Communities and business

The words 'national park' may bring to mind a largely uninhabited landscape, full of spectacular vistas and countless endangered species. Whilst the Cairngorms National Park can lay claim to both of these, it's very much a living and working landscape, too. 

From the historic village of Blair Atholl in the south to the planned settlement of Grantown-on-Spey in the north and the royal surroundings of Ballater out east, the Cairngorms National Park is home to over 20 different communities and 18,000 residents. It also boasts more than 1,000 businesses, mostly small and micro enterprises, all contributing to the unique character of this part of rural Scotland.   

The Park Authority and its partners are taking forward a range of activities to support communities and businesses within the National Park, some of which are summarised below.