Yannis Kontolaimakis Report Fort William Active Travel Masterplan

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Yannis Kontolaimakis Report Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Refresh 2019 Final Report Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) Project number: 60601436 24 September 2019 Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Refresh 2019 Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) Project number: 60601436 Quality information Prepared by Checked by Verified by Approved by Alison Craig (Graduate Yannis Kontolaimakis Yannis Kontolaimakis Deborah Paton Consultant) and William Principal Transport Principal Transport Associate Director Prentice (Senior Planning Consultant Planning Consultant Engineer) Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position 0 Draft for Client Comments 1 24/09/2019 Addressing Yannis Project Manager stakeholder Kontolaimakis comments 2 03/12/2019 Addressing Alison Craig Graduate stakeholder Consultant comments Distribution List # Hard Copies PDF Required Association / Company Name Prepared for: Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) AECOM Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Refresh 2019 Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) Project number: 60601436 Prepared for: Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) Prepared by: Yannis Kontolaimakis Principal Transport Planning Consultant AECOM Limited 1 Tanfield Edinburgh EH3 5DA United Kingdom T: +44 131 301 8600 aecom.com © 2019 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) AECOM Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Refresh 2019 Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) Project number: 60601436 Table of Contents 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................ 10 1.1 Background to the Commission .................................................................................... 10 1.2 Location and Study Area .............................................................................................. 10 1.3 Report Structure ........................................................................................................... 11 2. Audit Methodology and Design Basis ..................................................................................... 12 2.1 Audit Methodology ....................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Design Basis ................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.1 Guidance ..................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Design Approach ......................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Footway Widths ........................................................................................................... 14 2.2.4 Segregated Cycleways ................................................................................................ 14 2.2.5 Shared Use Footway / Path Width................................................................................ 14 2.2.6 Carriageway Width....................................................................................................... 15 2.2.7 Quiet Streets Specification ........................................................................................... 16 3. Walking and Cycling in the Study Area ................................................................................... 17 3.1 Overview of current conditions for active travel ............................................................. 17 3.2 Existing Active Travel Infrastructure .............................................................................. 18 3.3 Existing provision for cycling ........................................................................................ 22 3.3.1.1 NCN78 ................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1.2 Canal Towpaths ...................................................................................................... 23 3.3.1.3 Shared Use Footways / Paths ................................................................................. 23 3.3.1.4 Inverlochy to Torlundy ............................................................................................. 24 3.3.1.5 Toucan Crossings ................................................................................................... 24 3.3.1.6 Off-road Mountain Bike Routes ............................................................................... 24 3.4 Existing Cycle Parking ................................................................................................. 25 3.5 Fort William Mountain Bike Tourism.............................................................................. 27 3.6 Traffic Flow .................................................................................................................. 28 3.7 Accident Data .............................................................................................................. 28 3.8 Public Transport ........................................................................................................... 31 3.9 The Highland Council Policy Documents ...................................................................... 32 3.10 Development ............................................................................................................... 39 3.11 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 41 4. Potential Fort William Area Active Travel Network .................................................................. 43 4.1 Infrastructure Examples ............................................................................................... 43 4.1.1.1 Street Types and Potential Solutions ....................................................................... 43 4.1.1.2 Types of Infrastructure ............................................................................................ 44 4.2 2010 Audit ................................................................................................................... 45 4.2.1 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 45 4.2.2 Proposed Active Travel Network ................................................................................... 45 4.3 Refresh of Fort William Masterplan (2019 Audit) ........................................................... 46 4.3.1 Fort William Spine Route ............................................................................................. 49 4.3.1.1 Proposed Route Alignment ..................................................................................... 49 4.3.1.2 Route Context ........................................................................................................ 50 4.3.1.3 Design Specification ............................................................................................... 56 4.3.1.4 Cost Estimate ......................................................................................................... 59 4.3.2 Outer Orbital Route ...................................................................................................... 62 4.3.2.1 Proposed Route Alignment ..................................................................................... 62 4.3.2.2 Route Context ........................................................................................................ 63 4.3.2.3 Design Specification ............................................................................................... 68 Prepared for: Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) AECOM Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Refresh 2019 Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) Project number: 60601436 4.3.2.4 Cost Estimate ......................................................................................................... 70 4.3.3 Retail Park Links .......................................................................................................... 72 4.3.3.1 Proposed Route Alignment ..................................................................................... 72 4.3.3.2 Route Context ........................................................................................................ 72 4.3.3.3 Design Specification ............................................................................................... 74 4.3.3.4 Cost Estimate ......................................................................................................... 75 4.3.4 College Link ................................................................................................................. 77 4.3.4.1 Proposed Route Alignment ....................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Lochs & Castles with a Local | Privately Guided Tours Scotland | 4
    scotland.nordicvisitor.com SCOTTISH LOCHS & CASTLES WITH A LOCAL ITINERARY DAY 1 DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN EDINBURGH Upon your arrival in Edinburgh, you will be greeted by a private driver who will take you to your hotel in the city centre. For those arriving early in the day, we recommend spending the afternoon walking through the city, strolling along the Royal Mile and exploring the Old Town and New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also plenty of museums and landmarks to visit within the city centre, including the majestic Edinburgh Castle. Included: Entrance to Edinburgh Castle Spend the night in Edinburgh Attractions: Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh New Town, Edinburgh Old Town, The Grassmarket, The Royal Mile & St Giles Cathedral DAY 2 DAY 2: WELCOME TO THE HIGHLANDS Today your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle to start your private tour. On the way you’ll have the option to go for a walk at the picturesque Hermitage and the Highland Folk Museum inside the Cairngorms National Park. Arriving near Inverness, you can visit the Battlefield of Culloden Moor, to see where the last battle on British soil occurred in 1746. Nearby you could also roam around Clava Cairns, a series of tombs and standing stones dating back roughly 4,000 years. Spend the night in Inverness area. Driving distance: 151 miles / 243 km Average travel & exploring duration: estimated 8-9 hours Attractions: Cairngorms National Park, Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre, Highland Folk Museum, Inverness, The Hermitage DAY 3 DAY 3: LOCH NESS, CASTLES & BRAVEHEART COUNTRY Today’s drive will take you back to Edinburgh (you also have the option to end your tour in Glasgow in the optional activities below), via Fort William and Braveheart Country.
    [Show full text]
  • (Moine) Calc-Silicate Rocks Represent Metamorphosed Tuffs? a Geochemical Re-Appraisal Richard A
    Do Neoproterozoic (Moine) calc-silicate rocks represent metamorphosed tuffs? A geochemical re-appraisal Richard A. Batchelor School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9AL Running heads: LH: RICHARD A. BATCHELOR RH: DO NEOPROTEROZOIC (MOINE) CALC-SILICATE ROCKS REPRESENT METAMORPHOSED TUFFS? Suggest: CALC-SILICATE ROCKS 1 ABSTRACT: Following the identification of grey quartz–albite–chlorite–calcite–muscovite rocks in Meso- to Neo-proterozoic sequences in Scotland as metamorphosed tuffs of intermediate composition, it has been shown that this lithology will generate calc-silicate rocks at higher metamorphic grades. Both rock types occur as thin beds with sharp contacts with their host, occur as multiple beds in isolated suites, and share chemical compositions suggestive of volcanic sources with tholeiitic andesite affinities. The failure to recognise calc- silicate rocks as tuffs might explain the apparent scarcity of volcanogenic material through c. 220 million years of early Earth history in Scotland. KEYWORDS: Calc-silicates, tuffs, intermediate magmatism, Moine 2 1 Calc-silicate rocks, which are metamorphic rocks composed mostly of plagioclase feldspar, amphibole, 2 garnet, quartz and occasionally epidote, are sporadically distributed throughout the Neoproterozoic 3 Moine Supergroup of Scotland. The Moine Supergroup comprises a thick sequence of sedimentary 4 rocks, deposited in fluviatile (Bonsor & Prave 2008) and shallow marine environments between c. 950 5 Ma and 870 Ma (Mendum et al. 2009), intruded by some minor igneous intrusions, all of which were 6 subjected to regional metamorphism and deformation events (Strachan et al. 2010). The sediments 7 were derived from the denudation of the c.1000 Ma Grenville Orogen and deposited off the eastern 8 margin of Laurentia into a foreland basin.
    [Show full text]
  • Brightwater Lodge – Dark Skies
    Our Dark Skies Come and See Over A Thousand Stars Being on the edge of Europe means that the UK has some of the largest areas of dark sky in the continent and being the edge of the UK means that we have one of the best areas of dark sky in the country and certainly one of the darkest in Europe. In fact, our night sky can get so inky dark that over 7,000 stars and planets can be visible with the naked eye. All you have to do is go outside on a clear night, give your eyes time to adjust to the dark and then look up. You can even see our own galaxy, The Milky Way, stretching across the sky. This is a privilege that so few people in our county have, so why not come here and let us share it with you. How Dark is Dark? So how dark is a dark sky? Well, we have measured the darkness of the sky at various locations here using a device called a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) and have got readings of between 21 and 22.5. To give you an idea of what this means, you would get a reading of around 8 in the middle of a major city such as Glasgow or Edinburgh and a reading of 24 would be measured in a photographer's dark room. So, on some nights, we are very near to total darkness, meaning that this is a great place to enjoy a spot of stargazing. Where to Go to Enjoy the Night Sky While you are here you can simply walk out to the front of the lodge or across the road to the Loch shore to find a spot to view the night sky as it is dark enough here to see the Milky Way and there are good sightlines to the sky in all directions.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Lochaber Fisheries Trust Press Pack
    Press Pack Updated May 2014 About Lochaber Fisheries Trust At Lochaber Fisheries Trust we work with river owners, managers, anglers and government agencies to ensure that Lochaber’s freshwaters are protected and managed sustainably. Our aim is to preserve and restore the region’s aquatic environments and ensure that our fish populations persist for many generations to come. Our work covers the following areas; monitoring & research, habitat restoration, fishery management, education, bio-security, interactions with Aquaculture and consultancy. Lochaber is one of the UK’s most stunning and dramatic landscapes and offers anglers a wide choice of fishing from the 'Queen of Scottish salmon rivers' in the shadow of Britain's highest mountain to the icy waters of the country's deepest loch for trout. Lochaber is unique, for fishing with a sense of the untouched and the wild, Lochaber rewards anglers with superb game, course and sea fishing against a backdrop of the most magnificent scenery. Fishing in Lochaber is available to suit every budget, from £7 per day for trout fishing to around £100 for a day’s salmon fishing. • For salmon fishing the River Lochy is unrivalled on the West Coast of Scotland. • The rivers Aline, Inverie, Nevis and Strontian also offer outstanding salmon and sea trout fishing. • Lochs Arkaig and Morar are ideal for ferox and brownies. • Lochs Arienas, Doilet and Dubh-Lochan have plentiful trout. • Loch Arkaig and the River Lochy are perfect for pike anglers. • The coastline of Lochaber is ideal for sea angling. Established in 1996, the Trust is dedicated to improving and raising awareness of fish populations and freshwater habitats in Lochaber.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustran Cycle Paths 2013
    Sustran Cycle Paths 2013 The following list of place-names is provided alphabetically, both from EN- GD and GD-EN to allow for ease of use. GD-EN starts on page 7. English Gaelic Local Authority Ach' An Todhair Achadh An Todhair Highland Achnacreebeag Achadh na Crithe Beag Argyll and Bute Achnacroish Achadh na Croise Argyll and Bute Achnamara Achadh na Mara Argyll and Bute Alness Alanais Highland Appin An Apainn Argyll and Bute Ardchattan Priory Priòraid Àird Chatain Argyll and Bute Ardgay Àird Ghaoithe Highland Ardgayhill Cnoc Àird Ghaoithe Highland Ardrishaig Àird Driseig Argyll and Bute Arisaig Àrasaig Highland Aviemore An Aghaidh Mhòr Highland Balgowan Baile a' Ghobhainn Highland Ballachulish Baile a' Chaolais Highland Balloch Am Bealach Highland Baravullin Bàrr a' Mhuilinn Argyll and Bute Barcaldine Am Barra Calltainn Argyll and Bute Barran Bharran Argyll and Bute Beasdale Rail Station Stèisean Bhiasdail Highland Beauly A' Mhanachainn Highland Benderloch Meadarloch Argyll and Bute Black Crofts Na Croitean Dubha Argyll and Bute Blair Atholl Blàr Athall Perth and kinross Boat of Garten Coit Ghartain Highland Bonawe Bun Obha Argyll and Bute Bridgend Ceann Drochaid Argyll and Bute Brora Brùra Highland Bunarkaig Bun Airceig Highland 1 Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba is a national advisory partnership for Gaelic place-names in Scotland principally funded by Bòrd na Gaidhlig. Other funders and partners include Highland Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Scottish Natural Heritage, The Scottish Government, The Scottish Parliament, Ordnance Survey, The Scottish Place-Names Society, Historic Environment Scotland, The University of the Highlands and Islands and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
    [Show full text]
  • THE GLENLOY WOODLANDS Near Fort William, Lochaber 228.72 Hectares / 565.16 Acres
    THE GLENLOY WOODLANDS Near Fort William, Lochaber 228.72 Hectares / 565.16 Acres John Clegg & Co CHARTERED SURVEYORS & FORESTRY AGENTS THE GLENLOY WOODLANDS Fort William 11 miles Inverness 64 miles Perth 109 miles Edinburgh 153 miles (Distances are approximate) THE GLENLOY WOODLANDS 228.72 Hectares / 565.16 Acres Two areas of mixed species commercial woodland with a substantial volume of mature timber ready for felling. Stunning location in a highly scenic area, close to Fort William and Timber Markets. FREEHOLD FOR SALE AS A WHOLE OFFERS OVER £950,000 SOLE SELLING AGENTS John Clegg & Co, 2 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2AS Tel: 0131 229 8800 Fax: 0131 229 4827 Ref: Patrick Porteous 10/05/2017 15:19 LOCATION LOCATION The Glenloy Woodlands are situated in Glenloy, approximately A recent volume estimate from plot sampling has been carried Further information, including compartment data, maps The Glenloy Woodlands are situated in Glenloy, approximately A recent volume estimate from plot sampling has been carried Further information, including compartment data, maps 11 miles north of Fort William. This is a stunning and secluded out within the two woodlands. The combined stocked area of 11 miles north of Fort William. This is a stunning and secluded out within the two woodlands. The combined stocked area of andand volumevolume measurementmeasurement data data is is available available from from the the Selling Selling part of the country, yet it is very accessible to Fort William and conifer amounts to approximately 219.10 hectares, which is part of the country, yet it is very accessible to Fort William and conifer amounts to approximately 219.10 hectares, which is AgentsAgents uponupon request.request.
    [Show full text]
  • The Halt & Somerled, Roshven. Offers Over
    THE HALT & SOMERLED, ROSHVEN. OFFERS OVER £885,000, to include content. A unique opportunity to acquire two fully furnished properties. Set in a beautiful A unique opportunity to purchase two, desirable properties location on the West Coast of Scotland at Roshven, between Lochailort and Glenuig with Situated in the stunning location of Roshven, an area of outstanding beauty views towards Loch Ailort and the Ardnish peninsular. This exciting opportunity Set in over an acre of beautifully tended garden ground with privately owned access provides a perfect solution for independent living within the family or for a holiday letting cottage/Airbnb with income potential. Both properties have been maintained to an extremely high standard The properties (just 50 metres apart) are accessed by a privately owned access track In good decorative order through-out that leads to landscaped gardens and parking. Each property is beautifully appointed, Content of each property is included in the sale price neutrally decorated and take full advantage of the stunning surroundings and views. Each property benefit from double glazing, oil fired heating that is supported by a multi The Halt is a 3 bedroom, detached house, EPR D-61 fuel stove, good storage and a garage. Somerled is a 4 bedroomed, detached house, EPR D-64 ACCOMMODATION: LOCATION: Roshven is a township on the coast between the Sound of Arisaig and Lochailort on Somerled: Ground floor: Entrance/hallway, kitchen, lounge, dining room/sun room, the A861. It has the most outstanding scenery and coastline with Rois-bheinn the study, utility, W.C, bedroom with shower. First floor: family bathroom, three bedrooms most dominant of mountains in the area towering to 2894ft.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of a Tour in Scotland in 1819
    JOUivi^AL OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND IN 1819 By ROBERT SOUTHEY With an Introduction and Notes By Professor C. H. Herford, M.A., Litt.D., F.B.A, los. 6d. net See Inside Fiap 315. In 1819 Robert Southey, the Poet Laureate, in company with Telford, the great engineer, made a compre- hensive tour through Scotland, and, being a true bookman, kept a record of the people met and the things seen during their journey. Although no years have passed since then, that Journal has not been published. Yet it has its fresh interest to readers generally and its particular value to social historians and to Scots, for with sincerity and grace Southey wrote down promptly what he saw, and he was no mean observer of his times. JOURNAL OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND IN 1819 ROBERT SOUTHEY From the. portrait In/ T. PhlUips, R.A. [Frontispiece JOURNAL OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND IN 1819 BY ROBERT SOUTHEY WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY C. H. HERFORD, M.A., Litt.D., F.B.A. HONORARY PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THK UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. First Edition 1929 PREFACE The manuscript of this Journal, which is in the library of the Institution of Civil Engineers, was presented to that library in 1885 by the late Sir Robert Rawlinson, K.C.B., who was President of the Institution in 1894-5. It bears a note by him to the effect that he purchased it in Keswick from the Rev. Mr Southey in August 1864. The exhibition of the manuscript on the occasion of the celebration, in June 1928, of the Centenary of the grant of a Royal Charter to the Institution—obtained largely through the instrumentality of Thomas Telford, its first President—drew attention to the interest of the Journal, not only as a contemporary account of the great works which Telford was then carrying out in Scotland, but also as the diary of a shrewd and travelled observer, depicting social and industrial conditions in Scotland in the early years of the nineteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Scotland's Road of Romance by Augustus Muir
    SCOTLAND‟S ROAD OF ROMANCE TRAVELS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PRINCE CHARLIE by AUGUSTUS MUIR WITH 8 ILLUSTRATIONS AND A MAP METHUEN & CO. LTD. LONDON 36 Essex Street W,C, Contents Figure 1 - Doune Castle and the River Tieth ................................................................................ 3 Chapter I. The Beach at Borrodale ................................................................................................. 4 Figure 2 - Borrodale in Arisaig .................................................................................................... 8 Chapter II. Into Moidart ............................................................................................................... 15 Chapter III. The Cave by the Lochside ......................................................................................... 31 Chapter IV. The Road to Dalilea .................................................................................................. 40 Chapter V. By the Shore of Loch Shiel ........................................................................................ 53 Chapter VI. On The Isle of Shona ................................................................................................ 61 Figure 3 - Loch Moidart and Castle Tirrim ................................................................................. 63 Chapter VII. Glenfinnan .............................................................................................................. 68 Figure 4 - Glenfinnan ..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Housing Investment Plan
    Agenda 7 Item Report LA/5/21 No HIGHLAND COUNCIL Committee: Lochaber Committee Date: 18 January 2021 Report Title: Strategic Housing Investment Plan Report By: Executive Chief Officer - Infrastructure and Environment 1. PURPOSE/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report invites consideration of the Highland’s draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which sets out proposals for affordable housing investment during 2021–2026, as reported to Economy and Infrastructure Committee at the meeting held on 4 November 2020. 1.2 The report also updates members on the 2020/21 affordable housing programme within Lochaber. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 Members are asked to: • consider the Highland’s draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan and provide comments for further consideration by Economy and Infrastructure Committee; and • note the progress within the developments highlighted within section 5 of this report and included as appendix 1 of the report. 3. IMPLICATIONS 3.1 Resource - The Council House Build proposals contained within SHIP will be progressed in line with the current agreed funding mechanisms of the Scottish Government Grant, City Region Deal investment, Landbank subsidy and Prudential Borrowing. 3.2 Legal - no significant legal issues. 3.3 Community (Equality, Poverty and Rural) - This report will assist in the delivery of affordable housing in rural areas. 3.4 Climate Change/Carbon Clever – Neutral impact. 3.5 Risk - Normal development risks on individual projects 3.6 Gaelic - No impact. 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs) are developed in line with Scottish Government guidance which sets a submission date of mid-December 20. The draft SHIP was agreed by E&I Committee at the meeting held on 4 November 2020 on the basis that there would be consideration of any subsequent comments received from Area Committees.
    [Show full text]
  • Spean Bridge Primary School School Handbook 2021/22
    SPEAN BRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2021/22 1 CONTENTS PAGE NUMBER Letter of Welcome 3 General Information and Staff 4 Spean Bridge School Aims 5 About Spean Bridge Primary 6 -9 Classes and Nursery 10 Enrolment / Placing Requests 11 Transport / Uniform / PE 12 Indoor Shoes / Newsletters /Absences 13 Contact Information / Website/ 14 Schools Information Service School Meals 15 Fruit Tuck Shop / School Milk / Mobile 16 Phones /Parking Parents as Partners 16 - 17 Citizenship Groups / Assemblies 18 School Garden 19 - 20 Extra-Curricular Activities 21 Residential Trips / Health 22 Child Protection 23 Behaviour and Discipline 24 - 25 General Guidance / Parent Council 26 Curriculum and Assessment 27 - 30 Additional Support Needs 31 - 33 The Curriculum 34 - 39 Homework 40 - 42 School Policies / Holiday Dates / 43 Suggestions, Concerns and Complaints Self-Evaluation / Data Protection 44 - 45 Equality and Inclusion 46 2 The current pandemic has affected the normal running of schools in many ways. This Handbook reflects the way the school usually runs but does not cover all of the changes that we have made because of the pandemic. Our arrangements have changed in many ways this session, and may well change again, depending on how the pandemic develops. For the most up-to-date information about any aspect of the work of the school, please make contact and we will be able to tell you about our current arrangements. For the latest information about how the pandemic affects children, young people and families across Scotland, please visit the Scottish Government website, which has helpful information about Coronavirus and its impact on education and children.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Management Plan Brief Lochaber Forest District LMP Unit: Leanachan Forest Date: March 2017 Planning Team: Lead Christina
    Land Management Plan Brief Lochaber Forest District LMP Unit: Leanachan Forest Date: March 2017 Planning Team: Lead Christina Tracey Henry Dobson (environment) Kirsty Mann (recreation) John Jackson (deer mgt) AN Other (harvesting) Jeff Hancox (roads) Jim MacIntosh (woodland creation) Naill Justice (restocking) Sam Wilson/Sarah Hood (GIS support) Description Location and History The Leanachan Land Management Plan (LMP) area lies in the broad forested strath of the Great Glen to the north east of Fort William. It covers the northern lower slopes of Aonach Mor, Carn Mor Dearg and Beinn Nebheis mountain massif. The 3,130ha national forest estate here is continuous with the forest of Killiechonate estate to the north and the re-establishing natural woodland of the former British Aluminium estate to the south and west. Its north western boundary is the Fort William to Spean Bridge railway line. The main forest acquisition of 3,058ha was in 1933 from the Law Debenture Corporation. Chapman Wood (164ha) to the south, in Coire Cul na Creige Duibhe, was acquired in 2007. A small area by Leanachan farm was sold in 2003. Current land use and key features Leanachan forest is a major recreation facility close to Fort William with access to the Nevis Range gondola, cycling and walking trails. There is an approved Masterplan for the development of further tourism facilities including accommodation within the forest. The forest is predominantly conifer plantation woodland. A fringe of native woodland has developed above the conifer tree line and represents a link to a tree cover predating the Forestry Commission’s work.
    [Show full text]