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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Paper 1 Annex 2 03/11/06 



ANNEX II: Vision 

1. Vision 

Imagine a world-class National Park – an outstanding environment in which the natural and 
cultural resources are cared for by the people that live there; a renowned international 
destination with fantastic opportunities for all to enjoy special places; an exemplar of 
sustainable development showing how people and place can thrive together. A National Park 
that makes a significant contribution to our local, regional and national identity. 

This is our vision for the Cairngorms National Park in 2030. 


Conserving and Enhancing the Park – 25 year outcomes 

2006 
Active land management shapes the 
landscape of the Park, and its special 
qualities, but is facing significant changes 
in policy and economic conditions. 
2030
An active and productive land management sector 
will continue to shape the landscape, which will be 
recognised as a significant regional and national 
asset. 

2006
The montane areas of the Park are known 
for the experience of wildness enjoyed by 
many. 
2030
The sense of wildness, particularly in the high 
montane areas, will be enhanced and renowned as a 
particular special quality of the area that continues 
to be enjoyed by many. 

2006
The Park has a rich biodiversity 
including many habitats and species of 
national and international importance. 
2030
The Park’s biodiversity will be richer, better 
connected and able to adapt to a changing climate. 
Areas of national and international importance will 
be exemplars of good management, set within a 
broader network of well managed habitats. 

2006
The Park contains an internationally 
important record of geodiversity, 
particularly landforms associated with 
glaciation, but these are under-recorded 
and little known beyond specialists. 
2030
The important geodiversity record in the Park will 
be widely recognised and will be well managed and 
conserved. 

2006
There are distinctive patterns of local 
architecture and design in the area’s built 
heritage and settlements, but new 
development in places detracts from the 
pattern and character of settlements. 
2030
The built heritage of the Park will be safeguarded 
and new buildings will complement or enhance their 
setting, including the settlement pattern and 
character. 

2006
There are widespread archaeology and 
material records providing evidence of 
previous generations living in the area, 
but there are significant gaps in 
recording, understanding and care to 
conserve this heritage. 
2030
The archaeological evidence and material records of 
previous generations will be well recorded and 
understood, actively cared for and safeguarded. 

2006
There are many cultures and traditions 
amongst the communities of the Park, but 
many are at risk of being lost over time. 
2030
The cultures and traditions associated with the 
people and communities of the Park will be well 
recognised and continue to evolve as part of a living 
culture that secures tomorrow’s cultural heritage. 



Living and Working in the Park – 25 year outcomes 

2006 
There are many active communities in 
the Park seeking ways to shape their own 
future, but current population trends 
challenge long-term sustainability. 
2030
There will be thriving and sustainable communities 
throughout the Park that are confident to share their 
ideas, experience and culture in actively shaping 
their own future and enjoying a sense of ownership 
of the National Park. 

2006
Training and employment opportunities 
are restricted to a few sectors, limiting the 
potential for many people in the Park to 
develop their skills. 
2030
There will be a wide range of opportunities for 
people in the National Park to develop their skills 
and employment options that will meet the needs of 
individuals and businesses. 

2006
Businesses are starting to identify 
opportunities associated with the 
National Park, but the wider value to the 
regional economy is yet to be realised. 
2030
The outstanding environment of the Park will 
stimulate economic activity, businesses will thrive, 
and the Park will make a significant contribution to 
the wider regional economy. 

2006
Some business sectors, such as tourism 
and land management, are increasingly 
seeking to ensure positive impacts on the 
area’s communities, environment and 
special qualities. 
2030
Delivering economic, social and environmental 
sustainability will be an integral part of every 
business. Businesses will manage their impacts to 
ensure a positive contribution to the area’s 
communities, environment and special qualities. 

2006
Many, particularly young people and 
those on low incomes, are unable to 
access housing that meets their needs. 
Housing is of variable quality and often 
inefficient in its use of resources. 
2030
People will be able to access housing that meets 
their needs through rent or purchase. Housing of all 
types will be of good quality and new development 
will implement sustainable design principles. 

2006
Transport infrastructure and provision 
does not fully meet the needs of 
residents, businesses or visitors, and is 
heavily reliant on private car use, 
constraining the development of 
sustainable communities and interaction 
with the wider regional economy. 
2030
The National Park will be a leader in sustainable 
rural transport. Infrastructure and provision will 
meet the needs of residents, businesses and visitors 
and strengthen the regional interaction of the Park. It 
will have reduced the dependence on private car 
use, reduced barriers to travel and helped facilitate 
sustainable development. 

2006
There are significant pressures on 
infrastructure arising from energy, water 
use and waste management. 
2030
There will be a vibrant renewable energy, recycling 
and waste sector in the National Park resulting in 
more sustainable patterns of the use, supply and 
management of energy, water and waste, together 
with greater awareness and action by individuals, 
businesses and organisations. 


Enjoying and Understanding the Park – 25 year outcomes 

2006 
The Cairngorms National Park is a new 
entity and people are uncertain of what it 
means to be a National Park, and what 
they can expect of it. 
2030
The Cairngorms National Park will be renowned in 
Scotland and internationally, and will make a 
significant positive contribution to Scotland’s 
national identity. 

2006
The area is already a popular tourism 
destination, although infrastructure, 
marketing and service provision is not 
yet co-ordinated to best effect. 
2030
The Cairngorms National Park will be an 
internationally recognised world class sustainable 
tourism destination that consistently exceeds 
residents’ and visitors’ expectations in terms of 
quality of environment, services and experience. 

2006
There is a good network of off-road paths 
and tracks to enjoy outdoor access in 
most areas of the Park. 
2030
There will be an excellent and integrated network of 
routes to enjoy outdoor access across the Park that 
meets the needs of residents and visitors. 

2006
There is an unusually wide and highly 
valued range of outdoor recreation 
activities available, both formal and 
informal. 
2030
There will be an even higher quality and increased 
range of outdoor recreation activities available and 
accessible to a wider range of people of all abilities to 
enjoy the Park. 

2006
The concept of responsible behaviour in 
terms of outdoor access is beginning to 
become established among those taking 
recreational access and those managing 
land. 
2030
There will be a high level of understanding and 
widespread practice of responsible behaviour in the 
Cairngorms. Outdoor access will be enjoyed and 
managed as an integral part of a broader recreational 
experience and in ways that promote enjoyment of 
the special qualities of the Park while conserving 
them. 

2006
There is a range of interpretation places 
using various media across the Park 
focused on specific aspects, but the sense 
of collective interpretation to reveal and 
raise understanding of the National Park 
and its special qualities is yet to be 
realised. 
2030
Interpretation of the National Park will be of an 
internationally high standard revealing the 
significance and meaning of the National Park and 
its special qualities, helping people to understand 
and enjoy the area. 

2006
Many organisations use the Park as a 
resource for informal and formal 
learning, but the potential for 
contributing to national learning is yet to 
be realised. 
2030
The Park will be a significant national learning 
resource that raises understanding of the special 
qualities and sustainable development, but also 
contributes to national objectives. 

2006
There is a wealth of knowledge about 
many of the special qualities and 
resources of the Park from existing 
research and previous work. However, 
there are significant gaps in knowledge in 
some natural heritage resources and 
many cultural heritage and socioeconomic resources. 
2030
Key gaps in knowledge will have been addressed, 
and the National Park will lead the way in research 
on issues such as sustainable development and rural 
tourism. Information will be widely accessible and 
contribute fully to the knowledge economy of the 
region and Scotland.