Camper Vans - the Scourge of the Hebrides?

Camper Van Jam

I have just returned from a trip to Harris and Lewis, a first visit for 40 years. Some things have changed – on a Sunday you can get a ferry, find a restaurant and the toilets aren’t locked – but some things are just the same. The Callanish stones are still impressive, Luskentyre beach is still incredible and the road to Hushinish (and back) is one of the drives of a lifetime. The tiny café at Aird Uig provided a lunchtime Seafood Soup that will long live in the memory.

But for me one very unwelcome change was the proliferation of camper vans which seemed to occupy way too much space in the landscape. Whether it was the inevitable large traffic jam behind, or parking at an otherwise pristine wild spot overnight or simply occupying 2 or more spaces in a small car park, they were a very visible and largely (to me) unwelcome sight.

Whilst Scotland encourages wild camping, I wondered how much these Campers contributed to the local economy? It is ironic that you may not get a cup of tea because the local Café has closed, when outside the car park is full of Camper Van owners drinking their own home-made cuppas.

I wondered how much of the provisions were bought at Tesco in Inverness rather than in Stornoway or Tarbert? A study conducted this summer by Outer Hebrides Tourism found that campervan tourists are worth £2 million per year to the Western Isles economy. During an average 5 day trip, owners spend just under £500 on food, drink, fuel, goods, arts, crafts and meals with businesses in the Outer Hebrides. Though we spent way more than that in our 5 day trip so I am not convinced that their spending outweighs the inconvenience.

If you have a Camper Van, as several of my friends do, then I apologise for my extreme opinion; I don’t want to start an argument and I understand the attraction of self-contained transport. But like everyone including you as a reader, I have strong and possible irrational views on a number of topics, some of which may be shared by you and some not.

To be a Coach, or indeed to be Coached, it is not necessary to become bland, or to hide your opinions to make them invisible. We are who we are, warts and all. Coaching, and being Coached, helps us understand ourselves. As a Coach, I can laugh at my own pretensions and inconsistencies and as a Coachee your ideas, rational or irrational, once expressed, will help you see where you are with your life and work, and enable you to determine where you want to go next. Coaching is a process of speaking and listening, with some occasional targeted questioning, which enables you to define your agenda and move forwards. If that involves buying a Camper Van that’s OK by me, it is your story not mine.

If despite my irrational and possibly offensive ideas, you think Coaching might be for you please book a free 30 minute session here.