The owner of a North Coast 500 campsite is calling for tighter regulations on motorhome parking across the Scottish Highlands, citing concerns about safety, fairness, and declining occupancy rates at regulated sites.
Darren Redfern, who owns Dornoch Caravan and Camping Park and serves as treasurer of the Highlands Caravan and Campsite Association, stated that motorhomes “should only be allowed to stay in designated and authorised places.”
The association, formed in February and representing 31 member sites, was created to address what it describes as “increasingly unsustainable behaviour” among a portion of motorhome and campervan visitors.
According to Redfern, occupancy levels across many Highland campsites have declined as more travelers choose to stay overnight in informal, unregulated locations such as laybys, roadside verges, and council car parks.
Citing research from the Moffat Centre, he said that occupancy rates in August 2025 were 6.1 percent lower than the previous year. “Basically, we’re trying to compete with free, whether that’s Highland Council car parks, or laybys, or just a gravel bit at the side of the road,” Redfern told The Press and Journal.
He added that Highland Council car parks near existing campsites have created what he considers unfair competition. “They are basically across the fence or within half a mile from a campsite,” he said, pointing to examples in Durness, Ullapool, and Inverness. Redfern said that these unmonitored areas pose potential fire risks and lack basic safety oversight.
The association has also reported an increase in visitors attempting to use campsite facilities without paying. “They’re coming in and trying to use the waste and water point and our toilets and showers,” Redfern said. To address the issue, his park installed coded locks, which he said reduced overnight parking nearby by more than 50 percent.
When asked why non-guests cannot pay to use campsite facilities, Redfern explained that offering such access would undermine the business model of regulated sites. “Providing waste and water points involves quite a significant cost,” he said, citing annual waste management and water bills that exceed £20,000.
The association maintains that prices at Highland campsites are competitive given these expenses. Of 19 member sites that shared pricing data, the average rate for a pitch without electricity was under £26 per night. “Prices are very fair,” Redfern said. “A family of five can stay with us for about £160 a week, which is an amazingly good price.”
The debate over where motorhomes should be permitted to stay has intensified since campaigner Robin Pettigrew, of the group NC500 The Dirty Truth, submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for a review of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
The petition seeks to prohibit vehicle-based camping outside designated zones. Redfern expressed his support for the measure, saying, “We support Robin and his efforts. We think the Scottish Outdoor Access Code needs to be tightened.”
For outdoor hospitality operators, the issue highlights an ongoing challenge in balancing visitor freedom with regulatory fairness and operational sustainability.
As the NC500 continues to attract increasing numbers of motorhome tourists, industry professionals are watching closely to see whether new legislation will bring more consistency to how and where overnight stays are permitted across the Highlands.