Wick campsite attracts 5900 visitors in first two months of season
Wick River Campsite is on course for a “bumper year” after attracting more than 5900 visitors during the first two months of the new season.
The figures for overnight stays in April and May were described as “mind-blowing” this week as members of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council welcomed the latest step in the site’s three-year upgrading plan.
A replacement reception building opened this year as the focal point of a £435,000 programme of improvements. That followed on from a £450,000 facilities block.
The campsite officially reopened under the management of Wick Development Trust in June 2022 and profits will ultimately go towards local regeneration efforts.
Development trust chairman Alistair Jack delivered a progress report at the June meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) on Monday night.
“The campsite is doing really well,” Mr Jack said. “The reception building is now open.
“A lot more people are coming on site and then asking can they stay an extra night, or two extra nights, or seven extra nights – some are extending that long.
“In April we had 1058 pitches booked, which equated to 2285 people on site.
“Then in May we were full a lot of nights – we couldn’t take any more: 1828 booked on site in May, which equated to 3625 people for the month.
“If it continues at the projection that it’s going, we should have a bumper year for the site and for the town. A lot of people, because they’re staying extra, are going out and they’re going to the distillery, they’re going to pubs and restaurants for food.”
A leaflet has been produced giving information to tourists on places to eat in Wick, listing both sit-down and takeaway options.
“We’re trying to make it a quality campsite,” Mr Jack said. “We’ve been getting some amazing reviews, which has been superb.
“A lot of people say it’s the best campsite they’ve ever stayed at, best in the Highlands, best in Scotland.
“Now that the campsite is done, we’re going to turn our attention towards the town centre, to see if we can start looking at other projects.”
Meanwhile, a community open day is being planned at the campsite on Sunday, June 29.
Mr Jack explained: “There will be a barbecue and it’s just a chance for the local community to come down, look at the site, look at the new facilities that have been built, and ask any questions.”
Anyone wishing to attend the community open day is asked to fill in a registration form as numbers need to be limited.
Newly elected RBWCC chairman Allan Bruce said: “These figures on people visiting the town are just mind-blowing, as far as I’m concerned.”
Funders for the reception building were Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Dounreay Socio-Economic Fund and the SSE Sustainable Development Fund.
Mr Jack is chief officer of Caithness Voluntary Group as well as being chairman of Wick Development Trust.
A survey in 2023 found that visitors to the campsite were contributing well over £600,000 to the local economy that year.