The same poor writer apparently who described them as "bikers" with no apparent evidence they were such.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport
The North Coast 500
(236 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Not the same, but another case of unintended consequences and the cost of remedies -
“
One of Scotland’s leading mountaineering and outdoors experts has raised “over-tourism” fears over the future of the nation’s Munros - warning they are at risk of being “loved to death.”
Cameron McNeish has blamed “ignorance” from walkers and climbers for their declining condition and said around £50 million was needed to bring them back their footpaths back up to scratch.
“
Posted 4 years ago # -
I heard last week that an organisation has been formed to increase numbers visiting Northumberland. Reference was made to the Lake District. Heaven forfend that the wonderful wilderness of Northumberland should end up anything like the Lakes.
We surely have learned from the NC 500? I get the impression, as I feared would be the case, that the locals now regret this.
My view is that such areas should be left as they are with people free to visit but not actually encouraged to do so. If folk really want to go then they will, and if they have to put in a bit of effort to do so then so much the better from the point of view of preservation and likely behaviour.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Maybe there needs to be a special (artificial) mountain theme park with .’the views’ created in AR/VR??
BUT highlights the need for serious spending on path networks and repairs.
When the Access legislation was passed and LAs had to plan Core Plans (involving a lot of public consultations bringing together disparate interests including walking, cycling and landownership), there was a widespread presumption that this would be followed by cash to create them...
Posted 4 years ago # -
I love Northumberland and will be enjoying its tranquillity over half term.
I think there is a fundamental issue with holiday patterns though...
I read an economics briefing today which highlighted that the UK is net exporter of tourists. It went on to question whether climate change will change that.
It misses out the more fundamental point that flying for holidays has a significant environmental impact and so should be discontinued at current levels.
Yes, trains (& surface transport) can fill the gap to some extent, but we should expect that more people holiday in the UK. Where do we want them to go?
Posted 4 years ago # -
“ Where do we want them to go?”
Them is also we.
There’s where, and how.
I’m sure ‘we’ don’t imagine they’d all cycle if there was infinitely perfect infrastructure - but better would help.
Also money to repair damaged areas and deal with the consequences of overcrowding is necessary.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I want to go where they are not...
Posted 4 years ago # -
Holy Island gets busy as does Bamburgh
In land often quiet Erdington was a good holiday I ran up the hill and could see the sea. No people.
Stayed in the bothy at cragside had whole place to ourselves. Rubber coated mattresses not so cool.
Howick when we cycled Newcastle to Berwick the B and B people drove us to the pub - also quiet
Same as Munro’s and indeed Pentlands - hot spots and then empty?
Posted 4 years ago # -
"North Coast 500 Ltd, a privately funded company whose aim was to grow the route’s brand, had been controlled by the Initiative.
It has now emerged the company is controlled by Wildland Ventures Limited, established in 2007 by Anders and Anne Holch Povlsen as a vehicle for taking forward the conservation, protection and sustainable development of some of Scotland’s most rugged, precious and beautiful landscapes.
According to Wildland’s latest accounts, the ultimate parent company is Mr Povlsen’s Denmark-based investment firm Heartland A/S after taking a majority stake from NHI."
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17932550.north-coast-500-taken-scotlands-biggest-landowner/
Posted 4 years ago # -
"sustainable development"
Hmm, yeah, right...
Sustainable for who or what?
The environment? - I doubt it.
The locals? - ???
The business? - most likely.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I want to go where they are not...
Take up Corbett bagging, you'll hardly see a soul and for the most part they're more challenging than following the well worn path up a Munro.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Heaven forfend that the wonderful wilderness of Northumberland should end up anything like the Lakes.
There is plenty of wilderness in the Lakes, even at half term, if you are prepared to avoid the urban honeypots of Bowness, Ambleside, Grasmere and Hawkshead, and the handful of well known fells.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Take up Corbett bagging
If you really want to be alone take up watershed bagging.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The trick in the Lakes is to get up early. I ran the Fairfield Horseshoe in August this year, which starts/ends in Ambleside (2hrs 45min - honestly, it was trouble navigating through the thick cloud cover on Fairfield rather than unfitness) and I didn't see anyone until I was about a mile from finishing in Ambleside. I started at 7am.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The trick in the Lakes is to get up early.
Or take a bivvy and start late. Something quite fun walking up the hill when normal (sane?) folk are coming down and then bounding back down when normal folk are still trying to wake up.
Posted 4 years ago # -
“
The North Coast 500 is now one of the top reasons for people to travel to Scotland, and with the stunning scenery, unique experiences, exceptional food and drink, the famous Highland hospitality, a wide range of activities and the fascinating history and heritage the north Highlands of Scotland has to offer, this is no surprise.
“
Posted 4 years ago # -
Going up to assynt 19th Oct to walk Suilven on 20th weather permitting
I expect to see almost no one though tail end of half term
Posted 4 years ago # -
With experience you can avoid the crowds e.g. start the West Highland Way on a Tuesday or Wednesday and you'll have it to yourself; start at the weekend and you'll not want for company. But for first timers - and for the WC500 that's just about everyone - drawn by photos of a wilderness, they all show up on the same days. Marketing people could point this out but probably don't want to put people off.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Also in the news, chief executioner says executions should not be banned
Posted 4 years ago # -
In Edinburgh we have our very own NC500. Called the Edinburgh Festival. Peak time interferes with locals getting across town, going about our business et cetera. Rest of year no problemo.
Tourists can be spread across the year in edinburgh of course. The NC500 is just for summer.
Any data on whether most tourists do the full 500?
Posted 4 years ago # -
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17979605.skye-tennis-courts-turned-car-park/
Is there any other country in the world that would think this is a good or even acceptable thing?!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Meanwhile, it is hoped the tennis and squash club can use some of the cash to move to another site.
Blow up the bridge. Give locals first dibs on the ferry. I seem to have become José Bové inside my head.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Andy Murray continues his comeback. Tennis to take off on Skye. You serve, ball comes back to you in the wind, non opponent necessary. Like the pierrots at the end of Blow Up playing tennis without a ball WTAF?
They paved paradise put up a parking lot, clue to the other country that would do this
Posted 4 years ago # -
We were on Skye in August 2017 and found no difficulty parking down at the harbour in Portree. If it's got worse since then then heaven knows what it's like elsewhere on the island: at the Fairy Pools, the Quiraing and the Storr cars were parked (illegally, in the case of the FP and the Storr) along the soft peat verges, leaving huge, ever-deepening ruts in them in the process.
I rather dread to think what the place is like now if it's become even more over-run with Instagrammists.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Ive just seen that the portree buy out of the tennis courts was funded by the Scottish Land Fund
Why on earth would a community fund be used to remove local facilites and replace it with parking for tourists?
Posted 4 years ago # -
What I want to know is who covers signs with stickers? The one at the foot of the Bealach na Ba is almost illegible.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@ejstubbs An 137 space car park was bulldozed at the Fairy Pools last year, funded by - wait for it - the Outdoor Trust for Scotland.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Up in assynt now
Big deer on lochinver football pitch
Huge deer on inverkirkcaig beach eating seaweed
3 big heron
One fancy dan golden eagle pirouetting
Five people apart from the two of us
Posted 4 years ago # -
On Suilven today, we went in the hard way from Inverkirkaig and Norman MacCaig plaque. no people. One golden eagle, two croaking ravens, not that big and tons of deer.
We went back the easy way, still not easy. New path to lochinver, has meant good cycle opportunities and indeed a very good Bothy.
Met 10 people max all day
Couple at the top very kindly agreed to drive us from their car to ours. We found the woman’s hat where she had dropped it so she was grateful. Her hiusband was trying to interest me in a cycling event that goes up 9 different ski slopes in the highlands
Posted 4 years ago #
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