Motorhomes and caravans have been banned from joining standby queues for ferries to Scottish islands after a tide of anger from islanders about overwhelmed services. CalMac, the state-owned ferry company, has decided motorhomes, camper vans and caravans will only be allowed on their services if they have a confirmed reservation, in a bid to placate furious islanders. The new policy follows a surge in the number of complaints to CalMac and Scottish ministers about a crisis affecting ferry services this year, following a series of breakdowns, cancellations and significant constraints on passenger numbers due to the Covid pandemic. Scottish islands and picturesque holiday destinations, including the North Coast 500 tourism route, have become a magnet for motorhome holidaymakers, many of whom are driving them for the first time on Scotland’s narrow and windy rural roads. Many popular ferry services have been fully booked for months by Britons choosing UK holidays rather than going abroad, preventing islanders, businesses and sports teams from visiting the mainland for essential trips and fixtures. CalMac said its ban on motorhomes and caravans from waiting in often long standby queues was to free up space for islanders who needed to make urgent or short-notice journeys, and to prevent roads and terminals becoming clogged by large vehicles. Islanders who own motorhomes or caravans and are travelling to and from home will be exempt. The company said the policy had been cleared by the Scottish government. The Caravan and Motorhome Club refused to comment. Alasdair Allan, the MSP for the Western Isles, applauded the decision. “I have been receiving reports of motorhomes parking in the standby queues at ports overnight, exploiting the fact they are able to sleep in their vehicles and queue ahead of everyone else. “This isn’t what the turn-up-and-go tickets are supposed to be for, and I am glad to see this particular loophole closed.” Finlay MacRae, the head of operations for CalMac, said: “To prioritise customers without alternative accommodation and to optimise deck space motorhomes, camper vans and vehicles towing caravans will no longer be given a standby or waitlist position on all bookable routes. “Restricting larger vehicles in standby lanes will allow us to make the best use of any remaining space for smaller vehicles, whose occupants may not have alternative options available for accommodation.” There have been unverified reports of motorhomes being attacked in parts of the Highlands. A Perth-based motorhomes rental firm advised its customers this week to avoid the North Coast 500 after tyres were slashed on two of its vehicles, and eggs and yoghurt thrown at others.