Are You Ready for Summer?

You have your travels booked up, you know where you want to go, the day is fast approaching, you’re ready!

Or are you?

Read on through our mini-checklist to be sure that you’re ready to make the most of this summer and your trip to the stunning northern-most counties of Caithness and Sutherland. After all, if you’re travelling all this way you don’t want to miss out.

Image: Wendy Sutherland

Mini-checklist:

1. Booked up – What’s your plan?

2. Scottish Outdoor Access Code – What’s that all about?

3. Wild Camping – The dos, the don’ts and the downright dirty

4. Responsible Travelling – It’s for everyone

1. Booked up - What's your plan?

Picture the quiet roads of Scotland with sheep and highland cows jostling with you for right of way, your car or camper quietly zooming along as you enjoy the spectacular scenery of the north. The perfect way to enjoy a summer holiday!

And as you pull in to your booked stop for the night you – wait, you booked your vehicle but you haven’t booked anywhere to stay?

Image: Wendy Sutherland

You might think it’s easy to find somewhere to stay in such a remote location but that’s all the more reason to make sure that you are fully booked up with overnight stays in campsites, B&Bs, hotels or self-catering, because everyone else thought the same thing and you don’t want to arrive at the only campsite for miles around to discover that there are no spaces left.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code for wild camping does not cover motorised vehicles, so unless you are parked up in a designated overnight parking spot you may accidentally be causing serious problems for locals, wildlife and our landscape.

Book, book and book again!

2. Scottish Outdoor Access Code – What’s that all about?

Scotland has some of the most extensive land access rights in Europe, which is great for anyone wanting to explore by foot, hoof, paddle, bike and pretty much any way you can think of.

Image: Maciej Winiarczyk

But with great rights come great responsibilities.

These rights of access only apply when exercised responsibly so it’s pretty important to know what is and isn’t responsible before you go.

For example:

• You can access our beaches, but to be responsible you should adhere to any local guidance or paths in place to protect fragile eco-systems such as dunes.
• You can access our mountains, but to be responsible you should take seriously any official notices about stag-shooting in the area and alter your plans accordingly.
• You can access our land for wild camping, but to be responsible you should read up beforehand what is involved so you can be sure that you are not breaking the limits of what is allowed.

No one expects you to be an expert on what is and isn’t allowed when travelling in a new area, but it’s far better to do a little reading up before you go than to arrive and realise there were a few mistakes that could have been avoided.

We’re always learning too!

3. Wild Camping – The dos, the don’ts and the downright dirty.

Image: Maciej Winiarczyk

You’ve heard everyone chatting about wild-camping and you fancy giving it a go. Well be prepared for some of the most remote and beautiful scenery you could possibly experience. But it’s not for everyone, so best to decide ahead of time how you want enjoy your holiday and if that happens to involve a cosy double bed and hot tub we think that’s pretty epic.

Do

• Camp far away from buildings, roads and parking areas. Avoid access routes where you might be obstructing other users.
• Make sure you have the appropriate equipment and clothing with you. Scotland can be cold at any time of the year and it’s not unusual to have snow in summer!
• Take ALL your litter and waste away with you, including compostable waste such as apple cores. Top fact – banana skins and orange peel take a very long time to biodegrade in the Scottish climate and will be there months after you were.

Don’t

• Light any fires for cooking or enjoyment unless at a designated campsite which allows this. Wildfires are common in Scotland and can destroy our landscapes and wildlife in an instant.
• Try to make friends with the locals… the local wildlife that is! Enjoy seeing them in their natural environment but please don’t try to feed them, and that goes for farm animals such as cows or horses you might see along the way.

(not) Dirty

• There’s no excuse to be a messy camper, and there’s plenty of information available on best toilet practices for wild camping. Suffice to say that if you’d rather not see anyone else’s business while you’re enjoying your scenic holiday then it’s a pretty safe bet that no one else wants to see yours! Know before you go.

Bonus: Keep your midge repellent close by because it is going to become your new best friend while wild camping. Seriously, they’re notorious in Scotland for a reason.

4. Responsible travelling – It’s for everyone.

Image: Maciej Winiarczyk

However you’re travelling, wherever you’re staying, whatever you’re visiting – there will always be something you can do to help protect our environment and conserve it for the future. That might be something as small as picking up a piece of litter you see on the ground or donating to a local eco-charity such as North West Highlands Geopark.

Here’s some other great ideas on small changes that can have a big impact:

• Grab that extra jumper instead of turning up the heating.
• Take a re-usable shopping bag with you wherever you go.
• Try to shop at local stores along the way.
• Time those showers to preserve water.
• Switch off and unplug electrical chargers when they’re not in use.
• Turn off your vehicle’s engine when you’re stationary.
• Try to recycle as you go.

One of the best ways to be a responsible visitor is to speak to the locals and learn from them what it’s like to live in the very North of Scotland. We have so many stories to share and plenty of advice to give, such as where to get the best fish n’ chips, that perfect spot for a photo, how to avoid the crowds and which experiences will give you precious lasting memories.

When you visit Caithness and Sutherland you aren’t just seeing an area, you’re joining us in our home. And while you travel here it is your home too!

Image: Maciej Winiarczyk

So there you have it, our mini-checklist for summer. How would you rate yourself on the readiness scale?

Don’t worry, there’s still time to get things sorted out if you haven’t been able to tick everything off the list and we look forward to welcoming you to Caithness and Sutherland.