Visitor carrying capacity model: The Heritage

Client: National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland is the largest conservation charity and membership organisation based in Scotland, with over 360,000 members. As an independent charity the NTS acts on behalf of everyone to safeguard over 100 natural, cultural and built heritage sites across Scotland. Meeting charitable purposes, balancing long term conservation responsibilities and recognising shorter term budget realities require prioritisation in a complex world.

A number of sites in the Trust’s care are considered to be under pressure from the impact of visitor numbers. Some sites are thought to be operating at or above capacity. It should be noted that visitor pressures interact with other strategic impacts such as the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss alongside social and economic levers and national policy drivers, like Net Zero. At site level, infrastructure changes, host community activity and wider destination factors can greatly influence carrying capacity too.

Planning Solutions Consulting was commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland to develop a visitor carrying capacity model for The Heritage in Perthshire which includes the Black Linn Falls, Ossian’s Hall (Category B listed) and changing of the colours during autumn fall. The Hermitage can generate up to approximately 500,000 visits per annum.

The work included a site visit to The Hermitage to engage with site-based staff, understand the operating context, visitor flows and key issues and challenges. A review of literature helped to identify different approaches to visitor management and managing carrying capacity. A number of internal departments working across NTS sites and services were consulted to identify the impacts of high levels of visitation and opportunities for shaping future visitor management responses. The research, consultation and analysis was drawn together to produce a strategic visitor carrying capacity framework and visitor carrying capacity model which can be adapted for other NTS properties.

Find out more about The Hermitage here. 

How can we help?
If your visitor site is facing increasing pressure from high levels of visitation please feel free to contact Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk