Call for more Scottish national parks

Two Scottish charities are calling for at least seven more national parks to be set up in Scotland. The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) are suggesting that new parks be set up in The Cheviots, Galloway, Glen Affric, Harris, Mull and parts of Lochaber to include Ben Nevis and Glencoe. The two groups say that national park designation is needed to protect the special landscapes of the areas.

President of the APRS, Jimmie Macgregor, told the BBC, “We have wild mountains, pristine rivers and lochs, ancient forests, stunning coastline and islands, all rich in wildlife and history. Yet out of 3,500 national parks in the world, Scotland has only two. The first two have been a great success – surely it’s time for more.”

Scotland currently has two national parks: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and the Cairngorms compared to 13 in the rest of the UK.