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Motorhomes are a familiar sight on Skye’s roads during the summer
BySteven McKenzieHighlands and Islands reporter and Gilleasbuig MacdonaldBBC Naidheachdan
More than 30,000 trips by campervans and motorhomes are made to the Scottish Highlands every year – with many of them touring the Isle of Skye.
For islanders, the tourists play an important part in the local economy.
But some visitors bring significant challenges too – leaving litter and even toilet waste in the stunning landscape.
NatureScot’s Scottish Outdoor Access Code, external asks people to access the countryside responsibly and “leave no trace”.
Julia Dawber says people should be discreet when nature calls
Julia Dawber’s home overlooks an expanse of scenic coastline, and she says as many as nine campervans can park up near the shore at any one time.
“When I’m having dinner people are coming out and going for a pee – I can see it,” she told BBC Alba’s Eorpa programme.
“There’s tissue sometimes left. It’s just absolutely disgusting.”
Julia added: “I know that there’s no toilet facilities here but there are trees and there’s rocks and you could easily be discreet, but some of the people are just choosing to be brazen and they’re just doing it right by the road.”
‘I see tourists pee in front of my house’
Facilities such as public toilets and waste disposal points – particularly the lack of them – are a big issue in parts of Skye.
Home to just over 10,000 people, it has few urban areas and is largely an island of dramatic mountains, rugged coastlines, and crofts.
There are 10 public toilets in Skye, according to Highland Council, but some local businesses also allow people to use their toilets as part of the Highland Comfort Scheme. , external
Photographer Danielle Stewart travels all over the Highlands in her campervan in her free time and for work.
Danielle Stewart says responsible campervan trips allow her to see beautiful places
Skye is one her regular destinations.
“It’s freedom – you can wake up in beautiful places. That’s the best thing for sure,” she said on the benefits of owning a campervan.
She added: “Over last winter I went to Spain and Portugal for three months and that was great – it’s a very different van life in Europe though, because they have facilities.”
Calum Beaton has had some unpleasant experiences of toilet waste in his fields
Crofter Calum Beaton has found chemical toilet waste dumped in his household bin, and human excrement left on the land he farms.
He blames people who stop overnight by the sides of roads in campervans and cars for the mess.
“I remember a day last year, another lad was with me and waste and paper had been left there and he had taken sheep in and the next thing we noticed that the dog was covered in it,” said Calum.
“The dog had to be cleaned before being put back in the van.”
Sarah MacKinnon believes the vast majority of visitors act responsibily
Sarah MacKinnon, who runs Mrs Mack’s takeaway in Torrin, in south-west Skye, said most visitors acted responsible.
But she added that customer numbers seemed to be lower than in previous years.
“We’ve been at this for six years now, so it’s definitely a little bit quieter this year,” she said.
“I must say that this place is clean and tidy.
“We had 16 campers up there, young teenagers, last night. There’s no mess. I would say on the whole, 95% of people are pretty good.”
For visitors Beate and Heiner Delbach, respecting the environment and local residents is just common sense
Responsible access to the countryside is covered by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Scotland’s nature body NatureScot said the code was based on three principles: respect the interests of others, care for the environment and take responsibility for your own actions.
Access rights cover wild camping, an activity involving small numbers of people in lightweight tents and leaving “no trace” of being in a landscape when they pack and leave.
But NatureScot said the code did not give people the right to park a car or stay overnight in a campervan or motorhome by the side of a road.
For campervaners Beate and Heiner Delbach, respecting the local environment is just common sense.
Beate said: “It’s very important for us because we want to respect nature and it’s also the respect for other people.
“I think for us it’s normal.”
Eòrpa: The camping carry-on
An investigation into complaints about the behaviour of some campervan users in Skye.
Watch on BBC Alba at 21:00 tonight and on BBC iPlayer.
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