Now that the 2025 visitor season is well behind us, the full picture of its impact across the Highlands is clearer. Reports from Access Rangers provide valuable insight into how increased visitor numbers, changing travel habits and limited facilities continue to affect countryside areas and the communities that care for them.

While Garve and District was not identified as a hotspot, pressures recorded in surrounding areas show how quickly issues can spread when visitor management and infrastructure struggle to keep pace. This makes it important to reflect early and locally, rather than waiting for problems to become established.

What Rangers Observed on the Ground
During the 2025 season, Access Rangers carried out extensive patrols across the Highlands, speaking directly with visitors, monitoring activity and responding to issues as they arose. Their role is not enforcement-led but focused on education, early intervention and protecting both communities and the environment.

The overall picture is of a landscape that remains hugely popular, but increasingly vulnerable to cumulative impacts. Many of the challenges seen are not caused by one-off incidents, but by repeated small behaviours occurring in the same places throughout the season.

Informal Camping and Abandoned Equipment
Informal camping continued to generate concern in several areas, particularly where it took place close to roads, buildings or sensitive habitats. Rangers repeatedly linked camping-related pressures with litter, fire damage and outdoor toileting.

The highest concentrations of problems were recorded in East Lochaber and around Loch Ness, with increases also noted in North Lochaber and South Skye.

Although overall tent numbers fell compared to previous years, Rangers still found 45 abandoned tents, most commonly in Wester Ross and the Loch Ness area. These abandoned camps leave a lasting impact on landscapes and often fall to local teams or volunteers to clear.

Fire Risk in a Dry Summer
One of the defining features of the 2025 season was prolonged dry weather, which significantly increased wildfire risk. Rangers recorded 2,681 fire marks across the Highlands and extinguished 236 unsafe fires before they could spread.

Fire damage was most evident in East Lochaber and Loch Ness, where hundreds of individual fire sites were identified. Even where fires did not spread, scorched ground, damaged vegetation and peatland scarring can take years to recover. Rangers consistently stressed that stoves are safer and more appropriate than open fires, particularly during dry periods.

Motorhomes and Changing Travel Patterns
Recreational vehicle use remains a major pressure point. Although the total number of motorhomes, campervans and roof-tent vehicles dropped slightly to 31,782, Rangers recorded an 8 percent increase in vehicles encountered per patrol, indicating more concentrated use in fewer locations.

High numbers continued to be recorded in Lochaber, Skye and along the North Coast 500, with noticeable increases in West Lochaber, Lochalsh and parts of Sutherland.

This concentration places strain on small car parks, roadside verges and laybys that were never designed for overnight use.

Waste Disposal and Outdoor Toileting
One of the most serious environmental concerns raised in the report was the sharp rise in blackwater waste dumping. Rangers recorded 207 incidents, a 60 percent increase compared to previous years.

The most affected areas were Assynt and Wester Ross, with further high numbers recorded in the Black Isle, Mid Ross and North Skye. In remote areas, clean-up is complex, costly and slow, leaving lasting damage to land and water.

Outdoor toileting also remains widespread, with 6,428 incidents recorded across the Highlands. Nearly a third occurred in North Skye, Coigach and Assynt. Rangers noted that long distances between public toilets are likely contributing to the problem, particularly along key road corridors.

Parking Pressures and Litter
Parking issues were a frequent source of tension, particularly where vehicles blocked passing places or damaged verges. Rangers issued 590 parking warning notices, mainly in Wester Ross and the Black Isle. At Chanonry Point, a regular ranger presence helped improve compliance and reduce conflict.

Litter levels remained persistently high, with nearly 2,100 bags collected over the season. Reports of fly-tipping and dumped waste rose to 638 incidents, adding to the burden on already stretched local services.

Engagement, Education and What Makes a Difference
Despite these challenges, the value of direct engagement is clear. Rangers spoke with 22,632 people during the season, promoting the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, fire safety and awareness of local facilities.

Most interactions were positive and well received, with only 269 recorded as negative. This reinforces the importance of visible, approachable ranger services in reducing conflict and encouraging more responsible behaviour.

What This Means for Garve and District
The absence of Garve and District from hotspot listings is significant. It suggests that pressures here are currently lower or more dispersed, offering an opportunity to take a preventative approach rather than reacting later to entrenched problems. We are though as a community only too well aware of issues here from dirty toileting, to litter to irresponsible fire lighting no area in Highland is immune. 

With neighbouring areas experiencing increased strain, there is a real risk of displacement as visitors seek quieter locations. Early community-led discussion, realistic facilities and locally informed decisions will be key to protecting what works well now.

Looking Ahead
The lessons from the 2025 season are clear. The Highlands continue to be loved, but love alone does not protect landscapes or communities. Responsible access, adequate facilities and strong local voices all play a role in ensuring tourism works for those who live here year round.

For communities like Garve and District, keeping in touch with the Seasonal Access Rangers, staying informed and engaged is the best way to ensure future visitor management reflects local needs, values and long-term sustainability. We were delighted that our local Ranger, Richard Maclennan came and gave a talk last season.

The Highland Council will be continuing to fund the Rangers service this season too. 

Read the full Seasonal Access Rangers 2025 Report