Thousands flock to the beach and parks as lockdown loosens

HUGE numbers across Scotland took advantage of the easing of the lockdown rules to enjoy the blistering sunshine.

Beaches, parks, open spaces and gardens proved popular with sunseekers, cyclists, joggers and those just enjoying being outside again.

With a high of 27.5C (81.5F) at Kinlochewe in Wester Ross, the Met Office delivered more cheery news by declaring that the three months of March, April and May had delivered record-breaking amounts of sunshine.

Until now, the record for Scotland’s sunniest spring rested with 1955, when Bill Haley and His Comets were Rocking Around the Clock.

Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesman, said: “Spring sunshine figures for Scotland have reached a new high, with 489.4 hours of sunshine recorded since the beginning of March.

“This new high beats the previous record of 484.6 hours set in 1955. The figures include Friday’s totals, but with two more days of sunshine in the forecast for Scotland, we expect this figure to rise considerably.”

The Met Office began recording sunshine levels 91 years ago, in 1929. Blue skies yesterday and today suggest the 500 hours of sunshine barrier could be broken.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had pleaded with the public to “Stay at Home” or venture no further than five miles during the current heatwave.

But the 20-mile cycle path from Glasgow’s Bell’s Bridge to Balloch proved too tempting for many.

Cruise boat operator John Sweeney will not be able to resume cruising on the loch until the end of August, and then with reduced passenger numbers due to social distancing. Yesterday, the boss of Sweeney’s Cruise Company in Balloch said: “It’s been really busy in the town today, especially on the cycle paths. It’s clear people are not obeying the ‘Stay at Home’ message from the Government because the roads are busy as well.”

Jet-ski owners were early to arrive in Balloch’s main car park, owned by Scottish Enterprise, which has not closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, car parks and toilets operated by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and local councils remained shut in order to discourage visitors. This led to drivers simply parking up on grass verges.

The National Park Authority said “the time is not yet right” for large numbers of visitors to travel to the area. The authority said people considering coming are asked to think carefully about their potential impact on the place and other people if they were to visit right now.

Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, said: “We must all remember that we are only in the first phase of some restrictions lifting and that the advice is not to travel more than five miles from home for your exercise or recreation activities.”

As spring moves into summer tomorrow the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has stepped up warnings for water scarcity north of the Border. The northeast of Scotland has joined the southeast in “moderate scarcity”, the second-highest warning they can deliver.