Historic first visit and video recording for Daniel and I to my newly-acquired 630 acre forestry estate in Broubster in the Scottish Highlands
The porter wakes us at 5.30am with a continental breakfast of toast and tea, which is a relief as we worried about getting up on time. 10 minutes to eat it and then a quick shower for both of us and hair wash and shave for me. Dressed, packed and out of the hotel before 6.00am. Time therefore to film the hotel, airport and Air Ecosse aeroplane, which was one of those deep bodied de Havilland Short Bros things that we used for the Channel Islands last year. Aboard and quickly away, landing at Edinburgh and Aberdeen en route and rather irritated by a bossy air hostess moving us about and ending in a path of cigarette smoke, which pleased me little. The crew changes at Aberdeen, however, and, with only nine people aboard, the service is much improved. Because of the Aberdeen wait we ended up 40 minutes late, but George McRobbie was waiting for us and took us back to the Fountain Forestry offices in Wick. The building is an old herring factory in central Wick, but, of course, the trade is long finished and the workshop used for plant storage and maintenance.
We have a long chat about forestry in general and Broubster in particular. The species and crop, the soil, ploughing and its effects on the soil’s structure, drainage, the perils of fire, disease and wind-throw etc. It seems that an all-risks insurance at this stage is desirable, but that I might carry my own risks after 10 years or so. The desk work done, we are shown round the building, then prepare to set off for Broubster. Before we go we see the all-terrain vehicles, which Daniel loves. There is a four/six wheeled carrier and the alternative three wheeled trike that individuals use. The car journey, more conversation, and we finally arrive. During our survey I take video pictures constantly and get many of Georges comments down on tape. Outside, the wind is very strong today, which plays havoc with the sound track, but the day is dry at least. We first see the terrain from the car, the Locks of Saorach and Thormaid, and then drive up to the ploughed and planted area. The ploughing creates large furrows or ditches down the hill to let the water drain off, and then the small Lodge Pole Pine and Sitka Spruce seedlings are planted near the top of the furrows. We walk up to the top of Cnoc na Claise Brice to survey the view of Thormaid and then along to our own Lock nan Clachan Greola, (‘The Loch of the Wee White Stones’) which we are told is full of brown trout and good for fishing. It has a boat house on the northern shore, which is a good sign for fishing in these parts. Good views across to the ocean of Dounrey establishment and of the most northerly mainland point on the British mainland, Dunnett head. There had been torrential rain recently and the peat over the granite was soaking wet and we nearly went over our boots several times. Granite had been quarried on site and strong raised roads formed by digging aside the peat and then building up the roads. To see all those rocks and quantities of peat – millions and millions of tons of it – and to think that we were having to buy some down south at high prices. We take away one piece of granite for a collector’s item. Altogether we are impressed by the scale of the work, the vast size of the property, the volumes of water, peat and granite, the smallness of the seedlings and the wind/rain of the territory. All captured well by camera in a good afternoon. After, we stop at Thurso for sandwiches and tea and drive the coastal route back to Wick and FF’s offices again. We discuss the next years’ work plan, will plough and fertilise this autumn and visit again then. We aim to plant a further 60 hectares next year, and it all within 5 years, but if we buy the neighbouring Claise Brice property, we may extend this to 6. To our hotel, The Ladbroke Motor, where we leave our luggage and go to the Tourist Information office. We collect leaflets on things to do tomorrow and go to bed early, listening to the clamour of fairground music on a neighbouring field, after having a splendid meal in the hotel restaurant. The forecast is for rain tomorrow.