Abandoned tents and unsafe fires: What Highland rangers dealt with last summer

Rangers in the Highlands recorded thousands of incidents of outdoor toileting, hundreds of unsafe fires and an increase in fly-tipping last summer, according to a new report.

And after syringes were found at a number of locations, they were issued with a box for safely collecting sharps.

Highland Council says it is concerned by continued cases of irresponsible behaviour in some of the region's most visited rural areas.

During that time 18 rangers completed 1,755 patrols around parts of the Highlands, and spoke to more than 22,600 people.

Most of their interactions with the public were positive but 269 were registered as negative, the report said.

"Whilst a small number of the total, they are uncomfortable, distressing and possibly threatening to the ranger involved," it added.

They recorded 6,428 incidents of outdoor toileting, of which 1,862 were in North Skye, Coigach and Assynt. The report said that could be linked to a lack of public toilets.

The team discovered 45 abandoned tents, mostly in Wester Ross and Loch Ness.

They filled 2,100 bags of litter - a similar number to previous years -and recorded 638 waste and fly-tipping issues.

The highest concentration of fires, litter and abandoned tents was in East Lochaber and Loch Ness. North Lochaber and South Skye also saw increases.

Dumping wastewater from toilets - so-called "blackwater" - increased from 126 incidents to 2023 to 207 last year.

It was a particular problem in Wester Ross and Assynt, and the Black Isle and Mid Ross.

Rangers recorded 2,681 fire marks and extinguished 236 unsafe fires, with the highest levels of damage in East Lochaber and Loch Ness.

Philip Waite, outdoor access manager and author of the report, said: "We're looking at installing signage in places where there is repeated use of fires in very busy locations."

Councillor Ken Gowans, chair of the economy and infrastructure committee, said he was "disappointed" to see continued cases of bad behaviour.

"These findings underline the ongoing need to educate visitors about respecting our beautiful Highland environment and the communities who live here," he added.

"From clearing abandoned campsites and collecting litter, to extinguishing unsafe fires and supporting compliance at car parks, [the rangers'] daily actions help protect our landscapes and promote a more sustainable and respectful visitor experience," he said.