Scotland\'s new national park is a showcase for its unique scenery and wildlife

Scotland has a new national park in which to show off its spectacular scenery and flora and fauna. Cairngorm National Park, in the Grampian Highlands, covers nearly 1,500 square miles of mountains, heather moorland, forests, farmland, historic towns and villages and ancient sites, making it the largest in the UK.

The park, west of Aberdeen, is bordered to the north by the town of Grantown-on-Spey, in the heart of Scotland\'s malt whisky distilling region, and to the south by Ballater, a small town close to Balmoral Castle, the Scottish vacation home of the Royal Family. The park encompasses three of Scotland\'s chief rivers, the Spey, Dee and Don, and is traversed by major and smaller highways.

According to the park authority, the park is home to a quarter of Scotland\'s native woodland with the biggest stretches of near-natural vegetation in Britain. It is a refuge for a host of rare plants and creatures, among them golden eagles, and is home to 25 per cent of the UK\'s threatened species. For more information on the web: www.cairngorms.co.uk.

Also new in Scotland this year is an exhibition in Edinburgh Castle which explores its associations with the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. The inspiration for the exhibition is 200-year-old graffiti in the castle\'s prison vaults, left their by men who played a role in both conflicts, as well as other European revolutionary activities. These POWs included French, Dutch, Spanish and Irish soldiers and sailors, as well as American.

One party of Americans captured from the privateer Newfoundland included at least two crewmen of John Paul Jones, who was born in Scotland and is regarded as the father of the US Navy. As well as their names and various sentiments, the men drew their vessels, including one which appears to be flying the \'Stars and Stripes\', thought be one of the earliest depictions of the American flag. The castle, which dominates the city\'s skyline, is home to the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny and is opened daily year round. For more information on the web: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk.

Other events in Scotland during 2004 include: Glasgow Comedy Festival (March 18 - April 3); Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (April 30 - May 3); Royal Deeside Walking Week (May 22 - 28); British Open Golf Championship, Troon (July 15 - 18); World Championship Highland Games, Callander (July 31 - August 1); Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August 6 - 28); Edinburgh International Festival (August 15 - September 4); Braemar Gathering (September 4); Royal National Mod, Perth (October 8 - 16); Edinburgh\'s Hogmanay (December 29 - January 1, 2005).

To help visitors plan a trip, an 88-page guide entitled \'Scotland 2004\'\" has been published by VisitScotland, Scotland\'s national tourist office, and is available free from VisitBritain.

The guide highlights the diverse areas of Scotland, from the southern lowlands close to the border with England to the dramatic Highlands and Islands, along with historic cities and towns, and things to see and do. Also featured are the country\'s wildlife, sporting options, food and drink and culture, and the guide identifies locations associated with major movies, such as \'Braveheart\', and television series, including \'Monarch of the Glen.\'

A calendar of events lists arts, music, drama, food, whisky and even walking festivals, and there is information on traveling around by rail, air and road and inter-island ferries, including suggested itineraries. For more information on the web: www.visitscotland.com.

Information on traveling to Scotland is available free from VisitBritain\'s Travel Center, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 701, (at 45th Street), in New York City, Mondays through Fridays between 9.00am and 6.00pm. VisitBritain\'s Travel Center can also be reached via email at: travelinfo@visitbritain.org