As one of the last known locations of beavers in Britain before they went extinct in the 16th century, could Lochaber join the growing number of places in Scotland where the species has returned?

A series of community and stakeholder discussions on the potential reintroduction of beavers to Lochaber will be held across the region next month by the region’s landscape-scale nature restoration partnership, Loch Abar Mòr.

Published: 23 June 2026

On the remote Morvern Peninsula in the south-west corner of Lochaber, Ardtornish Estate is a 12,000 hectare landholding within the Loch Abar Mòr partnership, where some of Scotland’s finest temperate rainforest meets the rugged coastline of the Atlantic.

With ancient woodlands, expanding wetlands and a pristine river at the foot of Ben Nevis, Torlundy Farm is a place where nature and farming thrive together. Through wildlife-friendly grazing, eco-tourism and the creation of new habitats, the farm is unlocking opportunities that benefit both nature and business.

Nestled below the UK’s highest mountain, Glen Nevis Estate forms part of one of Scotland’s most iconic glens, attracting visitors from around the world. As a founding partner in Loch Abar Mòr, the Estate is committed to working with others to catalyse ecological recovery across Lochaber. 

Mountain birch once grew extensively across Scotland’s mountains, forming a forest zone that is known elsewhere as the “birch belt”. Matt Hay joins a team from the Mountain Birch Project as they seek to track down this now rare species.