Social Values Assessment Report: Ben Lomond

Abstract

This report is based on the findings from a rapid, qualitative assessment of the social values associated with Ben Lomond, a mountain upland landscape in the care of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). The main body of the report provides a brief context to the assessment, outlines the research process and methods, summarises the findings, and considers their potential implications. It also notes the gaps and limitations of the study, suggesting future research directions. The assessment encompassed all aspects of the property – the uplands, the wooded lower slopes, the Bunkhouse, and farm – and engaged a wide range of groups. It identified multiple forms of attachment and varied practices co-existing within and spanning across the Trust’s property boundaries. The diverse environment supports conservation activities, varied leisure pursuits, and agricultural practices. The social values associated with Ben Lomond are underpinned by the types of knowledge and experiences that these different interactions bring, generating a range of views on what Ben Lomond is and what is important about it. The findings are illustrated with examples from interviews, group discussions, participant observation (on site and online), and pre-existing materials. This assessment was undertaken as one of the pilot studies for the collaborative research project, Social values of NTS heritage places: Towards an organisational approach.