Friday, 11 February 2022

Waste Disposal and Fresh Water Stops on the NC500



Please let me know if you have information on other places that I can add to the list.  I have included some sites that are not "technically" on the NC500 as most people travel up to do the route passing through either the West Highland Way or taking the A9 from Stirling. 

Most sites are charging around £5.00-£7.00 per vehicle as an average, so I hope that gives you an idea of prices you should expect to pay to dispose of your waste responsibly. Please note that most sites in the Highlands can only take Green Chemicals as they drain into septic tanks and blue fluid will damage these.


Motorhome Service Points on the NC500
           

Located at Lovat Bridge in Beauly, near Inverness. IV4 7AYThis site offers a service point for motorhomes providing you only use GREEN chemicals. Grey & Black water discharge, drinking water refill for a £7.00 charge for those not staying on site. Showers are £5.00 per adult.

Blue and grey waste disposal facilities will be available for touring vans.

Motorhome empty waste and fresh water refill is priced at £11.00 and the most expensive we have found so far.

Located on the B864 near Achany, Lairg, Highland, IV27 4EX. £3.00 so a bargain! Black Waste & Grey Water Disposal and Fresh Water Supply, Rubbish Disposal Open all year 24hrs, 7 days a week

Located  just off the A836 at Gills Bay, between Thurso and John O'Groats. 
No pitch, includes water refill and all waste & recycling disposal for a fee of just £7.50
Just turn up between 10am & 4pm.  Outside those times, please call ahead and give 30 minutes notice
Showers only - £2.50 per person (as above for times)

£5.00 Fresh water, Grey water & Black waste Open April - October 09:00 - 19:00, 7 days a week. Located at Wester Greengates, Fortrose, Ross-Shire, IV10 8RX Tel : 01381 621927

Black waste disposal & fresh water and Open all year 24/7, Donation box with a paypal app and QR code are now in place. Located in Gairloch Harbour, Pier Road, Wester Ross, IV21 2BQ 

KW10 6SE - Located just off the A9 in the village of Golspie, Scotland.
I have had confirmation that they provide waste disposal for non residents for £10.00 per vehicle

Located at Kerrowaird Farm House, A96, Dalcross, Inverness IV2 7JQ.  Their service point is available 
Monday - Saturday 08:30 - 17:00 and they offer Motorhome toilet disposal (Septic tank friendly chemicals only) Grey water disposal, Fresh water fill point, Recyling bins AND rubbish disposal - all for only £5.00

Open all year.  £5.00 Come to the house to pay when you arrive, and we will be pleased to allow you to get rid of both your grey and black water deposits, and to fill up with drinking water.

Community-owned stop-over overlooking Loch Clash, with five EHU's, fresh water, and chemical toilet waste disposal. The £15 overnight charge and £5.00 waste and water charge goes to community improvement projects. Payments for pitches and waste disposal/ water is at Bervie Stores in the village. Please do not be tempted to occupy the picnic site opposite as this denies its use to other people and it is very close to occupied properties.

The new camper van chemical waste facility is now operational for public use. Please donate generously to this community run project. It is great that local people are now helping us to enjoy the route and dispose of our waste correctly.

Lochinver Leisure Centre Waste Disposal - CURRENTLY OUT OF ORDER
£9 Black Waste and Fresh Water and overnight parking. Pay at Leisure Centre front desk. 
11-9 Mon-Thurs
11-5 Fri
12-5 Sat
U1119, Lochinver, Lairg, Highland, IV27 4JR, United Kingdom

Located off the B876 £5.00 Fresh water, Grey water & Black waste. Open all year 8:00 - 20:00, 7 days a week

£10.00 charge per vehicle for Grey & black waste, fresh water fill and does include rubbish disposal. Open April - October 09:00 - 19:00, 7 days a week. Located at 211 Achiltibuie, Altandhu, Ullapool IV26 2YR 01854 622339

Seaboard Centre at the Seaboard Memorial Hall on East Street in Balintore has hot showers, washing machines and a lovely cafe too. The toilet and shower have disabled access too. You will need £1 coins for the showers and washing facilities. There is a Chemical Disposal Point at the rear of the Seaboard Centre Garage. Please donate generously when using this community provided facility.


Motorhome Service Points on the way up to the NC500


Located on the West Coast not far from the Isle of Skye and offering water and waste disposal for non residents at the very reasonable price of £5.00. Payment is by paypal on their website.

Loch Lomond Tarbet Pier
Located on the A82 in Tarbet, Arrochar G83 7DE. Convenient for visitors coming up via the West Highland Way. £5.00 for Black & Grey Waste Disposal and Fresh Water

Donation - Black & Grey waste disposal, Fresh water, Rubbish bins. Open 24/7. Based on other places we would recommend a donation of £5.00 per vehicle.
Right in the village beside the Railway Stations just 200m from two pubs and only 400m to the shops, 
A Motorhome Service Stop for water and to empty Grey Water and Chemical Waste (Elsan) is £5.00 per visit. Our Camping experience is Rustic and we describe our camping as "Semi Wild Camping" mostly "Off Grid" - call for more details - Ruari on 07831 338012.


LPG Gas on the way to, and on the NC500 route

(Close to Inverness on the East Coast of the NC500)
Tore Service Station, TORE, ROSS-SHIRE, IV6 7RZ , Telephone 01463 811603
24/7 Forecourt Pumps, Diesel / Unleaded / LPG
Shop & Cafe/Most Major Fuelcards Accepted
Open - Mon - Thurs 06.00 - 22.00, Friday 06.00 - 21.00, Saturday 0.700 - 20.00, Sunday 09.00 - 20.00

(Just outside Ullapool on the West Coast of the NC500)
Morefield Industrial Estate, 2, Morefield, Ullapool IV26 2SR
LPG Pump on right hand side of yard.
Call into reception first and ask for LPG.

Skiatch Services near Dingwall
Tel - 01349 830888  Skiach Service station is open 24 hours a day.  We are situated just off the A9 by Evanton near Dingwall


Updated prices on 3rd August 2023. Please feel free to add your details at the bottom if you are a site offering facilities, we are always happy to add new businesses or community project to the list. 



Thursday, 10 February 2022

Invitation to Pay Car Parks

Pay to Stay Car Parks



It was a few months ago that we heard about the exciting proposal for 'invitation to pay' car parks. The proposals have now been approved by the various area committees and the Economy and Infrastructure Committee.  Hopefully it won't be long before parking bays and ticket machines are installed. There will be 21 'Pay to Stay' car parks. About one-half also allow overnight motorhome parking. All of the locations are in tourist hotspots. 

Please keep these places spotless if you use them. This program will be reviewed at the end of the year so if visitors don't donate, camp instead of park for the night, or leave a terrible mess, then they will be discontinued.  This is a great way for us to contribute to the local economy, and gain great places to park. These are places to park up for the night. They are not camp sites so please don't set up tables and chairs or put up awnings etc.

The idea is that visitors may want to "chip in" to infrastructure costs. The program will be reviewed at the end of the year. 'Invitation to pay' car parks have already been trialled in Nairn and Inverness.

After expenses, 50% of the net revenue will go to local areas via the relevant Local Area Committees on a 'per car park' basis. The 'invitation to pay' car parks can be implemented quickly and don't require any legislative changes. 

Here is a list of the 'invitation to pay' car parks. There is a google map in our FB group.













(Those in orange permit overnight motorhome parking)

Caithness (all 7 will have overnight motorhome parking)

Dunnet Head

Dunnet Seadrift

Noss Head, Wick

Duncansby Head

Reiss Beach

Wick Camps

Wick Riverside

Wester Ross (Ullapool, Gruinard Beach and Gairloch Harbour now have overnight motorhome parking)

Latheron Lane, Ullapool

Gruinard Beach

Gairloch Harbour - also has a CDP for a £5 donation

Kyle of Lochalsh Upper Village

Dornie Hall Car Park

Plockton Village

Sutherland (Golspie Shore and Durness Village Centre will have overnight motorhome parking)

Golspie Shore

Durness Village Centre

Achmelvich Beach

Golspie Fountain Road

Clachtoll Beach

Dornoch Beach

For more information including proposed charges please see the detailed proposals in the November agendas of these 3 local Area Committees: Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross.

I will update this page when I have more information. Under the proposals put forward, cars and motorhomes would be asked to pay between 8am and 8pm, with the rates set at £1 for up to two hours, £2 for up to four hours, £3 for up to 12 hours and for a maximum stay of up to 24 hours the cost would be £5. Motorhome users would be charged the same except they would be invited to pay £10 for an overnight stay.

Thursday, 13 January 2022

NC500 Campsites

  

Just as I have in previous years, I am hoping to once again compile a list of camp sites on and close to the route, as well as opening dates for 2022.  There is also a list of service point providers for waste & water at the bottom of the page.

Added last year are camp sites located on Islands around the route so I hope to be adding to that this year with more listings to help you plan your adventures.

I would like to wish everyone in our group a happy and healthy new year 2022!



Altnaharra  -  Opening on the 18th March 2022 (C&MC)
Auchnahillin Inverness  -  Open from April 1st to October 30th 2022
Applecross Campsite  -  Opening on the 1st March 2022
Ardmair Point Ullapool - Opening on the 1st April 2022
Ardtower Park Inverness - Open from March 1st 2022
Badrallach Campsite Dundonnell  -  Open from February 28th 2022
Beauly Holiday Park  -  Open 11 months per year
Broomfield Ullapool  -  Open from 15th April 2022
Brora  -  Open from 11th March 2022 (C&MC)
Clachtoll Beach Camp Site  -  Opening on the 1st April 2022
Crofter's Snug Thurso  -  Open for most of the year
Culloden Moor  -  Open from 11th March 2022 (C&MC)
Dornoch Caravan and Camp Site  -  Open from March 30th 2022
Dornoch Croft  -  Open all year (CCC)
Dunnet Bay  -  Open from March 18th 2022
Ferry View Night Stop Caithness  -  Open all year
Fortrose Bay Campsite  -  "Temporarily closed" - Open in April
Gairloch Holiday Park   Opening on the 1st April 2022  
Golspie Camping - Open all year
Gruinard Bay Caravan Park   Opening on the 1st April 2022  
Halladale Inn Campsite  -  Opening on the 1st March 2022
Inver Caravan Park Dunbeath  -  Open all year
Inverewe Gardens Poolewe  -  Open from 1st April 2022 (CCC)
John O' Groats  -  Opening on 1st April 2022
Kinlochewe Club Site  -  Open from March 18th 2022 (C&MC)
Kirkton Farm near Melvich  -  Open all year
Kyle of Tongue Holiday Park  -  Open from April 11th 2022
Loch Ness Shores   Opening on the 1st April 2022  
Morvenview Wick  -  Open all year
Morvich Club Site Inverinate  -  Open from 24th March 2022 (C&MC)
Pondside Camping Lairg  -  Opening in April 2022 
Port A Bhaig Campsite Altandhu  -  Open all year
Portmahomack Caravan Site  -  No dates confirmed yet
Rosemarkie Fortrose  -  No dates confirmed yet (Probably 11th March?)
Sands Caravan and Camping   -  Opening on March 28th 2022
Sango Sands Oasis Durness -  Open all year (Reduced services Nov - March)
Scourie Caravan and Camping  -  1st April to 30th September
Sheildaig Camping and Cabins   Opening on the 1st April 2022  
Shore Caraven Site Achmelvich  -  Opening March 31st 2022
Sinclair Bay Caravan Park Up Keiss  -  No dates confirmed yet
Stoer Head Car Park  -  Open all year
Stroma View Campsite  -  No dates confirmed and website is down 
The Wee Campsite Lochcarron  -  Opening in April 2022 
The Croft Certified Location - Open all year (C&MC members only)
Thurso Bay Caravan and Camping Park  -  Opening April 26th April
Thurso Ivy Cottage Certified Site  -  Open all year (CCC)
Wick Caravan and Camping Site - Closed for 2022 due to retirement of management
Windhaven Campsite Thurso  -  Opening in April 202



CAMPSITES ON ISLANDS AND NEAR THE ROUTE
Orkney - Kirkwall Bay Touring Park - Opening April 1st 2022
Skye -  Auchtertyre Farm Aire  Kyle of Lochalsh

SITES OFFERING WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL POINTS

Located at Culag New Pier in Lochinver.  £5 Black Waste and Fresh Water. Open all year. Pay at Leisure Centre front desk. 11-9 Mon-Thurs, 11-5 Fri & 12-5 Sat                         

Located on the West Coast not far from the Isle of Skye and offering water and waste disposal for non residents at the very reasonable price of £5.00. Payment is by paypal on their website.

Located at Lovat Bridge in Beauly, near Inverness. IV4 7AYThis site offers a service point for motorhomes providing you only use GREEN chemicals. Grey & Black water discharge, drinking water refill & shower for a £7 charge for those not staying on site.

Motorhome empty waste and fresh water refill is priced at £11.00 

Located on the B864 near Achany, Lairg, Highland, IV27 4EX. £3 Black Waste & Grey Water Disposal and Fresh Water Supply, Rubbish Disposal Open all year 24hrs, 7 days a week

Located  just off the A836 at Gills Bay, between Thurso and John O'Groats. 
No pitch, includes water refill and all waste & recycling disposal for a fee of just £7.50
Just turn up between 10am & 4pm.  Outside those times, please call ahead and give 30 minutes notice
Showers only - £2.50 per person (as above for times)

£5 Fresh water, Grey water & Black waste Open April - October 09:00 - 19:00, 7 days a week. Located at Wester Greengates, Fortrose, Ross-Shire, IV10 8RX Tel : 01381 621927

Black waste disposal & fresh water and Open all year 24/7, no charge
Located in Gairloch Harbour, Pier Road, Wester Ross, IV21 2BQ 

KW10 6SE - Located just off the A9 in the village of Golspie, Scotland.
I have had confirmation that they provide waste disposal for non residents for just £5 per vehicle

Located at Kerrowaird Farm House, A96, Dalcross, Inverness IV2 7JQ.  Their service point is available 
Monday - Saturday 08:30 - 17:00 and they offer Motorhome toilet disposal (Septic tank friendly chemicals only) Grey water disposal, Fresh water fill point, Recyling bins & rubbish disposal - all for only £5.00

Awaiting Confirmation Open all year. Was £5.00 in 2021

Community-owned stop-over overlooking Loch Clash, with five EHU's, fresh water, and chemical toilet waste disposal. The £15 overnight charge and £5 waste and water charge goes to community improvement projects. Payments for pitches and waste disposal/ water is at Bervie Stores in the village. Please do not be tempted to occupy the picnic site opposite as this denies its use to other people and it is very close to occupied properties.

Loch Lomond Tarbet Pier
Located on the A82 in Tarbet, Arrochar G83 7DE. Convenient for visitors coming up via the West Highland Way. £5.00 for Black & Grey Waste Disposal and Fresh Water

Donation - Black & Grey waste disposal, Fresh water, Rubbish bins. Open 24/7. Based on other places we would recommend a donation of £5 per vehicle.

Located off the B876 £5 Fresh water, Grey water & Black waste. Open all year 8:00 - 20:00, 7 days a week

£10 charge per vehicle for Grey & black waste, fresh water fill and rubbish disposal. Open April - October 09:00 - 19:00, 7 days a week. Located at 211 Achiltibuie, Altandhu, Ullapool IV26 2YR 01854 622339

This page is still under construction and I will be adding to it in the coming weeks as I get confirmation of facilities and prices for 2022. Please feel free to add your details at the bottom if you are a site offering facilities, we are always happy to add new businesses to the list. 


If you run a camp site or have information on a site that is opening or remaining closed please post below so we can update our list and keep our members informed. Thank you.

Always Follow the Motorhome Code

Don't camp where you are visible to houses 
Never camp in passing places or in turning places
Never park on Machair 
Don't block gates or slipways
Keep a low profile by arriving late and leaving early
Keep the noise to a minimum
Always take your rubbish with you and store it inside your motorhome to keep it away from animals
Do not light fires - save them for the beach and keep them below the tide line
Do not chop down trees or damage the area
Be discreet - don't hang out your washing or put up your awning
If other people are in a spot, try and find somewhere else instead
If there are no other spots leave a reasonable distance between vehicles (two car widths apart)
Don't be Greedy - If at a viewing point leave room for other vehicles and limit your stay
Don't empty grey waste (washing up water/shower water)
Don't empty Chemical Toilets in public toilets (SOG are not chemical)  Cassette or Chemical Toilets


This page was updated by Fiona on February 11th 2022