Trust hails plan to expand national park

Published on Wednesday 22 October 2008 22:29

A LEADING conservation charity says extending the Cairngorms National Park into Highland Perthshire will allow it to earn its title.

A consultation ends tomorrow on a plan to add 300 square miles to the park which, at 1,466 square miles, is already the largest in the UK.

The extension would see the communities of Blair Atholl, Calvine and Spittal of Glenshee added as well as seven more Munros, many historic rights of way and more internationally-important alpine habitats.

The extension is backed by the John Muir Trust. Nigel Hawkins, its chief executive, said: "We welcome this proposal … the park currently only includes the northern Cairngorms.

"This extension will embrace the southern Cairngorm mountains as well, truly earning Scotland's first national park the title of 'the Cairngorms National Park'."

The designated area presently stretches from Grantown-on- Spey to the heads of the Angus glens, from Ballater to Dalwhinnie and Drumochter, including much of the Laggan area in the south-west, and a large area of the Glen Livet estate.

Mr Hawkins said he hopes that making Blair Atholl the focus point for visitors entering the park will increase its impact. "Right now, the only indication that you are entering Britain's largest national park is a sign by the road at Drumochter. Moving the boundary to Blair Atholl will give the park greater presence."