National Scenic Area NSA

The Three Sisters of Glen Coe, Scotland.

[edit] Introduction

In Scotland, a National Scenic Area (NSA) is a part of the countryside with high scenic value of national importance and interest that has statutory protection to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of its landscape.

National Scenic Areas (NSAs) include:

• Mountain ranges.
• Islands.
• Diverse landscapes.

There are currently 40 designated National Scenic Areas in Scotland (or approximately 13% of the country’s land area) primarily located in remote parts of the country, however, the NSA label is not widely known - even in Scotland - when compared to similar conservation designations.

[edit] History

NSAs are administered by Scottish Natural Heritage. They were originally managed by the Countryside Commission for Scotland.

NSAs are considered the Scottish counterpart to the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) designation used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are currently (2020) 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with 33 wholly in England, four in Wales, one which crosses the English/Welsh border and eight in Northern Ireland (ref. National Association Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

While AONBs were eventually designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, no such arrangement was made for scenic areas in Scotland. A separate designation was first introduced as national park protection areas. These proposed areas included Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, the Cairngorms, Glen Coe-Ben Nevis-Black Mount, Wester Ross and Glen Strathfarrar-Glen Affric-Glen Cannich). National park protection areas were renamed National Scenic Areas in 1980.

The NSA designation is not the same as 'national parks', although one place can be given both designations. National parks are recognised under the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB
• Conservation area.
• Designated sites.
• National nature reserves.
• National parks.
• Natural resource.
• Scottish Natural Heritage.
• Special areas of conservation.
• Special protection areas.

[edit] External resources

• Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Areas.