`Managements strategies and effectiveness for conflicts in the Cairngorms

Tourists vs Farmers: Gate issues

Tourists may leave gates open, allowing animals to escape, get injured, or lost, reducing farmer profits.

Tourists vs Farmers: Trespassing

Hillwalkers may stray onto farmland, damaging crops and reducing yields.

Tourists vs Farmers: Dogs

Unleashed dogs can scare or harm livestock, particularly sheep.

Tourists vs Farmers: Littering

Dropped litter can choke or kill animals if ingested.

Farmers: Management (Gates & Stiles)

Kissing gates and self-closing gates stop animals escaping; stiles allow walkers to cross without damage.

Farmers: Management (Signage & Education)

Signs and campaigns educate visitors about littering and responsible pet ownership.

Farmers: Effectiveness

Solutions are effective but rely on tourists following rules. Signage is cheap but easy to ignore. Fines need enforcement.

Tourists vs Locals: Overcrowding

Honeypot sites become overcrowded during peak times, delaying locals' journeys.

Tourists vs Locals: Parking issues

Tourists park illegally on verges or narrow roads, causing congestion and soil erosion.

Tourists vs Locals: Litter

Litter from tourists ruins scenery and threatens wildlife.

Tourists vs Locals: Second homes

Holiday homes used seasonally drive up housing prices and can lead to ghost towns.

Locals: Management (Traffic & Parking)

One-way systems, bypasses (e.g. Aviemore ring road), and parking permits reduce congestion.

Locals: Management (Litter)

Removing bins in remote areas and focusing bins near car parks encourages take-home littering and reduces costs.

Locals: Effectiveness

Effective but expensive and time-consuming. Even increased capacity can be overwhelmed during peak times.

Tourists vs Tourists: Water sport conflict

Speedboats and jet skis conflict with passive users like fishermen and sightseers due to noise and safety concerns.

Tourists vs Tourists: Loch erosion

Boat use causes bank erosion and water pollution.

Tourists vs Tourists: Footpath erosion

Heavy footfall and poor weather degrade paths, especially when walkers stray off-route.

Tourists: Management (Zoning)

Loch Morlich restricts motorised watersports; activities zoned to separate areas.

Tourists: Management (Footpath protection)

Damaged areas fenced off; duckboards and signposts direct walkers away from fragile zones.

Tourists: Effectiveness

Zoning helps but shifts the issue elsewhere. Duckboards are effective but time-consuming to install.

Tourists/Locals vs Forestry: Access issues

Logging may close trails, reducing enjoyment for tourists.

Tourists/Locals vs Forestry: Noise and traffic

Logging noise disturbs peace and scares wildlife; logging trucks cause road congestion.

Tourists/Locals vs Forestry: Visual impact

Rows of foreign trees and logged areas scar the natural landscape.

Forestry: Management (Communication)

Visitor centres and social media notify visitors of logging activity and closures.

Forestry: Management (Tree planting)

Native trees planted in natural patterns improve visual appeal and ecological impact.

Forestry: Effectiveness

Engagement and native planting preserve appearance and reduce conflict.