TOURISTS FACE ALCOHOL BAN AT UK BEAUTY SPOT ASSOCIATED WITH JAMES BOND

It is the famed backdrop to James Bond's fictional home in the 007 movie Skyfall.

But while the on-screen secret agent is known for liking his Martini's 'shaken not stirred' there are now calls for an alcohol ban at Glen Etive, near Glen Coe, in a bid to stop the growing number of wild campers littering the valley.

Locals say 'too many' visitors are leaving a 'trail of destruction', including broken bottles and human waste, with residents left to clean up the mess and repair the damage at the iconic location.

They believe the introduction of a no alcohol bylaw is the only way to protect the beauty spot amid claims many of the problems are 'associated with the consumption of alcohol'.

Highland councillor Andrew Baxter said: 'Some of those coming to the glen are not true wild campers. 

'They load up their cars with cheap tents and lots of booze.... They enjoy a 'party' weekend and leave on a Sunday afternoon. 

'The glen might as well be called 'Glen Midden' as a result - discarded tents, rubbish strewn along the loch side, piles of beer cans and worse. 

'They do so even when they have to walk past empty rubbish bins on the way back to their car.'

He added that he has previously worked with residents, landowners and the police to look at a long-term solution and said it was 'agreed that we didn't want to ban camping but a drinking by-law could work'.

The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of Glen Coe and Glen Etive Community Council which noted that Highland Council was 'not willing to take on [the] cost'.

Highland Council said 'the power to make byelaws is reserved to full council'.

A spokesman added: 'The council's legal team provides advice to councillors on the process and considerations that can be involved in the creation of new byelaws and the subsequent enforcement.'

The National Trust for Scotland said 'a variety of solutions' have been suggested to reduce issues with anti-social camping in the area and that it 'will work with other organisations to implement whatever changes are recommended.'

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2025-02-18T01:06:09Z