THE Ring of Brodgar is being desecrated by tourists defecating near the ancient monument.
It comes as the famous Scottish historic site has been subject to an ongoing row over the construction of public lavatories.
Councillors in Orkney agreed plans last year to install permanent loos at the Unesco World Heritage Site. Although it was said then that it will be 2027 by the time they are ready to be used.
However, it was also stressed that signs should be put in place to guide visitors to the nearest toilets in the area following reports of people using the nearby loch-side or road verge due to the lack of facilities.
In the meantime, Orkney Islands council has been forced to hire a private firm to regularly clean the faeces.
It's not the first popular attraction in Scotland to face issues with public toilets as we told last year how villagers in Glenfinnan (below) called for them to deal with an overwhelming number of tourists.
Mark Reeves, operator of Reeves Pest Management Services, complained on social media about the lack of toilets in Orkney.
He said: The toilets get blocked on a weekly basis at Skara Brae. There is no toilets at the Ring of Brodgar and the track along the loch it’s strewn with human faeces. A customer of mine found a tourist crapping in her front garden.”
An Orkney Islands council spokeswoman said: “The lack of toilet facilities at the Ring of Brodgar — where there is no visitor centre — is undoubtedly a challenge. We have improved signage and visitor information in the area and continue to explore options for facilities at the site, but there are very significant constraints in terms of what can be done, including those of planning permission, environmental constraints and the proximity of sites of historic and scenic interest.
“In the meantime, we continue to hold a contract with a local cleaning company who provide environmental cleaning at the site, which involves removal of various types of waste. We encourage visitors to Orkney to act in a responsible manner.”
