The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms National Park (Scottish Gaelic Pàirc Nàiseanta a' Mhonaidh Ruaidh) is a national park in north east Scotland, established in 2003. It was the second of two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament, after Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, set up in 2002. The park covers the Cairngorms range of mountains, and surrounding hills. Initially the largest national park in the British Isles, there are plans to expand the park into highland Perth and Kinross.
History
Before the National Park was established in 2003, Scottish Natural Heritage conducted a consultation exercise, considering the boundary and the powers and structure of the new park authority. One option presented for the area included Tomatin, Blair Atholl, Aboyne and Glen Shee, making the park twice as big as the Lake District National Park. The area finally chosen was smaller than expected, but still the largest in Britain. It involved the boundary areas of Carrbridge, Laggan, Dalwhinnie, Grantown-on-Spey and Ballater. Many groups and local communities felt that a large area of highland Perth and Kinross should form part of the park and carried out a sustained campaign.
On 13 March 2008 Michael Russell announced that the National Park would be extended to take in Blair Atholl and Spittal of Glenshee. There was also controversy surrounding the construction of a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm, a scheme supported by the new National Park Authority. Supporters of the scheme claimed that it would bring in valuable tourist income, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for a protected area. To reduce erosion, the railway operates a "closed scheme" and only allows skiers (in season) out of the upper station.
Geography
The Cairngorms feature the highest, coldest and snowiest plateaux in the British Isles and are home to five of the six highest mountains in Scotland:
- Ben Macdhui (1309 m)
- Braeriach (1296 m)
- Cairn Toul (1293 m)
- Sgor an Lochain Uaine (1258 m)
- Cairn Gorm (1245 m)
They were created at the end of the last ice age, when the ice caps that covered most of northern Scotland remained static and formed the rounded summits of the mountains of the area. The many valleys are littered with glacial deposits from the period of glacial retreat. The most famous valley is the Lairig Ghru pass, a gouge through the centre of the mountains - a u-shaped valley, that was extensively used by drovers in the 19th Century herding their cattle to market in the Lowlands, from their smallholdings in the Highlands.
The region is drained by the Rivers Dee and Spey; and the latter's two tributaries: the Rivers Feshie and Avon.
The area is sparsely populated due to the extreme nature of the climate. Snow patches remain on the hills until August while in the Garbh Coire Mòr of Braeriach the snow melted just thrice in the last century. In the last few years - a possible indicator of climate change - the quantity and longevity of Cairngorm snow patches has declined significantly. The lowest recorded temperature in the UK has twice been recorded in the Cairngorms, at Braemar, where a temperature of -27.2oC, was recorded on February 11, 1895 and January 10, 1982.
Wildlife
The Cairngorms national park is known for its wildlife. The area also features a primeval forest, one of the last in the British Isles, known as the Caledonian Forest. Much of the remains of this forest are found within the national park.
The Cairngorms provide a unique alpine semi-tundra moorland habitat, home to many rare plants, birds and animals. Speciality bird species on the platuex include breeding Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Snow Bunting, Golden Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Twite and Red Grouse, with Snowy Owl, Purple Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting seen on occasion. In the forests, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Scottish Crossbill, Parrot Crossbill, Crested Tit amongst many more speciality birds are found.
Of particular fame is the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve at Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten. A famous pair of Ospreys are present in the summer months, and they often attract large crowds to see them. The forest is home to the endangered Capercaillie and endemic Scottish Crossbill. Red Deer, Roe Deer, Mountain Hare, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Wild Cat and Otter are all present, as well as the only wild herd of Reindeer in the British Isles. They now roam the high Cairngorm plateux, after being re-introduced in the 1950's by a Swedish herdsman. The herd is now stable at around 150 individuals, all born in the wild in Scotland.
Visitor Attractions
- Blair Castle
- Cairngorm Mountain Railway
- Cairngorm Ski Centre
- Caledonian Forest
- Dalwhinnie Distillery
- Glenmore Forest Park
- Glenmore Lodge
- Highland Wildlife Park
- Loch Ericht
- Loch Laggan
- Pass of Drumtocher
- Waltzing Waters