Ullapool’s £17.5m Inverbroom estate bought by charity after huge private donation
A £17.5M estate near Ullapool has been bought by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, following a huge private donation to the charity — the largest seen in the trust’s 60-year history.
The 7600 hectare Inverbroom Estate has been purchased by the conservation charity, who has plans to restore wildlife and habitats on the site to help tackle the nature and climate crises.
Working with the local community, the trust say they aim to transform the landscape through woodland regeneration, peatland restoration and nature-friendly farming.
A public drop-in session for the local community will be held on March 13 at Braemore Village Hall, where residents can meet trust staff to discuss the acquisition and future plans for the site. A second meeting will be held at the Coigach Community Hall, details for which will be posted on the Coigach Community Facebook page once finalised.
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Situated approximately eight miles south of Ullapool, the landscape at Inverbroom has immense ecological and cultural value. The site is predominantly made up of peatland, ancient semi-natural woodland, farmland and numerous lochs and lochans, the largest being the 2.5-mile-long Loch a' Bhraoin. The site is bordered to the east by two rivers, the Broom and the Cuileig, and to the south by two Munros, A’ Chailleach and Sgùrr Breac. The built infrastructure includes two bridges designed by Sir John Fowler, chief engineer on the construction of the Forth Road Bridge, who once owned Inverbroom.
Jo Pike, chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “Not only is the purchase of Inverbroom an important milestone for the Trust, but also for Scotland’s efforts to tackle the nature and climate crises. It is apt that we take ownership of the site on UN World Wildlife Day.
“The site includes some of Scotland’s most iconic species and habitats, so we are delighted to have been able to secure it for the benefit of Scotland’s wildlife and people, especially as there was also interest from overseas buyers. It has all been made possible by the incredible generosity of a private donor who is passionate about the part that Inverbroom can play in restoring our precious ecosystems, while delivering benefits for local people. We are extremely grateful to the donor for helping us secure this important site, and to our former chief executive and current Scottish Wildlife trust ambassador, Jonny Hughes, who facilitated the donation.”
Following the announcement, the trust has revealed several ambitions for the site, from the regeneration of river woodland and temperate rainforest habitat to restoring peatlands and removing invasive species. It has made a commitment to the donor that none of the work at Inverbroom will be funded through the sale of carbon credits.
Scott Renwick, whose family have farmed at Inverbroom for three generations, said: “We as a family are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Our grandfather moved to Inverbroom in 1933, so the family have had a knowledge of the land for 92 years. There is an incredible diversity of wildlife on the estate, from sea-level to 3300ft, from seals on the shore to ptarmigan on the tops. It is exciting to be involved with a highly respected organisation who will take traditional hill farming and wildlife preservation hand in hand, so that we can continue to farm at Inverbroom in such a way as to protect the natural environment.”
Jo added: “Our vision is for a network of healthy, resilient ecosystems on land and sea, supporting Scotland’s wildlife and people. As with our wider work in the north-west, Inverbroom provides us with a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that managing a landscape for wildlife and climate can go hand in hand with managing it for people. We have already held positive and constructive conversations with members of the local community and look forward to working together tco reate a sustainable future for Inverbroom.”
Inverbroom was placed on the market through Landfor Chartered Land and Forestry Agency in August 2024. The Scottish Wildlife Trust takes ownership of the majority of the estate today (March 3), with the remainder due to come into the trust’s ownership on April 8.
