The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Dirty camping’ could lead to ban in Scotland
Scotland should look abroad for measures to combat dirty camping, according to Courier readers. A number of welltravelled people spoke about their concerns, including the suggestion that Scotland could follow Portugal and ban wild camping if problems are not resolved.
All agreed that leaders should look further afield for solutions to an issue that is likely to be a bone of contention this summer.
The trip of a lifetime to New Zealand has helped give Steven Sinclair a firm view on how to combat the problem of dirty campers.
Steven, 33, of North Ellen Street, Dundee, is a keen environmentalist who despairs at seeing rubbish left by campers on his regular hikes.
Steven, who has a master’s degree in natural hazard management, has been particularly dismayed at the mess left at Flisk Point, a popular spot in Fife overlooking the Tay between Balmerino and Newburgh.
“Once out walking we came across an abandoned campsite out there,” he said. “It creates a sense of frustration and anger.
“My friend lives in Newport and often walks in that area. He finds he has to spend a lot of time taking rubbish away.”
Steven’s trip to New Zealand was memorable as well as instructive.
He described the two islands as “Scotland on steroids” with lochs and mountains reminiscent of his homeland but on a grander scale.
Steven, who grew up in the Forfar area, was touring New Zealand between December 2019 and late April 2020.
He was fortunate enough to have spent the beginning of lockdown – his final five weeks – on board a static boat off the coast of Paihia in the very north of the North Island.
And he saw at close quarters how the problem of nuisance camping was dealt with very differently in New Zealand.
In Scotland the Outdoor Access Code permits the right to roam across the entire country regardless of land ownership. This right extends to camping.
In New Zealand, no such right exists. There, the government and councils run hundreds of inexpensive campgrounds in scenic spots, often in the wilderness. Many of these operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tourists can also “freedom camp” in more than 500 locations across the country, but they have to be in a self-contained vehicle.
Enforcement against those who break the rules is also strict.
“In New Zealand it’s wellmanaged because residents got fed up with visitors abusing the countryside,” Steven said.
“They have very strict guidelines. We had to either be in a self-contained campervan or staying in a managed campground.
“They are very strict and have a fining system in place. If you are ‘free camping’ and get caught you get fined.”
Steven also said there are regular government patrols despite the large size of the country.
He believes campgrounds could work in Scotland if an overarching organisation was formed to co-ordinate the work of the many groups which work to protect and promote the nation’s countryside.
“If the Scottish Government had its own environmental organisation it could establish campsites on publicly-owned land,” he said. “I would ideally like to see managed campgrounds permit families, infants and individuals to stay using a booking system or on a first-come, first-served basis.
“The money they pay could be put back into keeping campground facilities such as toilets and showers clean.”
Steven, a customer service manager for an e-bikes scheme in Dundee, has designs on working in education and communications for an environmental organisation.
He believes better education is also crucial to defeat the scourge of dirty camping.
“We have two distinct parts of the population,” he said. “We have individuals who love the outdoors and will visit places while abiding by the Outdoor Access Code.
“They have an appreciation for the environment and take their litter with them, stick to paths and close the gates.
“Part of the issue requires an education on why we need to look after our environment – predominantly in young people at school to tackle the issue in younger generations, so that they grow to love nature into their adolescence and adulthood.
“Campaigns, and current educational content is being achieved but it is, frankly, an echo-bubble for and by those with a passion for the environment and outdoors.
“Funding and legal backing is needed by environment-focused organisations to aid their working together, and also individually to target the audiences who haven’t tapped into natureoriented organisations, social media and educational material.
“This is a slow process because it requires ‘marketing’ and outreach into these specific groups.”
Seasoned traveller Gino Rondelli fears that Scotland could soon be subject to a Portugal-style ban if dirty campers continue to harm the domestic landscape.
A new law has been in place in the Iberian country since January that expressly prohibits camping outside an official campsite. Police can now issue offenders with onthe-spot fines of between €250 and €600.
Perth man Gino, who says he has visited 50 countries in the past 50 years, says: “When you look at Portugal and maybe soon Spain going down the route of making camping illegal outside designated spots, then the message needs to get out to the thousands of wild campers to get their house in order or freedoms can be taken away.
“In Scotland there are some very good campsites but they are becoming few and far between.
“If the Scottish tourist board and their members are going to benefit from tourism then they all need to step up to the plate and take responsibility before rural Scotland turns into a huge toilet.”