Motorhome and campervan owners at risk of driving restrictions as landmark petition demands change

Robin Pettigrew, from the pressure group NC500 The Dirty Truth, has submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for a law to explicitly ban camping in vehicles anywhere other than designated zones.

If adopted, the move would effectively end the current freedom to park overnight along much of the iconic route — a practice that has fuelled the explosion of motorhome tourism across the Highlands.

Mr Pettigrew also wants the Scottish Outdoor Access Code to become legally enforceable, meaning anyone breaching the new restrictions could face criminal penalties.

Currently, the Code provides guidance rather than a binding law, and its application to vehicle-based camping has long been debated.

The petition, which has nearly reached 1,000 signatures, lands at a time when the Highland Council has already started tightening its rules for larger vehicles.

Earlier this year, councillors in Sutherland unanimously approved new £10 nightly parking charges at select hotspots, backed by £100 fines for those who fail to comply. Visitors will be limited to a single night and barred from returning to the same location within 72 hours.

Mr Pettigrew insisted that the measures are essential to stop what he calls "environmental catastrophe" caused by the surge in motorhome tourism since the NC500 was launched in 2015.

He claimed that communities have been left dealing with litter, toilet waste, wildfires, and pressure on fragile landscapes.

"The current model is simply unsustainable," he argued, accusing some visitors of abusing Scotland's access rights by treating the rural Highlands as "a drive-through campsite".

His petition highlighted instances of fires, polluted waterways and disruption to wildlife habitats, blaming a minority of irresponsible travellers who park anywhere they find space, including lay-bys, beauty spots and village centres.

The campaign suggested that Scotland should adopt New Zealand-style rules, where overnight parking is only allowed in supervised and designated areas for certified self-contained vehicles.

Mr Pettigrew even proposed a levy on motorhomes, claiming it could raise around £22million annually to fund monitoring and rangers.

Highland councillors said they have been responding to mounting frustration from residents. Some claim they have been "bombarded" by complaints about overflowing car parks, waste dumping, and overnight van clusters in small communities.

"This is about controlling behaviour that has become unacceptable," one councillor said, citing "inappropriate waste disposal and anti-social behaviour".

To help combat the number of motorhomes parking across the Highlands, the council launched its own parking scheme, which costs £40 and hoped to encourage responsible driving.

Councillor Allan Gunn said at the time: "There is an identified need for facilities to accommodate campervans, motorhomes, roof tents and people who are using vehicles for short stayovers.

"This scheme offers an opportunity for the council to continue to support local priorities relating to tourism and visitor management. The Highland Council has also committed funds that will be invested towards improving the existing infrastructure and providing more council-owned sites."

However, Conservative council members branded the permit scheme "madness" and warned it could cost taxpayers up to £2million if not scrapped.