Three more Scottish sites on heritage shortlist

Published on Monday 21 March 2011 15:57

SCOTLAND'S northern wilderness, the Forth Bridge and Shetland's Iron Age ruins are to be put forward as potential new World Heritage sites.

They were selected from six nominations across Scotland put forward to the UK government and have joined a shortlist of 11 likely to be put forward to Unesco for official approval in the next few years.

The Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland, which covers around 1,500 square miles, includes the largest area of blanket peatbog in the UK. The protected Shetland sites include those at Mousa, Old Scatness and Jarlshof. The Forth Bridge made the shortlist despite supporters of the bid failing to win the backing of Network Rail, which is responsible for its upkeep.

Three other Scottish nominations lost out after an expert panel, including representatives of Historic Scotland, whittled down an original list of 38 - Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed buildings in Glasgow, St Andrews and its links, and Arbroath Abbey.

Scotland already has five of the UK's 28 World Heritage sites: Neolothic Orkney, Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, New Lanark, the island of St Kilda, and the Antonine Wall.

Scotland's culture minister Fiona Hyslop said: "Scotland has a worldwide reputation for our beautiful landscapes, our fascinating history and our incredible achievements. The Forth Bridge, the crucible of Iron Age Shetland and the Flow Country perfectly embody these outstanding qualities.

"I am delighted that from the impressive array of 38 applicants, three Scottish sites have been deemed to possess the elements of outstanding universal value that make them worthy of taking their place alongside the eight other fantastic candidate sites from across the UK and its overseas territories."