A82 forest operations

We’re removing non-native conifers along the A82 near Loch Ness. This mitigates against future hill slips and protects this iconic road.

Our contractors are currently working four miles from Drumnadrochit.

Why we're removing trees

Most of the trees being removed are Douglas firs, which were planted on the hillside around 90-years-ago. These are among some of the earliest plantings by the Forestry Commission in Scotland.  

They’ve now grown too large for the landscape and pose a risk during high winds. Because they’re on a steep slope above the loch and road, they could cause serious safety issues if they fall.

What we're planning instead

We're replacing the Douglas firs with native woodland. This will:

• improve biodiversity
• make the hillside more resilient
• be more sustainable in the long term

The project began in 2012 and will take up to 25 years to complete due to the scale and complexity of the site.

Current A82 site map

Who we're working with

This is a massive partnership program. We're working with:

• geotechnical engineering consultants
• emergency services
• Transport Scotland
• Traffic Scotland
• Bear Scotland
• Tilhill Skylining
• The Highland Council

Site safety

We’ve installed large safety fences to catch any debris that may come loose during tree removal. This is essential due to the steep terrain and geology of the site.

Traffic management

Safety is our top priority. We’re using red-to-red traffic management systems to stop traffic while trees are being felled and removed. This may cause delays. Visit Traffic Scotland for live travel updates.

Safety fencing

Due to the steepness of the hillside and the geological make-up of the landscape we have installed large safety fences along the site. These are in place to catch any falling rocks or debris, which may come loose during the harvesting operations.

Steep ground felling

We’ve been carrying out large-scale harvesting operations above the A82 since 2013, starting at Glen Righ near Fort William. We’re now working at Barksheds, south of Drumnadrochit. Due to the steep terrain, we’re using skyline extraction—a specialist technique that uses industrial cables to lift trees off the hillside.