The Stay the Night scheme has returned to Scotland for the 2023 season, running from 1 April to 31 October.

The scheme allows motorhomes and campervans to park overnight for a single night at 36 of Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) carparks.

To be eligible to stay, campervans and motorhomes need to be self-contained, with the ‘van’s facilities – such as the toilet – inside the vehicle.

They will then be able to stay between 6pm and 10am, but will not be permitted to return for 48 hours.

It will run on a first come, first served basis, with no booking system in place. For 2023, there will be a charge for Stay the Night too, with the organisation asking visitors to pay £7 per stay, via the RingGo app.

Commenting on it, Stuart Chalmers, FLS’ National Visitor Services Manager, said: “It’s really gratifying to know that the motorhome community really respects our sites and the other visitors that will stop for the night. However, there is always the small minority that doesn’t play by the rules and to make sure that they don’t spoil it for everyone else, our seasonal rangers regularly check each of the participating car parks.”

“The modest £7 charge per night will help us to cover those additional costs and make sure that our visitors all enjoy a great experience.”

“We know that the motorhome and campervan communities are a major part of Scotland’s tourism traffic.”

“Stay the Night helps to meet the growing demand for stopping places and by encouraging people to stop at locations they would otherwise have passed through, should also provide a boost to many small rural businesses.”

You can find out about the participating car parks by visiting the FLS’ Stay the Night page.

Update: Here in 2024? The Stay the Night scheme has returned to Scotland for 2024 too.


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