I was threatened on the NC500 – I don’t feel safe as a tourist, the locals hate us

A TERRIFED tourist claimed they were threatened by locals after parking their motorhome overnight in an official North Coast 500 camping spot.

The holidaymaker claimed they had the night from hell after being tormented by residents whilst using a £10 park-up site near Durness.

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They claim residents beeped their horns throughout the night and even got out their cars to “kick their van” whilst the visitor slept.

The timid traveller said they have been exploring the iconic route in their campervan last November after plucking up the courage to visit the north of Scotland for a solo adventure.

The 500-mile NC500 loop – starting and ending at Inverness Castle – boasts stunning remote views for all visitors and has soared in popularity in recently years.

But due to the time of year, many of the official campsites were closed for the season – so the weary visitor arrived at Durness, around 120 miles from Inverness, they parked up at a car park with an honesty box.

Sharing on a NC500 group, the unnamed poster described the experience as “intimidating” and “terrifying”.

They said: “I paid my way, did not empty my tanks or toilet outside of campsites and picked up any litter I saw on the walks I took.

“I was blown away by the sheer beauty of the Highlands and felt completely free (and safe).

“That is until I arrived in Durness.

I pre booked an overnight parking spot and popped my £10 in the honesty box.

“During the early hours of the morning, several cars held their hands on their horns constantly as they drove past.

“One car even pulled in next to me and the occupants got out and kicked my van before getting back in the car and then pressing the horn for a good 5 minutes before leaving.”

Calling out the tactics, the tourist said tensions are so fraught between visitors and locals that it now feels that “no-one is welcome” to the northern road trip – which was voted one of the best in the world earlier this year.

They continued: “This kind of intimidation was uncalled for, unjustified and quite frankly terrifying.

“I get that people don’t always welcome tourists -but I am really concerned at the level of venom being displayed and the message that no-one, is welcome.

“That’s not protecting your local area, that’s violent -albeit low level- intimidation.

“My question is, to anyone who thinks the NC500 tourist route should be banned?

“Do you think the above behaviours are ok?”

While some of the tourist’s concerns were heard with sympathy, others were divided over the post.

One commenter said although the behaviour of the locals was “deplorable” – but more needed to be done to protect the landscape from “dirty camping.”

They wrote: “The route should not be banned and the behaviour of those intimidating you was deplorable.

However, I do believe that motorhomes, campervans, and car campers are a problem in many parts of the country, not just the special routes.

The access code, which is the law in Scotland, needs to be made more public and enforced where necessary.

“There is no ‘right’ to park and camp wherever you like, which many seem to think that they can do.

“Personally I would like to see folk using designated camp sites and aires, rather than just parking up any old where.”

But one angry resident agreed with the abuse suffered, saying that tourists made their day-to-day living in the highlands a misery.

They wrote: “The locals will never stop defending their community from unwanted invaders.

“Maybe it’s time for you to grow up, get on with your life and stop moaning about things which aren’t going to change.

“You are not welcome here, because our community and culture have been ruined by an industry based on greed, and you, as a tourist, are contributing to that.”

We told previously that a raging biker has hit out at selfish tourists who have plagued the NC500 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.

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.

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