This Land Management Plan (LMP) presents the vision for Leanachan forest, to the north of Fort William in the Highlands.  It set out the management planned for the next 10 years to progress that vision.

The Leanachan forest area lies at the north foot of the Ben Nevis and Anoach Mor massif within the broad strath of the Great Glen close to the Highland town of Fort William.  The LMP area covers around 3,100ha from 40m to 650m in altitude.  It is made up of around 80% woodland cover, predominantly Sitka spruce and Lodgepole pine plantation of a wide range of ages alongside some native broadleaf woodland on the slopes and along the water courses.  The open ground is largely covered by the Lon Leanachain SSSI designated for its blanket bog and on the upper slopes, upland heath and acid grassland which lie on the northern periphery of the much larger Ben Nevis SSSI and SAC. The forest lies in the heart of the outdoor capital and hosts the Nevis Range Mountain gondola.

The objectives for the future management of the forest recognise the location of the forest and the importance of the conservation designations.  Conifer sawlog timber production will remain an objective where the soils can support this with an increase in the diversity of conifer species to increase future resilience and provide a more varied forest environment for outdoor recreation.  The first 10 years of the plan will see a major peatland restoration project around the Lon Leanachain SSSI removing forest cover from its hydrological unit to maintain and increase the rewetting of the bog. The plan will also continue the work of recovering the native woodland along the upland edge and the ongoing development of the riparian woodland to improve water quality and fish habitat.

Consultation

The documents and maps below are the final draft proposals.  We would be pleased to receive comments from interested parties on these proposals which will then be finalised for submission for approval by Scottish Forestry.

If you have comments please send these to us using the contact details at the bottom of the page by 31st May 2025

The principal document is the Leanachan LMP final draft April 2025, the first section of which is a summary of the proposals. 

Map 1 shows the location of the forest.  Map 2 provides a simple overview of the concept behind the design.  Map 3 shows the felling proposals while map 4 covers the potential thinning areas.  Map 7 displays the future species and habitat vision for the forest. 

The other maps provide background information and highlight the issues and opportunities taken into account during the preparation of this LMP.

Documents and maps

• Leanachan Land Management Plan (PDF)
  
  

Maps

• Map 1: location (PDF)
• Map 2: concept (PDF) | text annotations for Map 2 (PDF)
• Map 3: management map (PDF)
• Map 3a: management map phase 1 and 2 (PDF)
• Map 4: potential thinning (PDF)
• Map 5: future of larch (PDF)
• Map 6: existing and planned roads (PDF)
• Map 7: habitat and species (PDF)
• Map 7a: habitat phase 1 and 2 (PDF)
• Map 8: statutory designations (PDF)
• Map 9: recreation issues and analysis (PDF) | text annotations for Map 9 (PDF)
• Map 10: rights of way and core paths (PDF)
• Map 11: heritage (PDF)
• Map 12: glacial features (PDF)
• Map 13: environment issues and analysis (PDF) | text annotations for Map 13 (PDF)
• Map 14: deer management plan (PDF)
• Map 15: soils (PDF)
• Map 16: steep ground (PDF)
• Map 17: hydrology (PDF)
• Map 18: climate (PDF)
• Map 19: current age structure (PDF)
• Map 20: current species (PDF)
• Map 21: landscape character and viewpoints (PDF)

Visualisations

• Banavie photo and fell 2024 (PDF)
• Banavie species 2024 2034 (PDF)
• Banavie species 2044  natural colours 2044 (PDF)
• Leanachan Commando photo and fell 2024 (PDF)
• Leanachan Commando species 2024 2034 (PDF)
• Leanachan Commando species 2044 natural colours 2044 (PDF)
• Leanachan Inverlochy Hotel photo and fell 2024 (PDF)
• Leanachan Inverlochy Hotel species 2024 2034 (PDF)
• Leanachan Inverlochy Hotel species 2044 natural colours 2044 (PDF)
• Leanachan Sgurr Finniosgaig NE photo and fell 2024 (PDF)
• Leanachan Sgurr Finniosgaig NE species 2024 2034 (PDF)
• Leanachan Sgurr Finniosgaig NE species 2044 natural colours (PDF)
• Leanachan Sgurr Finniosgaig NW photo and fell 2024 (PDF)
• Leanachan Sgurr Finniosgaig NW species 2024 2034 (PDF)
• Leanachan Sgurr Finniosgaig NW species 2044 natural colours 2044 (PDF)

Appendix

• Appendix 2 Analysis of the previous plan (PDF)
• Appendix 3 Background information (PDF)
• Appendix 6  Woodland types (PDF)
• Appendix 7 Provenance Guidance (PDF)
• Appendix 8 Abbreviations (PDF)
• Appendix 11 SSSI Management Plan (PDF)
• Appendix 12 Silvicultural principles (PDF)
• Appendix 13 LISS Specific coupe prescriptions (PDF)
• Appendix 14 Heritage features (PDF)