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I've been badgering the Woodland Trust for some time to create a special wood for us - in return for a donation in the afterlife
Early possible sites were in Wester Glen Tarken - where the moss at the head of the glen could really do with a few trees, but problems with agricultural tenancies, proved too great an obstacle.
In early 2019 however the Trust bought the Ben Shieldaig estate - an area we are very famiiar with - and the site of one of the most important fragments of the "Ancient Caledonian forest" as well as a significant area of Atlantic Rain Forest with few invasive species
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/ben-shieldaig-estate/First visit October 2019We paid our fisrt visit in mid October and identified a broad glen on the Eastern flank above Loch Damh as a potential site. We also had several sightings of the White Tailed Eagles that nest on Shieldaig Island
Below the Western faceWith Ian Price from the TrustPotential site above Loch DamhViews of the forest on the Western SideA view of the hill from near the road above the villageBefore any trees can be planted, a lot of work has to be done. As well as the extra fencing that's needed, soil samples have to be analysed and peat depths measured - trees may not be planted where this is above a certain depth.
Unfortunately COVID delayed all this, and it was not until June this year that I made a return visit.
Ben Shieldaig from the Torridon Applecross coast roadThe best views of this hill are from the road that leads along the South side of Loch Torridon and then round to Applecross, so after a hard day on Fuar Tholl I took advantage of a fine day to drive out to the "corner" where it turns South and take some photos.
Unfortunately this road is part of the "500" route round the Northern coast and thus appallingly crowded so it was a good thing I was not in any hurry
Scots pines along the road - The genetic make up of the trees in this fragment is significantly different from that of those in CairngormsBen Shieldaig - views from the West and from slighly further West - Liathach behindI continued along the road taking photos of the stunning views looking towards the head of the loch . I can't resist including them, so here they are (roughly nearest first: some were taken on the way out some on the return. Ben Alligin and Liathach dominate
A zoomed view - Ben Alligin - with the white houses of Inveralligin on the shore belowAt the "corner " there was a great silhouette of the Skye hills
Looking down the sound of Sleat and over Raasay: the Blaven group is just L of the end of the island ,while the Black Cuillin are peeping out above the rest of it. The isolated triangular hill is Beinn na Cro while Beinn na Cailleach is on the LLooking North to Red Point and Red Point beachAscent and traverse of the hillNext morning I set out with Ian, Malcolm the project manager, and Caz the keen new ranger. (some of the pics are hers)
Malcolm set off directly up through the forest which was "jungly" to say the least - with shoulder high heather and ferns. I felt a bit like Colonel Fawcett who disappeared in the Amazon
A fine stand of Scots pineSilhouetted against the skyFar from easy going on the way up. It may only be a 500 m hill but it's still quite a pull Once above the trees it didn't get a lot better Looking back down After about 2 hours we arrived abruptly on the Spine of the hill and after a short rest, headed South towards the top. The boulder in this photo along with many others on the summit ridge looks very much as if it were carried here by a glacier, which suggests that this hill was completely covered in the ice age Edit I recently read an article which concluded that there were 1000m or so of ice above Perth, so it seems more than likely that Ben Shieldaig was covered.
Another view down looking West towards the Applecross hillsLooking East up the lochA small lochan on the ridge: there were several false summits, but eventually we arrived at the cairnWith Ian and MalcolmIan and CazLunchAfter lunch, we continued South and descended the glen earmarked for our wood: looking down to Loch DamhMore views looking down: as we descended I noticed large numbers of grazed off rowan saplings - once the grazers are excluded this area should regenerate rapidlylooking South across the floor of the glen: apparently Golden Eagles nest in these cliffsA final view back up from the road.where Malcolm had left a car I haven't heard any more since then, but Let's hope things are moving slowly forward