Wild overnight parking- Scotland

yes saw that. Going to be interesting.

Wild camping was never about motorhomes parking for free. It was originally intended for walkers pitching a small tent/bivouac as a means to access the more remote hills. Why do those who pay a substantial amount for their motorhome feel they need to find free overnight (or longer) pitches?

I should say that I am certainly not anti motorhome (I own one), however nothing is free. At some point all the “wild campers” will need fresh water and to dump their grey and black water. Where are they intending to do that?

As I understand it they can go 3 or 4 days before a paid site is needed, Quite a saving and some stunning places to wild park are out there!

Good, I hope it happens and soon. The damage and pollution from inconsiderate, selfish, ignorant wild camping motorhomers is horrendous in places. I have friends and family in the highlands and they are sick of clueless motorhoming tourists ruining the countryside from leaving behind their detritus and selfish driving and parking. Water courses polluted, public toilets having to be closed due to damage and blocked from emptying toilet cassettes is only the start, If people can afford a motorhome, they can afford the cost of a proper camp site. 

Ok, they go for 3 or 4 days before they they need to come down to earth, let’s hope that the  responsible ones then go to a campsite rather than just dump their waste at any secluded spot. Why is there such a backlash from local residents against the motorhomers who do not seem to have the first clue about responsible behaviour. 
The “stunning places” to which an earlier responder refers to have no facilities, but the free parkers seem to think that they can pitch up and have no effect. No doubt, they will all claim that they leave no trace, however it only takes a smaller  few to see that free parking is available then the problems start.

Nothing is free. The days when a few campers in tents or vans would pitch up then move on are long gong. We all need to take to take responsibility for our actions, and “free camping” should not be viewed as a cheap, no impact, alternative to going to a proper campsite.

The petition to get motorhomers to go to a caravan site was started by the owners of a caravan site. Surprise, surprise. And here’s a photo of it. No wonder motorhomers would rather park elsewhere. So would I.

I understand what you are saying but there are the responsible ones out there. I remember as an early twenty something taking my home converted camper to wild places, off the beaten track, so that very early dawn starts, sometimes predawn starts to climbs and Monroe baggings could be made. The locals then were both helpful and welcoming and we spent money in these remote corners of Scotland, some places well off the usual tourist trail. This latest move to ban wild parking comes from caravan site owners and not necessarily from the locals. Please note that a few can spoil it for the rest, that I understand but we shouldn’t tar all with the same brush, there are the good ones about. Afterall, moving a van on site at three o’clock in the morning to get to the start of a climb wouldn’t go down well with those enjoying the peace and quiet and a lie in would it!

In the 70’s we used to visit the far northwest and wild camp using tents ( still permissible) and on one occasion in a camper van. The big difference then was that there were far fewer folk doing it and to an extent it was sustainable. This is no longer the case, there are just to many wanting to visit these stunning places. Chargeable Aires, possibly provided by the local community, with basic facilities,  are to my mind the answer. In my opinion wild camping with vehicles should be outlawed and the ban policed.

Link from Visit Scotland NC500 website.

Can you wild camp?
You can! Wild Camping is legal in Scotland however there are guidelines to follow and these are simply; act responsibly, be safe and respect the area on which you decide to stop! There is more info available here. Please note that Wild Camping does not apply to motorised vehicles such as campervans or motorhomes.

It can be the case if that wild parking place is way off the beaten track and only visited by the few with good cause for being there and leave no trace. Like the climbers and walkers accessing remote routes. As has been said it is still legal in many places, we shouldn’t let the lazy, littering antisocial folk spoil it for the true outdoor pursuitists amongst us should we. Maybe the Aires idea or a registered licence that has to be apply for with a certificate displayed in the leisure vehicle allowing folk to wild park may be a solution. The latter is employed in various national parks and wild places abroad. Banning it completely will not happen, the mountain sports fraternity is too large and too long established to be ignored or bullied in this way. Those that spoil it for others I’d argue are not those I mention, those without regard should of course be discouraged and even prevented from wild parking or even prosecuted if they abuse the countryside and communities within.