Cairngorms National park - Scotland - UK - National Parks of the World on Waymarking.com

The Cairngorms National Park (Scottish Gaelic Pàirc Nàiseanta a' Mhonaidh Ruaidh) is a national park in north east Scotland, established in 2003. It was the second of two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament, after Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, set up in 2002. The park covers the Cairngorms range of mountains, and surrounding hills. Initially the largest national park in the British Isles, in 2010 it expanded into Highland Perth and Kinross.
The Cairngorms National Park covers an area of 4,528 km² (1,748 sq miles) in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus and Perth and Kinross Regions. The Cairngorm Mountains are a spectacular landscape, similar in appearance to the Hardangervidda National Park of Norway in having a large upland plateau. While the Hardengervidda National Park is recognised as a category 2 national park under the IUCN categories no activity that has a lasting impact on the natural environment is permitted) the Cairngorm National Park is a category 5 protected landscape (sustainable development area) that has farmed and managed landscapes in which tourism is encouraged. Aviemore is the busy and popular holiday destination most people have heard of but Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore and Kingussie are worth spending some time in as you enter the park from the south. Highland Wildlife Park and Dalwhinnie Single Malt lie within the National Park.
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.[citation needed] One option presented for the area included Tomatin, Blair Atholl, Aboyne and Glen Shee, making the park twice as big as the Lake District National Park.[citation needed] The area finally chosen was smaller than expected, but still the largest in Britain. It involved the boundary areas of Carrbridge, Laggan, Dalwhinnie, Grantown-on-Spey and Ballater. Many groups and local communities felt that a large area of highland Perth and Kinross should form part of the park and carried out a sustained campaign.[citation needed]

On 13 March 2008 Michael Russell announced that the National Park would be extended to take in Blair Atholl and Spittal of Glenshee.[2] There was also controversy surrounding the construction of the funicular Cairngorm Mountain Railway on Cairn Gorm, a scheme supported by the new National Park Authority. Supporters of the scheme claimed that it would bring in valuable tourist income, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for a protected area. To reduce erosion, the railway operates a "closed scheme" and only allows skiers (in season) out of the upper Ptarmigan station.[citation needed]

On 4 October 2010 the Park extended into Highland Perthshire and Glenshee.

Park Name: Cairngorms National Park Natural Park: yes Recreation Area: yes Wildlife Refuge: yes Park Website: [Web Link] Type of Listing: Visitor Center Fees in Local Currency: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Dates of Access: From: 01/01/2010 To: 12/31/2010 Hiking: yes Camping: yes Bicycling: yes Horseback Riding: yes Off-Roading: yes Swimming: yes Snorkling/Scuba: yes Boating: yes Rock Climbing: yes Fishing: yes Other Activities: Skiing in Winter time. Historic/Cultural Park: Not Listed Other Park Type not listed above: Not listed Other Type Detail: Not listed Hours available: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/13/2011 greysman visited it 08/11/2005 netdust visited it

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