Lingering Loch Ness lay-by chaos frustrates all

Inverness Couier: Published: 11/05/2011

VISITING the Wellington lay-by with its picturesque views of Loch Ness it is quickly obvious why the stop is so popular with thousands of tourists throughout the summer.

But it is soon equally clear why it needs to be fully reinstated.

For 30 minutes, on a beautiful sunny lunchtime, a stream of vehicles pulled into the only available 30-metre section — evidence of high demand for the layby, which can accommodate just six cars at one time.

Several other vehicles indicated to stop but were forced to carry on due to lack of parking space.

One motorist even pulled in and parked at an angle. His decision caused the car behind to swerve to overtake and almost collide into an oncoming van.

The incident was just one small snapshot of several near misses Highland tourism ambassador Willie Cameron has seen at the location since metal crash barriers restricting access were put up in December 2008. "It’s been like that ever since they put that balustrade up," said Mr Cameron, director of Loch Ness Marketing. "It is positively dangerous and with the increase in tourism traffic it’s just going to get worse.

"People start to indicate because they think they are coming to a lay-by, then find there is only space for a few cars and no room for them, so have to come out again. The problem is, the traffic behind them don’t know what they are doing. I’m surprised that there aren’t more accidents. It is not going to improve until the whole lay-by is completely sorted."

The 140-metre stretch, located off the busy A82 between Lochend and Drumnadrochit, was closed when a landslide caused part of the retaining wall to collapse.

Barriers were erected while work to assess the crumbling retaining wall was carried out and the layby was partially reopened.

Workers have been on site in a piecemeal fashion ever since, working on drainage and an access point to the shore.

So far repairs have cost £126,000 and a survey is to be carried out on what else needs to be done to re-open it.

Mr Cameron hopes this will be given utmost importance because he fears it may take a tragedy for action to be carried out.

"The A82 is a dangerous road at the best of times and to have an obstacle like that where people can’t easily go off the road to look at the loch makes matters worse," he commented.

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