£900,000 to support visitor management

Highland Council Ranger Service van at Cnoc Craggie
Alan Robertson

Many of Scotland’s most popular natural sites are receiving a staffing boost this summer, with Scottish Government funding of £900,000 to support better visitor management and help safeguard the environment for visitors and local communities.

The NatureScot Better Places funding will go directly to 24 countryside, coast and island projects across Scotland, enabling an additional 62 staff to be employed this summer across Scotland.

The extra ‘boots on the ground’ will promote the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) and help manage visitor pressure in Shetland, Glencoe, the Pentlands, Loch Lomond, Arran, NC500, and various locations around East Lothian, North Perthshire, Islay and many more.

Funding has been awarded to 18 organisations – seven countryside trusts, five local authorities, four charities, one community group, one not-for-profit organisation and one private company (details in Notes below).  This complements additional investment in rangers and visitor operations made this year by NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, the National Park Authorities and Scottish Water to support the management of busy outdoor places such as the National Nature Reserves, Parks, reservoirs and forests.

Bridget Jones, NatureScot's Recreation and Paths Manager, said:

“The Better Places Fund supports rangers to promote responsible enjoyment and manage some of the busiest and most popular areas. We want to help people have positive and memorable experiences as they visit and enjoy Scotland’s dramatic landscapes of beaches, mountains, lochs and woodlands. But as we tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, we have to ensure that the country’s most spectacular locations are valued and cared for, so that they are there for future generations.”

A similar scheme funded 109 seasonal staff last year, and made a significant difference to tackling irresponsible parking, camping, fires, toileting and litter issues in many rural and coastal areas popular with staycationing tourists. Its success in improving visitor experiences and reducing visitor impacts on local communities and the environment, led to the further funding allocated for seasonal staffing in 2023.  

Complementing the face-to-face engagement with visitors, VisitScotland and partner organisations will be using social media, local radio and digital marketing to educate, inspire and inform people about issues related to visiting nature hotspots this summer, such as water safety, fire safety, dog control and wildlife disturbance. The overall aim is that visitors respect, protect and enjoy Scotland’s outdoors this summer.

Notes to editors

The funded posts work in partnership with other Better Places Fund posts such as National Trust Scotland in Torridon and Glencoe, the John Muir Trust at Sandwod Bay and the NevisPartnership in Glen Nevis to provide a joined-up approach to visitor management.

Other projects receiving Better Places Funding in 2023 include:

he funded posts work in partnership with other Better Places Fund posts such as National Trust Scotland in Torridon and Glencoe, the John Muir Trust at Sandwod Bay and the NevisPartnership in Glen Nevis to provide a joined-up approach to visitor management.

Other projects receiving Better Places Funding in 2023 include:

Applicant

Geographic area covered

Visitor management hot spot area

No. of seasonal posts awarded funding

Full time equivalent posts

ANGUSalive Leisure Trust

Corrie Fee NNR, Glen Doll Forest, Loch Brandy

Cairngorms National Park area

2 rangers

2

RSPB Scotland

Abernethy nature reserve

Cairngorms National Park area

2 rangers

2

City of Edinburgh Council

Pentland Hills Regional Park

Pentland Hills

6 rangers

6

East Lothian Council

East Lothian coastline

East Lothian

6 rangers

6

National Trust for Scotland

Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve

Highland Perthshire

1 ranger

1

National Trust for Scotland

North Perthshire properties

Highland Perthshire

1 ranger

1

Perth & Kinross Council

Lochs Tummel, Rannoch and Tay, Glen Lyon, Schiehallion, Loch of Clunie, Loch Earn/St Fillans

Highland Perthshire

5 rangers

5

Cashel Forest Trust

Cashel Forest

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park area

2 rangers

1.6

RSPB Scotland

Loch Lomond nature reserve

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park area

2 rangers

1.5

Strathfillan Community Development Trust

Strathfillan

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park area

2 rangers

2

Appin Community Development Trust

Appin

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

0.6

Community Land Outer Hebrides

North Lewis, West Lewis, Harris

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

2 vis ops staff

2

Highland Council

Lochaber, Skye, Wester Ross, Sutherland & Easter Ross, Inverness & Loch Ness

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

14 rangers

14

Islay Development Initiative

12 key sites on Islay

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

1

John Muir Trust

Ben Nevis, Sandwood Bay and Skye properties

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

3 rangers

3

National Trust for Scotland

Corrieshalloch Gorge

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

1

National Trust for Scotland

Glencoe & Glen Etive

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

1

National Trust for Scotland

Torridon

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

1

Nevis Partnership

Glen Nevis and wider Nevis Management Area

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

2 rangers

2

RSPB Scotland

Isle of Mousa, Shetland

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

0.8

SIMEC Lochaber Hydropower 2 Ltd - Jahama Highland Estates

Mamore, Killiechonate and/or Glenshero

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) and part CNP area

2 rangers

2

The Arran Access Trust

Isle of Arran

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

2 rangers

1.7

The Mull & Iona Community Trust

Isles of Mull and Iona

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

1

Voluntary Action Barra & Vatersay

Isle of Barra

North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500)

1 ranger

1

TOTAL

62

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