Highland tourists face 'campervan tax' over litter, waste crisis

PEOPLE visiting the Highlands could be hit with a 'campervan tax' due to rising concerns from residents about littering - and even human waste being dumped at the roadside.

- By David Walker

The North Coast 500 (NC500) has become one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK but has led to tourists clogging up the roads.

And now politicians from Scottish Labour and the SNP want to raid the pockets of tourists by charging extra for overnight stays in the region, and aim to include motorhomes in the visitor levy being consulted on by Highland Council.

They warned roads in the area cannot cope with the influx of tourists.

The number of visits to the Highlands has risen 65% since 2012, with many of those visiting bringing campervans as they tour the region.

According to figures compiled by the local authority, 36,000 motorhomes visited the Highlands in 2022, with the majority travelling on the NC500 - a scenic 500-mile route dubbed "Scotland's Route 66".