Glen Coul

LOCATION

Glen Coul is situated in the north-west Highlands of Scotland surrounded by spectacular scenery with approximately 1.45 miles of its own rugged coastline overlooking Loch Glencoul and a sheltered bay with access by boat to some of the best sailing on the west coast.  Unapool and Kylesku are just to the north of the property via the A894 and the coastal village of Lochinver is only 14 miles to the west along part of the NC500, providing hotel accommodation, local shops and facilities.

Please refer to the location and sale plans to locate Glen Coul and if using what3words: scan.ticket.dabbling can be used to reach the property, adjacent to the A849 public road.

DESCRIPTION

The property extends over 443.38 hectares (1,095.59 acres) or thereby of rugged hill ground rising from the sheltered shoreline of Loch Glencoul up to the highest hilltop (Cnoc na Creige) at 593 metres above sea level. The land includes two freshwater lochs providing some exciting brown trout fishing and the largest of the lochs, Loch nam Gainmhich, has an impressive waterfall within a short distance of the public road.

The land is rich in biodiversity with a high natural capital value that includes areas of native woodland, peatland, freshwater lochs, and streams down to the tidal foreshore. There is an abundance of native wildlife and ancient woodland indicator species that highlight the opportunity to increase the natural capital value and amenity of the land. This includes potential to encourage natural regeneration of the seedlings that are present around the ancient native woodland remnants scattered around the Liath Bhad corrie and along the northern slopes.  

It is estimated that the land has the potential for around 50 hectares of new native woodland to be created by a combination of natural regeneration and planting of native species as well as the potential for some peatland restoration. This woodland expansion may hold the potential to sequester over 10,000 tonnes of atmospheric carbon and may secure some funding from existing government grant schemes. This also presents the possibility of generating income from the sale of carbon credits under the UK Woodland Carbon Code or to use these units to reduce your carbon footprint.

The coastline extends along approximately 1.45 miles of the southern shore of Loch Glencoul and includes a sheltered bay and the island of Eilean an Tuim (as detailed on the sale plan), offering the opportunity to access both by boat from the harbour and jetty at Kylesku. There has been agricultural activity in the past with traces of “lazy beds” (small fields) to be found near the bay, where the soil has been improved and stone dykes and cairns are still visible.

Glen Coul adjoins Quinag Estate to the west, managed as wild land to conserve the area’s unique ecology and its impressive geology. On Glen Coul the management approach has been low-key, while recognising that there are increasing opportunities to enhance the natural capital of the property.