Coronavirus: Judy Murray says ‘go home idiots’ to those heading for Scottish countryside

Tourists are being urged to stay at home and not visit some of the remote communities in the Scottish Highlands in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s tourism secretary, was clear, saying: “My advice to everybody is stay where you are. Do not travel to the Highlands and Islands.”

Meanwhile, Judy Murray, mother of tennis stars Andy and Jamie Murray, tweeted a simple message to “those relocating to the countryside” – a picture of a car and trailer with “Go home idiots” and “Covid-19” painted on the side.

The pleas came as the organisation that represents tourism businesses along the A830 road, which connects Fort William with Mallaig, also urged potential visitors to stay away.

The Road To The Isles group includes 100 accommodation and visitor-based businesses on the scenic route, which takes in Glenfinnan, Lochailort, Roshven, Arisaig, Morar, Mallaig and the Small Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rum, Canna and the Knoydart peninsula.

The area already has an ageing population, with just one doctor and ambulance to cover it, and the nearest hospital is 100 miles away.

It comes as areas of London act to close parks and other areas. Hammersmith and Fulham council will close parks from Sunday night while the Royal Parks, responsible for Hyde, Regent’s and St James’ Parks, are closing kiosks and cafes.

The National Trust has shut parks and gardens and said coastal carparks were “now likely to be closed” as people still travel to use them. Other areas, including the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, have also asked people to stay away.

As Covid-19 affects communities across Scotland, the organisation said the “vital services” still open there are “struggling to cope with demand”.

Sine MacKellaig-Davis, chair of Road To The Isles marketing group, said the organisation at this time would normally be marking the opening of the season, coming out of hibernation and preparing to welcome valued visitors from around the country.

“However, Covid-19 has changed all our lives as we know it. We now face a difficult road ahead and have a social responsibility to protect our communities.”

She added: “For now, we ask you to stay home, care for loved ones and, as soon as it’s safe to do so, the Road To The Isles and its communities and businesses will welcome you.”

Ms Hyslop told BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland that people heading to the Highlands in campervans or to stay in holiday homes could be putting local communities “at risk”.

She said: “If they get ill there they will compromise the health of others that are living in the Highlands and Islands.”

She added that emergency legislation being brought in by Westminster would give both the UK and Scottish governments “specific powers” to help with this.

But she stressed: “We’re appealing to people to use their common sense for their safety, the safety of their family and indeed of the vital communities.

“They will be welcomed back to the Highlands and Islands at some point in the future, just it is impossible right now.”

Similarly, Douglas Ross, Scotland’s office minister, said the UK and Scottish governments had both been “very clear” in issuing the message to people: “Stay at home, don’t risk yourself and others by going to more remote parts of the country where the NHS will be under pressure, the local shops will be under pressure.”

With the emergency legislation being debated at Westminster on Monday, he added: “We shouldn’t need to enforce this, but when this bill is debated in parliament the powers will be coming to the Scottish parliament to deal with this if we have to.”

Press Association