National Scenic Areas (NSA)

National Scenic Areas are Scotland’s only national landscape designation. They are those areas of land considered of national significance on the basis of their outstanding scenic interest which must be conserved as part of the country’s natural heritage. They have been selected for their characteristic features of scenery comprising a mixture of richly diverse landscapes including prominent landforms, coastline, sea and freshwater lochs, rivers, woodlands and moorlands.

There are currently 40 NSA’s in Scotland, covering a total land area of 1,020,500 ha and a marine area of 357,900 ha.

SNH is currently surveying all the National Scenic Areas in Scotland with a view to identifying the qualities that make each one nationally important. The project team undertaking the work are using a standardised method to identify the special qualities of each NSA. This methodology is based on a research project carried out by David Tyldesley and Associates in 2006.

Seminars on National Scenic Areas

Proceedings of October 2007 NSA Seminar, Oatridge College, Broxburn (West Lothian)
Proceedings of March 2006 NSA Seminar, Battleby: Enhancing our Care of Scotland's Landscapes

Recent History

In 1999 SNH undertook a review of the NSA designation and issued a consultation paper on the subject. Later in the same year, after analysing the responses received, SNH published National Scenic Areas: Scottish Natural Heritage's Advice to Government.

One of the outcomes of this review was a recommendation that management strategies be produced for each NSA. Such strategies would involve all those with an interest in the NSA and would identify the action needed to safeguard the valued qualities. In winter 2000/1, SNH in partnership with local authorities established projects in Wester Ross and Dumfries & Galloway where the production of strategies was trialled.

These pilot projects resulted in the production of strategies for the Wester Ross NSA in Highland and for the three NSAs in Dumfries & Galloway. This work has continued in Dumfries & Galloway where a full-time NSA officer now oversees the implementation of the three management strategies.