LOCALS living along the North Coast 500 have blasted “tight git” tourists after they ignored an honesty box at a popular beauty spot.
The box was set up at Dunbeath Harbour in the Scottish Highlands to encourage visitors parking overnight to contribute a small sum to the local area.
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It’s optional for people to leave donations in honesty boxes, but residents hope they will leave some cash before they leave as a ‘thank you’ for using the land.
And the small amounts are usually brain prices compared to the prices that the local council charges at official parking sites.
However, some locals were unimpressed after nine campervan only left a total of £8.90 in the box after parking at the harbour overnight earlier this week.
Dunbeath Heritage Museum took to social media to say they were making changes to the way the boxes operate in a bid to raise contributions.
Posting on Facebook, the group wrote: “Hi folks we have joined the modern world with an online payment and QR method for payments for overnight parking at Dunbeath Harbour.
“We currently have donation boxes for cash but on Wednesday night we had nine campers overnight and only received £8.90.”
They added that people will need to pay a minimum of £7 using the QR code and are putting up signs around the local area.
The post was shared on the NC500 The Land Weeps page by a furious local as they slammed the motorhome drivers for being “tight”.
They said: “They constantly tell us how much they boost the local economy, the tight gits only donated £8.90 between 9 vans”.
Users flocked to the comments with many calling for more to be done so people can’t avoid paying.
One person said: “Doesn’t surprise me, anything for a free holiday”.
Another added: “They’re asking for £7 which is very reasonable, given there are toilets there & it’s a beautiful location.”
Someone else wrote: “Unsurprised – and sadly don’t think qr will help much. Tight fisted freeloaders will be tight fisted freeloaders whatever the method… Shameful.”
A fourth shared: “How miserable can you get, that’s not even £1 each… unbelievable”.
While a fifth chimed in: “Dunbeath is a great place to stop. It is disappointing to hear that people are not paying.”
And another pleaded: “Please stop making it optional. These people should be paying! Other countries have sorted it out. Who cares if Scotland loses a few freeloaders. The majority are reasonable people willing to pay for good facilities.”
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.
While a couple who travelled the route in an Audi convertible told how it was “one of the best holidays” they’ve ever had.
It comes after people in the Highlands were left divided after a local hit out at a tourist for “invading their privacy” while they took in the scenic views.
A homeowner spotted the visitor standing on a hill above their house using binoculars to take in the stunning views.
But they were left furious when they realised the person would have been able to see right into their garden.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Taking to Facebook, the local posted on the NC500 The Land Weeps page to share their frustration at the situation.
But not everyone agreed, with many pointing out that the person had done nothing wrong and hadn’t used the binoculars to peer into homes in the area.
