Latest news with #NorthCoast500Ltd
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Thousands of visitors pledge good behaviour on Scotland's iconic NC500
Around 3,000 visitors have added their signatures to a new pledge calling for more responsible tourism along the route of one of Scotland's most famous road trips. The NC500 is roughly 830 kilometres long, a round route beginning and ending in the city of Inverness and weaving through some of the Highlands' most suggestive landscapes. The pledge, set up by the North Coast 500 Ltd company last October, was designed to encourage responsible and environmentally conscious tourism throughout the Scottish Highlands. It hopes to address the complex challenges that tourism brings to local communities, especially along the popular coastal route. The pledge covers several key commitments visitors are asked to embrace during their Highland experience. These include responsible waste management through proper disposal methods, using only designated parking facilities for both daytime visits and overnight stays, and supporting the local economy by choosing regional businesses over chain alternatives. Additionally, tourists are encouraged to follow Scotland's Outdoor Access Code, maintain appropriate noise levels to respect local residents, and observe all traffic regulations, including speed limits and road signage. Driving behaviour receives particular emphasis, with visitors urged to exercise caution and courtesy, especially when navigating the challenging single-track roads that characterise much of the NC500 route. It comes after ongoing concerns about road safety and traffic management in the region due to the tourists making the famous journey. Almost all the signatories of the pledge have also participated in 'extra mile' tasks. So far, 13 per cent have taken part in beach cleans, 12 per cent donated to local food banks or charities, 91 per cent bought from local businesses, and 83 per cent shared responsible tourism advice either in person or on social media. The pledge was developed through consultation with both residents and business owners along the route. Guidelines were created that address real community concerns while remaining practical for visitors to follow. David Richardson, development manager for North Coast 500 Ltd, emphasised the positive response from tourists, noting their genuine desire to contribute positively to the destination. 'It's been really encouraging to see just how many people want to do the right thing. The pledge isn't about rules or restrictions - it's about giving people the opportunity to understand the place they're visiting and how they can help look after it,' he said. "The pledge helps to start those conversations and encourage more conscious choices, which is a step in the right direction for everyone.' The pledge is supported by a digital platform providing educational resources to help visitors understand how to explore the Highlands responsibly. It is part of the broader goal of fostering informed decision-making among tourists. While the North Coast 500 route, established over ten years ago, has brought significant economic benefits to regional businesses, it has also seen growing concerns among Highland residents about traffic safety and antisocial behaviour. The visitor pledge represents an attempt to preserve the route's economic advantages while mitigating its negative impacts on local communities.
The National
4 days ago
- The National
3000 sign NC500 pledge amid Highland concerns over tourism impact
The organisation behind the promotion of the coastal route introduced the visitor pledge in October last year, and asks visitors to: leave no trace by disposing of waste responsibly park only in dedicated parking areas during the day and overnight prioritise shopping in local businesses follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code keep noise levels low adhere to all road signs and speed limits drive carefully and considerately and yield to local traffic, especially on single-track roads The full pledge can be read here. Around 93% of people who signed the pledge have taken part in some sort of "extra mile" task. So far, 13% took part in beach cleans, 12% donated to local foodbanks or local charity boxes, 91% prioritised local businesses and 83% shared responsible travel tips either in person or on social media. The pledge, developed in consultation with residents and businesses along the route, invites visitors to commit to respectful and sustainable tourism during their visit, helping to address the challenges facing local communities as a result of tourism. READ MORE: Local bus operator axes all services after entering 'liquidation' David Richardson, development manager at North Coast 500 Ltd, said: 'It's been really encouraging to see just how many people want to do the right thing. The pledge isn't about rules or restrictions — it's about giving people the opportunity to understand the place they're visiting and how they can help look after it. The early response shows that visitors genuinely care, and that's a really positive foundation to build on. 'We know tourism brings both benefits and challenges, and while there's no single solution, what we're seeing is a willingness from visitors to be part of the answer. A lighthouse by Duncansby Stacks, a collection of sea stacks that jut out of the North Sea (Image: Unsplash) "The pledge helps to start those conversations and encourage more conscious choices, which is a step in the right direction for everyone.' The pledge is supported by a digital platform to provide tourists with educational resources to help them explore the Highlands responsibly. The NC500 was established more than a decade ago, and while it brings many benefits for businesses on the route, a lot of locals in the Highlands are resentful of its promotion given it has led to dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour.
Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Scotland's newest driving route and lessons learned from NC500
The South West Coastal 300 is a driving route on the road less travelled, with lessons being learned from the overwhelming popularity of the NC500. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It takes in sandy beaches, dramatic coastlines, rolling countryside, pretty villages and a sense of the undiscovered. The South West Coastal 300 (SWC300) which ventures through Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire, is Scotland's latest driving route. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The loop starts and finishes in Dumfries and reaches the most southerly point in Scotland at Mull of Galloway. Drivers will also head to Wanlockhead, the highest village in the country, in the Lowther Hills. Places such as Culzean Castle, the book village of Wigtown and the charming, colourful Portpatrick are found on the way. The route comes following the overwhelming popularity of the North Coast 500 through the Highlands , which generates at least £22m a year for the local economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Its success has been tempered by frequent complaints from residents about large volumes of drivers on narrow roads, driving standards and the impact of the poor behaviour of some holiday makers, such as illegal parking and bad waste management. The North Coast 500 Ltd, which markets the route, has said it is listening to concerns and acting upon complaints. Meanwhile, the creators of the new drive in the south of Scotland are keen to create a different type of experience for both drivers and communities on the route. David Hope-Jones, of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said he 'did not want to criticise the NC500' given it economic success and job creation but added the route had created 'real challenges' for communities on the route. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Generally, the North Coast 500 can be regarded as a marketer's triumph. With relatively little investment, it has created a phenomenon that has driven the economy to an extraordinary degree. 'If you judge it purely through the marketeers lens, it has been very, very successful. 'But, if you view it through a community lens and actually a visitor experience lens that is not really the story. 'You have got the £25 fish and chips, you have got the associated housing challenges, you have unclassified roads that have useage far, far beyond what they were built for but there isn't the money to invest in them 'So you have got real challenges.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said that promotion for the SWC300 was kept at a minimum and was directed at specific markets, such as potential self-drive tourist from Germany. Mr Hope-Jones added: 'One of the difficult things is when you have that marketing success, it very quickly has its own energy and it is very hard to change or turn off. ' I am not looking to criticise, and with all humility, we look to learn from the NC500's successes in terms of brand creation and the use of social media. But how do we first engage with local communities and have systems working so we are confident we are working within the existing infrastructure? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We run the South West Coastal 300 on our website but we are careful not to push it too much and we are careful where we push it. 'Getting the German and Dutch self drive market to be inspired and do it is great, as their spend is so strong but getting this blunderbuss approach of promoting it to everyone, we might find that the average spend of visitors is going down. 'The key thing is to listen to local businesses and residents and make these adjustments.' Residents and businesses have routinely said they did not want to emulate the NC500, with the topic raised at more than 60 public meetings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Hope-Jones added: 'One of the questions we have asked is which area of Scotland and the UK should we emulate and which area should we not emulate.
