12. NATIONAL TOURIST ROUTES, TOURIST TRAILS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
National Tourist Routes and Tourist Trails
12.1 National tourist routes (NTR) and tourist trails are not deemed to be tourist destinations. There are currently 12 NTRs (see Figure 12.1) and the creation of further NTRs and tourist trails is a matter for VisitScotland who will liaise with the trunk road authority with regard to signing on trunk roads.
12.2 Where possible, national tourist routes and tourist trails should utilise the local road network and should not normally follow trunk roads except where a route or trail must of necessity, start, partly include, or cross a trunk road.
12.3 Signing of national tourist routes or tourist trails on trunk roads must be approved by the trunk road authority. Where a national tourist route or tourist trail interfaces with, or is close to a trunk road, appropriate signing will be permitted.
12.4 National tourist routes and tourist trails will be signed using signs to Diagrams 2210, 2211, 2212, 2213 and 2214 in TSRGD using the thistle symbol, which may be shown in white on a brown sign to indicate that it is not a destination.
12.5 There are no prescribed signs for national tourist routes and tourist trails for use on motorways. However, there may be circumstances where it is desirable to direct tourists off the motorway network on to NTRs or tourist trails and in these circumstances, special authorisation may be given for signs directing tourist traffic off the motorway. In such circumstances, the trunk road authority will consult with VisitScotland and the local road authority before granting special authorisation.
National Parks and Geoparks
12.6 Direction and boundary signs to National Parks and Geoparks will be considered by the trunk road authority on merit and in consultation with the relevant Parks Authority, VisitScotland and where appropriate, Scottish Natural Heritage.
Other Geographic areas
12.7 Direction signs to areas that are marketed under a collective theme (e.g. attractions with literary or historic connections) or within a geographic area will not normally be signed unless recognised by VisitScotland.
12.8 It should be noted that boundary signs for geographic areas such as National Parks are not prescribed in TSRGD and require special authorisation by Scottish Ministers.
Figure 12.1 â€” National Tourist Routes