Walk & Talk: Invercauld’s Natural Woodland Regeneration. Multi-layered Land use in Action – Woodland Creation and Herbivores Thriving Together
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Invercauld Estate, stewarded by the Farquharson family since the early 1500s, spans approximately 92,000 acres within the Cairngorms National Park near Braemar.
The estate encompasses a diverse range of landscapes, from montane and moorland to woodland, river valleys, and riparian habitats. Its activities balance economic activity, conservation and community sustainability, with investment in both natural environments and business.
Around 12,000 acres are managed for woodland, of which more than 2,000 acres of hill ground have started to regenerate naturally over the past decade, supporting a mix of native tree species.
The site visit will demonstrate to members how natural tree regeneration can be successfully achieved alongside other land uses. Across this diverse and outstanding landscape, partly designated as a Special Area of Conservation, sporting deer stalking, sheep farming, commercial timber harvesting and recreational activities continue to operate effectively alongside naturally regenerating woodland and other conservation objectives.
Together, these activities illustrate that positive environmental outcomes and long-term socio-economic sustainability can be delivered in tandem.
Members are warmly invited to join this Walk & Talk, which will be hosted by the team from Invercauld Estate, including CEO Angus McNicol, Ian Hill, Estate Head Forester and Head Gamekeeper Gavin Hannam. We’ll also be joined by Steven Hutcheon and John Mackie from Scottish Forestry and Nathan Bryceland, SLE’s Policy Adviser for Biodiversity and Woodlands.
Invercauld Estate CEO Angus McNicol will discuss how this project has developed, partly by default and partly intentionally, and how it has evolved. Insights will also be provided into how sheep farming and sporting activities have continued to work effectively in this environment.
The following key topics will be covered in the programme:
- How the natural regeneration of woodland has occurred
- How it has worked in parallel with other uses of the same land, including sporting, sheep farming and management of a Special Area of Conservation
- The support available and the challenges
- The challenges of overlapping interests
Additional event information:
A 4x4 vehicle is essential; car sharing will be encouraged.
Format of the event: Participants will gather at the Balmoral Castle Car Park, Crathie at 10:00, where we will get into a smaller number of 4WD vehicles and drive to the start point on the Invercauld Micras beat. The Walk & Talk will open with short introductions to Invercauld, the history of management activities on the land and the origins of the natural regeneration and nature restoration projects before we head out, on foot, to see nature recovery on the ground at Invercauld.
Following the walk, members will return to their own vehicles at the Balmoral Castle car park. Thereafter, members are warmly invited to drive to Invercauld Estate Office, The Keiloch, Braemar, AB35 5TW, for tea and coffee.
Please note that parking charges apply at the Balmoral Castle car park.
Other information: This event will take place outdoors, so please bring suitable clothing and footwear.
Booking information: Booking is essential. To secure your place, please book online today.
Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
Time: 10:00-13:00
Meeting point – What3words: still.grad.consoles
Address: Balmoral Castle Car Park, Crathie, AB35 5TB