Sutherland councillors concerned over NC500 ‘super rally’ plan
Plans for a “super rally” of up to 140 cars on the North Coast 500 tourist route (NC500) next year are causing concern.
Austrian Roman Eggers, of an organisation called the “Back Road Club”, which holds road trips across Europe, emailed two Sutherland councillors on Monday to say he was planning the rally in June.
Mr Eggers said around 280 people in 130-140 cars were expected to take part in the 3,500km “Pothole Rodeo Celtic 2025” over a 10-day period from June 3-12.
Participants will start in the south of England before travelling through Wales and the north of England to the Highlands. After touring the north of Scotland, the rally will cross into Ireland.
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The entire tour meets for two hours each morning to discuss the day ahead and to receive information.
Mr Eggers, who has written to North, West and Central Sutherland ward councillors Hugh Morrison and Marianne Hutchison, said it was intended to hold one of these tour meetings on June 7 at Achmelvich, where there is a campsite and where the beach car park has just been extended.
He said: “We have found a place that was perfect for us. We would like to leave our cars from 7am-9am in this car park, maybe some cars along the road. Many participants will stay overnight at the campsite and will leave their cars there and do not need to go to the car park, but can walk directly to the beach.”
However, Durness based councillor and local businessman Hugh Morrison said: “This would be by far the largest rally ever held in the area and it is a real concern.
“This is not what the NC500 was meant to be about. We cannot become a theme park for a merry-go-round of car rallies of long convoys that cause all kinds of problems for local people and other visitors.
“There are others in the pipeline, I’m sure. There has to be a limit, but you can’t stop people using the roads legitimately.”
Mr Morrison said he would raise the issue with council officials, but the advice he had already received from Highland Council principal traffic officer, Shane Manning, was that he would have no objection and saw no need to “give specific permission as this would just be an adhoc activity”.
Meanwhile Rustbox Rallies, which has organised previous rallies on the 516-mile NC500, is planning another rally on the route from March 5-8, 2025.
The company says that participants will “explore hidden gems in the Highlands, indulge in local delicacies, and enjoy group activities that will create unforgettable memories. We make sure to take care of all the logistics so you can focus on soaking in the breathtaking views.”Plans for a “super rally” of up to 140 cars on the North Coast 500 tourist route next year are causing concern.
