Cairngorms National Park considers bylaw to ban campfires

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is to seek public views on whether stricter controls are needed on campfires.

It comes amid concerns about the mess left behind, and the potential risk of the fires sparking damaging blazes in forests and moorland.

Residents in the Glenmore area, near Aviemore, have complained of a problem on the beach at Loch Morlich.

A public consultation will seek views on three options, two of them involving the introduction of local regulations called bylaws:

• A year-round fire management bylaw to restrict fires with certain exceptions
• A time limited fire management bylaw which would only apply at times of high fire risk
• No bylaw and instead setting up a “robust” communications and education programme

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The consultation is expected to start in January and run for 10 weeks.

Chief executive Grant Moir said: “Wildfire risk is increasing in Scotland and climate modelling shows a predicted increase in drought periods and we need to consider ways to reduce the risk to people, nature and property in the national park.”

Convener Sandy Bremner said residents, land managers, visitors and various partner organisations would be consulted.

The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park and covers parts of the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perthshire.

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