Visitor restrictions suggested on Skye to cut tourism damage

A Skye councillor says more should be done to protect the island’s iconic beauty spots from overtourism, including the potential of visitor restrictions.

This weekend the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) will be holding two volunteer days to maintain land around the Old Man of Storr, one of Skye’s most popular destinations and natural wonders.

The OATS volunteers will be helping to restore habitats and repair damage on the hillside caused by the hiking boots of hundreds of people stepping off the main path networks.

But Skye councillor Drew Millar says it shouldn’t be solely up to the hard work of volunteers and organisations like OATS to care for sites like the Old Man of Storr, which attracts up to 200,000 visitors per year.

Instead, he has called for more preventative measures to be considered.

Skye beauty spots are currently a “free-for-all”, said Mr Millar.

The veteran councillor said more debate is needed to hammer out the role of rangers in restricting the number of people going up to the Storr at one time.

“There are hundreds of people going up there every day. That’s far too many to be wandering up at one time for the path network, that’s why they spread out and go off on to the hill,” said Mr Millar.

“I think there is a huge discussion to be had about this. We need to ask if there’s a role here for the ranger because at the moment it’s just a free-for-all.”

Echoing earlier calls for Skye to be made Scotland’s next national park to protect its stunning scenery, Mr Millar said it was “a shame” that volunteers were needed to make repairs to the iconic site.

He added: “Our focus right now is very much on catering for the number of visitors that are coming to the Storr, but maybe we have to look at actually stopping so many going up there at one time.”

Other popular areas of Skye which have had habitats damaged by huge footfall numbers and people going off-piste include the Fairy Pools and the Quiraing.

But Mr Millar said he doesn’t blame people for going off the beaten track.

The councillor added: “Lots of people don’t stick to the paths. Isn’t that what Scotland’s all about?”

A Highland Council spokeswoman said exemptions have not been used to restrict visitors, and to do so would require “significant justification”.

She added: “The only restrictions we trialled, and will likely continue to trial, were small areas at specific beaches that were being damaged by continuous camping, which were roped off.”

If busy tourism hotspots in Skye, or indeed any part of the north and northeast, are being negatively impacted by footfall and are at risk of destruction, clearly action must be taken.

Globally, destinations deemed delicate, such as the Galapagos Islands, Peru’s Machu Picchu and Mount Vesuvius in Italy, have all benefited from limiting visitor numbers, and their popularity hasn’t waned.

Though right to roam laws may prove a challenge, there would undoubtedly be advantages to trying a similar approach for Skye.

The pandemic has made booking ahead more common for many activities, and it’s likely most people would be receptive to the idea of reserving a guaranteed time slot for enjoying iconic beauty spots like the Old Man of Storr or the Fairy Pools.

Managing crowds at some attractions, particularly at certain times of year, may well improve the quality of the experience, making tourists more likely to return or recommend. But the feelings of locals on this issue must be made a priority.

Restoration work at the Old Man of Storr.