Day trippers spilling down the lower slopes of the Cairngorm mountain resort. Situated near Aviemore in Strathspey The land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, a Scottish government subsidy, but is operated privately. In Scotland 12% of land is owned by public bodies such as this. Cairngorm national park, encompassing a number of private landowners, became Scotland's second national park, formed in 2003, with the aim of protecting 4528km2 of land in the heart of the country.