IMPORTANT NEWS
RED DEER STALKING PROGRAMME 2009-2010

We have started our deer management programme for this season which runs through to 14 Feb 2010, with the main period this year being shortened to 1 September until 21 October 2009 when we stalk daily as well as at weekends. From 21 October there is continuing activity but on a less intense basis.

The deer management programme here is very important to the livelihoods of local people and our employees and the welfare of the deer herd, so we would ask you to respect the guidance we offer, and ask you to use alternative walking areas available to you over this relatively short, but important period. We actively manage the situation by providing information at Invervar with daily notices indicating whether we are out or not.

To avoid disappointment we also suggest you telephone in advance and we will give you as up to date information as we can.

We would like to thank all those members of the hill walking fraternity who helped us during the last year and during last season by working sensibly and in a balanced fashion, heeding general advice on access, remaining on recognized routes, not going into corries and keeping dogs under control. This allowed us to complete our work and to continue to provide local employment.

By sticking with the recommended route on the high tops so as to minimise disturbance to game and animals and ground nesting birds, who tend to be present in and live in the corries, you have helped preserve a small bit of wilderness, but it is should be noted that the continual human pressure is now beginning to adversely affect a wide range of habitats, animals, and birds.

Uncontrolled dogs cause disturbance and damage to wildlife and great stress to deer and their young. We have also had several bad cases of sheep worrying this year, incidents that resulted in sheep suffering quite unnecessarily. Dogs must be kept on leads.

Please see our Information on Chesthill Leaflet. Again, thank you for your help during the season and going forward. Please phone if you would like more advice.

Chesthill Estate

Chesthill Estate is a small family estate run along traditional lines. Its core activities are sheep and cattle farming, salmon and trout fishing and red and roe deer stalking, which combine together throughout the year to provide a sustainable programme. Directly and indirectly the estate underwrites several families and numerous individuals who manage the various aspects of this diverse business in this fragile area of Scotland.

The estate provides a number of facilities to the public (for which there is no payment), these being a picnic site and a car park at Invervar for a maximum of eight cars to allow managed hill walking to take place.

Central to the ethos of the Estate is its commitment to improving all aspects of conservation. The current owners have invested heavily in environmental programmes involving stock exclusions and the planting of small and large deciduous and native woodlands. A biodiversity plan has been developed and will provide the way forward for further work. This includes the management of access and hill walking aimed at reducing the adverse impacts of those activities on conservation and estate programmes.

Chesthill provides the full range of traditional sporting activity in season and has further developed other activities as a means of diversifying its economic portfolio.An Events and Activities Company provides on and off farm clay pigeon shooting and supporting events. In support of the community the estate underwrites the local shooting club which meets throughout the year.

Click here to download the Information on Chesthill Leaflet PDF - 2MB