Scotland's wild east-west corridor

From the vast waters of Loch Ness to the rugged sea lochs of Scotland's west coast, the Affric Highlands span an ancient, mountainous landscape shaped by thousands of years of connection between people and nature. Home to fragments of Caledonian pinewood, temperate rainforest, and rich peatlands, this is a place of rare, iconic wildlife, deep-rooted culture, and huge rewilding potential.

Affric Highlands | Scotland

Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, the Affric Highlands encompass a landscape of magnificent glens, ancient Caledonian pinewoods, montane woodlands, and winding rivers. Culture runs deep here — there is a long history of people living in harmony with the land, drawing inspiration from its power and beauty through song, story, and tradition. People have been a fundamental element of this landscape for thousands of years and remain so today.

The Affric Highlands support an extraordinary wealth of wildlife, from soaring golden and white-tailed eagles to elusive pine martens. The region is a vital stronghold for biodiversity, where rewilding efforts are now breathing new life into native species and habitats. Red squirrels, absent for decades, have been successfully reintroduced, while beavers are once again shaping rivers and wetlands with their remarkable natural engineering. Across the Beauly catchment, populations of endangered black grouse are showing encouraging signs of recovery — a symbol of hope for the continued restoration of the landscape

Rewilding vision

Natural processes are unfolding at scale, reconnecting fragmented habitats and creating vital wildlife corridors. Reduced deer numbers have allowed woodlands to regenerate naturally at scale, while rewetted peatlands are transforming into rich habitats for invertebrates and rare plant species, while capturing vast amounts of carbon.

Rivers, too, are coming back to life. Reintroduced meanders, riparian woodland regeneration and replanting, and thriving beaver populations are restoring dynamic, healthy, resilient waterways that support salmon, birds, and myriad other wildlife species

This ecological renewal is also revitalising Affric Highland communities. Nature-based livelihoods, sustainable materials, and carbon initiatives are creating new income streams and reinforcing deep cultural ties to the land, with local people leading restoration efforts and collaborating to shape a wilder, better future for the region.

Do you want to know more about Rewilding Europe's efforts to make the Affric Highlands a wilder place?

Visit RewildingEurope.com