Behind the scenes of our winter season

Finishing touches to the new Corrieshalloch Gorge experience

The deep box gorge, tumbling waterfalls and lush native woodlands of Corrieshalloch make it one of the Highlands’ most spectacular natural wonders. We’ll soon open our new visitor gateway to the site, with toilets, covered seating and coffee stop, Wi-Fi and improved parking. A new path network has also been created, opening up previously inaccessible parts of the gorge and revealing four beautiful waterfalls.*

‘We’re currently recruiting and training staff to deliver our enhanced visitor experience,’ explains Operations Manager Martin Hughes. ‘Our new colleagues are being equipped to engage visitors with the fascinating and varied stories of the gorge – its geology, biodiversity, Gaelic heritage and the history of its Victorian suspension bridge.’

*The project has secured funding from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund which is led by NatureScot and funded through the European Regional Development Fund and is part of an almost £9 million Scottish programme of projects to invest in the Highlands and Islands, to provide more and better quality opportunities for visitors to enjoy natural and cultural heritage assets."

Craigievar Castle conservation

In September, Aberdeenshire’s iconic Craigievar Castle closed for essential repair and conservation work. The 18-month project will see the exterior harling restored, with a special limewash mix applied to revitalise its distinctive shade of pink. Discreet adaptations will also be made to help future-proof the 17th-century tower house.

Free-standing scaffolding is currently being erected around the castle. This is due to be completed by Christmas, after which the scaffolding will be covered in eye-catching pink protective netting. Early January will see the launch of ‘Pink Again’, a project to share the castle’s stories with the public, raise funds and keep everyone updated on progress ahead of the grand reopening planned for spring 2024.

Working to reopen Arduaine Garden

Renowned for its colourful collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, Arduaine Garden in Argyll has been closed to visitors since last autumn, when severe storms led to fallen trees blocking the footpaths.

Garden staff have been hard at work clearing these, as well as completing the four-year project to remove 914 Japanese larch trees condemned due to disease. It’s been a painstaking operation, with each tree climbed and dismantled in sections to protect the priceless plantings beneath.

When the garden reopens in spring, visitors will find a much more open landscape. ‘With over 80% of the tree cover removed, we now have the chance to rethink and redesign large parts of the garden, taking into account disease resilience and climate change,’ says Gardens and Designed Landscapes Manager Tim Keyworth. ‘We’re just starting that planning process now. Our visitors will have a great opportunity to see a major garden redevelopment in action.’

Read more: the storm damage to Arduaine Garden

New footpaths on Staffa

The uninhabited Inner Hebridean isle of Staffa is famed for seabird colonies, basalt rock columns and, of course, the atmospheric Fingal’s Cave. The island welcomes around 100,000 visitors a year, a number that has increased greatly over recent years, putting pressure on Staffa’s footpaths and infrastructure.

This autumn saw the completion of the first phase in an extensive 18-month project to improve access to the island. Following the seabird breeding season, a team of Trust staff and contractors camped out for two weeks while working to control erosion and rebuild the footpaths, to protect the surrounding landscapes and the island’s fragile ecosystems.

During the next phase, due to start in 2023, the boat landing area will be extended and, later, the staircase to the top of the island replaced. There won’t be any access to the island while contractors are working, and timings are dependent on conditions and other external factors – so keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates.

Read more: Footpath restoration success on Staffa

Cataloguing our precious plants

Our expert teams have been continuing their mission to create a complete inventory of the diverse plant collections at the Trust’s 39 major gardens and designed landscapes. Began in June this year and running until March 2025, the Plant Listing at the National Trust for Scotland (PLANTS) project is our biggest horticultural audit project ever – it’s set to cover an estimated 100,000 plant specimens.

Three regional teams are visiting each garden to catalogue the plants and update our plant records database. This will enable us to celebrate our plant collections and share their stories with visitors, as well as conserve them for the future and, where necessary, identify and respond to outbreaks of disease. This year we have focused on gardens in the north of Scotland, including Inverewe and Crathes Castle, and in the south west, including Threave and Culzean. Next year, we’ll also start work on the gardens in the east.

Find out more about the PLANTS project and read the blog series from the team