Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest
Encyclopedia
The Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest covers a large mountain
ous area of Wester Ross
in the Northwest Highlands
of Scotland
, lying between Loch Maree
and Little Loch Broom. It is sometimes nicknamed The Great Wilderness, as the area is entirely devoid of permanent settlements.
Although termed a forest the area has very few trees. It is in fact a deer forest
; an area maintained by the owners primarily for deer stalking
. Three estates cover the principal area of the forest. Dundonnell Estate (134 km²) covers the northwest part of the forest, including the northwestern flanks of An Teallach
, whilst Eilean Darach estate covers 262 km² in the northeast, including the northeast flank of An Teallach. The majority of the area, including all the southern and central sections, forms the 323 km² Letterewe estate.
which lies to the southwest of Dundonnell
, and Slioch
, which rises north of Loch Maree
, near Kinlochewe
. There is a bothy
at Shenavall, and it is used occasionally by hill walkers crossing the area or to climb An Teallach.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
ous area of Wester Ross
Wester Ross
is a western area of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland, notably containing the villages on the west coast such as:* Lochcarron* Applecross* Shieldaig* Torridon* Kinlochewe * * * Aultbea* Laide* Ullapool* Achiltibuie...
in the Northwest Highlands
Northwest Highlands
The Northwest Highlands are the northern third of Scotland that is separated from the Grampian Mountains by the Great Glen . The region comprises , Assynt, Caithness and Sutherland. The Caledonian Canal, which extends from Loch Linnhe in the west, via Loch Ness to the Moray Firth in the north...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, lying between Loch Maree
Loch Maree
Loch Maree is a loch in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. At long and with a maximum width of , it is the fourth largest freshwater loch in Scotland; it is the largest north of Loch Ness. Its surface area is ....
and Little Loch Broom. It is sometimes nicknamed The Great Wilderness, as the area is entirely devoid of permanent settlements.
Although termed a forest the area has very few trees. It is in fact a deer forest
Deer forest
The deer forest is an institution and phenomenon peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland. It denotes a sporting estate which is kept and managed largely or solely for the purposes of maintaining a resident population of red deer for sporting purposes.Typically, deer forests are in hilly and...
; an area maintained by the owners primarily for deer stalking
Deer stalking
Deer stalking is a British term for the stealthy pursuit of deer for sporting purposes, historically with dogs such as Scottish Deerhounds, or in modern times typically with a high powered rifle fitted with a telescopic sight to hunt them....
. Three estates cover the principal area of the forest. Dundonnell Estate (134 km²) covers the northwest part of the forest, including the northwestern flanks of An Teallach
An Teallach
An Teallach is a mountain in Scotland. It lies to the southwest of Dundonnell and overlooks Little Loch Broom, in an area often nicknamed the "great wilderness"...
, whilst Eilean Darach estate covers 262 km² in the northeast, including the northeast flank of An Teallach. The majority of the area, including all the southern and central sections, forms the 323 km² Letterewe estate.
Mountains
Two of the most famous mountains in the area are An TeallachAn Teallach
An Teallach is a mountain in Scotland. It lies to the southwest of Dundonnell and overlooks Little Loch Broom, in an area often nicknamed the "great wilderness"...
which lies to the southwest of Dundonnell
Dundonnell
Dundonnell is a village in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, on the south side of Little Loch Broom and at the foot of An Teallach, right at the north of the area commonly known as the "Great Wilderness". There is an independent youth hostel and a farm. Many semi-wild sheep roam the area, which is the...
, and Slioch
Slioch
Slioch is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands situated in Wester Ross, eight kilometres north of the village of Kinlochewe. Slioch reaches a height of 981 metres and towers above the south east end of Loch Maree to give one of the best known and most photographed sights in the Highlands...
, which rises north of Loch Maree
Loch Maree
Loch Maree is a loch in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. At long and with a maximum width of , it is the fourth largest freshwater loch in Scotland; it is the largest north of Loch Ness. Its surface area is ....
, near Kinlochewe
Kinlochewe
Kinlochewe is a village in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It is in the parish of Gairloch, the community of Torridon and Kinlochewe and the Highland Council area. It lies near the head of Loch Maree in its magnificent valley, and serves as a junction between the main Ullapool...
. There is a bothy
Bothy
A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge. It was also a term for basic accommodation, usually for gardeners or other workers on an estate. Bothies are to be found in remote, mountainous areas of Scotland, northern England, Ireland, and Wales....
at Shenavall, and it is used occasionally by hill walkers crossing the area or to climb An Teallach.