Of the national parks in Scotland, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs suits Ben Lomond or an easy Conic Hill outing, while the Cairngorms, the UK’s largest national park, adds gentler Drumochter hills and the Falls of Bruar ravine walk.
The parks differ in character, so this guide does not rank them. It orders them by how a Fife walker is likely to choose: a named hill, a gentler day, or a bigger landscape. Read our Scotland outdoor access rights guide first if you are new to walking beyond Fife.
Choosing between the two parks
Scotland has two national parks, and only two have been created since the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, as a Parks Watch Scotland report on a Scottish Parliament motion notes. Loch Lomond and The Trossachs is the second national park in Scotland, and the Cairngorms is the largest in the UK. That leaves a short list, so the choice comes down to what kind of day you want.
- A named hill: Ben Lomond gives a clear objective in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, and it is a Munro.
- An easy outing: Conic Hill in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and the Falls of Bruar in the Cairngorms are both described as easy.
- A softer introduction to bigger country: the Drumochter Hills in the Cairngorms have grassy slopes and less demanding trails.
- Scale: the Cairngorms is the larger park, so it gives more variety within one park.
The sections below take each park in turn, then compare them side by side.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park centres on Loch Lomond, the largest loch in Scotland by surface area. Walks range from Munro days to short, gentle hill outings, so one park can serve both a serious hill day and a relaxed family walk.
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond is the southernmost Munro in Scotland, according to the same Thrillist guide to both parks. It suits walkers who want to tick off a Munro without heading to the far north, and who are ready for a full hill day. Choose another walk if you are after a relaxed stroll or a short outing.
Conic Hill
Conic Hill is the easy option in the same guide, described as an easy jaunt. It suits families, newer hill walkers and anyone who wants a short hill outing near the loch. Pick it when the forecast is uncertain and you would rather have a manageable day than a committing one.
Loch-side and woodland time
Even on a hill day, the loch is the main feature of this park. Plan time to enjoy the water and the woodland around it as well as the summit views.
Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms is the largest national park in the UK. That scale is its main advantage: you can choose between gentle valley walks and more demanding hill days without leaving the park. The trade-off is that you need to pick an area deliberately rather than turning up and improvising.
Falls of Bruar
The Falls of Bruar is an easy-yet-breathtaking ravine hike, in the words of the Thrillist guide. It suits a first visit, a mixed-ability group or a day when you want a clear, short objective in the park.
Drumochter Hills
The Drumochter Hills are a tamer region on the park’s southwest side, with grassy hills and less demanding trails, according to the same guide. Choose them if you want hill walking without the toughest ground, or if you are testing how the Cairngorms suits you before planning something bigger.
Side-by-side comparison
| Park | Standing | Walks named | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loch Lomond and The Trossachs | Scotland’s second national park; includes the largest loch in Scotland by surface area | Ben Lomond (southernmost Munro in Scotland); easy walk up Conic Hill | Choose for a Munro day or an easy hill outing with loch views |
| Cairngorms | Largest national park in the UK | Easy ravine hike to the Falls of Bruar; Drumochter Hills on the southwest side | Choose for variety and scale, starting with the gentler areas |
The figures and descriptions come from Thrillist’s guide to the two parks and Haggis Adventures’ overview of national parks.
If you would rather follow a route than visit a park, scotland’s great trails offers a different way to plan longer walking.
The proposed new national park
A third park is not yet a place you can walk in, but the process has been moving. A Parks Watch Scotland post dated 17 June 2022 records that the initial consultation on creating a new national park had closed the day before. The government’s commitment at that stage was that at least one new national park would be designated during the current parliamentary session.
The same post gives context on where the idea comes from. The Scottish Campaign for National Parks identified at least seven further potential sites in 2013, and community groups in Galloway and the Borders have shown interest in new parks. East Neuk and landward Fife, along with the M8 corridor, appear among the areas suggested in the 2022 consultation. That makes the process relevant to Fife walkers, but a suggestion is not a designation.
The practical advice is to keep walking in the two existing parks for now. Before planning a trip around a new park, check current Scottish Government and NatureScot announcements for its stage, because the details above reflect the position in June 2022.
Access and park status
National parks in Scotland are set up under the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. They exist to conserve landscape and nature, promote public enjoyment, ensure wise use of resources and promote sustainable development. Those aims describe what a park is for. For what you can do on the ground, check the park authority’s own visitor pages for local notices, and use the access guidance in our Scotland outdoors section.
The authorities themselves treat visiting as something to support. The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority describes research commissioned by the park authorities in 2007 on barriers to visiting the parks. Their websites are a sensible first stop for trailhead and visitor information.
Frequently asked questions
How big is each national park?
The Cairngorms is the largest national park in the UK, so it is the bigger of Scotland’s two. For exact areas, use the park authorities’ own websites.
Has Scotland reviewed its existing national parks?
There has been only one partial review of the two parks, in 2008, according to Parks Watch Scotland’s report on the parliamentary motion.
Which areas have been suggested for a new park?
East Neuk and landward Fife and the M8 corridor appear among areas suggested in the 2022 consultation, and community groups in Galloway and the Borders have shown interest in new parks.
Which park should a first-time visitor choose?
Pick Conic Hill in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs or the Falls of Bruar in the Cairngorms for an easy first outing. Save Ben Lomond for a full hill day.
