Fact Sheet - Landscape and Heritage

This document contains a factsheet about the landscape and cultural heritage of the Cairngorms National Park, which covers 6% of Scotland's land area and is one of the largest protected landscapes in the UK. The park's special qualities include magnificent mountains, vast spaces, contrasting landscapes, and a harmony of natural and cultural elements. The landscape features mountains, plateaux, forests, moorlands, glens, and straths, supporting diverse wildlife. It also has visual and sensory qualities like dark skies and natural sounds, as well as a rich cultural history with planned towns, vernacular buildings, and historical landmarks. Two National Scenic Areas are within the park, and a significant portion is identified as wild land. The area's historic landscape is shaped by climate, geology, and human activities, with numerous recorded historical sites. Conservation efforts focus on protecting designated areas and buildings at risk, and the area's linguistic heritage is reflected in place names and the presence of Gaelic and Scots speakers.