GREAT STAYCATION STAMPEDE

Lifting of travel restriction sees thousands take to the roads

THOUSANDS of Scots have taken to the roads to start their summer holidays after months of being forced to stay close to home.

With the five-mile travel limit for leisure being lifted yesterday, Scots can set off to see friends and family across the country.

Self-contained and self-catering holiday accommodation have also been given the go-ahead to reopen, including caravan and campervan parks, lodges and second homes.

In addition, from Monday, pavement cafes and beer gardens will be able to reopen.

Across the country yesterday, hundreds of venues welcomed visitors for the first time in months.

The tourism sector is benefiting from the restrictions being eased as part of phase two of the route map out of lockdown.

Before a visit to Grantown on Spey Caravan Park, Scottish Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘These announcements don’t mean everything is open again but we are moving in the right direction to get the industry back up and running.

‘The onus is on all of us to follow the guidance and ensure the virus continues to be suppressed.

‘The progression into phase two of the route map means it is even more important that the public follow all public health measures. The onus is on all of us to follow the guidance and ensure the virus continues to be suppressed.’

Many popular holiday spots were reporting brisk business yesterday.

Road organisations have warned that the motorways are expected to be crowded over the weekend, despite the stormy and wet weather forecast.

Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling, saw queues as many people opted to keep dry and head to the drive-through venue.

A spokesman said: ‘We’ve been fairly busy, but it’s early days. We have only just opened.’

However, the heavy rain yesterday came as a blow for children who may have been hoping to be reunited with their friends outdoors.

But with families heading off today to their favourite destinations Scotland’s roads are expected to be the busiest they have been since lockdown began.

The RAC has warned that, across Britain, travellers can expect the worst weekend traffic on the roads for five years.

The motoring organisation said that more than 10million people are expected to take to their cars.

A spokesman for the AA also said: ‘We’re expecting to see an increase in travel around Scotland.’ The RAC said that the predicted levels of traffic would make it the busiest non-Christmas or Easter weekend in the UK since the 2015 August bank holiday.

Despite drivers being warned to expect jams, many people are expected to use their cars rather than the rail services because of social distancing concerns.

Train companies have said they expect passenger volumes to be as low as 10 per cent of normal.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: ‘In order to ease demand on the transport network, we encourage you to stay within your local area as much as possible.’

Fiona Campbell, chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: ‘It’s been a tough time for Scottish self-catering, as it has been for everyone, but we’re proud of the effort that we’ve made as a sector.’