Policies usually describe a broad approach to, or view on, a particular subject. They often express general goals and are used to guide present and future decision-making. In general, Trust policies are national in scope and are applied Trust-wide. The definition of 'policy' in the Trust's Corporate Plan 1999-2004 is 'Agreed written statement setting out a consistent approach to be taken by an organisation in relation to a specific internal or external issue, including a reasoned justification for that approach'. Examples of Trust policies are given below.

Strategic Policies
These are broad high-level statements of general principle, applicable across the whole Trust. They relate directly to the Trust's statutory purposes and to its corporate aims and objectives, and have been approved by the Trust's governing Council.

• Access, Enjoyment and Education Principles (2005) - (PDF)
• Conservation Principles (2003) - (PDF)
• Acquisition Policy (2002) - (PDF)

Subject-specific Policies
These have a narrower focus but have also been approved by the Trust's governing Council

• Environment Policy - (PDF)
• Acquisition and disposal policy : Material culture collections (2009) - (PDF)
• Telecommunications Masts (1998) - (PDF)
• Collections Care (1999) - (PDF)
• Farmland Management (1999) - (PDF)
• Wild Land (including the Unna Principles) (2002) - (PDF)
• Deer Management (2003) - (PDF)
• Evaluation of Heritage Significance (2003) - (PDF)
• Renewable Energy Developments (2003) - (PDF)
• Gaidhlig (Gaelic) 2005 - (PDF)
• Landscape Policy (2005) - (PDF)
• Photography and Filming at Trust Properties (2007) - (PDF)
• Organised events at NTS Countryside Properties (2007) - (PDF)
• Dogs at Trust Properties (2007) - (PDF)
• Carbon Conservation Projects Policy (2008) - (PDF)
• Peat Policy (2008) - (PDF)