World Heritage Sites in Scotland
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World Heritage Sites in Scotland are specific locations that have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Programme list of sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humankind. Historic Scotland is responsible for 'cultural' sites as part of their wider responsibility towards the historic environment. Scottish Natural Heritage are responsible for 'natural' sites. There are currently five sites in Scotland, with a further three undergoing a process of evaluation.
[edit] Existing sites
‘St. Kilda’ is a small, out-lying archipelago of Hebridean islands which was inscribed as a ‘natural’ site in 1986. In July 2005 it became one of the few World Heritage Sites to hold joint status for its natural, marine and cultural qualities. The islands were bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1957. They are also a Biosphere Reserve and a National Scenic Area.
‘Edinburgh Old and New Towns’were together inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1996. The former includes the medieval Royal Mile which runs from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and is bordered to the north by the neo-classical 18th century 'New Town' which includes Princes Street. It is managed by the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust.
‘The Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ includes Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness and other nearby sites. It was inscribed in 1999 and is managed by Historic Scotland.
New Lanark was inscribed in 2001. It is a restored 18th century industrial cotton mill village in South Lanarkshire constructed by Robert Owen as an experiment in utopian socialism. Restoration was organised by the New Lanark Conservation Trust, which was formed in 1974.
The Antonine Wall was inscribed in July 2008.[1] It is one aspect of a wider series of sites in Austria, Germany and Slovakia for the local aspects of Roman occupation. The Wall is the remains of a defensive line made of turf circa 20 feet high, with nineteen forts. It was constructed after 139 AD and extended for 37 miles between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. The wall was over-run and abandoned soon after 160 AD, then occupied again for a brief period after 197 AD.
Commenting on World Heritage Day in 2008, Linda Fabiani the Scottish Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture stated: "We can... take the opportunity to reflect upon the contribution of our own World Heritage sites and their place in the global story of humanity. We can celebrate, with justified pride, Scotland's contribution".[2]
[edit] Tentative list
The United Kingdom ‘Tentative List’ comprises sites which may be nominated for inscription over the next 5-10 years. Three Scottish sites are on the current list.
The Forth Bridge, the famous rail crossing constructed to a cantilever design and opened in 1890, is a potential cultural site. Located 14 km west of Edinburgh, its three diamond shaped towers carry a dual railway line 46 m above the water over a distance of 2.5 km.
The Cairngorms are a mountain massif at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, which includes the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is a natural nomination. It is unique in Britain for the richness of its boreal forest fauna and the variety of its arctic and alpine vegetation.
The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland is one of the largest and most intact areas of blanket bog in the world, supporting a distinctive wildlife community. Its 4,000 square kilometres support numerous rare plants and insects and important populations of Golden Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank, and Black-throated Divers. This site is also a natural candidate.
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