National Parks

The term countryside can be defined as an area of land that is located outwith a large town or city. In general, they have low population densities, which usually consist of people living in small settlements and are categorically surrounded by natural habitats in many forms. Scotland’s rural areas accounts for around 94% of its land mass, this includes features such as moorlands, woodlands, farmlands, freshwater stores, mountains and coastlines.

In 2106 14.3 Million tourists visited Scotland, these numbers don’t differ so much, a large pull factor for this is the vast array of countryside and natural features that it can offer. Unfortunately, its countryside’s are continually facing many problems, therefore it is more important than ever

They are protected geographical areas that usually consist of a beautiful scenery, heritage and wildlife. National parks often cover such large areas that they are not owned by one singular person, but many different individuals and organisations, which range from private landlords (such as people living in villages within the national park) to groups like the National Trust. One thing they do have in common however is a singular set of rules and regulations which govern what can be done to the land within their boundary. To oversee that the standards are being kept there is a group called the National Park Authority. This group in each park are in charge of making the “National Park Policy Plan” and overseeing its application. The policy plan will include objectives which ensure the upkeep of the park and limit places that can be built on etc. Currently there are two national parks in Scotland, The Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (see figure 1). The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 paved the way for the establishment of these parks. The aims that the act states are to conserve the local heritage and nature. To encourage the use of natural resources sustainably and to promote sustainable social and economic opportunities by using the unique qualities that the park has to offer. It is up to the park authority to prioritize these aims if there is ever a conflict between them (UK, N. (2018). About

This includes the development of agricultural land and structures, woodlands and infrastructural necessities such as electricity networks. Some of the positive implications greenbelts make include the prevention of urban sprawl, which allows the countryside and wildlife to thrive safely. This then provides open space outside of the cities which can be used for recreational activities or educational opportunities (see figure 5). They stop surrounding settlements from being engulfed by the city which protects their cultural heritage and keeps their economy steadier. In the “Scottish Planning Policy”, published June 2014 by the Scottish government it states that each greenbelt is to be looked after and protected by the local authority for the area that it is situated within. Greenbelts can be said to cause one major issue however, they limit the volume of land that is available to be built on which means that there is a higher demand for houses and the prices rise. This means that it can be harder and more expensive for people to live within the