Cairngorms National Park to clamp down on campfires amid increased wildfire risk

Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands is to clamp down on campfires after a new seasonal byelaw was introduced by the park’s board.

The decision to introduce a seasonal fire management byelaw comes amid increased risk of wildfires in Scotland with drought periods predicted by climate modelling.

A ten-week consultation which received 1,664 responses from residents, businesses, land managers and visitors saw 79% of respondents supporting the introduction of a fire management byelaw.

The Park Authority said the move is part of “a bid to reduce the risk to people, nature and property” caused by wildfires.

The park is said to be home to 18,000 people and around two million visitors each year, and around 25% of the UK’s rare and endangered species.

The byelaw will now enter a formal public 12-week consultation in September before the wording is finalised and submitted to ministers at Holyrood for approval.

Sandy Bremner, convener at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “We’re grateful to the more than 1,600 people who responded to the consultation earlier this year.

“It’s clear from these responses that there is strong support for a fire management byelaw, with 79% of people in favour.

“We considered a range of different options in terms of the type of byelaw to take forward.

“We believe that a seasonal byelaw combines the best elements of what people were looking for – relative simplicity for communication and understanding, and not being too heavy handy in covering months when there is far less recreational fire activity.”