There are currently two national parks of Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, created in 2002, and Cairngorms National Park, created in 2003.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
The National Park feels worlds apart from the bustle of city life. Yet it's less than an hour from Glasgow and not much more from Edinburgh. A place of contrasts, it covers four distinctly different and special areas:

• Ben Lomond standing guard over Loch Lomond, the largest expanse of freshwater in Great Britain
• The Trossachs, wild glens and sparkling lochs between Callander and Aberfoyle
• Breadalbane, the high country of the north, with some of Scotland's finest munros, Ben Lui, Ben Challum, Ben More and Ben Vorlich
• The Argyll Forest of the Cowal peninsula watched over by the Arrochar Alps and bordered by sea lochs.

There is something for everyone to enjoy in Scotland's first National Park including low level walking, cycling, sailing, hill walking and for the more adventurous, canyoning. Whatever the weather, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs provides a stunning backdrop to your visit. For more information about click on outdoor activities

National Park events are organised or supported by Park staff throughout the area. The events are free of charge and include everything from nature walks to arts & crafts.

Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is the largest in Britain, covering 3,800 kilometres of beautiful and unspoilt countryside. Over 17,000 people live and work in the towns and villages throughout the area and every year thousands of visitors travel here to enjoy the fabulous scenery, from wild moorlands and soaring mountain peaks to spectacular rivers and tranquil lochs.

The Park has something for everyone - whether it's simply admiring the ever changing views of the spectacular mountains, or walking with a Ranger-led group learning about the plants and animals in native pine woods. For the more energetic there are plenty of opportunities to go mountain biking, canoeing or climbing. The area also has a rich cultural heritage with castle, fortified houses and estates all happy to welcome visitors.

If you are looking for a particular activity, you can search our new 2006 Cairngorms Countryside Events Diary. Produced by the Park Authority in association with the various Ranger services and organisations operating in the area, this extremely popular diary of events provides details of hundreds of fascinating outdoor activities, guided walks and talks which will take place throughout the Cairngorms area from April to December 2006. For more information on the Ranger services which operate throughout the Park, please click here.

And you don't need a car to explore the Park! Use the Cairngorms Explorer to find out how you can travel around by bus, train, bike or on foot. It offers detailed timetable information including community transport schemes, taxis, the National Cycle Network and popular walking routes.