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  1. Home
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  3. National Parks

Scotland's national parks and natural heritage sites

Unwind your mind and recharge your body in one of Scotland’s beautiful national parks. Take a walk on the wild side and discover our pristine landscapes and fascinating flora and fauna, and many other special sites and nature reserves. Alongside Scotland's two National Parks, you'll discover 43 National Nature Reserves, two Global Geoparks and three Biospheres.

Utsi Bridge

Scotland's national parks

The Cairngorms National Park has more mountains, forests, rivers, lochs, wildlife, friendly villages and distilleries than you can possibly imagine.

The fault line that divides the Highlands from the Lowlands runs right across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, making this an endlessly varied part of the world - rugged hills, wooded nooks and enticing waters. 

Step outside and look, listen, and feel, and see the wonders that nature does for your soul!

  • Cairngorms National Park
  • Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park

Scotland's national nature reserves

These special areas are created and managed to allow you to appreciate them without disturbing wildlife or damaging the very things that make them so unique. 

St Cyrus NNR, Aberdeenshire

St Cyrus has golden sands and colourful displays of summer wildflowers, all set against a backdrop of imposing volcanic cliffs.

Glen Affric NNR

Glen Affric is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland with lochs, rivers, waterfalls, mountains and ancient Caledonian forest.

Glencoe National Nature Reserve

Discover the remarkable history of Glencoe, as well as its stunning landscape and wildlife.

Isle of Staffa NNR

Discover a beautiful island of distinctive rocks, magical caves and seabirds.

Isle of May

The Isle of May in the Forth Estuary is a popular spot for seeing seals and is a busy place for breeding seabirds during the spring and summer months.

Scotland's UNESCO sites

Witness sustainable development in action at our biospheres or discover areas of geological and scientific importance at our geoparks.

A cyclist at Loch Assynt, Highlands

© VisitScotland / Airborne Lens

Global Geoparks

Scotland is an ancient land, formed over many millennia and our geoparks provide us with the best insights into how our breathtaking landscapes have developed over billions of years.

  • North West Highlands Geopark
  • Geopark Shetland
  • Lochaber Geopark

Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail

© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Biospheres

These special places demonstrate a balanced and harmonious relationship between people and nature in a world-class natural environment. At present, there are two UNESCO Biospheres in Scotland and only six in the UK.

  • Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere
  • Wester Ross Biosphere
Find out more on Scotland's UNESCO sites

Fire safety outdoors

Glentress Forest

As the weather gets drier, the risk of wildfire in Scotland increases. Fire can ignite easily, spread fast and burn with high intensity. We're all asked not to light a fire outdoors during prolonged dry periods, and to always fully extinguish cigarettes.

Find out more on preventing wildfires in Scotland

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