Those using mountain bikes, putting on hiking boots or using a climbing rope in Scotland's national parks are part of a development aimed at being as sustainable as possible, it has been noted.

Speaking at Loch Lomond in a conference of leaders from all the UK's areas with such status, convener for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Dr Mike Cantlay noted the special responsibility for sustainable development placed on the two Scottish national parks, the other being the Cairngorms.

He explained: "We have to encourage local economies but balance everything with our more traditional aims of conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities."

This may have an impact on the kind of development of facilities visitors can enjoy in the Scottish national parks.

Of these two, walkers and climbers will find the more mountainous is the Cairngorms, which has five Munros over 4,000 ft.

In Loch Lomond and Trossachs, the highest peak is Ben More at 3,852 ft.

Posted by Dan Mirza