Loch Oich a warning

champstar

Guest
Just returned from 5 nights glorious wild camping around the highlands.
One sour note was at Loch Oich which is in the POIs. A few years ago there used to be an access track just after the entrance before the height barriers until it was blocked off. There was still room for a motorhome on the left hand side.
Anyway we decided to take a look whilst passing on a glorious sunny warm day and low and behold the tree stump that was blocking the access track was gone so decided to go in and park at one of the bays. We were joined by 3 other vans (2 from abroad) during the evening.
In the morning a fisherman started moaning about the motorhomes pointing to the height barrier, I politely told him there was an access track. A forestry commission van came in and the 2 men got out and looked at the access track then parked up. Minutes later a black 4x4 pulled up and a guy got out and was obviously moaning about the vans. I stood and watched for a couple of mins then decided to go and join the party. I was wearing my wildcamping t-shirt!!!
I asked the 2 workies if there was a problem with the vans being in there. They replied yes and no as it was supposed to be blocked off but the stump had been removed by someone a week or so previously. The guy in the 4x4 stared moaning about the mess left by campers so I put him in his place and told him any mess was due to day parkers and tent campers not the self contained motorhomes!!!. He did not like that demanded the workies boss phone number and left when they would not give it to him.
I spoke at length to the FC guys and found out that Mr 4x4 was the owner of the local shop (an Englishman but that doesn't matter does it?) and has lots of issues and is always complaining. Seem he want to lease the land from the FC and turn it into a wild camping site for walkers only!!!. I said he should be looking for the extra business as his shop is only yards away from the picnic area but his attitude to Motorhomes was wrong.
so please word of warning if you own a motorhome/camper YOU ARE NOT WELCOME so please DO NOT GIVE THIS GUY ANY BUSINESS BY USING HIS SHOP.

The FC guys agreed with me in private that the mess left by tenters and their toilet habits was disgusting and that motorhomes being self contained should not be a problem but then used the old chesnut of emptying the chemical toilet tanks. They even said they had saw this at Loch Linnie. They guys were there to litter pick and even took away out rubbish for us. They said they did not mind an overnight or maybe two but anything over would be frowned upon.

So it seems that this access will be blocked again soon. It is a real shame as it is a wonderful loch side picnic area but maybe not worth the hassle anymore and maybe it should be removed from the POIs.
 
It's the same old. same old. isn't it?

Getting the blame for other peoples' mess & very vocal & prejudiced vested interests - it's difficult to see an answer, especially as the shop owner in this case wants to buy the land to make money from tenters - there's no way he intends allowing free camping that has existed for hundreds for years (I'll bet there have been benders on the site for a few centuries already) if he can possibly make a profit for himself from it!

Actually, I think it does matter that the guy is English, because it is an English mindset that land is there to make money from. The Scottish tradition of clans is utterly different & the land is there for all to enjoy provided they acknowledge fealty to the Chief. Freedom to roam wasn't a right that had to be fought for in the C20th, it is an acknowledged right that has always existed.
 
champstar said:
Just returned from 5 nights glorious wild camping around the highlands.
One sour note was at Loch Oich which is in the POIs. A few years ago there used to be an access track just after the entrance before the height barriers until it was blocked off. There was still room for a motorhome on the left hand side.
Anyway we decided to take a look whilst passing on a glorious sunny warm day and low and behold the tree stump that was blocking the access track was gone so decided to go in and park at one of the bays. We were joined by 3 other vans (2 from abroad) during the evening.
In the morning a fisherman started moaning about the motorhomes pointing to the height barrier, I politely told him there was an access track. A forestry commission van came in and the 2 men got out and looked at the access track then parked up. Minutes later a black 4x4 pulled up and a guy got out and was obviously moaning about the vans. I stood and watched for a couple of mins then decided to go and join the party. I was wearing my wildcamping t-shirt!!!
I asked the 2 workies if there was a problem with the vans being in there. They replied yes and no as it was supposed to be blocked off but the stump had been removed by someone a week or so previously. The guy in the 4x4 stared moaning about the mess left by campers so I put him in his place and told him any mess was due to day parkers and tent campers not the self contained motorhomes!!!. He did not like that demanded the workies boss phone number and left when they would not give it to him.
I spoke at length to the FC guys and found out that Mr 4x4 was the owner of the local shop (an Englishman but that doesn't matter does it?) and has lots of issues and is always complaining. Seem he want to lease the land from the FC and turn it into a wild camping site for walkers only!!!. I said he should be looking for the extra business as his shop is only yards away from the picnic area but his attitude to Motorhomes was wrong.
so please word of warning if you own a motorhome/camper YOU ARE NOT WELCOME so please DO NOT GIVE THIS GUY ANY BUSINESS BY USING HIS SHOP.

The FC guys agreed with me in private that the mess left by tenters and their toilet habits was disgusting and that motorhomes being self contained should not be a problem but then used the old chesnut of emptying the chemical toilet tanks. They even said they had saw this at Loch Linnie. They guys were there to litter pick and even took away out rubbish for us. They said they did not mind an overnight or maybe two but anything over would be frowned upon.

So it seems that this access will be blocked again soon. It is a real shame as it is a wonderful loch side picnic area but maybe not worth the hassle anymore and maybe it should be removed from the POIs.
Click to expand...


Can anybody give the exact location of this shop,, so i can avoid like the plague,it is a big area Loch Oich, can't get my POI's to work,,John
 
yep I second that please make the name of the shop known (if possible) so we can avoid it.
That way we can take our business to other local shops instead.
 
I've overnighted there many times, never had any bother and have used the shop several times, I found them to be very nice people. Assuming it's the place I think it is, there is/was a sign, just to the north of the shop asking people not to use the area as an open toilet. I'm sure those that do use it as a toilet drive cars rather than vans.

I've never understood the mentality/laziness of people if you get caught short at a layby walk 50 - 100m away and then go, remembering to remove any toilet paper from the scene. That will at least keep the layby clean for others.
 
If it is the Seven Heads shop, then instead of avoiding his shop, any passing wildcampers should call in and remind him that the "Well of the Seven Heads" monument, opposite, could very easily be transformed to the "Well of the EIGHT Heads" if he continues to block our access to the spot? :):scared::)
 
yes it is the seven heads store. From what I could gleam the guy who owns it has only had it a couple of years. The old guy who had before was a crab but knew the value of passing trade.

As I have said the guy has other issues and is a regular complainer to the FC about the picnic area..he even threatened to block the access track himself.

Maybe a better policy than avoidance would be to go into the shop and ask his policy towards motorhomes and campers then tell him he has just lost some business. Enough times and the message might get through but I doubt it.
 
sparrks said:
I've overnighted there many times, never had any bother and have used the shop several times, I found them to be very nice people. Assuming it's the place I think it is, there is/was a sign, just to the north of the shop asking people not to use the area as an open toilet. I'm sure those that do use it as a toilet drive cars rather than vans.

I've never understood the mentality/laziness of people if you get caught short at a layby walk 50 - 100m away and then go, remembering to remove any toilet paper from the scene. That will at least keep the layby clean for others.
Click to expand...

The FC guys said that there had been real problems with this layby and the forest being used by tent campers leaving a heap of mess. So you kinda understand the shopkeepers point but then he wants the picnic area for himself to open as a wild camping site for tent campers without vehicles, only walkers on the great glen way.
 
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