A scenic route… is a specially designated road or waterway that travels through an area of natural or cultural beauty. The designation is usually determined by a governmental body

Scenic adj. 1 of or relating to impressive or beautiful natural scenery: the scenic route.

What is a Scenic Route?

La Ruta del Peregrino, Mexico

Coasts

Norwegian Tourist Routes

Fjords

Mountains

Waterfalls

Arable and pasture land

Forest – predominantly conifer

Hardwoods and Alpine birch

Tundra vegetation (mountain/glacier)

Lat. 66º 33’N

To strengthen Norway’s position in the marketing of international tourism and to help promote local business activities as well as nurturing the vitality of rural districts.

Norwegian Tourist RoutesDevelopment Programme

1994-97 Tourism & Travel Project (pilots)

1998-99 Adoption and launch

2000-04 Clarification of concept and route selection

2005-13 Planning /implementation of first half of the project

2013-23 Development & delivery of second half

Oslo

Aurlandsfjellet

Hol

Andalsnes

Sognefjellet

Gamle-Stryneflellsvegen

Rondane

Lom

Geiranger -Trollstigen

Hardanger

Hardangervidda

Mountains Rondane National Park

Mountains Trollstigen - Troll Ladder

Mountains Mefjellet

Fjords Aurlandsfjord

Fjords Geirangerfjord

Waterfalls Videfossen

Waterfalls Gudbrandsjuvet Gorge

Coasts

Detailing

Scottish Scenic Routes Initiative

Judging and Exhibition

Falls of Falloch – John Kennedy

Loch Lubnaig - Ruairidh Moir

Inveruglas – BTE Architects (Sean Edwards, Daniel Bär and Stéphane Toussaint)

National StrategyKey Questions• What do we want a programme of National

Scenic Routes to deliver for Scotland?• What should a Scenic Route look like?• How do we define the criteria for establishing

a Scenic Route/Network?

Key Principles• Journeys as an authentic experience of place• Story of the nation through landscape, culture

& heritage• Interventions should be specific to location• National badge of quality - high quality visitor

experience (monitoring & maintenance)• Integration of transport modes & experiences• Main tourist routes – hidden gems• Journeys of discovery - connecting places

through experiences and activities• ‘Slow Scotland’ – an escape from busy lives• Showcase for contemporary Scottish design• Seek to support local economies/communities• Integrated strategy of journeys, interventions

activities, enterprises and information

Phase 2 pilots

Corgarff Castle, Cairngorms

Laggan Lochs – Great Glen

Laggan Lochs – Great Glen

Student project – Balquidder Lookout

Spey

Dulnain

Findhorn

Nairn

Tummel

Almond

Tay

Tummel

GarryGarry

Braan

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Kincraig

Aviemore

Kingussie

Newtonmore

Dalwhinnie

Blair Atholl

Pitlochry

Carrbridge

Ballinluig

Dunkeld

Tomatin

Birnam

Bankfoot

Luncarty

Daviot

INVERNESS

PERTH

River Tay

Bogbain

Slochd Layby 149 west of Carrbridge

Loch Vaa

Loch Alvie

Insh Marshes

Drumochter

Loch GarryClunes/Bruar

Blair AthollKilliecrankie

Faskally

Pass of Birnam

Pitlochry

Falls of Truim

Ruthven Barracks

Place making

Location

Design for specific use

Maintenance

Separation

Size/scale

Detailing

Viewpoints

NMU Network links

High quality trading

Interpretation

Artwork

Design Principles

Dualled A9Future footpath link to Ruthven Barracks

Viewpoint

Viewpoint

Southbound lay-by

Northbound lay-by

Footpath link to Kingussie

River Spey

Future facility

Creation of layby/viewpoints with facility

A87 Glengarry A82 Glen Coe & Rannoch

A83 Rest & be Thankful

A87 Kintail & Glen Shiel

A830 Road to the Isles

A701 Devil’s Beeftub A7 Esk Valley