Outer Hebrides

Pioneer

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Having just arrived home from touring Scotland, thought I would mention a little hostility towards us on the Isle of Harris.
Travelling along a single track road, was aware that a car was behind, so duly pulled in and allowed the speeding car to pass.
Within 500 metres the car did a U turn and came towards us, then pulled in to allow me to continue. On passing the car was given the V sign from both it's occupants, boy and girl.
Now I have heard that some of the locals are objecting to the extra Motorhomes/Caravans being on the Islands, due to the decrease in fares, but is this really neccessary?
Broken fingers comes to mind, but could not stop quick enough.
Maybe they will grow up one day.
 
What a shame!! I'm so sorry to hear this. We did the Island Hoppping ticket Sept. 2005, and had nothing but friendliness and a general welcome...from South Uist, right up through all the Islands back to Stornoway, where we caught the boat back to Ullapool. At every port of call, we asked where we could stop overnight, and was always told, "wherever you like", and then given their opinion of the best places. Every port afforded us fresh water, and usually toilet cassette disposal...but we never had a problem.

Is it that thoughtless 'motorhomers' have spoilt this ambiance, or is it just that the 'upcoming' youth of the islands have developed a little 'green eye' for something they have not yet managed to achieve??

Your thoughts on this one would be interesting!!

Jackie :)
 
Islands

As an island resident and also a motorcaravan owner I can see both sides.Some motorcaravans behave with total disregard for anyone else. They discharge their waste water over car park surfaces and occupy more space than can be considered reasonable.One recent example where I live stayed for a week and covered 8 car spaces with van and towed car in a reasonably crowded car park.Some regard the bus terminus as a suitable stopping place disregarding other suitable spaces. This causes chaos and why the local council has not put a total ban on them I cannot imagine. Recently I drove at about 30mph on a single track road where I would normally do at least 50mph behind a m'van for 6 miles before he was persuaded to pull over. Imagine this to a youth who regards them all as total berks anyway.There are certainly more motor caravans but a little more consideration for others would go a long way to ease the resentment some feel. Don't get too supercilious as I seem to detect in some posts. Real people live in these places and and considerate behaviour means that those who come after are welcomed and not regarded as antisocial nuisances. This was not intended as a rant but it seems to have turned into one but my point is I do not want to be banned from stopping where I want to go in the future.Inconsiderate behaviour means this will inevitably happen.
 
Pioneer said:
Having just arrived home from touring Scotland, thought I would mention a little hostility towards us on the Isle of Harris.
Travelling along a single track road, was aware that a car was behind, so duly pulled in and allowed the speeding car to pass.
Within 500 metres the car did a U turn and came towards us, then pulled in to allow me to continue. On passing the car was given the V sign from both it's occupants, boy and girl.
Now I have heard that some of the locals are objecting to the extra Motorhomes/Caravans being on the Islands, due to the decrease in fares, but is this really neccessary?
Broken fingers comes to mind, but could not stop quick enough.
Maybe they will grow up one day.
Click to expand...

So sorry to hear this and apologise on behalf of all the decent helpful Islanders (99.9999% at least), no mater where you go these days you will always get one that makes it bad for the rest.
 
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bodach said:
As an island resident and also a motorcaravan owner I can see both sides.Some motorcaravans behave with total disregard for anyone else. They discharge their waste water over car park surfaces and occupy more space than can be considered reasonable.One recent example where I live stayed for a week and covered 8 car spaces with van and towed car in a reasonably crowded car park.Some regard the bus terminus as a suitable stopping place disregarding other suitable spaces. This causes chaos and why the local council has not put a total ban on them I cannot imagine. Recently I drove at about 30mph on a single track road where I would normally do at least 50mph behind a m'van for 6 miles before he was persuaded to pull over. Imagine this to a youth who regards them all as total berks anyway.There are certainly more motor caravans but a little more consideration for others would go a long way to ease the resentment some feel. Don't get too supercilious as I seem to detect in some posts. Real people live in these places and and considerate behaviour means that those who come after are welcomed and not regarded as antisocial nuisances. This was not intended as a rant but it seems to have turned into one but my point is I do not want to be banned from stopping where I want to go in the future.Inconsiderate behaviour means this will inevitably happen.
Click to expand...
Good Point Sir but surely its us M/Homers not locals, who should face up to idiots like the selfish cases you brought up. Let them know in no uncertain terms they are spoiling it for everyone.
 
Jacques le foot said:
What a shame!! I'm so sorry to hear this. We did the Island Hoppping ticket Sept. 2005, and had nothing but friendliness and a general welcome...from South Uist, right up through all the Islands back to Stornoway, where we caught the boat back to Ullapool. At every port of call, we asked where we could stop overnight, and was always told, "wherever you like", and then given their opinion of the best places. Every port afforded us fresh water, and usually toilet cassette disposal...but we never had a problem.

Is it that thoughtless 'motorhomers' have spoilt this ambiance, or is it just that the 'upcoming' youth of the islands have developed a little 'green eye' for something they have not yet managed to achieve??

Your thoughts on this one would be interesting!!

Jackie :)
Click to expand...

Hi Jackie,
things are pretty much the same now as when you visited the Islands, and I do think that the comments that Bodach makes are relevant, having witnessed some total disregard for others from a minority of people travelling the Islands. I do wish that I could have spoken to the people concerned in the minor incident, after all we don't all want to be tarred with the same brush, but unfortunately this is the way of life.
We went to do some research into Angies family history, and found the people that we spoke to very helpful, and was able to see what we went for without any problems or time wasted, and can only thank the people for being so thorough in what they do, this includes the Church yard attendant in Stornaway with his library and listings.
The little 'green eyed' monsters will maybe one day be Motorhomers and think back, and say "should not have done that" lets hope so.
I did hear that the council on Lewis is setting aside more money to better it's facilities for Motorhomes, so they obviously want us.

Happy Camping:)
Bill.
 
i hate to say this but i think its just "youth of today"..we have kids like that here in Cornwall as well so its probably an attitude problem..
 
Try putting a Scotland sticker on the back of your van... works for me.
 
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