Wild land

There are some large areas of Scotland, particularly in the north and west, whose largely semi-natural landscapes show minimal signs of human influence.  These can be mountains and moorland, stretches of undeveloped coast or large areas of peat bog.

These wild and remote areas have a distinct and special character, which is increasingly rare to find.  A key component of Scotland's identity, they bring significant economic benefits, attracting visitors and tourists.  Many people derive psychological and spiritual benefit from their existence, and they provide increasingly important havens for Scotland's wildlife.

Surveys have shown widespread support for safeguarding these landscapes.  For example a SNH survey  found that 91% of the Scottish population believe it is important to retain wild places, and half the people interviewed believe that they are under threat from new development.

SNH published its Wildness in Scotland's Countryside  policy in 2002.  This considers the value of wild places to society, the main pressures on the resource, and identifies 'search areas for wild land', which include most of the significant and valued areas of wild land character.  A more detailed analysis of where wildness can be found across all of Scotland's landscapes has recently been undertaken, and can be viewed on the Mapping Scotland's wildness page.