A significant wildfire that began near Glenmore and Abernethy on 15 July burned more than 33 sq km (13 sq miles) of moorland and forest within the Cairngorms National Park. The emergency response involved over 500 firefighters, led to the evacuation of homes and businesses, and continued for over a month.
Despite the extensive area affected, much of the damage is reportedly high on hills and away from roads, making it difficult to observe directly. The national park spans 4,528 sq km (1,748 sq miles).
Local businesses in the Nethy Bridge area, including self-catering accommodations and photography workshops, have noted a decrease in bookings. Graham Niven, who runs Arbor Nethy, stated that while business has largely returned to normal, there has been a dip in confidence among potential visitors. Polly Cameron of The Dell of Abernethy has observed a similar effect, with October bookings being slower to fill. Tourism is a vital part of the local economy.
Firefighters continued to return to hotspots for months due to peat smouldering underground. Locals have only recently been able to view the incident as concluded.