FURIOUS locals have slammed “idiotic” motorhome drivers for “ruining” the North Coast 500 route.
With an impressive 516-mile stretch of magnificent coastal views, it’s not surprising the expedition is so popular with travellers looking to explore.
AlamyFurious locals have slammed “idiotic” motorhome drivers for ruining the NC500[/caption]
But locals say the influx of visitors is leading to over-tourism – with some residents claiming they are unable to get deliveries due to the number of motorhomes in the area.
Taking to social media, one person wrote: “Skye is not on the NC500, but we are an add-on.
“Neist Point, Fairy Pools, Fairy Glen, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Coral Beach, etc are all pretty much no-go areas for residents during the so-called season.
“The delivery driver told us he can no longer deliver to the homes nearest to Neist as there is nowhere to turn his delivery van around due to the volume of motorhomes wedged into the car park.”
Another local fumed the quality of driving has “deteriorated” in recent years.
They said: “I would say it is extremely busy everywhere.
“Loch Ness and A82 is a nightmare through the summer with a lot of drivers who are totally oblivious to build-up of traffic behind them and unaware/unwilling to use lay-bys to allow traffic to pass safely.
“Drumnadrochit has always been a tourist hotspot and the same with Glencoe.
“I don’t know if Covid affected intelligence levels or just made people more selfish and self-serving, but the quality of driving has definitely deteriorated and parking along roadsides is shocking at best.
“Just observations from getting around.”
A third person claims locals have been forced to relocate as a result of the disruption.
They put: “The lives of many ordinary people have been diminished by their proximity to the route. I know of people who have moved away because of the NC500 and the impact on quality of life.”
Meanwhile, a fourth resident says they are seeing more “demanding” and “entitled” visitors.
They wrote: “We run a tourist business which was doing fine before the NC500.
“All that’s happened now is that we’re getting fewer of the appreciative, knowledgeable families and parties of walkers who used to come, often again and again, and more demanding and entitled urban people who’ve booked on Airbnb and who have no idea what the place consists of.”
There have been many reports of anti-social behaviour stemming from the parade of campervans and motorhomes trailing up the single-track route.
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