When a Car Park Says It’s Full, It Is Not Asking for Your Opinion
A plea from a man who has spent forty years being told 'there'll be a space somewhere'.
The Hermitage, which is lovely, and full. Photo: Bob Embleton, “Money tree, The Hermitage, Dunkeld - geograph.org.uk - 4632309”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Let me tell you about a word. The word is “full.” It is short. It is not ambiguous. It has no secret second meaning known only to people with roof boxes.
When the car park at The Hermitage is full, there are no spaces. It does not mean “full, unless you’re quick.” It certainly does not mean “full, but have you tried the verge of Scotland’s busiest trunk road?”
Yet every autumn weekend the leaves turn, and so do the brains of otherwise sensible adults. Something about a waterfall makes people believe the laws of physics have been suspended for them personally.
Come early, come late, come on the bus — or go somewhere else. Perthshire is basically one big tree. Park in a proper car park, buy a scone, and look at a different tree. The leaves will still be there tomorrow. So will you, if you don’t park on the A9.
The real story: Hermitage visitors urged to avoid peak times after A9 verge parking (The Courier, 19 Oct 2026)
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