Wick River Campsite is set to introduce a new CamperClean facility ahead of the 2026 tourism season, as the community-run site looks to build on increased visitor numbers recorded last year.
The riverside campsite, operated by Wick Development Trust, will open earlier than usual on March 23, with the automated cleaning unit expected to be installed shortly after the start of the season.
The CamperClean system provides an automated service for caravan and motorhome toilet cassettes, designed to offer a quicker and more hygienic alternative to traditional disposal methods.
The installation cost is £18,753. Highlands and Islands Enterprise contributed £8,245 toward the project, while the remaining funding of more than £10,500 was shared equally between Tannach and District Wind Farm Trust Fund and Watten Wind Farm Trust, both administered by Foundation Scotland.
Development trust chairman Alistair Jack said: “It should arrive fairly soon after we open for the beginning of the season.
“CamperClean is quite popular in the continent. The closest one to us is in Oban.”
“It’s not only for people on the site – it’s to try to attract people to come here and dump their waste rather than dumping it in ditches or in drains or places they shouldn’t be dumping it.”
“It costs £3 to do it. It’s like a vending machine – a door opens, you put your toilet cassette in, the door closes, it vacuums out everything that’s inside it, it washes it and puts chemicals in it.”
“It’s very original for here, certainly.”
“There is nothing worse than emptying your chemical toilet. It takes all the dirtiness away.”
He added: “When we did the upgrades here last year, we put all the infrastructure in, so it should just be a case of ‘plug and play’.
“And it takes all types, because there are different makes of cassette toilets. It accepts them all.”
“We will have a promotional campaign to try and encourage people doing the North Coast 500 to dump their waste responsibly and that they can do it here. They’ve always been able to do it here – but this unit is very quick.”
“We’ve just got a few other maintenance things to do on site before we open.”
According to John O’Groat Journal, Wick River Campsite reopened under the management of the development trust in 2022 with the aim of directing profits toward local regeneration projects. A £450,000 facilities block was officially unveiled in 2024, followed by the opening of a new reception building last year as part of a £435,000 revamp.
In 2025, the campsite recorded its busiest year since becoming a community enterprise, welcoming well over 21,000 visitors. That marked an increase of more than 5,600 compared with 2024. Total bookings exceeded 10,000, up by approximately 2,800 year on year.
Mr Jack said: “Bookings to date are up on this time last year. We’re obviously not going to see as big an increase as we did last year from the year before.
“Last year, a lot of months we were at capacity so we can’t fit any more in. It is bound to plateau, but if we keep getting 21,000 people coming every year then great.
“The campsite has been a great success. We don’t want to just be known for the campsite, though, and we do have a remit to try to help with the regeneration of the town centre.”
For outdoor hospitality operators, the installation highlights how waste management infrastructure can serve both operational efficiency and destination stewardship goals.
By offering a paid, automated disposal option accessible to both on-site guests and passing motorhome users, particularly those travelling routes such as the North Coast 500, sites may reduce improper waste disposal while creating an additional revenue stream.
The approach also demonstrates how grant funding and community-backed investment can support facility upgrades that align with environmental compliance and visitor expectations.