New NC500 rangers deployed to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour that's hated by locals
There are currently 16 Access Rangers on patrol
RANGER RESPONSE New NC500 rangers deployed to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour that's hated by locals
A SMALL army of council rangers has started patrolling the North Coast 500 road trip route and other areas of the Highlands to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour.
Irresponsible camping and a ban on fires in many areas are a top priority this year.
Advertisement
3
Council rangers have started patrolling the NC500 route in a bid to crack down on illegal tourist behaviour
Credit: Alamy
3
Campers have been leaving piles of human waste, dirty toilet paper, and heaps of rubbish along the route
Credit: Facebook
3
And motorhome users have been blasted for causing congestion on narrow roads and dangerous driving
Credit: Alamy
The weekend saw the first patrols of The Highland Council's new Seasonal Access Ranger team.
The new rangers will seek to promote and advise on responsible access to the countryside through the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
The team is funded directly by The Highland Council.
There are currently 16 Access Rangers on patrol with two more to join in mid-June, focusing on the long-distance routes.
Advertisement
Five of the rangers are highly experienced, having returned after previous seasons, and can help guide new rangers into their roles.
Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "The Council are pleased to be able to provide a seasonal rangers service this year and so far, the team have been welcomed by visitors and locals alike, with a friendly approach to encouraging responsible behaviour.
'The Council recognise the importance of supporting communities to manage the increase in visitors across the area, particularly along the NC500, Skye, Lochaber, Wester Ross and Loch Ness.
'A key role for the rangers will be engaging with the public and raising awareness of the Outdoor Access Code and communicating to people that, as individuals, we all play an important role in ensuring that the Highlands' beautiful outdoor spaces are protected for all to enjoy for future generations.'
Advertisement
Rangers will also ensure awareness of other relevant legislation, such as parking and environmental health regulations.
They will monitor use and report incidents to the relevant council teams or emergency services.
The North Coast 500: Scotland's Must-Visit Road Trip Beats the Grand Canyon
The rangers will also carry out duties to keep tidy, maintain and manage council-owned sites, core paths and work with communities and land managers on other sites to protect habitats and encourage respect for the landscape.
Where possible, the rangers will work with local volunteers to engage with visitors.
Advertisement
The council added: 'This year, responsible camping will be a key priority, and, in many locations, this will mean a 'no fires' message. There is a significant fire risk throughout the Highlands in the summer months and lighting campfires on peaty ground, woodland, grassland, or moors is dangerous and contrary to the Code.
'It is irresponsible to light fires close to buildings, historic monuments and within 30m of a public road. Even small fires cause significant damage to our natural environment from scorch marks to tree removal and the use of dead wood - housing insects - for fires. Much of this damage can take years to recover.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
41 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
The 52 best beaches in Scotland revealed, thanks to their crystal-clear waters and stunning golden sands
JUST BEACHY The 52 best beaches in Scotland revealed, thanks to their crystal-clear waters and stunning golden sands Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN INCREDIBLE 52 beaches around Scotland's glorious coastline have been recognised in the Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards. The annual Scotland's Beach Awards have been overseen by charity for the last 33 years, to 'help visitors and locals chose where they want to visit' and set a 'benchmark for quality'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 West sand beach in St Andrews has made the list every single year Credit: Alamy 8 Sillver Sands beach at Aberdour in Fife has been on the list for an impressive 32 out of 33 years Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow Each of the 2025 Scotland's Beach Award winners offer something unique, whether you are after a swim in the sea, picnic on the sands or just to take in the views and (hopefully) the weather. Every beach along Scotland's 11,800km of coastline receiving the award will have a flag displaying the accolade. It means it's easy for seaside lovers to find out exactly which beach closest (or further away if you're making a weekend of it) is the cleanest, with pristine sands and clean healthy waters. The awards are the benchmark for quality and celebrate the achievements of well managed beaches across Scotland. Read more in travel GO WILD Inside stunning Scots national park where kids can walk with dinosaurs Beaches from Aberdeenshire to the Scottish Borders all made the list, with the most popular beaches including St Andrews West Sands and Aberdour Silver Sands retaining the honour for over three decades. Additionally, 42 beaches on the list have successfully achieved an award for 10 or more years. Fife retain its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 13 winning beaches. The famous West Sands has made the list every year for the past 33 years, followed by in East Sand which has been awarded for the last 25 consecutive years. Silver Sands beach in Aberdour has made the list for the last 32 years, proving why it is one of the most popular in the country, And Pettycur Bay in Kinghorn was honoured again - making it 25 years in a row they've been chosen for the prestigious award. 8 IPettycur Bay is backed by a fabulous caravan park on the Fife coast 8 Stonehaven bay and harbour in Aberdeenshire Credit: Alamy Elie Harbour was named for the 14th year in a row and Ruby Bay, also in Elie has made the list again for the 27th time along with Crail Roome Bay. Aberdeenshire and East Lothian follow with eight award winning beaches. Stonehaven Bay and Fraserburgh Tigerhill helped Aberdeenshire's mighty haul. While in East Lothian Gullane Bents, North Berwick's West Beaches and Dunbar East all made the list along with Belhaven Bay in the John Muir Country park in Dunbar. Six beaches in Angus were chosen by Keep Scotland Beautiful for their beach quality, including Lunan Bay (for the 9th year in a row) , Carnoustie (20 years on the list) and Montrose Seafront (22 years) The iconic Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms National Park was the only inland beach to make the grade and was one of four awarded it the Highland region along with Brora (24 years), Dornoch (31 years) and Nairn beaches. 8 the golden sand beach at Loch Morlich Credit: Getty 8 Irvine Beach Credit: Mark Ferguson In Shetland two beaches were picked out for the honours - West Sandwick, for the 15th year, and Sands of Breacon making it for the second year in a row. Irvine beach and Newton beach in Millport were the only two in North Ayrshire to make the grade, with Newton Beach making a welcome comeback following investment work. Six South Ayrshire beaches made the list, including the iconic Ayr South, Troon and Barassie Shore. Coldingham was the only beach in the Scottish Borders to be awarded with Dundee City's Broughty Ferry and Aberdeen City's Ballroom Beach also making the grade. 8 Coldingham Sands beach at Coldingham Bay, Berwickshire Credit: Alamy 8 Dundee's Broughty Ferry beach is a firm favourite Credit: Alamy Vicki Miller, VisitScotland Chief Executive said: 'Congratulations to all the winners for their achievements. It's particularly encouraging to see some beaches making a return to the awards. 'This demonstrates a real dedication to improving the visitor experience and environment. Our communities, along with our natural and cultural heritage, are what make Scotland so special. It's vital we protect and preserve them for the future.' Scotland's Beach Awards have been managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful for 33 years, playing a vital role in protecting our beaches for people and nature, encouraging people to visit responsibly and signposting people to beaches that best meet their needs. A range of criteria must be met, including beach safety, access and facilities, and cleanliness. Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality. For the full list see here
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Top 10 best fishing spots in Scotland revealed
Plus, a round-up of some of the best flower gardens in the UK TOP TABLE Top 10 best fishing spots in Scotland revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE top ten best fishing spots in Scotland have been revealed. The Times has pulled together a list of the country's most enjoyable locations. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 View of Arrochar village and Loch Long with reflections in water, Argyll and Bute Credit: Alamy 3 Evening over Loch Long looking towards Arrochar, Scotland Credit: Alamy Loch Leven, Perth & Kinross, was crowned the winner for its patches of sweetgrass. Elsewhere Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, bags second space, the body of water of huge at 20 miles long. Loch Doon, Ayrshire, scoops third place and is "excellent" for fly fishing. In fourth place is Newcastleton, Scottish Borders, with experts claiming September is the "optimum" month. Meanwhile, Loch A' Chaorainn, Argyll and Bute, is fourth and boasts stunning scenery. Fillan River, Perth & Kinross is sixth and is a popular hill walking hub. And in seventh spot is Avon River, Lothian, it only costs £10 to fish here and has been branded "one of the cheapest". Travel north and Achmelvich Beach, Highland is eighth and is a gorgeous location has amazing clear waters. Nearby Lochan Fada, Highland, is in ninth place with its deep freshwater appeal. Finally River Don, Aberdeenshire, is tenth and is known as an ideal spot to catch trout. Elsewhere, The Sun has compiled a round-up of some of the best flower gardens in the UK, including a new lavender destination. Mayfield Lavender, famed for its organic Banstead lavender farm, will launch a brand-new visitor experience this summer: the Secret Lavender Garden. The experience will open on June 21 at Mayfield's Epsom site in Surrey, which is also home to the Glasshouse Café and Gift & Plant Shop. There will be time sessions in the morning and afternoon for visitors to explore the fragrant lavender, an apple orchard, over 500 fruit trees and local wildlife.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Scotland's stunning national park where kids can walk with dinosaurs, ride rollercoasters and meet cool cats
Stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife, amazing adventures - this place has it all GO WILD Inside Scotland's stunning national park where kids can walk with dinosaurs, ride rollercoasters and meet cool cats Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IN twenty years living in Scotland, I'd only ever driven past the Cairngorms. What a mistake, it turns out. The signs for Aviemore - like Perth, PItlochry and Dalwinnie - were little more than a staging post on trips up the A9 for various jobs I had been dispatched on as a reporter. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 14 Cairn Gorm mountain and Speyside north of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park Credit: Alamy But after spending 48 hours in this incredible swathe of Scotland, I'm now kicking myself that I hadn't at least stopped off in all those years. The sprawling Cairngorms national park is perhaps best known to me for its skiing resorts. But as we found, this area is a whole lot more. We stayed for two nights in Aviemore, the buzzing town on the north-west edge of the, just a few minutes of the trunk road and in easy reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh by train and bus. It's a haven for holidaymakers, but very much a real working town as a rural regional centre. You won't be short of shops - from outdoor stores, to gift shops, to supermarket staples - and there are restaurants, cafes and bars galore. For those who want to get out of the city but still enjoy their creature comforts, it's an ideal destination. We stayed in a self-catering room at Sweeney One, an apartment hotel ideally located in the middle of Aviemore, set back from the road and just two minute's walk to the shops, bars and eateries 14 The village of Aviemore, Cairngorms National Park Credit: Alamy 14 A bedroom at Sweeney One in Aviemore Credit: Visit Cairngorms The comfortable rooms are high-end, all with kitchenettes - with fridge, microwave, kettle and sink - and stylish modern decor. In our suite, there were two trundle beds available for kids, and loads of space for our family of three. Our ten-year-old, Anna, loved the smart TV with Netflix and iPlayer. There was also a small balcony at the front, and keypad access so no need to worry about carting around room keys. The bathroom was spacious with a superb bucket shower. Scottish theme park just two hours from Glasgow - there were no queues or extra costs The rooms had the advantage of being just a few doors down from sister hotel Sweeney Two, which is linked to Delaney's restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. As a newbie on the scene in Aviemore, Delaney's is receiving rave reviews, and it's easy to see why. We had a terrific evening meal, picking carefully from a "small plates" menu - choosing from nine awesome-looking dishes. The atmosphere in Delaney's was relaxed, friendly, and unpretentious. But the food was out of this world. The best kind of restaurant, in my book. Highlights were the pan-fried seabass fillet with beetroot aioli, pickled beets and orange segments (£14), which was perfectly prepared with crispy skin. The chipotle vegetable tacos with chimichurri and pickled shallots (£12) was probably the tastiest vegan dish you can imagine. To say it packed a punch would be an understatement. And the Charcuterie Board to share - at £19 the most expensive dish on the menu - was a plate full of Loch Rannoch smoked meats, locally smoked sea trout, cheeses including Strathdon Blue, olives, sourdough, sun blushed tomatoes, and a welcome pile of cornichons. It felt like a banquet, not a few 'small' dishes. Then it was off back to the room to watch Doctor Who, after a stroll along the main street where couples, families, and retired folk were enjoying the last of the evening sunshine outside the pubs of Aviemore. We'd just about recovered in time for the breakfast at Delany's the following day, where they serve up everything from a Full Scottish to Eggs Royale, and the most amazing avocado on sourdough toast with poached eggs, served with Pico De Gallo fresh salsa. 14 Fabulous breakfast at Delany's Restaurant at Sweeney Two Credit: The Sun No exaggeration, this was one of the best breakfasts I'd ever had, in a lovely relaxed setting with friendly staff. Aviemore as a whole has that feel. It's a friendly, cheery place. Because of the tourist flow, you get the impression that the cafes are well honed and efficient. On our arrival day - a Saturday - we'd rushed up from Glasgow to grab the last of the sunshine with dismal weather looming. We were in a hurry to get to the Landmark Forest Adventure Park, about ten minutes from Aviemore. It's one of these places you'd probably only ever go with kids, but when you get there, everyone has a great time. There are attractions pitched at all ages. We walked through the Dinosaur Kingdom with its cool animatronic dinos, including a 20ft tall T-Rex and two 90ft long Diplodocuses (below). 14 Dinosaurs Kingdom at Landmark Forest Adventure Park 14 Anna loved the dinos Credit: The Sun The NetworkX "aerial net challenge" has giant bouncy nets connected by walkways, and is, well, just brilliant fun to clamber around on. On the Wild Water Coasters - a favorite with three water slides where you sit in inflatables (don't worry too much about getting wet.. it's just a splash) - we saw a couple of bold grannies going down with kids. We could have spent hours going up and down the steps for more, but wanted to also get in the Ropeworx aerial rope course and "Skydive" tower. 14 You'll have a splashing good time at the Wild Water Coasters Credit: Visit Cairngorms 14 Chris and his daughter Anna braved the Skydive Credit: The Sun Now, I don't know if you've ever climbed up a 35 foot telegraph pole and stepped off the top - with a harness attached, right enough - but that's what Skydive is. I hadn't, but Anna wanted to try it so I had to give it go, and pretend I wasn't scared. There are two towers facing each other and after we clambered up, I had to lead by example, but my heart was pounding. For a moment, I thought I couldn't do it. But after giving myself a mental shake, I stepped off - and the moment you do, all is well as you feel the harness gently guiding you down. My landing was less than graceful - let's just say I ended up on my bum. Anna climbed back down, too scared to jump. But about 20 minutes later after a shot on the neighbouring aerial rope course with her mum, Anna returned to the tower, went straight up, and stepped off. Then she did it again. It was a real proud dad moment, seeing her overcome her fear, and she milked this for all she could, persuading me to buy her a burger and ice cream as a reward. Landmark had so much more to offer - we also had a walk through the magical butterfly house, complete with resident tortoise - but unfortunately it was closing time. On the Sunday morning, we took a trip on the Strathspey Railway steam train, which chugs its way along a ten-mile heritage route branching on from Aviemore station, 14 The Strathspey Railway steam train is a brilliant day out Credit: Alamy This is a charming round trip lasting less than two hours - along the River Spey from Aviemore to Broomhill. On board the vintage carriages, you can pretend to be in Harry Potter or indeed The Traitors - the opening scene from the hit BBC series, where contestants step off the train, is filmed at Boat of Garten, where the train stops. Afterwards, we took the 15 minute drive to Highland Wildlife Park via a quick wander round the shore of the picture perfect Loch an Eilien. At the wildlife park we had a fascinating talk on the preservation of Scottish wildcats which may look like your average tabby cat, but certainly aren't. 14 A Scottish wildcat at the Highland Wildlife Park Credit: Visit Cairngorms 14 The park also has tigers Credit: Visit Cairngorms 14 Anna tried to see just how big a polar bear actually is Credit: The Sun We also saw polar bears pacing around on the hillside, and the tiger, while Anna enjoyed another snack from the friendly folk running the food van. The weather wasn't particularly kind to us there, but you drive around the main enclosure, safari-park style, and this is a great destination whatever the weather. I was determined to get to the mountains, and on the Monday morning we took the 20 minute drive to the base station half way up on Cairn Gorm, with its shop and welcoming cafe with a giant log burner and breathtaking views back across the Spey Valley and its lochs. 14 Cairngorm Mountain funicular, the highest railway in the United Kingdom Credit: Alamy 14 River Spey and the Cairngorm Mountains Credit: Getty - Contributor Now, this may sound like cheating your way up a mountain, but there's no shame in that. Especially if you haven't got the gear, which we hadn't. The funicular which takes skiers and sightseers almost to the summit was undergoing maintenance when we were there, but next time, we'll be climbing to the summit from the base camp and maybe getting the train back down. Even if Anna doesn't like the idea. GO:CAIRNGORMS GO: CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK For more information, or to plan an adventure in the Cairngorms national park, go to or on Facebook at or Instagram at Rooms at Sweeny Aviemore cost from £163 per night when booked directly at A trip up Cairn Gorm - the sixth-highest peak in the British Isles - was the perfect way to round off our highland fling and we got a glimpse of the amazing infrastructure in place for the ski season, when the landscape is transformed. But the lasting impression from our two-night stay, the area around Aviemore is whatever you want it to be. There's something to do - and fun to be had - at every turn, all against the most stunning backdrops imaginable. Our next trip to the Cairngorm will hopefully be in less than 20 weeks - never mind 20 years.
