Plans to create a national park in the Cairngorms are doomed to failure, according to the National Trust for Scotland.

The fears have been voiced by the chief executive of the conservation charity.

Robin Pellew launched his attack on the Scottish Executive proposals in a letter to the trust's 250,000 members and members of the Scottish Parliament.

Scotland's first national park covers the Trossachs

The National Trust for Scotland is keen on the Cairngorms being given National Park status.

However, Mr Pellew said the organisation was worried about how the move has been planned.

He said the proposals were fundamentally flawed and would "inevitably lead to failure".

In his letter, he said it was highly probable that the park would fail to deliver the economic development and landscape protection which is urgently needed by the Cairngorms.

Mr Pellew is worried about the park authority's planning powers and about international recognition of park status.

Protecting heritage

He is particularly concerned about the park boundary, which he said cuts mountains in half, splits ski slopes and divides wildlife areas.

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "Ministers are still considering responses to the consultation exercise and will bring forward a draft designation order in due to course."

The National Trust is a conservation charity set up to protect and promote Scotland's natural and cultural heritage.

The proposals to create the UK's largest national park in the Cairngorms were unveiled in May.

Park opened

The boundaries announced were smaller than expected and ministers ignored a petition calling for the new park body to be given full planning powers.

It is proposed that the park would cover an area from Grantown-on-Spey in the north to the Glenshee ski area in the south, and from Ballater in the east and Kingussie and Newtonmore in the west.

Scotland's first national park at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs was officially opened in July by the Princess Royal.