What is a National Park?

National Parks are now found in most countries. There is a great variety of National Parks because each nation creates its own approach to suit its own needs. But all National Parks have the following common features:

they identify areas of land or sea - usually extensive areas - which are of the very highest value to the nation for their scenery and wildlife, and often for their cultural heritage value;
they provide positive management and additional resources to safeguard the special qualities of these areas for the long term; and
they provide opportunities for the public to enjoy these areas, because they are usually highly attractive places to visit.

National Parks in Scotland

In Scotland, National Parks have been established to deliver better management of some of Scotland's most special areas of outstanding natural and cultural heritage. They have the following aims:

to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage
to promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public
to promote sustainable social and economic development of the communities of the area

These aims are pursued collectively, so that the achievement of one aim for the area will not undermine the achievement of another but should contribute to it. In this way, social and economic development is addressed alongside the proper protection of the natural heritage. However, in cases where there appears to be irreconcilable conflict between these aims, priority will be given the protection of the area's natural and cultural heritage.

The designation of a National Park does require the transfer of land to state control or ownership. Instead, the main mechanism for achieving Park aims is the preparation and implementation of a National Park Plan. This contains objectives and policies for the implementation of each of the aims. To minimise the scope for conflict between the aims, it may apply different policies to different areas of the Park ('zoning').

The process for establishing National Parks in Scotland is set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. This legislation provides for two phases of public consultation on a formal Ministerial proposal, with the final decision to establish a National Park taken by the Scottish Parliament.

The National Park Authority

For each National Park, a National Park Authority is established to draw-up this plan and ensure its implementation.

This Park Authority is a national body like SNH, funded directly by Government and reporting directly to Scottish Ministers. Scottish Ministers and local authorities each make 40% of the appointments to the Board of the Park Authority, with the remaining 20% directly elected by people who are on the electoral role for the area. Legislation places an upper limit of the size of the Board of the Park Authority of 25, with a guarantee that at least 20% of the members will be people who live in the area, or who are its local authority ward or community councillors.

What Powers will a National Park Authority have?

The main purpose of the National Park Authority is to prepare and facilitate the implementation of the National Park Plan. To do this, each Park Authority needs to work in close partnership with the many stakeholders in the Park, including its communities, its landowners and managers, and other organisations and individuals with an interest in the conservation, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of its natural and cultural heritage.

In addition, the Park Authority has a number of functions and powers to help it directly facilitate the achievement of Park aims. These include functions and powers to:

I. enter into management agreements, make bylaws and establish management rules
II. make charges for goods and services
III. provide advice and assistance and undertake or fund research
IV. provide grant
VI. purchase land
VII. create nature reserves
VIII. provide information and education
IX. provide countryside facilities such as toilets, carparks, campsites and picnic areas
X. provide sport, recreation and leisure facilities
XI. make improvements to inland waterways
XII. protect and maintain of rights of way; and
XIII. request traffic management schemes

National Park Authorities will also have specific powers under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, tailored to the needs of the Park area. Some take over the role of the local planning authority and have responsibility for drawing up the local plan for the area and making decisions on development proposals based on it. Other National Park Authorities may be consultees on these matters, with planning powers remaining solely or partly with the local authority.

Visiting Scotland’s National Parks

The Scottish right of access applies in our National Parks. This provides for general access for everyone to land and water for the purposes of recreation and education, subject to that right being exercised responsibly. There are also safeguards for privacy and for the interests of land owners and managers to ensure that crops and cattle, historic sites and wildlife are not damaged or disturbed. Further information on places to visit and things to do in National Parks is available from various sources, but a good place to look first are the websites established for each National Park and The Visitscotland website.

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