East Loch Awe Land Management Plan

East Loch Awe (ELA) Land Management Plan (LMP) lies to the east of Loch Awe in Mid Argyll. The LMP area covers ~9692Ha, incorporating three forest blocks, Ardchonnel (~524Ha), Eredine (~4335Ha) and Brenchoillie (~4832Ha).

The forest blocks stretch from just south-east of Inveraray across to Loch Awe. Whilst the majority of the LMP area is not prominent in the landscape, the eastern sections of Ardchonnel and Eredine forest blocks are very visible from Loch Awe. 

The LMP area includes both forested areas and open hill. A high percentage of the forested area is first rotation Sitka spruce with no current access. Lower slopes have been well roaded, thus felling and operations have taken place to re-structure. There are large areas of priority habitat & species, riparian zones, lochs and heritage features, including Scheduled Monuments (SMs).

• maintain sustainable quality timber production
• develop a programme to remove most larch in phase 1 or phase 2, if phase 1 not feasible
• ensure compliance with UKFS and UKWAS
• ensure that coupes are well scaled and shaped, and roads sited to relate to landscape character and scenic quality. Scale, shape and plan coupes to maximise cost efficiencies for felling and access provision and re-establishment effectiveness
• protect current and new infrastructure in plan area- access rights for third parties, B840 (ELA road), East Loch Awe strategic haul route, forest access, tracks, powerlines, core paths etc.
• protect and identify opportunities for renewables and their associated infrastructure, ensuring that these are integrated with other land use objectives
• add diversity in both terms of age and species across the plan area, identifying continuous cover forestry (CCF) opportunities, Ancient Woodland Sites (AWS) and priority habitats, improving the resilience of the plan against climate change, threats and diseases
• Protect and enhance Scheduled Monuments (SMs) and heritage features.
• Provide scope and opportunities for potential increased recreational use by local communities and tourists, as well as enable/compliment the community action plans, and provide opportunities for appropriate and well managed integration with neighbouring landowners.

• autumn 2025: scoping consultation, including drop-in events
• winter 2025: LMP design
• spring 2026: consultation of proposals
• summer 2026: submission to Scottish Forestry (SF) for approval