Allt Guibhais is a 44 hectare ghost woodland project near the iconic Devil’s Staircase of the West Highland Way. The area is adjacent to the Leven Valley SSSI on the north-western boundary of Black Corries Estate, above the village of Kinlochleven in Lochaber.

There was good evidence of historic woodland cover to be found on OS maps from the 1870s, which show riparian woodland stretching up to around 1,400 ft in altitude in Coire Mhorair and higher than that along the banks of the Allt Giubhais. Woodland features had retreated, due to historic browsing pressure. Future Woodland staff conducted a seedling survey in August 2022 to determine the potential for woodland establishment and the results were positive. Species diversity included birch, rowan and willow with an occasional pine encountered out with the surveying plots.

Future Woodlands Scotland funded the agent and survey costs for the WIG application and have provided a grant to supplement the cost of fencing.

Application made

27th June 2022

Land manager objectives

“To restore and expand a section of the Leven Valley SSSI within the Black Corries ownership boundary. Restoration works, through fencing and exclusion of browsing animals, will encourage natural regeneration of predominately W17, birch dominated woodland with rowan and holly features although there are also signs of willow natural regeneration throughout the restoration area.”