Tree Felling of 12500 Tonnes Above Strathgarve
Garve and District Community Council
Added at 15:07 on 12 November 2025
We want to warn walkers, cyclists and road users in general of up coming hazardous conditions on the road between Strathgarve Lodge as far as Keeper's Cottage, Strathgarve for months to come.
This afternoon, 12th November 2025, we learned from Chris Bond at FLS that commercial tree felling is due to begin on the hill above Strathgarve. There is approximately 12,500 tonnes of wood being felled and it will be removed by RTS Forestry on 25 tonne logging lorries. To this end there will be in the region of 500 of these loads passing along the wee single track lane, Strathgarve Mains, between Strathgarve Lodge and Keeper's Cottage. Fellling under the terms of harvesting is permintted 24 hours a day everyday.
The area marked in red on the map is the location of upcoming felling operations expected to start accoring to Chris in the next week and a half - although flyer he handed to residents today mentioned starting in December 2025. Felling will last approximately 6 to 8 months which may change depending on operational conditions. The timber haulage will follow the route marked by the orange dashed line with access from the A835 at Silverbridge following the forestry track down to Keeper's Cottage and then south along Strathgarve Mains down to past Strathgarve Lodge towards Loch Garve. We understand that the track from Strathgarve Lodge will be widened from its current 3 metres to 7 metres as will the existing foresty tracks through the woods.
This is to allow SSEN to lay the underground cable from the Western Isles.
If anyone has any questions they would like raised or any complaints;- in respect of this work while it is taking place, Chris has offered kindly offered to faclilate with SSEN.
Chris can be contacted by email chris.bond@forestryandland.gov.scot
As an update to the above GDCC emailed Chris at 19.20 today to request a site visit later this week or early next week at his earliest convience.