'I see tourists pee in front of my house': The campervan problem on the Isle of Skye
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Image source, Getty ImagesBySteven McKenzie, Highlands and Islands reporter and Gilleasbuig Macdonald, BBC NaidheachdanPublished28 June 2026Updated 56 minutes agoMore than 30,000 trips by campervans and motorhomes are made to the Scottish Highlands every year - with many of them touring the Isle of Skye.
For islanders, the tourists play an important part in the local economy. But some visitors bring significant challenges too - leaving litter and even toilet waste in the stunning landscape. NatureScot's Scottish Outdoor Access Code, external asks people to access the countryside responsibly and "leave no trace".
Julia Dawber's home overlooks an expanse of scenic coastline, and she says as many as nine campervans can park up near the shore at any one time. "When I'm having dinner people are coming out and going for a pee - I can see it," she told BBC Alba's Eorpa programme. "There's tissue sometimes left.
It's just absolutely disgusting." Julia added: "I know that there's no toilet facilities here but there are trees and there's rocks and you could easily be discreet, but some of the people are just choosing to be brazen and they're just doing it right by the road." Facilities such as public toilets and waste disposal points - particularly the lack of them - are a big issue in parts of Skye.
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