National Park campsites and camping permit areas set to reopen, with advance bookings necessary

Campers will once more be able to stay at low-impact campsites (managed by the National Park Authority) on Loch Chon and Loch Achray, or book a permit to camp in areas within the Camping Management Zones where Camping Management Byelaws apply.

Online camping booking will be necessary to help manage demand for camping in popular lochshore areas around Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. Bookings will be taken online from 9am on Thursday 16th July with bookings available up two weeks in advance.

Capacity at the National Park Authority-run campsites will be reduced to manage physical distancing and reduce pressure on facilities like toilets on-site. This will help the safety of campers, staff working at the sites and the communities around them. Numbers will be kept under review, and more capacity will be added as and when it is deemed safe to do so.

The reopening of these sites coincides with the expected reopening of the tourism sector across Scotland from Wednesday 15th July, in line with Scottish Government’s Phase Three of easing lockdown restrictions.

National Park Chief Executive, Gordon Watson, said: “With many holidays cancelled this summer, lots of people are looking for a break a little closer to home so we fully expect campsites and camping permit areas that we manage to get booked up fast. We’re reminding people to check our website and book a camping permit in advance, as turning up without one may leave disappointed if areas are already at full capacity.

“Like many places across the country, a visit to the National Park this summer isn’t going to exactly the same it was before. While facilities and local businesses are beginning to reopen, this won’t happen all at once. This season, not all campsites are going to take tents or campervans without facilities on-board, and most, including the ones we manage, require advance booking. We can still offer a warm welcome but people will need to think, check and plan in advance to come prepared for their stay.”

Seasonal Camping Management Byelaws are still in effect in some areas of the National Park to help protect popular lochshores. Within these zones, people can only camp in a campsite or a pre-booked camping permit area. The byelaws are enforced by both National Park Rangers and Police Scotland and can result in a fine of up to £500.

There are also private campsites throughout the National Park but checking what facilities they offer this season and booking in advance will be more crucial than ever as many have had to limit the services they provide or adjust their operations to allow for physical distancing and to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

For more information on camping in the National Park including a list of campsites including the ones operated by the National Park Authority at Loch Chon and Loch Achray visit our camping webpages.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. As part of Phase Three of the Scottish Government’s routemap, from 15th July, wild camping in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code will be permitted again outside of the Camping Management Zones.
2. Camping permit areas are available for tent-based camping, there are also some motorhome permit areas to help cope with demand.
3. When campsites reopen at first campers will be asked to bring their own drinking water plus washing up bowl and biodegradable washing up liquid, as the usual shared washing-up facilities and drinking water won’t be available on-site.
4. For those staying at our camping permit areas, where there are no washing or toilet facilities, campers are reminded to know how to go to the toilet in the outdoors, safely and hygienically, without impacting on others.
5. The campsite on Inchcailloch will not yet be reopening as a COVID-safe cleaning regime is not manageable at this remote site at the moment. This will also be continually reviewed as the weeks progress.