Our picturesque town is being ruined by tourists who use cemeteries for campervans

NC500 tourists have been branded “inappropriate” and “disrespectful” after parking their campervans in cemetery car parks.

Furious locals have said travellers enjoying a ride around the iconic route are causing local seaside towns to be ruined by ill behaviour.

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And they have called on authorities to do more when people park in unauthorised spaces while taking on Scotland’s answer to Route 66.

Speaking to The Herald, Muriel Eaton hit out at drivers who use cemetery car parks to camp out overnight.

Muriel now lives in Beauly, near Inverness, but originally grew up in the village of Bettyhill, near Tongue.

But she frequently travels back to her hometown because four generations of her family are buried in Strathy Cemetery.

“Before the NC500 was created you would maybe get one person doing it and it wouldn’t be every day or every week, it would be one person once in a while.

“Since the NC500 there’s been up to 20 motorhomes and campervans in the car park.

“This is a carpark that was put there for the cemetery.

“Anyone visiting graves or going to a funeral has to walk past folk enjoying themselves on holiday and sometimes you can’t get a space to park.

Muriel added: “It [the NC500] has done some good for businesses but the majority of people in the Highlands don’t work in the tourism industry and therefore don’t benefit from it.”

And it’s not just this cemetery that is having problems – a petition was set up after a cemetery on the Isle of Harris was experiencing a similar situation.

A spokesperson for Highland Council told The Herald that tourists using these grounds to park overnight was “entirely inappropriate and totally disrespectful”.

She added that talks are ongoing about introducing parking restrictions which would allow unauthorised vehicles to be handed parking fines and penalties.

‘DREADFUL’ ROADS

It’s not just drivers’ behaviour that has caused complaints about the NC500 – with many being left unhappy with the condition of the roads.

Rupert Allison, who owns self-catering apartments just outside Lochcarron, revealed that there are problems with the “dreadful” roads – causing a shortage of mechanics who can take on callouts.

He told the Herald: “There are problems with the infrastructure and the condition of the roads is dreadful.

“There are huge potholes everywhere and it only takes one tourist with a burst tyre to have a day of their holiday ruined to get bad publicity.

“I know the garages are under pressure because they are out all the time rescuing people.

“They have all had to take on more mechanics to go out on trucks.”

ACCOMMODATION STRUGGLES

On top of problems on the road, Rupert said that accommodation struggles could put people off travelling the NC500.

While tourism group SkyeConnect claimed there are concerns about a tourist tax, Rupert said the real issue lies with hotel owners overcharging customers for a room.

He said: “I’m sorry but I’m hearing of hotels in Portree charging £400 a night for a bog standard hotel room.

“They haven’t got spas and concierges and butlers. They are cashing in and unfortunately, people are paying it.

“I think that’s going to turn more people away than a 1 per cent charge.

“We charge £140 in the height of the season for one of our apartments for which they get a sleep-four apartment with all the facilities.”

He also explained that he supports the Scottish Government’s licensing scheme – unlike many short-term let owners.

Rupert claims that it would help the Scottish tourism industry in the long run as it would get rid of “dirty” and “shabby” rooms – but also understands that it would add pressure to the industry.

He added: “We stayed in a lot of self-catering properties which were quite frankly below standard and if licensing helps to remove some of those properties from the market then we are fully in favour.

“It gives the Scottish tourism industry a bad name at home and abroad when people arrive at a property and it’s dirty, it’s shabby.

“One maybe unfortunate side is the fact that there will be pressure on accommodation in general.

“I know Skye is under a huge amount of pressure at the moment.”

SCOTLAND’S ROUTE 66

Despite its challenges, the NC500 is still one of the most popular road trips in the world.

Earlier this year, the scenic route was voted the number one most searched for road trip in the UK and an astonishing fifth in the world-wide table.

With its impressive 516-mile stretch of magnificent coastal views, it’s not surprising it’s such a popular route for travellers looking to explore. From castles to distilleries there is something for everyone to enjoy.

It was also ranked as the most romantic drive in Britain after an influx of visitors took to the roads for ‘staycations’ in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

An English couple told how they loved the NC500 so much that they got it tattooed on their bodies forever.

Ash and Liv Dickinson, both 27, spent a week motorbiking round the Highland tourist trail and camped out at beauty spots along the way.

After a fantastic trip they took the last-minute decision to get a unique memento so they would never forget it.

They splashed out £200 to get inkings of Highland cows alongside an NC500 map.

While a couple who travelled the route in an Audi convertible told how it was “one of the best holidays” they’ve ever had.

Richard and Bev, who now live in South West France, told the Scottish Sun they had a “super time” on their adventure as they captured Scotland’s stunning scenery.

And a bride-to-be planned an NC500 treasure hunt to pop the question to her girlfriend.

Holly Wyatt and her girlfriend Emily Williams got engaged after Holly hid six dog tags – which could be unscrewed – with notes inside them which her girlfriend had to find as they made stops throughout the day.

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