The Cairngorms National Park covers an area of 3, 800 km² (1, 467 sq miles) in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland and Angus Regions. The Cairngorm Mountains are a spectacular and unique wilderness. Recognised as a Special Area of Conservation, the area is managed to protect the natural environment while encouraging enjoyment through activities and family attractions. Aviemore is the busy and popular holiday destination most people have heard of but Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore and Kingussie are worth spending some time in as you enter the park from the south. Highland Wildlife Park and Dalwhinnie Single Malt lie within the National Park. The Area is a hotspot of ice climbers especially in the northern corries. It even has the world's hardest ice climb "the hurting" grade XI. On 13 March 2008 Michael Russell announced that the National Park would be extended to take in Blair Atholl and Spittal of Glenshee.[1] There was also controversy surrounding the construction of the funicular Cairngorm Mountain Railway on Cairn Gorm, a scheme supported by the new National Park Authority. Supporters of the scheme claimed that it would bring in valuable tourist income, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for a protected area. To reduce erosion, the railway operates a "closed scheme" and only allows skiers (in season) out of the upper Ptarmigan station
