Stay the Night back with new destinations
Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) popular ‘Stay the Night’ will see the addition of several new locations this season.
The Black Isle, Loch Lomond, Loch Awe and Aberdeenshire are the latest scenic destinations allowing visitors to overnight responsibly in FLS managed forests and will feature as part of around 40 sites stretching from the Scottish Borders to the Highlands.
Stay the Night will run until 31 October 2024 with self-contained motorhomes and campervans (with all facilities including toilet inside the vehicle and crucially used inside) permitted to park overnight in a selection of car parks, for one night only.
The reopening of additional Stay the Night sites comes on the back of a successful winter trial that saw a selection of car parks remain open for overnight stays.
The usual modest charge of £7 per stay, payable via RingGo by app or phone, will be in effect at most sites with a few charging £10 and offering chemical waste disposal facilities.
Alan Chalmers, FLS’ Visitor Planning Manager, said;
“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to all our Stay the Night sites including five new locations. Like all our sites, the latest additions such as Tarbet Isle on the shores of Loch Lomond and Learnie on the Black Isle, offer visitors the chance to slow down and enjoy some of Scotland’s breathtaking scenery.
“Stay the Night helps to meet the growing demand for informal one night stop-overs and encourages people to stop at locations they would otherwise have passed through and should help to provide a boost to many small rural businesses.
“Once again, we ask people using our sites to follow guidance that includes no fires or barbecues, taking away rubbish, keeping noise levels down and finding alternative options if the car park is already full.”
“It was also pleasing to see how successful the Stay the Night winter trial proved to be with visitors taking up the opportunity to overnight responsibly in the participating car parks and enjoy the scenery and landscape in a different light.”
Full details including a list and location map of all the sites is available online. Stays are for one night only between the hours of 6 pm and 10 am, with no return visit for 48 hrs.
Stay the Night is only for self-contained motorhomes and campervans. This means vehicles that include accommodation and toilet facilities inside, and crucially used inside. It doesn’t include tents beside cars, pop-up, pup or toilet tents, or any motorhome or campervan without its own toilet facility. And no generators are permitted.
No booking system is in place and the participating car parks will operate on a first come first served basis. Seasonal rangers will regularly check each of the participating car parks to ensure an enjoyable experience for all.
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 Neil Ratley, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07748 872 785 or neil.ratley@forestryandland.gov.scot