Locherlour Forest, Crieff, Perthshire

Location

Perthshire is one of Scotland’s longest-established forestry regions, combining productive growing conditions and favourable climate. Strathearn and the neighbouring areas are well served by forestry contractors, hauliers and professional advisers, and the county’s central position gives ready access to sawmills, panel board mills and biomass users throughout Scotland.

Locherlour Forest lies on the lower slopes of Glen Turret, approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Crieff and some 4 miles by road from the main forest entrance. Comrie is 5 miles by road to the west, with Perth 22 miles, Stirling 26 miles and Glasgow 52 miles distant.

The A85 lies approximately 1 mile to the south, linking the forest to the A9 and the wider trunk road network and providing efficient haulage routes to processors across central and northern Scotland. Good growing conditions, established infrastructure and ready access to markets combine to make Locherlour an attractive commercial forestry investment.

To locate the property, please refer to the location and sale plans within these particulars. The grid reference for the main entrance is NN 827 241. The nearest postcode is PH7 4JR and the What3Words for the main access gate is ///quicker.wing.unheated

Harvesting & Timber Income

The principal crop was established between 1986 and 1988 and has now reached maturity, giving a purchaser the opportunity to generate timber income in the near term. The conifer crop is predominantly Sitka spruce of general Yield Class of 18, with Scots pine, Douglas fir and Japanese larch adding diversity. The second rotation is expected to achieve a significantly higher Yield Class. Much of the forest is unthinned, with only limited rack thinning carried out historically.

Substantial volumes of timber have recently been extracted. Compartment 4 was clearfelled between March and June 2025, producing 10,993 tonnes from a net 17.71 hectares (including 1.1 hectares of Japanese larch), approximately 620 tonnes per hectare from a crop rack thinned only once. Brash was recovered by September 2025 and the site restocked in spring 2026 with Sitka spruce at 2,700 and broadleaves at 1,600 stems per hectare.

A renewal of the Long Term Forest Plan is being prepared. The draft proposals divide the remaining mature crop into two felling phases: Phase 1 of approximately 36 hectares (Compartments 3, 5 and 6), followed by Phase 2 of approximately 29 hectares (Compartments 1 and 2), with restocking predominantly to Sitka spruce together with Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir and native broadleaves.

Access & Infrastructure

Access is taken from the A85 at A1 (NN 830 230), approximately 2.5 miles west of Crieff. From there, a private road of approximately 1 mile, shared with neighbouring proprietors, runs north to the main forest entrance at A4. The route has a proven record of timber haulage, having carried timber from Locherlour and substantial volumes from the neighbouring Wester Knockbae forest.

Within the forest, two sections of road were constructed in 2008. The lower road leaves the shared access road at A2 and runs west to A3, serving the southern part of the forest. The upper road runs from the main entrance at A4 north-west to A5, giving access to the main body of the crop. Plentiful supplies of roadstone within the forest are available for future construction and repair.

The Long Term Forest Plan renewal proposes a further extension of approximately 300 metres, finishing in a turning area, to support the next phases of harvesting.

A secondary 4×4 route for light vehicles also runs west from the Glenturret road near Hosh, past the Falls of Turret and across Kiplonie Bridge, to join the forest at the main entrance (A4). Timber haulage uses the main route from A1. The rights of access and the arrangements for maintaining the roads are set out in the titles, and further details, together with a plan of the secondary access route, are available from the Selling Agents.

The main access route and reference points A1 to A5 are shown on the sale plan within these particulars.

Locherlour Forest | 105.24 Hectares / 260.05 Acres

Locherlour Forest is a compact, self-contained commercial forest extending to 105.24 hectares in all, of which approximately 90 hectares are planted, with the balance comprising open ground, rides and unplanted land.
The forest occupies gently rolling, south-facing ground rising from around 160 metres above sea level to approximately 335 metres, with far-reaching views over Strathearn. Soils are mainly fertile, free-draining upland brown earths and, with average rainfall of around 1,000mm a year, conditions for growing Sitka spruce are very good.

The mature crop has an average age of approximately 39 years, and Sitka spruce makes up around 86% of the conifer area overall.

The forest was planted over three seasons between 1986 and 1988 and is in its first rotation. Sitka spruce is grown both pure and in mixture with Scots pine, Japanese larch and Douglas fir, while smaller stands of Douglas fir, Scots pine and larch add to the diversity of the woodland. Compartment 4 was felled in 2025 and restocked in 2026 with Sitka spruce and native broadleaves, which soften the forest edges and watercourses.

With the crop now mature, a purchaser has the flexibility to plan harvesting around their own investment objectives, subject to approval of the Long Term Forest Plan renewal and the necessary felling consents. Restocking will establish a second rotation of productive conifers alongside native broadleaves, in line with the UK Forestry Standard, progressively broadening the age structure of the forest. The forest is deer fenced on all sides.

Native broadleaves, open ground and riparian buffers add to the conservation value and landscape setting of the property. A small reservoir is located within the forest, enclosed by a dyke, it does not form part of the title, and two private water supplies within the property are protected during forest operations.

Boundaries

The forest is enclosed by a deer fence on all sides, including the eastern boundary with Wester Knockbae Forest. To the north and south the title boundary does not follow the fence line, extending to the adjoining road in both places. The cost of maintaining the boundary fences to a stockproof condition is shared equally with the neighbouring proprietors.

Private Water Supplies

Two private water supplies are located within the property. The parties served may access the supplies to inspect, maintain and renew the apparatus, at no cost to the owner of Locherlour.

Sporting Rights

The sporting rights are included in the sale. They are currently let until 31 March 2027 and the property will be sold subject to the existing lease. Roe deer and red deer are seen from time to time, offering good stalking potential together with opportunities for rough shooting.

Forest Grants & Management

The forest is managed by Bidwells from their Perth office. Compartment 4 was clearfelled in 2025 and restocked in spring 2026 without grant aid; the restock will be maintained to establishment under the Long Term Forest Plan, the renewal of which is being prepared.

For further information contact us at Goldcrest Land & Forestry Group.