| Cairngorms National Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 View of the Cairngorms National Park. | |
 Location and extent of the Cairngorms National Park | |
| Location | United Kingdom (Scotland) |
| Coordinates | 57°5′N3°40′W / 57.083°N 3.667°W /57.083; -3.667 |
| Area | 4,528 km2 (1,748 sq mi)[1] |
| Established | 2003 |
| Governing body | National park authority |
| Website | Cairngorms National Park |
| Official name | Cairngorm Lochs |
| Designated | 24 July 1981 |
| Reference no. | 216[2] |
| UK National Parks |
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| Parentheses denotes the year. An area with‡ has similar status to a UK National Park. Areas marked† are proposed. |
Cairngorms National Park (Scottish Gaelic:Pàirc Nàiseanta a' Mhonaidh Ruaidh) is anational park in northeastScotland, established in 2003. It was the second oftwo national parks established by theScottish Parliament, afterLoch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was set up in 2002. The park covers theCairngorms range ofmountains, and surrounding hills. Already the largest national park in the United Kingdom, in 2010 it was expanded intoPerth and Kinross.[3]
Roughly 18,000 people live within the 4,528-square-kilometre (1,748 sq mi) national park. The largest communities areAviemore,Ballater,Braemar,Grantown-on-Spey,Kingussie,Newtonmore andTomintoul. Like all othernational parks in the UK, the park isIUCN designated Category V however it contains within its boundaries severalnational nature reserves that have IUCN Category II (national park) statuses, such asAbernethy Forest andMar Lodge Estate.[4]
In 2018, 1.9 million tourism visits were recorded.[5] The majority of visitors are domestic, with 25 per cent coming from elsewhere in the UK, and 21 per cent being from other countries.[6] Tourism makes up about 80% of the economy of the national park.[4]
The Cairngorms National Park covers an area of 4,528 km2 (1,748 sq mi) in thecouncil areas ofAberdeenshire,Moray,Highland,Angus andPerth and Kinross.[1] The mountain range of the Cairngorms lies at the heart of the national park, but forms only one part of it, alongside other hill ranges such as theAngus Glens and theMonadhliath, and lower areas likeStrathspey and upperDeeside.[7] Three major rivers rise in the park: theSpey, theDee, and theDon. The Spey, which is the second longest river in Scotland, rises in the Monadhliath, whilst the Dee and the Don both rise in the Cairngorms themselves.[6]
The Cairngorms themselves are a spectacular landscape, similar in appearance to theHardangervidda National Park of Norway in having a large area of upland plateau.[citation needed] The range consists of three main plateaux at about 1000–1200 m above sea level, above which domed summits (the eroded stumps of once much higher mountains)[8] rise to around 1300 m. Many of the summits havetors, free-standing rock outcrops that stand on top of the boulder-strewn landscape.[9] The edges of the plateaux are in places steep cliffs of granite and they are excellent forskiing,rock climbing andice climbing.The Cairngorms form anarctic-alpine mountain environment, withtundra-like characteristics and long-lasting snow patches.[9]
TheMonadhliath mountains lie to the north of Strathspey, and comprise a bleak, wide plateau rising to between 700 and 950 m.[10][11]
Two major transport routes run through the park, with both theA9 road and theHighland Main Line crossing over thePass of Drumochter and running along Strathspey, providing links between the western and northern parts of the park and the cities ofPerth andInverness. The Highland Main Line is the only mainline rail route through the park, however there are several other major roads, including theA86, which links Strathspey toFort William, and theA93, which links the Deeside area of the park to both Perth andAberdeen.[12][13][10]
The majority of the rocks within the Cairngorms National Park belong to theDalradianSupergroup, a thick sequence of sands, muds andlimestones that were deposited between about 800 and 600 million years ago on the margins of the former continent ofLaurentia.[14] Rocks now ascribed to theMoine Supergroup occur along the northwestern edge of the Park. These Dalradian and Moine successions were intenselyfaulted, folded andmetamorphosed during theCaledonian Orogeny between about 490 and 430 million years ago.[15] Geologists recognize a 'Grampian event', centred around 470 million years ago, which was responsible for the initial deformation of the Dalradian and relates to the collision of avolcanic island arc with Laurentia over a period of about 20 million years. The subsequent collision ofBaltica with Laurentia caused the 'Scandian event' which involved further folding and faulting of the Dalradian rock sequence. TheGreat Glen, Ericht-Laidon and Glen Tilt faults were all active asstrike-slip faults at this time and may have played a part in allowing largeplutons ofgranite to rise up amongst the Dalradian rocks and then cool in situ.[16]
The largest of these plutons is the granite mass which forms the Cairngorms themselves and which was emplaced around 427 million years ago. It is thought that the pluton had been unroofed within 20 million years of its emplacement and that the present landscape of the Cairngorms had begun to form by 390 million years ago. Evidence suggests that the granite currently at the surface was initially to be found at a depth of between 4 and 7 km.[15]
Other than a smalloutlier ofOld Red Sandstone, there are no younger solid rocks within the national park. Theice ages of the last 2.5 million years have howeverleft their mark both in terms of erosional and depositional features. Post-glacial features includepeat andlandslips.
The Cairngorm mountains provide a uniquealpinesemi-tundramoorland habitat, home to many rare plants, birds and animals. Speciality bird species on the plateaux include breedingptarmigan,dotterel,snow bunting,golden eagle,ring ouzel, andred grouse.[17][18] Mammal species includered deer andmountain hare,[17] as well as the only herd of semi-domesticatedreindeer in theBritish Isles. They now roam the high Cairngorms, after being brought in 1952 by a Swedish herdsman. The herd is now stable at around 150 individuals, some born in Scotland and some introduced from Sweden.[19]
The straths and glens of the national park feature a type ofancient woodland known as theCaledonian forest. The expanse of pinewood that stretches fromGlen Feshie toAbernethy forms the largest single area of this habitat remaining in Scotland, and the park as a whole holds more than half the surviving Caledonian forest.[20][6] In these forests can be found bird species suchcapercaillie,black grouse,Scottish crossbill,parrot crossbill andcrested tit.[21]
The entire length of theRiver Dee is defined as aSpecial Area of Conservation (SAC) due to its importance forsalmon,otters andfreshwater pearl mussels,[22] and the Don supports fish such as salmon, sea trout, brown trout, eels and lamprey.[6] In upper Strathspey, theInsh Marshes form one of the largest areas of floodplain mire and fen vegetation in Scotland,[23] and are important for many species of birds that breed there each summer. Breeding species includeosprey, ducks such aswigeon,shoveler andgoldeneye, and waders includingredshank,snipe,curlew andlapwing. The marshes also receive winter visitors includinggreylag geese from Iceland and up to 200whooper swans.[24][25]
The national park is classified as aCategory Vprotected area by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature,[26] meaning that it is an area in which people have interacted with the landscape for many years, and which is managed to sustain the habitats and landscape that have resulted from this interaction.[27] The IUCN defines "National Parks" as areas conforming with Category II of its classification system (q.v. theHardangervidda National Park),[28][29] however Scotland in general lacks such areas, as thousands of years of human activity, includingagriculture, historicaldeforestation,overgrazing bysheep anddeer, and extensive 20th centuryafforestation withintroduced tree species (particularlyconifers), have resulted in landscapes which are best described as semi-natural.[30]
Within the national park there are many areas that have additional protection via other conservation designations: there are 19Special Areas of Conservation,Special Protection Areas and 46Sites of Special Scientific Interest.[6] Nine of Scotland'snational nature reserves are located within the park:Abernethy,Corrie Fee,Craigellachie,Glen Tanar,Insh Marshes,Muir of Dinnet,Invereshie and Inshriach,Glenmore, andMar Lodge Estate.[31]
The idea that parts of Scotland of wild or remote character should be designated to protect the environment and encourage public access grew in popularity throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 1931 a commission headed byChristopher Addison proposed the creation of a national park in the Cairngorms,[32] alongside proposals for parks in England and Wales. Following theSecond World War ten national parks were established in England and Wales, and a committee was established to consider the issue of national parks in Scotland. The report, published in 1945, proposed national parks in five areas, one of which was the Cairngorms.[33] The government designated these five areas as "National Park Direction Areas", giving powers for planning decisions taken by local authorities to be reviewed by central government, however the areas were not given full national park status.[32] In 1981 the direction areas were replaced bynational scenic areas, of which there are now 40.[34] In 1990 theCountryside Commission for Scotland (CCS) produced a report into protection of the landscape of Scotland, which recommended that four areas were under such pressure that they ought to be designated as national parks, each with an independent planning board, in order to retain their heritage value. The four areas identified were similar to those proposed in 1945, and thus again included the Cairngorms.[35]
Despite this long history of recommendations that national parks be established in Scotland, no action was taken until theestablishment of theScottish Parliament in 1999. The two current parks were designated as such under theNational Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, which was one of the first pieces of legislation to be passed by the Parliament.[33] Before the national park was established in 2003,Scottish Natural Heritage conducted a consultation exercise, considering the boundary and the powers and structure of the new park authority.[36]
Following the establishment of the park many groups and local communities felt that a large area ofhighlandPerth and Kinross should form part of the park and carried out a sustained campaign.[37] On 13 March 2008Michael Russell announced that the national park would be extended to take inBlair Atholl andSpittal of Glenshee,[38] and the park was duly extended on 4 October 2010.[3]
In 2015, 53 km (33 mi) of the 132 kVpower line in the middle of the park was taken down, while another section along the edge of the park was upgraded to 400 kV.[39]
Tourism accounts for much of the economy and 43% of employment within the park area. In 2018, 1.9 million tourism visits were recorded.[5] The park's mandate is sustainable tourism "that builds on, conserves and enhances [its] special qualities".[40] The Cairngorms Business Partnership includes 350 private sector member businesses.[41] In early 2017, the park was voted by Hundredrooms as one of the top seven eco-tourism destinations in Europe and discussed as a "mecca for outdoor enthusiasts".[42] The Visit Scotland web site discusses the amenities and indicates that this park "has more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots, friendly villages and distilleries than you can possibly imagine".[43]
The village ofCarrbridge is within the park. In 1717 theCarrbridge Packhorse Bridge was built to cross theRiver Dulnain so funeral processions could cross to theDuthil Church. It is a stone bridge and it has become a popular tourist attraction.[44]
The park is popular for activities such aswalking,cycling,mountain biking,climbing andcanoeing: for hillwalkers there are 55Munros (mountains above 3,000 feet (910 m) in height) in the park.[6] Two ofScotland's Great Trails pass through the park: theSpeyside Way and theCateran Trail.[45]
Askiing andwinter sports industry is concentrated in the Cairngoms, with three of Scotland's five resorts situated here. They are theCairn Gorm Ski Centre,Glenshee Ski Centre andThe Lecht Ski Centre. There was controversy surrounding the construction of theCairngorm Mountain Railway at the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre, a scheme supported by the national park authority. Supporters of the scheme claimed that it would bring in valuabletourist income, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for aprotected area. To reduce erosion, the railway operates a "closed scheme" and only allows skiers (in season) out of the upper Ptarmigan station: other visitors may not access the mountain from the railway unless on a guided walk.[46]
The Cairngorm Mountain Railway funicular was closed in October 2018 "due to health and safety concerns", or "structural problems" according to reports in summer 2019. At the time, an investigation was still underway to determine whether modifications would be "achievable and affordable". (The same situation was reported in December 2019.) This railway first opened in 2001 and connects the base station with a restaurant on Cairn Gorm mountain.[47][48]
Aviemore is a busy and popular holiday destination, located close toGlenmore Forest Park and the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre. TheStrathspey Railway ispreserved railway runningsteam andheritage diesel services betweenAviemore railway station andBroomhill viaBoat of Garten, along part of the formerHighland Railway.[49]
TheHighland Wildlife Park also lies within the national park, and the Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail is located near Feshiebridge. This short trail through the woods features a sculptures created by Frank Bruce between 1965 and 2009.[50]
In addition to theCairngorm Brewery, six distilleries are located within the Park area:Dalwhinnie distillery,The Glenlivet distillery,Tomintoul distillery,Royal Lochnagar distillery,Balmenach distillery andThe Speyside distillery. Royal Lochnagar, Dalwhinnie, Cairngorm Brewery and Glenlivet are set up to receive visitors on a regular basis. Tomintoul, Balmenach and Speyside can be visited but require an appointment made in advance.[51]
The National Park is administered by anational park authority, which is anexecutive non-departmental public body of theScottish Government.[52] Under theNational Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, national parks in Scotland have four aims:[53]
The first two of this aims are identical to those included in theNational Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 legislation that governs national parks in England and Wales, however the Scottish national parks have two additional aims (3 and 4 above). The general purpose of the National Park Authority, as defined in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, is to ensure that these aims are "collectively achieved ...in a coordinated way". Although the four aims have equal status, in accordance with theSandford Principle, the first aim (conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage) is to be given greater weight when it appears to the park authority that there is irreconcilable conflict with the other aims.[53]
The National Park Authority works with partners, defined as "business, land owners, communities and charities". The Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2017 - 2022 includes three long-term goals: conservation, visitor experience and rural development.[54]
The Cairngorms National Park Authority shares statutoryplanning functions with the fivelocal authorities covering the area, and has the power to "call in" planning decisions made by them.[55] The Authority also takes responsibility for managing access to the countryside that elsewhere falls to local authorities. Aside from the planning and access functions, the National Park Authority has considerable flexibility as to how the four aims are achieved. It can, for example, acquire land, make byelaws and management agreements, provide grants, offer advice, and undertake or commission research.[56][57] The authority is headquartered in Grantown on Spey.[58]
The National Park Authority is run by a board, consisting of 19 members. Five members are elected by the community and seven are appointed by the Scottish Government. The remaining seven members are nominated by the local authorities, with Highland and Aberdeenshire councils each appointing two members and the remaining three councils appointing one member each.[58]
Some scenes forMonarch of the Glen (that aired from 2000 to 2005) were filmed in the park and nearby onLoch Laggan andArdverikie House.[59]
In 2012, some scenes for the Batman movieThe Dark Knight Rises were filmed at Cairngorm Gliding Club's site at Feshiebridge. Parachutists jumped from a jet and landed at the club's airstrip.[60]
During summer 2019, filming ofNo Time to Die was taking place in the town ofAviemore and in the surrounding park area.[60] Some scenes were also being shot at the Ardverikie House Estate just outside the park.[61]
Other films and television programmes that have done some shooting in the Park area includedMary Queen of Scots (2018),Outlaw King (Netflix, 2018),Outlander (TV series),Victoria (TV series, Episode 7),Mrs Brown (1997),Centurion,Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,The Queen (2006),The Crown (Netflix series) andVictoria & Abdul (2017).[62]
Around 18,000 people live within the national park.[63]
| Council area | Towns and villages |
|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire (Marrcommittee area) | |
| Angus | |
| Highland (Badenoch and Strathspey committee area) | Aviemore,Boat of Garten,Carrbridge,Dalwhinnie,Dulnain Bridge (Moray and Highland are separated by the bridge),Drumochter,Grantown-on-Spey,Kingussie,Laggan,Nethy Bridge,Newtonmore |
| Moray | Glenlivet,Tomintoul |
| Perth and Kinross | Blair Atholl,Killiecrankie,Spittal of Glenshee |
The Cairngorms is a special destination due to its natural beauty and the range of activities available for tourists who prefer local experiences in sustainable environments.
Disney/Pixar's 3D animation 'Brave' was heavily influenced by the landscapes, wildlife, myths and legends of the Cairngorms National Park.
Settlements and places of interest inMarr, Aberdeenshire | ||
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