Draft National Park Partnership Plan
Cairngorms National Park Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh
Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan Draft for public consultation – 14 October 2026 to 13 January 2027
Scan QR code to view and respond to this draft online Cover image © David Lintern
Contents
Consultation ………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………..5
National Park Partnership Plan 2022 – 2027 in numbers ………………………….14
Our long-term vision…………………………………………………………………………….15
Our plan for the future………………………………………………………………………….17
Mission one: nature and climate resilience……………………………………………….18
Mission two: communities ……………………………………………………………………49
Mission three: National Park for all ………………………………………………………..64
Glossary of terms………………………………………………………………………………..82
Terms marked with an asterisk* throughout this document appear in the glossary on page 82
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 2
Consultation
The public consultation lasts for 13 weeks from 14 October 2026 to 13 January 2027. Following the consultation the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board will consider alterations to the Plan before submitting the Plan to Scottish Ministers for final approval.
We would welcome responses to the following questions:
Mission one: nature and climate resilience
a) To what extent do you agree or disagree with mission one? b) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the targets for mission one? c) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the actions for mission one?
Mission two: communities
a) To what extent do you agree or disagree with mission two? b) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the targets for mission two? c) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the actions for mission two?
Mission three: National Park for all
a) To what extent do you agree or disagree with mission three? b) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the targets for mission three? c) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the actions for mission three?
Overall
Is there anything missing that should be included in the National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32?
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 3
How to respond
You can respond to the consultation through our website cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan or by email at enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk
Alternatively, you can respond by post to:
Park Authority office 14 The Square Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HG
To request a hard copy of the draft Plan, or to receive the draft Plan in an alternative format, please call +44 (0) 1479 873 535 or email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 4 Catriona Parmenter
Introduction
The purpose
There has been great progress in delivering the National Park aims over the last 22 years. Each successive National Park Partnership Plan has underpinned the coordinated delivery of actions by public bodies, land managers, businesses and communities.
However, the wildfire in Glenmore and Abernethy is a stark reminder that progress can be lost. The climate is changing in the Cairngorms and how we adapt to increased flooding, water scarcity and wildfire, and the impact of these on communities and nature, is at the heart of this Partnership Plan.
This Partnership Plan addresses the fundamental, underlying issues that prevent the National Park from reaching its full potential. It sets out the case for the changes that will have the biggest positive effect on achieving the long-term vision of the National Park – ensuring it is a place where nature and people thrive together.
The Partnership Plan itself has been reinforced as the statutory management plan for the area through the enactment of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026. This sets out that all public bodies, as well as Scottish Ministers, have a duty to facilitate the implementation of National Park Partnership Plans.
The basis for delivering the National Park Partnership Plan is, of course, voluntary. The desire to work in partnership with organisations, land managers, businesses and communities to deliver this Plan is at the heart of the Park Authority’s approach. From farming and community development to visitor management and river restoration, there are great examples that show what can be achieved when we work together to tackle big issues in the Cairngorms.
However, it is also worth stating that many of the issues outlined in the 1992 report by the Cairngorms Working Party – Common Sense and Sustainability – A Partnership in the Cairngorms – are still with us today. There has been significant progress but, 35 years after that document was published, it is clear that this has not been quick enough and that the impacts of climate change and biodiversity* loss are accelerating.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 5
The issues around climate adaptation*, biodiversity* loss and community resilience are too acute to be tackled at the speed of the slowest partner. So, a new approach is needed in this Partnership Plan. The National Park Authority was given a series of powers to deliver the Partnership Plan and until now it has, in the main, done this through partnership, persuasion and incentives. That will continue to be the basis for much of the work that we do. However, there are also powers around land acquisition, compulsory purchase, management agreements*, and path orders that the Park Authority will look to use if it is not possible to achieve the stated public policy outcomes of the Partnership Plan through current mechanisms.
This Partnership Plan sets out the proposed changes at a strategic level with spatial mapping and targeted actions. It outlines the tools that we have to achieve these and it will be incumbent upon the Park Authority and partners to report annually on our collective progress.
This is an ambitious Partnership Plan, and the Park Authority will look forward to working with all our partners in the years ahead to deliver together for the Cairngorms National Park.
The National Park aims
The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park at 4,528 square kilometres (6% of Scotland’s land mass) and is home to one-quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species. Around 18,000 people live in the National Park across the areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, Perth and Kinross, with over two and a half million visitors enjoying this special place every year.
The National Park has four distinct aims as set out by Parliament:
- To conserve and enhance the area’s natural and cultural heritage.
- To promote sustainable management and use of the area’s natural resources.
- To promote public understanding and enjoyment of the area’s natural and cultural heritage.
- To promote sustainable economic, social and cultural development of the area’s communities.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 6
These aims are to be pursued collectively. However, if there is conflict between the first aim and any of the others, greater weight is given to the first aim (as set out in Section 9.6 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000). This helps ensure conservation and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage underpin the economic, social and recreation value of the Cairngorms National Park.
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 also sets out that the four aims include:
- Restoring and regenerating biodiversity* in the area.
- Mitigating and adapting to climate change.
- Supporting access to and within the area.
- Encouraging recreation in the area.
- Encouraging sustainable and regenerative agriculture*.
- Promoting sustainable tourism and visitor management.
- Promoting sustainable economic growth and development activity which:
- Improves the health and wellbeing of individuals who visit, live and work in the area.
- Supports the prosperity of communities in the area, including in relation to the provision of housing for people to live and work in the area.
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 also sets out that Scottish Ministers, a national park authority, a local authority and any other public body or office-holder must, in exercising functions so far as affecting a National Park (and only in relation to functions exercisable in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters), have regard to the four National Park aims.
© Rupert Shanks
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 7
What is the National Park Partnership Plan?
The National Park Partnership Plan sets out how all those with responsibility for the National Park will co-ordinate their work to tackle the most important issues. In particular, this Plan:
- Sets out the vision and overarching strategy for managing the National Park.
- Guides the work of all public bodies and other partners to deliver the aims of the National Park.
- Provides the strategic context for the Local Development Plan*.
- Is the Strategic Regional Land Use Framework* and Regional Spatial Strategy* for the National Park.
- Is the Climate Adaptation Plan.
- Is the Economic and Sustainable Tourism Strategy for the National Park.
This Plan also embeds the legacy of The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Cairngorms 2030 programme to ensure that the work that has been done in the last five years is built upon over the next Plan period.
We are aware that individuals reading the Partnership Plan will have different interests and priorities; however, we would recommend considering the Plan as a whole to see how the four aims of the National Park will be delivered collectively.
Duty to facilitate implementation of the National Park Plans
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 changed the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 so that ‘Scottish Ministers, a National Park authority, a local authority and any other public body or office-holder must, in exercising functions so far as affecting a National Park, facilitate the implementation of the National Park Plan’.
This significantly strengthens the statutory role of the National Park Partnership Plan, and it is our shared responsibility to implement the Plan.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 8
Tools available to the Park Authority to deliver the Plan
The Park Authority has a range of tools that it can use to deliver its aims and the National Park Partnership Plan. This is set out in the primary legislation and forms the basis of the work of the Park Authority. The tools include:
- Issuing grants and loans An authority may, with the consent of the Scottish Ministers, give financial assistance by way of grant or loan to any person in respect of expenditure incurred or to be incurred by that person in doing anything which, in the authority’s opinion, is conducive to the attainment of the purpose set out in section 9(1).
- Using planning functions A designation order may make provision for a National Park Authority: (a) to be the planning authority for the National Park for the purposes of the planning Acts; (b) to be treated as the planning authority for the National Park, but only for such purposes of Part II (development plans) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c.8) as are specified in the order; or © to have, in relation to the National Park, such functions in relation to planning as the order may specify.
- Acquiring land For the purposes of its functions, an authority may: (a) acquire by agreement; (b) if authorised by the Scottish Ministers, purchase compulsorily, any land situated within the National Park.
- Making management agreements A National Park Authority may enter into an agreement (a “management agreement”) with any person having [a right] in land to do, or secure the doing of, whatever the parties to the agreement consider necessary to achieve, in relation to the National Park, the National Park aims.
- Passing byelaws A National Park Authority may make byelaws for the National Park for the purposes of: (a) protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the National Park; (b) preventing damage to the land or anything in, on or under it; © securing the public’s enjoyment of, and safety in, the National Park.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 9
- Using management rules Sections 112 to 118 (management rules) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (c.45) have effect as if references to a local authority and to the authority’s area included references to a National Park Authority and the National Park.
- Other powers An authority may: (a) enter into contracts; (b) carry on any business or undertaking; © form or promote (whether alone or with others) companies; (d) form partnerships with other persons; (e) accept gifts or contributions; (f) invest sums not immediately required in relation to the exercise of its functions.
- Establishing nature reserves Sections 21 and 22 (establishment of nature reserves and application of enactments to local authority reserves) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (c.97) have effect as if references to a local authority and the authority’s area included references to a National Park Authority and the National Park.
Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the Park Authority also has the power to:
- Make byelaws (s12) The Park Authority may, in relation to land in respect of which access rights are exercisable, make byelaws providing for: (i) the preservation of public order and safety; (ii) the prevention of damage; (iii) the prevention of nuisance or danger; (iv) the conservation or enhancement of natural or cultural heritage.
- Acquire land (s16) Where it appears to the Park Authority to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the exercise of access rights in respect of any land to which this section applies that the land be acquired by them, the authority may— (a) acquire it by agreement (whether by purchase, feu, lease or excambion); or (b) with the consent of Ministers, acquire it compulsorily.
- Maintain core paths and provide directions to them (s19) The Park Authority may do anything which they consider appropriate for the purposes of: (a) maintaining a core path; (b) keeping a core path free from obstruction or encroachment; © providing the public with directions to, or with an indication of the extent of, a core path.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 10
- Make path agreements (s21) The Park Authority may enter an agreement (a “path agreement”) with a person having the necessary power for the delineation and maintenance or, as the case may be, for the delineation, creation and maintenance of a path within land in respect of which access rights are exercisable.
- Issue path orders (s22) Where, in the circumstances set out, it appears to the Park Authority that, having regard to the rights and interests of the owner of land in respect of which access rights are exercisable and persons likely to exercise these rights, it is expedient to delineate a path within that land, the authority may, by order (a “path order”), do so.
There is also a range of other powers held by other public authorities such as SEPA, NatureScot and local authorities etc that can be used to deliver the Plan if required.
Public incentives
There is a huge number of public incentives that can help to deliver the National Park Partnership Plan. These include national schemes such as the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme, agri-environment payments, the Water Environment Fund, the Community Led Local Development Fund, Peatland Action, the Nature Restoration Fund, the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund and the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund.
There is also a variety of Cairngorms National Park specific schemes usually administered by the Park Authority, such as the Climate Adaptation Fund, or by the Cairngorms Trust, such as the Community Led Vision Fund. Finally, there is a range of potential support from third parties, such as The National Lottery Heritage Fund or philanthropic trusts and foundations. In delivering public incentives within the National Park consideration should be given for ‘cross-compliance’ related to that funding, where recipients who have been found in breach of relevant regulations may be liable for withdrawal and recovery of financial support, and where applicants may be deemed ineligible for future support.
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 11
The wider policy landscape
There have been significant changes in the policy landscape since the last Partnership Plan was published in 2022. The National Park Partnership Plan weaves all the different policy goals into a coherent approach within the National Park.
National policy framework
As a whole, this Partnership Plan is guided by Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework and by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The following are the key national policy documents that underpin the approach taken in this Plan grouped under each of the proposed missions to which the national policies are most relevant.
Mission one: nature and climate resilience
- Climate Change Plan
- Environment Strategy
- Flood Resilience Strategy and Implementation Plan
- Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy
- Land Use Strategy for Scotland
- National Water Scarcity Plan
- River Basin Management Plan 4
- Scotland’s Forestry Strategy
- Scotland’s National Adaptation Plan
- Scotland’s Landscape Charter
- Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
- Vision for Agriculture
- Wild Salmon Strategy
- Wildfires: Strategic Action Plan
Draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2027 – 32 To have your say, see the questions on page 3 of this document, call +44 (0) 1479 873 535, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk or go to cairngorms.co.uk/partnershipplan 12
Mission two: communities
- Community Planning Partnership Plans
- Community Wealth Building Act 2026
- Good Food Nation Plans
- National Planning Framework 4
- National Strategy for Economic Transformation
- Regional Economic Strategies
- Scotland Food and Drink Strategy
- Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation
- Scotland’s National Tourism Strategy – Outlook 2030
Mission three: National Park for all
- Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy 2025 – 30
- National Gaelic Language Plan 2023 – 28
- National Walking Strategy
- Scotland’s public health strategy, ‘Together We Can’
- Scottish Languages Act
The Cairngorms National Park also has a significant role to play in delivering the policy ambitions of Scottish Government. The National Park is a place for innovation,