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A Rich Culture
“There is little doubt that heather moorland is important from a cultural perspective. Many of the upland landsacapes in Britain are defined as cultural landscapes. For example the Highlands of Scotland, dominated in many areas by large tracts of heather moorland have been described as unique in many ways which relate to landscape and culture (Wrightham 1999). These cultural landscapes play an important role in tourism, especially in Scotland”. (Options for the sustainable land use of heather moorland, GFA RACE / Macaulay 2004)
For many thousands of years this culture revolved around looking after grazing animals and other activities such as peat cutting. Human settlements were spread out and the sites of many remote cottages and farm steadings, and higher up on the moor the summer shielings, are still clearly visible today. Stock farming is still the core activity on many moorland areas and the same structure of individual farm units still dominates, although many have now been amalgamated for efficiency .
Hill farming is under pressure, not least due the ageing farming population and the relative lack of new entrants, which also has an impact on village and small town communities. However, farmers are highly resourceful and many are diversifying into other activities. There is also a realisation that the current upheavals in global food resources could give a new boost to farming in the hills. This is explained by John Thorley OBE, Policy Director of the National Sheep Association in his speech -Upland Realities.
The “Estate” unit with its central house and ancillary cottages and buildings has been present for many hundreds of years, and developed further with the growth of grouse shooting, deer stalking and fishing in the last two centuries. This human and economic unit is still at the centre of life in much of the Scottish uplands, and is considered still “fit for purpose” to deal with the future.
On the back of these core enterprises, there is increasing emphasis on tourism, both to bring in people for country sports - The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group and to watch the wildlife - Wildlife Tourism.
Wildlife tourism is increasing in popularity and bringing in considerable new revenue, although most activity is around the coasts and lochs of Scotland.
"Enjoy Estates" is a website dedicated to showing an array of estates in Scotland which combine sporting activities and wildlife tourism. Another example is the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge Estate in Aberdeenshire.
On the website of the Cairngorms National Park Moorland Project, is a fascinating summary of moorland culture.