National Park up for top award

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs has been shortlisted for the title of National Park of the Year 2017.

It is the only Scottish national park named in the five finalists for the title by BBC’s Countryfile Magazine.

Now in their sixth year, the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2017 are a celebration of the British countryside and its people, from great heritage attractions and favourite holiday destinations to the best nature reserves and finest rural pubs.

This year’s awards feature 12 categories, and launch in the February 2017 issue of BBC Countryfile Magazine and are already online. BBC Countryfile Magazine has asked experts in each field to draw up a shortlist of nominees in each category.

LLTNP has been chosen by Countryfile presenter John Craven alongside Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, South Downs and Snowdonia.

The park’s chief executive Gordon Watson said:“Loch Lomond & The Trossachs is an incredibly special place with rolling lowland landscapes to high mountains, lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands.

“It’s also a living, working landscape, home to many wildlife as well as offering a huge range of recreational activities for visitors to enjoy. Each of the 15 national parks across the UK are wonderful, unique places and we are honoured to be shortlisted among the other nominees for National Park of the Year.”

The national park covers 720 square miles, including 21 Munros, two forest parks and the UK’s new and largest National Nature Reserve – The Great Trossachs Forest.

The winners are decided by public vote and will be announced mid-March. Voting is open until February 28 online at www. countryfile.com/awards, or by post, sending the form in the February issue of the magazine to BBC Countryfile Magazine, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol, BS1 3BN.