FLS’s 2021 'Stay the Night' initiative closes for the season
Forestry and Land Scotland’s ‘Stay the Night’ initiative allowing campervan and motorhomes to use 32 its car parks across Scotland for overnight stays is to end on Sunday 31 October.
Originally established in 2020 at the height of the country’s emergence from COVID-19 lockdown, Stay the Night aimed to help alleviate pressure on honey-pot tourism sites and on local communities and businesses.
The initiative was part of FLS contribution to the Scottish Government Visitor Management Strategy - a coordinated effort of several agencies (including National Parks, Nature Scotland, Local Authorities, Police Scotland and Visit Scotland) to help manage the high demand for tourism in Scotland in 2021.
It allowed self-contained motorhomes and campervans (with all facilities including toilet inside the vehicle) to overnight between the hours of 6pm and 10am, with no return visit for 48hrs. The Stay the Night sites were checked regularly by a team of skilled seasonal rangers that helped everyone have a good visit to our forests.
Stuart Chalmers, FLS’ National Visitor Services Manager, said;
“Overall the initiative was broadly welcomed and the feedback from campervan and motorhome users and wider communities and partners has been very positive.
“It was so popular last year that we ran the initiative again this year. As winter approaches we are going to assess all of the information and feedback and decide whether we run Stay the Night again in 2022.
“We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the initiative and who has taken the time to give us their views – or air their concerns.
“Everyone’s views will be taken into account as we consider our options and we hope to have made a decision early in 2022.”
All FLS participating car parks have now reverted to no overnight parking permitted.
Notes to editors
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Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07785 527590 or paul.munro@forestryandland.gov.scot