Flow Country: Slow Tourism Boost for UNESCO Site

The Flow Country in the north Highlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for nearly two years, is set to implement a 'slow tourism' strategy. This initiative, covering almost 469,500 acres of the world's most intact blanket bog systems, aims to harmonize tourism with environmental conservation. The Flow Country Partnership is developing plans to ensure benefits reach local communities and businesses. This strategy envisions towns and villages surrounding the peatlands in Caithness and Sutherland becoming "visitor gateways." Other designated locations will feature facilities dedicated to explaining the Flow Country's significance. Furthermore, walking and cycling routes within the World Heritage Site will be actively promoted for both residents and tourists. Janet Bromham, the partnership's project manager, highlighted efforts to raise the site's profile internationally and create lasting opportunities. Chairman Ian Ross emphasized the peatlands' global importance as carbon sinks, crucial for mitigating climate change, and stressed the need to view the Flow Country as a living landscape. The UNESCO status was achieved in July 2024 after a decades-long campaign, recognizing the ecosystem's support for diverse species, including rare birds and insects.