The National Parks Of Scotland

Scotland and it’s seven hundred plus islands cover an overall area of 78,722 square kilometers. The country sports a dramatic 11,803 kilometer long coastline and has a picturesque, ninety six kilometer border with England. 

Despite it’s size and rugged natural beauty Scotland is home to only two national parks, both of which are described below;  

  

LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK

PAIRC NAISEANTA LOCH LAOMAINN IS NAN TROISICHEAN 

The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park is located in the Scottish council areas of Argyll & Bute, Perth & Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire and covers an overall area of 1,865 square kilometers / 720 square miles and was established in 2002 .
As it's name suggests the park includes Scotland’s largest lake or loch, Loch Lomond / Loch Laomainn, which covers an area of 71 square kilometers and the Trossachs, a heavily wooded area of glens and lochs containing some thirty three villages and towns which between them are home to several ancient castles, ancient monuments and whiskey distilleries.
The national park as a whole is home to the United Kingdom’s highest mountain Ben Nevis / Beinn Nibheis which stands at 1,344 meters high and is located in the Grampian Mountain range. The area around the Grampians also contain another twenty one munros of over three thousand feet and nineteen corbetts.  

The park is further served by two forest parks, twenty two large lochs, fifty rivers, fifty seven natural conservation sites, twenty one visitor centres, six cycle paths, four golf courses and thirty towns and villages.

Overall the park is a haven for nature lovers, hikers, cyclists, hill walkers, lovers of water sports, mountain climbers and Winter sports enthusiasts.

 

ADDRESS – Carrochan Road, Carrochan, Balloch, G83 8EG

TELEPHONE – 01389 722600

WEBSITE - www.lochlomond-trossachs.org 

  

THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

PAIRC NAISEANTA A MHONAIDH RUAIDH 

The Cairngorms National Park, which was established in 2003, covers an overall area of 4,528 square kilometers / 1,748 square miles, making it the largest national park in the whole of the United Kingdom.
The Cairngorms are a mountain range located between the Highland towns of Aviemore and Braemar, which were named after the massif's highest peak, Cairn Gorm.

The national park, which is located in the Scottish council areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highlands, Moray and Perth & Kinross also includes the Highlands Wildlife Park, the Glenmore Forest National Nature Reserve, the Abernethy Forest RSPB reserve, the ancient Caledonian Forest, the Rothiemurchus Estate, the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Loch Morlich and it’s award winning beach and forty three monros, the tallest of which is Ben Macdhui at 1,309 meters high.

The park is sparsely populated with only eleven small towns and villages located within it’s environs. Because of this the park is a haven for wildlife, so much so that a quarter of the country’s most endangered species have been given a home in the park.

The park, which is also classified as the coldest and snowiest region of the United Kingdom, is home to three Winter ski centres, making the park the United Kingdom’s premier ski-ing location.

When the Winter snows melt the park is drained by the rivers Avon, Dee, Don, Feshie and Spey, all of which are considered to be excellent salmon fishing waters.

Overall the park is ideal for nature lovers, hill walkers, mountain climbers, pony trekkers, anglers, sailers, canoists, bird watchers and winter sports enthusiasts.

The park is served by nine visitor centres and for the less agile the park also provides a scenic mountain railway.   

ADDRESS – 14 The Square, Grantown on Spey, PH26 3HG.

TELEPHONE – 0901 226 0511.

WEBSITE - http://cairngorms.co.uk

MOUNTAIN RAILWAY - www.cairngormmountain.org

HIGHLAND WILDLIFE PARK - www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk