A GRIEVING widow blasted “disrespectful” tourists for turning an island’s cemetery car park into a changing room for the nearby beach.
Lynne Mackay, 50, was devastated when she lost husband Calum in April after a battle with cancer.
Now she visits him every second day at Luskentyre Cemetery on the Isle of Harris.
But she said the peace has been shattered by uncaring visitors who she accused of taking over spaces set aside for mourners.
Lynne said they often block the gates and make it impossible for her to get into the graveyard.
While she accused others of blaring music from their campervans or hanging up wet stuff on fences.
Lynne told the Press and Journal how on one visit she bumped into a woman undressing her kids in the car park.
She said: “The towels were hanging over the fence and it was like a changing room.
“These people wouldn’t like it if their loved ones were in the cemetery. The whole thing was disrespectful and upsetting.
“Something needs to be done now as each year Harris only gets busier and this problem is only going to get worse.
“We want to visit the cemetery in peace and get it the respect it deserves.”
The cemetery sits right next to Luskentyre Beach which is ranked as one of the best in the world.
Tourists flock there in their droves every years to see the white sand and crystal clear water.
But its car park is so small that they flood into spaces reserved for mourners heading to the cemetery.
Lynne makes a 20 minute drive from her home in Tarbert to visit tragic Calum.
She’s now started a petition to stop tourists parking outside the graveyard.
Lynne said: “You can’t get a parking space anywhere due to camper vans and cars taking up spaces meant for people using the cemetery.
“There are signs which state that the spaces are reserved for cemetery patrons only.
“I’m told it has been like this for years. I didn’t know about it. You don’t find out about these things until you’re in the situation yourself.”
Fed-up locals claim the graveyard is a no-go area in the summer because of tourists. They’re backing the campaign.
Harris councillor Grant Fulton revealed he’s determined to resolve the issue.
He said: “ I can only apologise to all residents and visitors who have attempted to visit loved one’s graves to pay their respects and to spend some quiet time of reflection and prayer.
“This has been an ongoing problem for years but seems particularly bad this year.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“We need a solution fast. Be assured I am working on this.”
A spokesman for Western Isles Council said: “Visitors to Luskentyre Beach should follow all instructions given by signage.”