Must Read Tips for Responsible NC500 Wild Camping
The North Coast 500 is one of the most spectacular road trips in Scotland. With beautiful white sandy beaches and magnificent historical castles, why would you not want to visit this amazing part of the country.
With that being said, the infrastructure around the north coast of Scotland is not built for the number of visitors it receives as it becomes more and more popular. Therefore it is important that when we do visit this part of Scotland, we treat it with respect and keep it tidy and free from damage.
In this guide we will discuss how to wild camp responsibly around the NC500, sharing our best tips.
Destination North Coast Map
Make sure you have all the resources you need to make the most of your trip to the North Coast of Scotland. Our Destination North Coast Map is the perfect addition to any traveller's toolkit. With detailed information on all the best spots, along the NC500, this map is your ultimate guide to exploring the rugged beauty of Scotland's north coast.
Must Read Tips for Responsible NC500 Wild Camping
As much as staying at a campsite on the NC500 may feel more luxurious, wild camping around the NC500 is a magical experience. The views you can camp up with will be like no other. However, we must ensure we take steps to protect this right we have in Scotland and protect the nature we camp on. In this guide, we will discuss the following points in more detail, to ensure we can all enjoy the NC500 road trip.
Respect the Locals
Leave no Trace
Be a Responsible Wild Toiletter
Don't Overstay Your Welcome
Keep your Group Small
Help to Protect the Environment at all times.
Preparing for your trip to the NC500
Respect the Locals
Think about where you are going to camp when you are looking for a spot and make sure you are not pitching up right outside someone’s house. Respect those who live in the area and keep the noise to a minimum. Observe the local guidance in place, if it states no overnight camping, you are best to find another spot to pitch up for the night.
By following this guidance we can still support small local towns and admire the beauty of Scotland without upsetting those who live there.
Leave no Trace
When you leave a camping spot, make sure you take all of your rubbish with you to dispose of in a bin and leave no evidence of you having been there. This includes any human waste. Any human waste should be buried and done away from any water source.
Take a bin bag with you to your camp spot to remind you to dispose of your rubbish and make it easier for you to carry it to a bin.
Be a Responsible Wild Toiletter
We’ve all got to go when we need to go and there may not always be toilet facilities in the area. If you need the toilet, find somewhere discreet to perform your duties at least 30m away from any water. You should also carry a trowel to bury the results. Remember, leave no trace. If you have sanitary products, you will need to dispose of these in a bin instead of burying them.
Ensure that any toilet paper is either buried or disposed of in a bin bag so that it doesn't end up blowing around in the wind or spoiling the area.
Don’t Overstay Your Welcome
We tend to go by the rule arrive after dark and leave before light however in the Scottish summer on the north coast, that is very difficult to do. Depending on the place you are choosing to camp, we would advise not setting up camp and spreading yourself out in one place all day.
It is common practice that tents aren’t left up during the day and that we should only stay in the one spot for one night at a time.
Keep your Group Small
Avoid travelling or camping in large groups. If you are wild camping, keep your group to a maximum of 2 tents. It is also preferred that tents are small and don’t take up a large surface area to avoid any unnecessary damage to the ground underneath.
We would also suggest that you avoid the crowds. If you arrive late to a camp spot and it is already really busy, find your own remote spot elsewhere and don’t add to the crowds.
Help to Protect the Environment at all times
We all love a barbecue however they can really ruin the ground beneath. If you have a barbecue, make sure it is on a raised platform and that it is not anywhere near dry grass or anything that could catch light and cause a fire.
Having a camp fire can also damage the ground and put the area at risk of a fire if it is a dry summer.
There is a lot of wildlife roaming free around the north coast of Scotland. If you have a dog, be a responsible owner and keep your dog on a lead in areas where there are wild animals.
So there you have it, tips on how to wild camp responsibly around the NC500. If you have visited the NC500 recently, let us know what you thought about it or if you have any suggestions for things to do, let us know in the comments below.
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