The return of Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) ‘Stay the Night’ initiative is set to provide a “boost” for small rural businesses.
The initiative has seen the addition of new locations this season, including The Black Isle, Loch Lomond, Loch Awe and Aberdeenshire.
The Stay the Night initiative allows visitors to stay overnight responsibly in FLS-managed forests, of which there are 40 stretching from the Scottish Borders to the Highlands.
Stay the Night will run until October 31, 2024, with self-contained motorhomes and campervans (with all facilities including toilet inside the vehicle and used inside) permitted to park overnight in a selection of car parks, for one night only.
A 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.
FLS visitor planning manager, Alan Chalmers, 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.”
Chalmers said FLS is asking people using the sites to follow guidance, which 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,” he said.
