Carron Valley Forest is located approximately 12km south west of Stirling, to the north of the Campsie Fells and the Kilsyth Hills. In total the Land Management Plan (LMP) area covers over 3000 hectares, of which approximately 75% is forest, with the remainder being open land. The LMP boundary surrounds Carron Valley Reservoir which is owned and managed by Scottish Water and delivers drinking water to approximately 135,000 people in the Forth Valley. 

The forest is dominated by coniferous species, especially spruces, and is a significant contributor of softwood timber production within the Scottish Lowlands. Together with the reservoir it surrounds, it is also an important area for recreation and provides a home for several important native species such as red squirrel, osprey and pine marten.

Our Land Management Plans detail how we intend to manage a specific area for a period of ten years, with outline proposals for a longer timeframe. The current LMP for Carron Valley was approved in 2016 and expires in August 2026. This plan was significantly amended in 2022 due to the spread of the disease Phytophthora ramorum into the forest, and interventions to tackle this disease and further improve forest resilience will form a major aspect of the next Land Management Plan. 

Location

Have your say

The documents and maps below provide an overview of how we intend to manage Carron Valley Forest over the next ten years and beyond. These provide an indication of the general direction of travel and our overall ‘concept’ for ongoing forest management, rather than detailed proposals. In brief, the intention is that the forest will continue to provide a significant volume of predominantly softwood timber, while continuing to provide opportunities for recreation and habitats for wildlife. 

As part of our planning process, we welcome feedback from a wide range of individuals and organisations with an interest in the forest and would invite any interested parties to submit comments on these proposals between 9 May and 10 June 2025.

As part of this we will be holding a drop-in event at Carron Valley Main Car Park on Saturday 31 May between 10am and 1pm. Parking will be free for the duration of the drop-in session, and directions to the forest can be found on the Carron Valley visitor information page. If you are unable to attend the drop-in, you are also welcome to get in touch with us by email or in writing via the details listed below. 

If you wish to provide any comments relating to our future management of the forest, please contact us by 10 June 2025. 

Timeline

• Ongoing: detailed site surveys and information analysis
• September 2024 to April 2025: Internal scoping and concept development
• May/June 2025: Public engagement exercise
• June to August 2025: Concept developed into detailed management proposals 
• August/September 2025 (target): LMP submitted to Scottish Forestry for approval

Documents and Maps

• Land Management Plan Concept Document
• Map 1 Location
• Map 2 Analysis
• Map 3 Concept
• Map 4 Management