NC500 tourists ‘keep pooing outside and dishing out abuse to locals’

VILE visitors to the North Coast 500 keep pooing outside and dishing out abuse to locals, a shock report revealed.

Rangers in the Highlands were forced to call in cops to deal with outbursts of extreme aggressive behaviour from tourists.

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While they revealed that cases of people doing their business in laybys and elsewhere doubled in two years to hit almost 9,000.

Local Margaret Meek said: “It’s insane – the numbers are just staggering.

“People think it’s a wilderness or a theme park and just a big free for all where they can do what they want.

“But it’s not alright and they shouldn’t be doing this. It’s no longer tolerable. People who live here are fed-up.”

The number of tourists visiting what’s been styled as Scotland’s Route 66 has soared to record levels in recent years. 

Residents are unhappy that the roads are clogged with camper vans and many have had to deal with tourists doing the toilet outside their homes.

A team of 18 rangers were tasked with keeping the peace and dealing with these issues on the NC500.

In their annual report for 2023 they revealed they spoke to 29,874 visitors, up from 28,500 the year before.

But 439 of these chats took a nightmare turn with the crews having to deal with “argumentative, abusive, or aggressive” behaviour.

They were forced to call in the emergency services 44 times

The report said: “Whilst a small number of the total, they were uncomfortable, distressing and possibly threatening to the ranger involved.”

The rangers put out 233 fires and dealt with 126 cases of dumped motorhome waste, up from 62, as well as seeing an increase in litter.

What’s been described as “outdoor toileting” has become a huge problem across the region according to the report.

In 2023 the incidents hit 8,657. This was an increase of 16% from the total of 7,416 the previous year.

Back in 2021 rangers reported 4,253 cases.

In their annual report the rangers  said: “This is often found in association with campsites but also on roadsides, in laybys. 

“This is also a problem that appears to be increasing each year in many areas.

“The rangers did their best to discourage this by placing signs notifying the nearest public toilets.”

The worst hit area was Lochaber, but North Lochaber and Lochalsh were also badly affected.

Residents are now terrified about what’s going to happen this year because the ranger service has been scrapped.

The funding from Naturescot has not been renewed so they will not be returning to patrol the Highlands or anywhere else.

Margaret, who lives in Kinlochbervie, said: “The rangers helped keep a lid on things. 

“There is a big concern that things are going to be out of control now.  It will be the Wild West up here without them.”