News

A prestigious international wildlife accreditation has been awarded to the Trust that cares for one of Scotland’s most beautiful and remote peninsulas.

The Applecross Trust, which manages the Applecross Estate in Wester Ross, has achieved Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) accreditation recognising the extensive environmental and conservation work it undertakes whilst managing its land.

Stretching across 26,000 hectares of stunningly beautiful mountains, beaches, woodlands, lochs and rivers, from Loch Torridon in the north to Loch Kishorn in the south, over the past five years the trust has successfully delivered £2.3million of conservation work across 40 projects which has ranged from invasive species removal, native woodland re-forestation and connection of fragmented habitat to facilitating natural regeneration and protection of existing healthy ecosystems.

Brighter face of tourism project

The Brighter Face of Tourism project continues to progress. The visitor website is underway and will provide a platform for Applecross to shine its light on conservation, environment, and responsible tourism. The beach clean campaign is now with the designer, and will look to be ready for the summer season. All these small measures will hopefully make a big difference to those lving in and visiting the area.

Baker Street

The Applecross Trust recently advertised a property for rent within the estate policies. A local couple have secured the rental and happily moved in to their new home.

Hartfield House Hostel

Hartfield House Hostel is now closed for works until 1 March. Bookings… Read more

Visitor Management

Applecross has been very quiet throughout the season in terms of problematic behaviour, casual camping and littering. Applecross Bay was free of tents for the majority of the year, and campervans were present, but not in huge numbers. All measures put in place to accommodate the significant increase in visitors have been more than adequate in 2022.

Brighter face of tourism project

Progress is slowly being made on the Brighter Face of Tourism project which comprises visitor information signage, a beach clean campaign, dog waste composting, and a visitor website. This is being managed and implemented by the Tourism Group and is funding by Coastal Communities Fund and The Applecross Trust.

Kenmore Path

There are… Read more

The Applecross Trust hereby advertises for rent, the 3-bedroomed property of 1 Baker Street.

The stone built semi-detached property is positioned to the rear of Applecross House. It was renovated in the 1990’s and is serviced with oil central heating.

Notices of interest should be sent to admin@applecross.org.uk by 21st October. The rental will be allocated according to the Trust’s Housing Policy.

The Applecross Trust held an open afternoon on 24 March 2022 to present ideas for the potential use of the old steading, the clock tower and the stables. All members of the community were welcomed to attend the afternoon which was held at the Applecross Community Hall. The Trustees were on hand to answer any questions, and the drawings were on display to give people an idea of what could be developed. Community members were asked to write down suggestions and feedback, and all notes were collated after the event.

Following on from the community open afternoon, an online version of the presentation was circulated for those that were not able to attend. The online presentation is still available for… Read more

Hartfield House Hostel

Hartfield House Hostel is once again fully open. There has been a constant flow of contractors staying throughout Jan/Feb but the hostel was closed to the general public during this time.

It is early on in the season but bookings are looking very healthy. It is likely that Hartfield will be fully booked from end April through to the end of October. Throughout the winter months there has been considerable works. A new bakery, The Baked Crusader, has taken residence; significant progress has been made on converting the old workshop into a laundry business for a local resident; sound proofing has begun on the hostel bedrooms to ensure a more comfortable stay; the first floor has been… Read more

Hartfield House Hostel, Applecross is recruiting additional Housekeeping staff at £11 per hour, and Senior Housekeeping staff at £12.50 per hour to join the team. Duties include cleaning rooms, and communal areas, changing beds, laundry etc. Benefits include gym membership and being part of a great team. Full or part time hours. Immediate start but can be flexible. Possible accommodation dependent on circumstances. Contact jessicawhistance@yahoo.co.uk for details or to register your interest.

On 22 March the Applecross Trust held a Community Consultation at the Applecross Community Hall. This was a first chance for local residents and members of the community to see and learn about ideas for the refurbishment of three buildings: the cart shed, the clock tower at the farm (and part of the steading), and the stables. The Applecross Trustees were on hand to discuss ideas, as was the architect who produced some fantastic drawings and images which were on display. Community members were invited to put forward their own suggestions for the use of the properties. This feedback has been collated, and will be used to make informed decisions on the future of these buildings. There will be a… Read more

Hartfield House

Hartfield House Hostel was fully booked from end of April through to end of September. The autumn remained busy and has only really quietened down in November.

Hartfield will be open to 20 December and will then close for maintenance until 1 March 2022. A significant schedule of works is planned over the winter to improve the function of the building but also to develop the business.

There will be full drainage works, the connection of additional electric power, upgrading of rooms, preparation for new businesses in the form of a laundry and a bakery, and development of a tuck shop. Staff accommodation will be progressed, and the Bunkhouse will be made available for booking, as… Read more

Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES)

Caroline Pringle, WES Project Officer, visited Applecross recently and met with some of the staff. The various modules involved in the accreditation application are now being populated and a follow up meeting with Caroline took place just before Christmas in order to further develop a Habitat Management Plan.

Farm

The Applecross Trust Stock team had commendable results from their efforts at the Highland Cattle Society’s Autumn Show and Sale in Oban where one of the Trust’s entries, secured fourth prize in the weaned calf section and sold for 6,700 gns.

Other points of note are:

Seven heifer calves were sold to a producer in South Wales.

Eleven steers and one bull calf were sold to returning… Read more

Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES)

Caroline Pringle, WES Project Officer, visited Applecross recently and met with some of the staff. The various modules involved in the accreditation application are now being populated and a follow up meeting with Caroline is planned for the week before Christmas in order to further develop a Habitat Management Plan.

Applecross River

A fish farm production site operated by Mowi near Sconser is being assessed for sea lice and the Applecross river could be affected.

Farm

Mike and Flo had commendable results from their efforts at the Highland Cattle Society’s Autumn Show and Sale in Oban where one of the Trust’s entries, secured fourth prize in the weaned calf section and sold for 6,700 gns.

Other… Read more

Hill & Deer

The team have been progressing with Habitat Monitoring. The deer count shows that the stag population has remained steady at 449, maintaining the average over the last 20 years. The figures have been submitted to the South West Deer Management Group and will be reported to the Scottish Government and NatureScot.

Farm

Spring works and silage making were enjoyed in good weather. One of the fields has been sown with a brassica crop of fodder rape and stubble turnips to provide some winter fodder for deer and to discourage them from eating tree bark.

Stock handling facilities at the head of the bay are receiving attention, with many of the old wooden barriers being replaced by larch… Read more

The summer season is in full swing in Applecross. The Ranger, employed by The Highland Council, in partnership with The Applecross Trust and funded by NatureScot, is integral to visitor management. The presence of someone in an official capacity, together with press coverage generated around the establishment of a ranger network across the Highlands, and the additional resource that a ranger brings has all helped to bring about a more responsible visitor behaviour.

There is still a way to go. But with the Tourism Group working together to develop a Tourism Strategy and management plans, the support of the Highland Council, and new signage due to be installed, visitor management is moving in the right direction.

Highland Cattle

Flora 11th… Read more

Gregor Watson was appointed as ranger by the Highland Council and funded by Nature Scot, covering the Applecross peninsula and wider area. Working alongside the Applecross Tourism Group, and with The Applecross Trust, and together with other measures, Gregor is making a positive impact on visitor experience and quality of life for local people.

Gregor has a very wide geographic area to cover and cannot always be in the vicinity. However, possibly due to it being the second year of running, there seems to be an understanding that the region has a ranger service and behavior has improved considerably.

The Applecross campsite is taking a large number of tents and motorhomes, which is fantastic. At present there is an… Read more

Scholarships will be awarded in partnership with the Mackinnon-Macneill Trust.

The Mackinnon-Macneill Trust offers scholarships on academic merit to those from the West Coast, and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who intend to study subjects in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and technology. Full details and application forms are available in the last term of each academic year from secondary schools within that catchment area, including Plockton High School.

The Applecross Trust Youth Scholarship Scheme is designed to supplement the scope of these academic scholarships and will extend specifically to those who have been born in, be living in, or have resided in the past 5 years on the Applecross peninsula. The relevant application forms will… Read more

Applecross Trust monthly update

It is calving time for the Applecross Fold of Highland Cattle. So far, 19 calves have been born, nine of which are heifers. There is one set of twins, for the fourth year running, something which is quite unusual. There are potentially a further 16 still to calf before the season ends (hopefully) in early May.

The Applecross Fold consists of 38 cows in total with one bull. Throughout the winter months the cattle are cared for by the Applecross Trust team, who feed them concentrates each morning and top up with silage as and when needed. Most of the cattle are known by name, and there is a plan to halter train one of the… Read more

Applecross Trust Report

Some of you may have met Ian MacFadyen, who started with the Trust in mid-November. Ian replaces Mike as the main contact for anything property or maintenance related. He can be contacted via the Estate Office (744 209) or at ijmcfadyen@aol.com Meanwhile, Mike has delayed plans of retirement for a couple of months and will continue to be a Trust employee until Spring-time. Thereafter, he and Floortje will continue to look after the Highland Cattle.

Along with others, Jess has put a great deal of work into creating the draft Tourism Strategy. This is a complex subject which deserves considered discussion. Action on some of these points will require to be taken in time for the 202… Read more

We are taking the Coronavirus very seriously. In our holiday cottages we have been taking measures to ensure that our guests feel supported, and that their current environment is clean. It goes without saying that our cottages are cleaned thoroughly before every new guest arrives, but our staff are now wearing rubber gloves when handling bedding and towels and when cleaning your room, and our laundry is being washed at a higher temperature to eliminate germs.

As a team, we are ensuring that hygiene levels are kept high, and will do our best to accommodate any requests to have minimal contact. Please also get in touch with the booking agent if you are needing to cancel. We understand things… Read more

Saltmarsh study at Toscaig

Lucy Miller, a fourth year undergraduate Geography student at the University of St Andrews has been carrying out investigations on the impacts of land management practices upon saltmarsh carbon stocks. The overall purpose of this project is to question whether a natural balance can be found between profiting management practices, and aiding climate change mitigation. Lucy is concentrating upon nine field sites around the Scottish coastlines as part of her dissertation - including Toscaig's saltmarsh.

Her research includes running a transect (using a measuring tape) from the shoreline through the saltmarsh site and collecting 5 sediment samples from each sector to assess relevant land management practices – i.e. migratory bird activities, grazing practices or… Read more

Applecross is a living, working landscape, and the team continue to tend to its management during the pandemic, with all social distancing measures in place.

Iain MacFadyen has now begun his role as Grieve. He and his wife are settling into Applecross life, and getting to know who is who, despite these difficult times.

Conservation

David Leat, Chris Wright and Eliza Leat conducted a bird survey in August 2020, the results of which make for interesting reading.

A similar survey was conducted in 2019, and some recording of species undertaken in 2018. It was determined that there were a great number of birds using the native woodland and surrounding parkland for nesting, feeding and breeding. Swallows and House… Read more

The arrival of autumn heralds some familiar sights and routines on the estate.

This year’s crop of calves, grown on the hill and moor of the glen over the summer were weaned from their mothers and transported from Applecross this past week, bound for pastures new. A total of 20 beasts, comprising steer and heifer calves will now be settling into their new home in Cumbria. Another 8 heifers are going slightly further afield, to a new customer in Snowdonia. The appeal of the Applecross Fold, considered one of the oldest in the country, continues to attract interest from Highland Cattle breeders near and far.

This stag season, a central feature of annual deer management on… Read more

The Applecross Trust is pleased to announce that is has an opening for an Estate Worker, based in Applecross. The job advert can be found below:

ESTATE WORKER

The Applecross Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and capable individual to undertake a range of general estate duties. Based in Applecross, the successful applicant will be self-motivated and able to work effectively within time constraints, both independently or as part of a small team.

Applicants possessing a trade, and experience with cattle husbandry and operating plant and machinery will have an advantage. Flexibility to work irregular hours is important and a driving license is essential.

Salary level is according to skill and experience.

Closing date: Thursday 1st October 2020

The Applecross Trust welcomes last month’s announcement that the Rural Housing Fund has awarded grant funding to Applecross Community Company towards the construction of three two-bedroom houses in Camusterrach.

A further announcement is expected soon on the outcome of the Community Company’s application to the Scottish Land Fund to purchase land from the Trust. Two distinct parcels of land – 6 acres of the Applecross Mains Farm and the 35-acre Torgarve Woodland - have been offered by the Trust to help promote further affordable housing, allotments and community woodland.

As of 15 July 2020, Hartfield House hostel reopened to the public. Strict social distancing rules and an additional cleaning schedule have been put in place to… Read more

The Applecross Trust has joined forces with a number of community organisations to form the Applecross Coronavirus Community Support Group. The aim of the group is to provide support to those finding themselves in difficulty due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Applecross, like many other areas of the Highlands, and indeed the UK, relies almost completely on tourism and the recent lockdown, whilst essential, has meant that many, many people are out of work and facing a very uncertain future.

Comprising Applecross Community Company, Applecross & District Healthcare Association, the Community Council, and The Applecross Trust, the group has been working in partnership to help those in need since the first few weeks of lockdown.

Archie MacLellan, Applecross Trust, comments, “We… Read more

The Applecross Trust is reviewing all of its activity on a daily basis with regards to Covid-19, and endeavouring to do its best for the safety of its staff, holiday guests and the local community. The Applecross Trust holiday cottages (Bramble, Faolinn, Estate Office House, and the Jam Factory) remain closed until 4 July 2020, as per government guidelines. Anyone with an existing booking during that time will be contacted and offered to defer their booking for a later date. Further details can be found here.

We understand that this is very disappointing for those of you who have been looking forward to spending your holiday here in Applecross. However, we do feel it is the right thing to… Read more

The Applecross Trust is reviewing all of its activity on a daily basis with regards to Covid-19, and endeavouring to do its best for the safety of its staff, holiday guests and the local community. It has again been a difficult decision but as of today, Monday 23 March 2020, it is closing all of its holiday cottages in Applecross. This comprises Bramble, Faolinn, Estate Office House, and the Jam Factory. All those who have booked to stay in the holiday cottages between now and 30 April will be contacted and offered to defer their booking until a later date. Details can be found here. There will be no further bookings until 4 June 2020.

We understand that this is… Read more

The Applecross peninsula is a haven for wild animals, both rare and those more widely recognised. The mix of mountains, rivers, estuary, the calm waters of the Inner Sound, bog and peatland, upland and lowland make the area a breeding ground for all manner of creatures, from golden eagles to sea otters and pine martens. This is also the case for salmon and sea trout. In order to ensure protection of their habitat and to encourage these species to flourish, it is crucial to understand their activities. And this is what Marine Scotland Science has been doing - tracking sea trout and salmon smolts within Loch Torridon – and it has produced some fascinating results. Marine Scotland Science tagged a… Read more

Lucy Miller, a fourth year undergraduate Geography student at the University of St Andrews has been carrying out investigations on the impacts of land management practices upon saltmarsh carbon stocks. The overall purpose of this project is to question whether a natural balance can be found between profiting management practices, and aiding climate change mitigation. Lucy is concentrating upon nine field sites around the Scottish coastlines as part of her dissertation - including Toscaig's saltmarsh.

Her research includes running a transect (using a measuring tape) from the shoreline through the saltmarsh site and collecting 5 sediment samples from each sector to assess relevant land management practices – i.e. migratory bird activities, grazing practices or artificial drainage… Read more

Plans are being produced for a new woodland creation site along the Allt Mor, on the Applecross Estate.

The woodland at Airigh Drishaig is to be continued under a new grant scheme. This will result in on-going responsibility to enhance woodland regeneration, but the presence of Amy Clarkson (tenant) will give some assurance that the works should prove successful.

Clearance of the gorse and Sitka spruce regeneration from the Smiddy Wood broadleaf area has been undertaken by a local team.

A meeting in Applecross with Community Woodlands is scheduled in January to discuss options for the future of Torgarve wood.

HARTFIELD HOUSE COMPLEX

Hartfield House hostel and The Bunkhouse remain open for bookings until 4 January 2020 when they will close for two months for refurbishment works. The hostel has been busy throughout the autum but is quieter as winter approaches, which has enabled time to be spent on a thorough refresh. Upgrading the Bunkhouse is underway with rooms being given a fresh coat of paint and all areas being deep cleaned. New signage is being produced, a disabled toilet has been added, and sheds/outbuildings are being cleared in order to provide bike storage, bike and walking wash down area, and a drying room. Work is soon to start on a new roof and windows for the large hall, and… Read more

HILL & DEER Radio Access to the Bealach mast allowed Hill & Estate Radio’s engineer to assess the condition of the apparatus to establish the reason why the estate radios have not been working recently. The repeater and antenna – the two main components of the system – required to be replaced. The site is susceptible to lightening strike, with the result that the antenna has had to be replaced 3 times in the past 20 years.Stalking staff

Kenneth MacKenzie has joined David Abraham again this year as 2nd stalker and they are joined, principally by Georgia Carrington and Gregor Watson as ghillies.Sea Eagle Scheme

Scottish Natural Heritage operate a compensation-based scheme for farmers and crofters who experience… Read more

The Trust has submitted an application for Outline Planning approval for the erection of 2 semi-detached houses next to the farm steading at Applecross. Further information can be found on the Highland Council website. Application reference 16/01585/PIP.

Anyone with any queries is welcome to discuss them with Archie MacLellan.

The Applecross Trustees will hold a Public Meeting in Applecross Hall on Wednesday 7th at 7pm. Douglas Campbell and Carron Tobin who are carrying out a 10 year plan for the estate will be contributors. All welcome.

Estate Office House, an old keystone building on the estate, is being renovated for use as a holiday let from 2017. For 2017 holiday bookings please contact Cottages & Castles or the Trust.

Dear all,

I plan to stand down as Chairman and as a Trustee of the Applecross Trust and will formally issue my resignation at the upcoming Trust Meeting later this week.

My lifelong association with Applecross, and that of my family, has made this a very difficult decision and one which has taken considerable time to arrive at. I have thought long and hard about what is best for Applecross, for the Trust, and for myself and my family, and think the time is right to pass on the baton.

The decision is taken largely on personal grounds but, in addition, Chairmanship of the Trust requires a level of input which I no longer feel I am able to devote… Read more

Arthur Macdonald became a Trustee in June 2017. Arthur is a Torridon crofter and currently chair of his Township Committee. He spent 7 years with the Crofter’s Commission where one of his roles involved managing the team responsible for addressing crofter absenteeism under the 1993 Crofting Act and developing procedures for dealing with duties under the 2010 Act. Between 1995 and 2009 he managed the Crofting Community Development Scheme for the Crofters Commission and was directly involved in the extensive woodland establishment project between the Trust and the North Applecross crofting townships where he performed an important role in developing collaboration between all parties. Arthur’s previous roles have included being a National Farmers Union (NFU) area secretary and Training… Read more

The in-depth strategic review and public consultation exercise which commenced in January 2016 has now been completed with the help and assistance of Strath Caulaidh Limited.

The Shared Community Vision and 10 year plan

The Applecross Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and capable individual to undertake a range of general estate duties. Based in Applecross, the successful applicant will be self-motivated and able to work effectively with time constraints, both independently or as part of a small team.

Applicants possessing a trade or experience with operating plant and machinery will have an advantage. Flexibility to work irregular hours is important and a driving license is essential.

Salary level is according to skill and experience.

See full list of duties

Closing date: Thursday 15th November 2018

For further information contact Mr. D.A. MacLellan on 07484 047250 or email: admin@applecross.org.uk

To apply please send your C.V. along with a supporting letter to:

The… Read more

Clear felling of Smiddy wood, on the Applecross estate, will shortly begin. Undertaken by Scottish Woodlands, this will take place earlier than originally planned, but fits with the timings as laid out in the Applecross Trust’s Long Term Forest Plan. Key dates are as follows:

13 May 2019: timber harvester to arrive at Keppoch and cutting at roadside to begin. Felling to begin mid-May.

15 May 2019: work to begin on bell mouth and forest track. Groundworks to be completed mid-June.

Timber haulage is due to take place from mid-May for a three-month period and will be limited to 1.5-2 lorries per day, leaving via the coast road. Disruption will be kept to a minimum and no roads will need… Read more

The behaviours of salmon and trout as they leave Scottish rivers, and the challenges they face on their seaward migrations are largely unknown. Marine Scotland Science, the government body charged with obtaining scientific information about the marine environment, is embarking on a study to examine this important question. The Applecross river may have a key role to play. Marine Scotland scientist David Morris explained: “The river is almost unique on the west coast in that it flows more or less directly into the open sea rather than through a narrow sea loch. This situation is ideal for starting to look at the directions that salmon smolts take as they enter the ocean.” Pilot work will be undertaken this year in… Read more

The Applecross river has been identified as a potentially significant site for learning about some important aspects of salmon biology. The behaviours of salmon and trout as they leave Scottish rivers, and the challenges they face on their seaward migrations, are largely unknown.

Following a pilot study in 2015, Marine Scotland Science, the government body charged with obtaining information about the marine environment, is continuing with the investigation of the behaviour of salmon as they emigrate from the Applecross river. “The river is almost unique on the west coast in that it flows more or less directly into the open sea rather than through a narrow sea loch,” Dr David Morris of Marine Scotland Science explained, “this situation… Read more

The Applecross Trust recently sought tenders for the production of a strategic Estate Plan which assesses the economic performance of the business and presents opportunities for development which are in line with Trust objectives. The successful applicant was Strath Caulaidh and their representatives have started work on this during January. Early stage processes will involve consulting with the Applecross communities.