into one place where facilities were provided, instead of letting them find somewhere nice to park. This was to avoid people setting fires for cooking in beauty spots and fouling the countryside, as they did not have the facilities we have in our modern vehicles.

The majority of people will respect the environment, but with today’s throw away society people are even buying tents and just leaving them where they pitched them rather than taking them home with them.

A Motorhome is a caravan under the 1960 Act and a shed is a tent under the 1936 Act if it is used for human habitation.

Without planning permission and a site licence landowners are only allowed to have 1 caravan or tent pitched for a maximum of 28 days a year. If they exceed this they are breaking the law. If they have over 5 acres then three units can be accommodated but the 28-day rule still applies.

We should ask the landowners permission to park on his land according to the act.

In Scotland the rule for tent free camping is different but not for caravans and Motorhomes.

 

[MikeH]

"A Motorhome is a caravan under the 1960 Act and a shed is a tent under the 1936 Act if it is used for human habitation."

What if my motorhome is a shed?

Seriously, I`d love to be able to do something positive about this problem. The only time I`ve ever been asked, on a site, about waste disposal, I told the fellow camper I take mine home. He seemed very surprised.

 

[guerdeval]

I've seen a lot worse than a bit of rubish left behind by a so called wild camper, and he never even took a shovel to bury it.

 

[tresrikay]

How do people make so so much rubbish when on the road...
I keep all bottles, cans, tins, plastics, cardboard and paper on board until I pass a recycling point. I pull in and get rid, I even did this in the western Isles last year.
On average a small supermarket bag for any other non- recyclables lasts for 3-4 days.
If we can do it anyone can.
We even brought home the 3 empty milk bottles left by our milkman and put them on the door step on our return.
Those of us that do anything other are.......... lazy......... or could not give a hoot about our environments.
Should we see the dumpers at it we should get the registration and shop them to the local authorities........... a picture of them doing it would be a bonus..... lets shame them on here,

 

[Deleted member 5816]

Rubbish.

One of the worst examples we have seen was a tour bus pulled up at Loch Lomond all got off tins cans bottles paper wrapers bags of all description etc dropped on the floor, cameras out pictures of the Loch. Geman plates and company name went for my camera blo*** battery gone got my spare they were all in bus gone off for the next stop.
If I could have got a photo of the rear of the bus with a phone no I would have rung with a complaint.

Spent a good half hour clearing up.

Alf

 

[Deleted member 7500]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and wildcamping, but stayed in some of your recommended locations in Devon and Cornwall a fortnight ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We met some local wildcampers at Bassett Cove that were really friendly, helpful and welcoming, but they remarked at the recent increase in activity there and wondered how it had come about.
When at Marazion overlooking St Michael's Mount, we were one of twelve vans parked for the night and whilst there was an industrial-sized wheelie bin provided for our use by the local authority, we were disappointed to see empty beer cans and a variety of other rubbish strewn on the ground. I couldn't leave in the morning without doing a womble job and filling a carrier bag, as I couldn't bear for people to think that we may have left a mess behind. Why do we risk spoiling it for others?!

 

[Guernsey Donkey]

One of the worst examples we have seen was a tour bus pulled up at Loch Lomond all got off tins cans bottles paper wrapers bags of all description etc dropped on the floor, cameras out pictures of the Loch. Geman plates and company name went for my camera blo*** battery gone got my spare they were all in bus gone off for the next stop.
If I could have got a photo of the rear of the bus with a phone no I would have rung with a complaint.

Spent a good half hour clearing up.

Alf

I think we should keep cameras at the ready and name and shame those that spoil it for others.

Any towels left !!!!!

 

[Guernsey Donkey]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and wildcamping, but stayed in some of your recommended locations in Devon and Cornwall a fortnight ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We met some local wildcampers at Bassett Cove that were really friendly, helpful and welcoming, but they remarked at the recent increase in activity there and wondered how it had come about.
When at Marazion overlooking St Michael's Mount, we were one of twelve vans parked for the night and whilst there was an industrial-sized wheelie bin provided for our use by the local authority, we were disappointed to see empty beer cans and a variety of other rubbish strewn on the ground. I couldn't leave in the morning without doing a womble job and filling a carrier bag, as I couldn't bear for people to think that we may have left a mess behind. Why do we risk spoiling it for others?!

Perhaps we should all take a leaf out of your book, there again we would need to tow a bin lory behind - Huuuummmmmm.

 

[Deleted member 7500]

Perhaps we should all take a leaf out of your book, there again we would need to tow a bin lory behind - Huuuummmmmm.

But there was a perfectly adequate bin provided on this occasion. It therefore baffled me as to why any moron would throw can after can on the ground. Never have understood or been even the slightest bit tolerant of littering though

 

[urbtaf]

I was once in a park when a group of youngsters were thowing green beer bottles down the hill, annoying everybody, my then girlfriend, now wife, got up and started collecting them.
When they were laughing at her, she said "what you laughing at they give you 20p each for these in town," a bit of thought then one of them said "YOU NICKING OUR BOTTLES" job done. I think that was the day I thought "" this is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with""

 

[niblue]

I've only really seen quantities of rubbish left in a few scottish wild-camping locations, and it's the popular spots like Glenshee, Loch Lomond and Glen Etive that have been affected. In the more remote regions in the far north I've very rarely seen any significant rubbish left lying around. On this years holiday around the Western Isles, Sutherland and Wester Ross I can't recall seeing litter problems anywhere in particular.

When I have seen rubbish lying around it's almost without exception been near tents rather than motorhomes or caravans. We keep our rubbish in the van until we find municipal bins, recycling areas or are staying on campsites. It's never a huge volume so it's not a problem.