Contested Mountains

This is a historical study of the extraordinary degree of change in attitudes to nature and the use of land in the Cairngorms (eastern Scottish Highlands) region since 1880. It is based on four years of research carried out in 28 different archives across the UK, and as such contains elements of social, economic, environmental and political history.

The study looks at the history of visitor perceptions of the region from 1780, the history of rights of way disputes in the area and the parliamentary campaign for access to the Scottish hills. It also presents an environmental history of the osprey in Scotland, and the history and development of Glenmore National Forest Park, the Aviemore tourist industry and the huge Cairngorms National Nature Reserve.

The book seeks an understanding of the origins and problems of the popular demand for a wider Cairngorms National Park. It marks a timely realisation that nature conservation and recreation have a history, vital in understanding the complex origins of land use conflicts in the modern era, as such conflicts between conservation, development, access and traditional land uses become increasingly common.