Scotland's Route 500 Problems - The Guardian

[deckboy]

Link: North Coast 500 Route

 

[iampatman]

I read that article a few hours ago. Seems strange to encourage folk to visit and then complain when they do but hey ho.

Pat

 

[Wooie1958]

Precisely the reason why we haven`t been up for a couple of years now and will not again for the foreseeable future :sad:

 

[caledonia]

I understand the locals frustration. We use the A85/A82 regularly and getting stuck behind a motorhome doing 30/40mph that won’t pull over to let faster traffic past is very frustrating and it’s not just hired vans.

 

[Channa]

THe article seems to suggest the locals want all the benefits of tourism but dont want to address the infrastructure nor entertain the negative side.

Where have we heard that before

Channa

 

[mickymost]

I read that article a few hours ago. Seems strange to encourage folk to visit and then complain when they do but hey ho.

Pat

Usual story the few spoiling things for the many who drive sensibly,spend in local businesses,and dont leave rubbish.

 

[phillybarbour]

Want the income, not the headaches does not equate. Some motorhomes act badly for sure, but the area did encourage people to come up originally.

 

[colinm]

All I can say to those on the route, "welcome to the 21st century, and the attendant road problems". I'm glad to have known the area prior to the NC500, but then this applies to many areas which grown in popularity in the last 40 years. As for Bettyhill, it's always had it's issues.

 

[caledonia]

Want the income, not the headaches does not equate. Some motorhomes act badly for sure, but the area did encourage people to come up originally.

The picture of the motorhomes in the lay-by sums it up really.

 

[barge1914]

Nc500

Winter is definitely the time to go. 2017/19 for nearly a month:wall to wall blue sky, sun, ok rather cool at -2C but beautiful, deserted, miles of empty beach. Meanwhile rest of UK further south storms wind and rain. 2018/19: grey skies, snow, stark, bleak and desolate landscape...living on the margins...beautiful. Some roads only us and snowploughs on the move.

Locals seemed very appreciative of us pulling over to let them pass. Facilities...what facilities?..barely adequate but sufficient, using public loos and harbour taps. Wouldn’t care to imagine what it could be like with summer crowds.

The only investment in facilities for motorhomes we could see were signs saying ‘no overnight parking’...oh yes, these were supposed to have been removed weren’t they? Lpg... non-existant north of Fort William or Dingwall.

 

[royh28]

NC 500 infrastructure funding

Andrew, it is up to the councils and Scottish government to address infrastructure, not the locals.

Scottish Government are introducing a new Rural Tourism Infrastructure. Tried to load link but don't know how. Below is the web address.

Fund.Page not found | Holyrood Magazine

Seems things could be getting better!
Roy.

 

[Deleted member 9849]

Precisely the reason why we haven`t been up for a couple of years now and will not again for the foreseeable future :sad:

Me too,I went in September last year and the roads were extremely busy,exacerbated by the chinese tourists in hire vehicles who parked up in the single track roads passing places and then got out to take photos.A stunningly beautiful place that is being ruined by the brainless people in it.

 

[caledonia]

Me too,I went in September last year and the roads were extremely busy,exacerbated by the chinese tourists in hire vehicles who parked up in the single track roads passing places and then got out to take photos.A stunningly beautiful place that is being ruined by the brainless people in it.

Brainless people who visit it surely?

 

[Deleted member 9849]

Brainless people who visit it surely?

Of course,sorry for the misunderstanding..........the brainless tourists I meant.

 

[jeanette]

When we go up to Scotland and go onto single track roads we always pull in to let others pass, and we have seen motorhomes parked up in passing places and those inside having something to eat!..and not always foreigners!

 

[Wooie1958]

The last time up there we got stuck behind a bloody great big brand new tag axle N&B going across the A838 towards Durness.

It had overtaken us earlier, we was only travelling at approx 40MPH due to an excessive side wind near Moine Ho on the full width 2 lane section.

Further on we came across it stopped in the middle of the single track section of road near Loch Eriboll, as we approached it set off again.

A short while later it did the same again, just stopped in the middle of the road in between passing places then after a short while set off again.

At the next passing place there was a couple of cars who were seriously pissed off, you could tell by the look on their faces and the hand gestures we got.

The third time they stopped i got out and saw someone get out of the habitation road to take some photos then get back in.

They then pulled into the parking spot round the bend just after the turn off to Rispond so i followed them in, they were parked right in the middle.

I asked the British driver if he knew the etiquette for single track road driving and he just shrugged his shoulders and said ...........................

Do i look like i`m fcuking bothered, we`re bigger than them they`ll just have to fcuking wait

With that he got back in locked the door and they started having something to eat.