In April 2024, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) embarked on the most perilous phase of its long-running Steep Ground Felling Programme along the A82, a major trunk road stretching from Glasgow to Inverness via Loch Ness. This critical operation, aimed at removing unstable, century-old conifers from slopes above the iconic loch, has reached its toughest challenge yet: felling large Douglas firs on gradients approaching 90%—near-vertical terrain that demands unparalleled skill, precision, and safety measures. With the potential to protect vital infrastructure and pave the way for sustainable native woodlands, this project underscores the complexities of modern forestry in Scotland’s rugged Highlands. This article delves into the challenges, techniques, environmental goals, and broader implications of the A82 felling operation, highlighting its significance in 2025.

The A82: A Vital Artery Through Scotland’s Highlands

The A82 is one of Scotland’s most iconic roads, spanning 167 miles from Glasgow to Inverness and passing through breathtaking landscapes like Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness. Described by Dangerous Roads as “one of the best drives in the country,” it’s a lifeline for tourists, locals, and commercial traffic, connecting the Central Belt to the Highlands. However, its single-carriageway design, narrow sections, and susceptibility to disruptions—such as rockfalls or fallen trees—make it a challenging route. The road’s proximity to steep, forested slopes, particularly between Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston along Loch Ness, amplifies these risks, necessitating FLS’s ongoing felling efforts.

Since 2021, FLS has been systematically clearing mature conifers, primarily Douglas firs and Sitka spruce, from these slopes to mitigate the threat of windblow. These 100-year-old trees, standing up to 50 meters tall and weighing 10–12 tonnes, pose a significant danger if toppled by storms, potentially damaging the A82, power lines, and fibre-optic cables. The 2024 phase, running from April to June, marks the programme’s most technically demanding stage yet, tackling slopes with gradients of 80–90%—described by FLS as “near vertical” and a “peak danger” zone.

The Toughest Challenge: Felling on Near-Vertical Slopes

The current phase of the A82 felling programme, focused on a stretch between Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston, is the most hazardous to date due to the extreme terrain. Slopes with gradients approaching 90% present unique challenges, as outlined by FLS and its specialist contractor, Duffy Skylining. Ian, an FLS representative, emphasized the complexity: “Harvesting is generally a hazardous business. Factor in bad weather and it becomes trickier still. But add to that some incredibly steep ground and you are faced with a job that needs to be done slowly, with exceptional attention to detail and by people who are absolutely at the top of their game.”

Why These Trees Must Go

The Douglas firs targeted in this phase are over-mature and increasingly unstable, at high risk of windblow—a phenomenon where strong winds uproot trees, especially on exposed slopes. A single fallen tree could block the A82, disrupt utilities, and cause weeks or months of recovery, as seen in past incidents like the 2015 rockfall between Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit, which required a 120-mile detour. The 10–12-tonne conifers, if blown onto the road, could also damage infrastructure critical to the Highlands’ connectivity, including power and telecommunications networks.

Moreover, the felling aligns with FLS’s environmental goals. Clearing these non-native conifers makes way for native woodland restoration, featuring species like Scots pine and birch, which are better suited to the region’s ecology. Native trees have deeper root systems that stabilize slopes, reducing landslide risks and enhancing resilience against extreme weather—a growing concern in 2025 amid climate change.

The Technical Challenges

Felling on near-vertical slopes requires advanced techniques and equipment, as traditional methods are impractical. Duffy Skylining, the specialist contractor, employs a “skylining” system, where cables anchored to stable points hoist felled trees uphill or downhill to a safe extraction zone, minimizing ground disturbance. This method, refined since the programme’s early days in the 1980s, is essential for navigating the steep terrain.

The operation faces several hurdles:

• Extreme Gradients: Slopes of 80–90% are nearly unclimbable, requiring workers to use harnesses and ropes, akin to mountaineering. The steepness complicates tree extraction and increases the risk of logs rolling uncontrollably.
• Weather Delays: Bad weather, a frequent issue in the Highlands, delayed the 2024 start, with rain and wind halting work to ensure safety.
• Hillside Stabilization: Pre-felling efforts included stabilizing the slope to prevent landslides, adding time and complexity.
• Tree Size and Weight: The massive Douglas firs, unlike the more brittle Norway spruce felled in earlier decades, require precise cutting to control their descent.

Safety is paramount, with FLS prioritizing both worker and public protection. Techniques like contour felling, developed in the 1980s, involve leaving trees partially attached to stumps until branches are removed, preventing uncontrolled rolling. Despite technological advances, the inherent dangers remain, as evidenced by a forester’s death decades ago when struck by a dislodged tree.

The Steep Ground Felling Programme: A Historical Perspective

The A82 Steep Ground Felling Programme, launched in its modern form in 2021, builds on decades of forestry innovation. In the 1980s, foresters like Jim, a former team member, pioneered methods to tackle similar slopes, relying on ingenuity and rudimentary equipment. Jim recalled, “We had none of the equipment available today… but we had an incredible group of willing colleagues who were determined to work together.” Their techniques, such as using stopper trees to catch rolling logs, laid the groundwork for today’s operations.

The programme’s long-term goal is to replace unstable conifer plantations, established in the early 20th century, with native woodlands. These plantations, often on unsuitable steep terrain, were designed for timber production but have become liabilities due to their age and exposure to storms. Sites like Grotaig near Invermoriston, a focal point of the 2022 felling, exemplify the risks, with potential windblow threatening the A82 and nearby utilities.

Since 2021, FLS has resumed felling annually, with traffic management measures to protect road users. The 2024 phase is the first this year for Duffy Skylining, delayed by weather and preparatory work, underscoring the operation’s complexity.

Safety and Traffic Management

Safety is the cornerstone of the A82 felling programme, given the risks to workers and motorists. FLS employs rigorous protocols, including:

• Traffic Management: Temporary traffic lights and short closures (up to 10 minutes) are in place Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, from April to June 2024. These measures, consistent since 2021, ensure debris doesn’t fall onto the A82. Motorists experience minimal disruption, as existing controls suffice for the steeper phase.
• Site Safety: Workers use harnesses, cables, and specialized machinery, with safety inspections delaying work to ensure stability.
• Public Communication: FLS advises road users via its website and local media, minimizing inconvenience.

The A82’s history of disruptions—from rockfalls to storm debris—highlights the need for these precautions. In 2011, local business owner John Grieve protested overnight closures near Onich, citing detours of up to 166 miles. FLS’s current approach, using daytime traffic management, balances safety with accessibility, though it remains a point of contention for locals reliant on the road.

Environmental and Community Impacts

The A82 felling programme is not just about risk mitigation—it’s a step toward ecological restoration. Replacing conifers with native woodlands offers multiple benefits:

• Slope Stability: Native trees’ deeper roots bind soil, reducing landslide risks compared to shallow-rooted conifers.
• Biodiversity: Native species support local wildlife, enhancing ecosystems around Loch Ness, a globally recognized natural landmark.
• Climate Resilience: Diverse woodlands are more adaptable to extreme weather, a priority in 2025 as Scotland faces increasing storm frequency.

For communities along the A82, the programme is a double-edged sword. While it protects infrastructure and enhances safety, traffic disruptions frustrate residents and businesses, particularly in tourist-heavy areas like Drumnadrochit. FLS mitigates this through clear communication and limited closure times, but the road’s importance as a commercial and tourist artery amplifies any inconvenience.

The Broader Context: Forestry Challenges in 2025

The A82 felling programme reflects broader trends in Scottish forestry and global environmental management. In 2025, climate change intensifies the need for proactive measures like tree felling to prevent infrastructure damage from storms, a concern echoed in The Inverness Courier’s coverage of the project’s “peak danger” phase. Scotland’s forestry sector is also under pressure to balance timber production, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity, with FLS leading efforts to restore native woodlands under the Scottish Government’s climate goals.

Globally, steep-ground forestry operations face similar challenges. In regions like British Columbia or New Zealand, cable-based harvesting systems mirror Duffy Skylining’s approach, highlighting the universal difficulty of managing forests on rugged terrain. The A82 project’s emphasis on safety and sustainability sets a benchmark for such operations, showcasing how technology and expertise can address complex environmental challenges.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the A82 Slopes

The April–June 2024 felling phase is a critical milestone, but the Steep Ground Felling Programme is a long-term endeavor. FLS plans to continue felling along the A82 in coming years, targeting other high-risk sites while expanding native woodland restoration. The establishment of Scots pine, birch, and other species will take decades to mature, but their impact on slope stability and biodiversity will be lasting.

For road users, ongoing traffic management will remain a reality, though FLS’s experience minimizes disruptions. The programme’s success depends on continued investment in skilled contractors like Duffy Skylining and advanced equipment, as well as public support for balancing safety with accessibility. As Keith Black, FLS’s Regional Steep Ground Manager, noted in 2021, “This is a long-term operation to reduce the risk of catastrophic events and strengthen the integrity of the particularly steep slopes along the length of the A82.”

Lessons from the A82 Felling Programme

The A82 felling operation offers valuable lessons for forestry and infrastructure management:

1. Precision in High-Risk Environments: The use of skylining and contour felling demonstrates how specialized techniques can mitigate risks on steep terrain.
2. Balancing Safety and Access: Traffic management, though inconvenient, is essential to protect workers and motorists, requiring clear communication with communities.
3. Environmental Stewardship: Replacing non-native plantations with resilient woodlands aligns with global sustainability goals, addressing both climate and biodiversity challenges.
4. Collaboration and Expertise: The partnership between FLS and Duffy Skylining highlights the importance of skilled contractors in complex projects.

These insights are particularly relevant in 2025, as governments and organizations worldwide grapple with climate-driven risks to infrastructure and ecosystems.

Final Thoughts

The A82 Steep Ground Felling Programme’s toughest challenge yet—felling Douglas firs on near-vertical slopes above Loch Ness—is a testament to the skill, dedication, and innovation of Forestry and Land Scotland and its partners. By tackling this high-stakes operation, FLS is safeguarding a vital Scottish artery, protecting communities, and laying the groundwork for a more resilient, biodiverse landscape. The project’s blend of advanced technology, rigorous safety measures, and environmental foresight makes it a model for managing complex forestry challenges in the face of climate change.

As the 2024 phase progresses, the sight of workers navigating 90% gradients with cables and chainsaws underscores the extraordinary effort behind this unseen but essential work. For travelers on the A82, the temporary traffic lights are a small price to pay for the long-term benefits of safer roads and healthier forests. In 2025, the A82 felling programme stands as a beacon of how human ingenuity can harmonize with nature, ensuring that Scotland’s Highlands remain both breathtaking and secure for generations to come.