Nature Reserves in Scotland, Scottish Nature Reserves

National Parks and Nature Reserves in Scotland

If you have ever had the privilege of visiting Scotland, you will know just what an incredible wealth of natural treasures it possesses. From the Scottish Highlands to the lochs and lakes brimming with crystal clear, icy cold water, the country certainly seems to have a never-ending abundance of nature reserves, parks and woods. The small woodland creatures that live in these places are a delight to see and deer stalking is a popular activity. More than this, people from across the globe come here to mountain bike and hike in the highlands and lowlands of Scotland. Many argue that this is the best way to get acquainted with the many different aspects of Scotland’s fauna and flora. Whatever Scottish national parks and protected areas you wish to visit, you can be sure that you will enjoy each and every one of them.

One of the most popular reserves in the country has to be Cairngorms National Park. As the largest protected area in Britain and the newest, Cairngorms has plenty to offer. It is stretched out over 3 800 square kilometers and features a variety of plants and animals and acts as home to some 16 000 people. However, the majority of national parks are much smaller than this and some, such as the Fairy Isles Reserve, are much smaller and receive very little attention from visitors. The vast majority of nature reserves is covered by natural forest. One example of this can be seen in the Abernethy Forest National Nature Reserve where some 5 796 hectares of land is covered in native Scottish pinewood. Another, smaller and more enchanting example is that of Carstramon Wood Reserve which not only features an abundance of trees, ferns and other plants, but whose forest floor is carpeted by bluebells during the springtime.

Clearly national parks and nature reserves in Scotland, such as the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park or the Glen Nant National Nature Reserve have plenty to offer but the smaller parks such as the Monach Islands and James Hamilton Heritage Park should also not be overlooked. If I you do not have time to visit them all it is advisable that you take your time deciding which parks will give you the best glimpse of Scotland’s natural heritage so as to make the most of your time spent here.

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