Special Landscape Qualities

View the Special Landscape Qualities (SLQ) that underpin Scotland's National Scenic Areas and National Parks.

Updated: January 2025

New guidance has been prepared by NatureScot, the Cairngorm National Park Authority (CNPA) and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) which sets out how to assess effects on the Special Landscape Qualities of Scotland’s National Scenic Areas and National Park: Special Landscape Qualities - Guidance on assessing effects.

An assessment of effects on SLQs is carried out where a proposed development or other land use change is likely to result in significant adverse effects on one or more SLQs within a NSA or National Park.

Special Landscape Qualities are defined as the characteristics that make a designated landscape special in terms of landscape and scenery, both individually or combined. They are qualities that are perceived and experienced by people, affecting the sense of place.

The SLQs for each NSA and National Park are available on our SiteLink website. Use the name of the site in the search box to find the description, map and special landscape qualities for the site you are looking.

For more information see the following:

For the survey methodology, view the Guidance for identifying the special qualities of Scotland's National Scenic Areas.

Find out more

Scotland's Scenic Heritage

National Scenic Areas in Scotland map

Identifying the special qualities of Scotland's National Scenic Areas: NatureScot Commissioned Report No. 255

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