LOCALS on a Scots island have been left furious after campers parked up and pitched their tent on a beach despite numerous tide warnings.
A post was shared on a Isle of Harris Facebook group last night which showed tourists setting up camp on Northton Bay for the night very close to the water.
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The snap showed a big 4×4 parked up on the sand, with a safari-style tent looking over the shore and a picnic table.
The campers were warned by a number of locals that there was a high tide coming in which could land them in serious trouble.
But had no intention of moving elsewhere despite the warnings and said they were doing nothing wrong.
However, the family did end up moving their car to a safer place.
The Facebook post read: “Northton beach just now. When asked why they said we are not doing anything wrong and there is no sign saying no camping.”
The post then went viral on Twitter and another local posted an update on the situation.
She said: “They have been advised by various locals both politely, and not so, that the tide will come in.
“They have moved their vehicle, which is not supposed to be on the beach as it’s a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).
“It’s not illegal to camp on the beach. But it’s far from wild camping, no car, in the wild, unobtrusive.
“There is a lovely campsite down the road, where you can stay right by a beach.”
Social media users were shocked by the photo, one person said: “Holidaying on an island and being ignorant about the concept of tides.”
Another wrote: “Ridiculous!”
A third commented: “Shock horror, city folks know better than locals…”
While a fourth said: “Unbelievable stupidity and total disrespect for the environment!”
Northton Bay is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and is located in the south west of the Isle of Harris.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) suggests that driving a car onto the beach means the stay wouldn’t be classed as wild camping.
The code reads on the SOAC website: “Access rights extend to wild camping.
“This type of camping is lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place.”
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