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GUIDANCE ON RESPONSIBLE PROMOTION OF RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES

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. VisitorŐs expectations in a National Park are high and 
the provision of high quality information to promote activities in 
particular areas can really help meet these expectations.

2. There have never been more ways in which to draw information about 
recreation opportunities to the attention of potential visitors Đ 
for example, through books, magazines, leaflets, activity-specific maps, 
websites and social media. The influence of each piece of promotion 
varies hugely: large-scale commercial guidebooks may have a significant 
impact on where people go and what they do while a website for club 
members will have a much smaller ÔreadershipŐ and limited impact. 
This guidance is predominantly, but not exclusively, directed at 
those who are actively promoting and marketing recreational opportunities 
in the National Park.

3. Everyone has access rights, which means that almost all the National
Park is available to visitors to explore as long as they behave responsibly.
Large areas of the Park are environmentally sensitive and wildlife and 
habitats may be prone to damage or disturbance at particular times of 
year and under certain conditions. Likewise land management activities 
vary from season to season and will impact on peopleŐs outdoor experience,
and vice versa. It is especially important that people promoting activities 
give consideration to this environmental context.

4. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code already defines how to manage and 
exercise access rights responsibly and advises, in the section on Running 
a Business, that: 

ŇIf you are writing a guidebook, leaflet or other 
promotional material about access in an area, try to talk to the relevant 
land managers to see if any local issues relating to privacy, safety or 
conservation need to be referred to in the publicationÓ (para 3.63, page 49).

Guidance on Responsible Promotion of recreation opportunities

Good promotion of recreation is that which:

Ą 	refers to the responsibilities of access takers 
	contained within the Scottish Outdoor Access Code;
Ą 	minimises or mitigates any potentially detrimental 
	impacts on sensitive species or
	habitats or land management activities within the National Park,
Ą	avoids encouraging activities which may not be sustainable in 
	certain areas or where it might not be possible for users to 
	comply with either the Scottish Outdoor Access Code or the
	activity-specific good practice guidance issued by
	National Governing Bodies
Ą 	provides the best quality information for visitors Đ including 
	information about the special qualities of the National Park Đ
	and results in good visitor experiences
Ą 	gives land managers the opportunity to contribute to the 
	provision of visitor information where significant issues arise.
	If you are providing information you should:
Ą 	As a general point, promote responsible behavior as described 
	in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com)
	; and if you are promoting specific activities, utilise the good practice 
	guidance provided by that activities representative body or National 
	Governing Body
Ą 	Consider carefully whether promotion of the recreation opportunity
	will potentially cause environmental damage, problems for land
	managers or other users
Ą 	Make contact with the land manager if you are in any doubt about the 
	point above. If you are unable to find out who the land owner is, 
	contact their representative groups such as the Scottish Rural Property 
	and Business Association or National Farmers Union of Scotland; or the 
	Park Authority
Ą 	Draw particular attention to any issues likely to be faced in the area 
	or route you are promoting, in light of your liaison with the land manager
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 own, or have an interest in, land over which routes or activities 
	are promoted:
Ą 	Work positively with information providers to ensure the best quality 
	of information and advice;
Ą 	If you are concerned by the information provided, make direct contact 
	with the source of the information, expressing your concerns and, if 
	appropriate, suggesting reasonable changes;
Ą 	Ensure you have a point of contact so that information providers can 
	reach you;
Ą 	Contact the National Park Authority if you require further assistance.
	The Cairngorms National Park Authority will:
Ą 	Encourage use of, and distribute this guidance and explore creative ways to
	influence rapidly evolving media e.g. social media
Ą 	Mediate between information providers and land managers where significant
	issues present themselves and when other negotiations have been exhausted,
	taking advice from the Local Outdoor Access Forum when necessary;
Ą 	Assist information providers by providing contact details for land managers and
	offering general advice;
Ą 	Request that anyone applying for grant aid or wishing to use the National Park

Brand follow this guidance.
Cairngorms National Park Authority
April 2010