A wildfire that has burned for two weeks in the Cairngorms National Park has left an “apocalyptic” scene of devastation, say park bosses.
The fire has destroyed about 10 sq miles (25 sq km) of moorland and forestry near Aviemore since Wednesday 15 July.
Malcolm Smith, farming advisor to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), said: “You are passing through just bare forest now and birds flying about looking for their nests.”
RSPB Scotland, whose Loch Garten reserve at Abernethy has been badly burned, said it could takes weeks before the fire was extinguished.
The fire broke out near the village of Glenmore, outside Aviemore, on 15 July and led to residents and campsites being evacuated.
At its height, more than 500 firefighters were involved in the response and Police Scotland declared it a “major incident” on Friday.
