Culture and heritage

Separated by the great bulk of the mountains, different areas of the National Park have their own distinct identity and cultural traditions, but they share a strong connection to the landscape. This is captured by the Gaelic word Dùthchas, meaning the deep-rooted connection between people and nature. 

From historic castles to highland games, languages and storytelling to music, art and traditional cultural practices, the Cairngorms has a rich heritage dating back thousands of years. In more recent times, two community-led projects - Badenoch: The Storylands and the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership - have helped shine a light on areas of the National Park sometimes overlooked in comparison to their more well-known neighbours.    

The Park Authority and its partners are taking forward a range of activities to celebrate culture and heritage within the National Park, some of which are summarised below.