A SCOTTISH camping site has moved to a pay-what-you-can model as Scots struggle with the cost of living crisis.
The Knoydart Ranger Service, based in Lochaber, announced a change to its pricing policy for its Long Beach site for the duration of the coming winter.
This means campers can pay as little or as much as they like to “enjoy the stunning views of Inverie Bay, the Isle of Rum and the rugged peak of Sgurr Coire Choinnichean”.
Part of the Knoydart Foundation, which was founded in 1997, the registered charity owns more than 17,500 hectares of land in the Scottish Highlands peninsula.
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Ranger Finlay Greig said the organisation has had one eye on the cost-of-living crisis as it sees the impact on its own business.
He told The National: “We’ve known people who were wanting to get over to Knoydart this year but haven’t been able to purely for financial reasons.
“I had an email from a couple of campers who have been coming for years who said they won’t be able to come this year.
“So I ended up offering them a discounted rate. I just said: ‘pay what you want’. That got the ball rolling with the idea. “ Greig said many campers will opt to pay the full price, or even more, knowing that “the money all goes back into the community”.
“For those who can’t afford,” he said. “Or who can only afford a pound or two at night, we are pretty confident they will be happy to pay what they can.”
Those who book with Knoydart Ranger Service will have access to a tent pitch, toilet facilities, fresh water and firewood.
Greig said he is confident the policy will mean people who otherwise wouldn’t have come to Knoydart will.
The organisation is also keen to stress the mental benefits of nature.
The ranger said: “One of the chief reasons we brought it in is that we are aware of the mental health impact being hard up can have on you.
“And we are aware of the mental health benefits of being among nature can produce.
“We are trying to knock the financial element on the head and pave way for people to spend a lot more time in the woodlands, around the village or at the Munros.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to enjoy those benefits.”
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