National Parks

Scotland has two National Parks:

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, established in 2002
Cairngorms National Park, established in 2003 and extended in 2010

National Parks serve as models of sustainable development. They do this by:

working to protect and enhance their natural and cultural heritage
promoting responsible access to nature
supporting local economies and communities
managing millions of visitors annually

Find out more about the role and work of Scotland’s National Parks:

video: the role of National Parks in Scotland

the value of National Parks in Scotland

Proposal for a new National Park

We committed to the designation of at least one new National Park by 2026, provided that legal conditions can be met. Any new National Park should:

support economic growth

address the climate emergency

improve public services and community wellbeing

In October 2023 we invited local communities to put forward nominations for their area to become Scotland’s next National Park.  We received nominations from communities in Galloway, Loch Awe, Lochaber, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest. These nominations have been appraised against published criteria: 

guidance on the nominations and appraisal process

The outcome of the appraisal process is summarised in a report:

new National Parks appraisal panel report (July 2024)

We have considered the outcome of the appraisal process and we are proposing to designate a new National Park in Galloway. This is subject to the outcome of a reporter investigation:

proposal for a new National Park in Galloway

NatureScot is required to consider the proposal for a new National Park and to produce a report.

The reporter’s work will include extensive public consultation and engagement with local communities, stakeholders, businesses, landowners and managers and public bodies to discuss, test and further shape and refine the National Park proposal. Read more on NatureScot’s website.

We will consider the outcome of the reporter investigation carefully. This includes taking into account any views on the National Park proposal expressed by those consulted and any significant issues reported by NatureScot. The report will be laid before Parliament and published.

We may then decide to bring forward legislation to establish a National Park in Galloway. A draft ‘Designation Order’ would be subject to public consultation and scrutiny before a final order is laid in Parliament for consideration and approval.

Assessing the impacts of a proposed new National Park

An initial Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report was undertaken to accompany the Future of National Parks proposals for consultation between September and November 2023.

On 7 November 2024 a public consultation was launched on the proposal for a new National Park in the Galloway area. An addendum to the SEA Environmental Report was prepared alongside this. The addendum considers whether any new or previously unidentified significant environmental effects may arise from the area options outlined in the public consultation. We are consulting on this addendum to the SEA Environmental Report from 20 December 2024 to 14 February 2025 alongside the public consultation on the National Park proposal.

Opinions on the Environmental Report Addendum can be submitted by email to: NationalParks@gov.scot or in writing to: New National Parks team, Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ by 14 February 2025.

Work will also be undertaken to determine other potential impacts of a new National Park in Galloway, including:

a business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA)

a child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA)

an equality impact assessment (EQIA)

a Fairer Scotland Duty assessment

Constitution and role of National Park Authorities

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority and the Cairngorms National Park Authority were established as executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) under the provisions of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000.

We provide annual funding to the Park Authorities in the form of Grant in Aid, which they use to deliver the 2000 Act’s statutory aims as well as other functions and duties conferred on them by the Act.

The 2000 Act sets out four National Park aims:

to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage
to promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
to promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public
to promote sustainable social and economic development of the communities of the area

The Park Authorities’ role is to co-ordinate the collective delivery of these four statutory National Park aims, and in this way ensure a sustainable future for these areas.

National Park Partnership Plans

The 2000 Act requires each of the Park Authorities to prepare a five-year National Park Partnership Plan to serve as an overarching management plan. These plans set out how all those with a responsibility in each park, across public, private and voluntary organisations, will co-ordinate their work to address the most important issues in relation to conservation, visitor experience and rural development.

The Park Authorities are responsible for leading the delivery of their respective plans and for ensuring the National Parks’ activities continue to align with our national strategies and aims. Here are the current National Park Partnership Plans:

National Park Authority planning functions

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority is responsible for deciding all planning applications in the National Park area.

The planning system in the Cairngorms National Park is managed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the five local authorities which operate in the National Park, with the Park Authority ‘calling in’ and deciding those applications which are big or important to the National Park.

NatureScot will consult on the possible planning functions of a new National Park in Galloway during the Reporter Investigation. The options include:

the National Park authority being the planning authority for the National Park (for the purposes of the planning Acts)

the National Park authority being the planning authority only in respect of development plan preparation (as set out in Part II (development plans) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 8))

the National Park authority having planning functions that are set out in the Designation Order. This could include, for example, the possibility of the planning function remaining with local authorities in the area, with the National Park authority being given statutory powers as a consultee

no planning functions being conferred on the National Park authority

Information