I love the NC500 but tourists are turning it into a dump – they should be fined more

A RAGING biker has hit out at selfish tourists who have plagued the North Coast 500 with a “tsunami of litter”.

Rory Stone enjoys riding around the iconic route on his motorbike but said it is being ruined by people who won’t clean up after themselves.

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He spoke with the Press and Journal about how the mess is ruining some of Scotland’s most popular tourist sites.

The keen biker, from Tain in the Highlands, loves to take to the open northern roads but says his trips are being ruined by messy visitors.

He told the paper: “Every trip in these dispiriting times is marred by disgusting trails of litter along the sides of the road; trails which grow into heaps at junctions or roundabouts and scar the very countryside for which Scotland is justly famous.

“Through my helmet – when it’s not obscured by a flying poly bag or a McDonald’s wrapper – the thing that leaps out at me is the number of Red Bull cans I see.

“This is a puzzle. Is it just that I recognise the branding or are energy drinks fans more likely to be tossers – of litter, I hasten to add.”

The 59-year-old also told what he thinks is causing the litterbug spree.

He believes people are not punished enough for leaving their rubbish behind and thinks more should be done to send them a message.

Rory added: “I’m not alone in being really fed up with the tsunami of litter which is blighting what used to be a green and pleasant land.

“When it comes to litter and fly-tipping, it is anarchy. Penalties are ridiculously low.”

He suggested those who litter should be slapped with a £1,000 fine instead of the current £65-£100.

And litter is not the only annoying habit locals have noticed with visitors.

They recently slammed tourists for a “selfish” act that they say is ‘pathetic and disrespectful’ and is ruining the landscape by acting like animals.

The route boasts stunning views for all visitors and has soared in popularity.

We told in January how the North Coast 500 was named as one of the UK’s best road trips and is listed as one of the best in the world.

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