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ORIGINAL DRAFT POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PROMOTION - JUNE 2009

Promoting recreational opportunities responsibly within the 
Cairngorms National Park

1. We all want people to enjoy the Cairngorms National Park by getting 
out and about. The provision of information to promote activities in 
particular areas can really help people do that. There have never been 
more ways in which to draw such information to the attention of potential 
visitors Đ for example, through books, magazines, photos, leaflets, 
activity-specific maps, websites and blogs.

2. A number of issues have come to light over the last few years which 
give some cause for concern:

Ą Promotion of suggested routes for bikes on paths which may be 
unsustainable or where it would not be possible to comply with Scottish 
Outdoor Access Code;
Ą Promotion of recreation opportunities in areas or sites that are 
important for species which are sensitive to disturbance;
Ą Promotion of activities with lack of information about how to 
behave responsibly;
Ą Potential for dissatisfied visitors if they have been pointed towards 
places where they have inadvertently caused a problem;
Ą Land managers are sometimes unaware of recreation opportunities 
promoted on their ground and the first indication of such promotion 
may only occur when a problem arises on the ground; and
Ą Lack of clarity about what to do if things go wrong Đ for visitors, 
for land managers or for the providers of information.

3. A combination of circumstances in the National Park means that it 
is especially important that people promote such activities in a way 
that is responsible:

Ą everyone has access rights which mean that they can visit almost all 
of the Park as long as they do so responsibly;

Ą new channels of communication are now easily available; and

Ą significant areas of the Park are environmentally sensitive .

4. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code defines how to manage and exercise 
access rights responsibly but does not cover this particular issue so we
have developed this policy for the Cairngorms National Park to set out 
what is expected in terms of best practice.

NOTE: This section is made up of tables which cannot be converted
to text. Please see original PDF for reference. 

Outdoor Access Strategy Policy X: Responsible Promotion of recreation

opportunities

It is important that anyone providing information about recreation 
opportunities in the Park should do so responsibly as set out below.

If you are providing information you should:

Ą Consider carefully whether promotion of the recreation opportunity 
will potentially cause environmental damage, problems for land managers
or other users;
Ą Make contact the land manager (or their representative groups) if you 
are in any doubt about the above point Đ many land managers will 
welcome such contact as a matter of courtesy;
Ą Promote responsible behavior as described in the Scottish
 Outdoor Access Code (http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com), 
drawing particular attention to any issues likely to be faced in 
the area or route you are promoting;
Ą If you are using paths and tracks, accurately describe the types 
of surface likely to be encountered and other users who are likely 
to be on these routes;
Ą Provide a contact point and invite feedback about the information 
provided;
Ą Respond constructively to any feedback received;
Ą Contact the National Park Authority if you require further 
assistance. If you are concerned about information provided by 
others you should:
Ą Make direct contact with the source of the information, 
expressing your concerns and, if appropriate, suggesting 
reasonable changes;
Ą Contact the National Park Authority if you require further assistance.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority encourages responsible
enjoyment of the outdoors and will:
Ą Promote best practice in promotion of recreation opportunities;
Ą Investigate complaints from recreational users or land managers and 
seek to reach a satisfactory outcome, taking advice from the Local 
Outdoor Access Forum if necessary.
Ą Assist information providers by providing contact details for 
land managers and offering general advice;
Ą Placing conditions on anyone receiving grant aid or wishing to
use the National Park Brand that they follow this best practice 
guidance.

Cairngorms National Park Authority
June 2009