Hello people. Can anyone tell my why it has been neccessary padlock all the gates through the new deerfence on the north shore of Loch Maree, starting around about NG988677 (approx.) and heading north-west?

The fence is not on the Explorer map of the area(433), so it must have been put up fairly recently, definitely looks new. I was two days into a four day walk to Gairloch so was rather aggravated, to put it politely, when I came upon this obstruction. I looked at three of the gates and they all had padlocks on them. One gate had a sign saying "Letterewe Regeneration Project" on it. There were no styes either.

A deer fence is definitely the way to encourage the woodland to recover but why are humans excluded form the area - I don't find tree saplings nearly as irresistable as deer and goats do.

Any info would be appreciated.

This sound's unfortunate. The previous owner of the estate, Paul van Vlissingen, was very pro-access but his keeper has always had a reputation for disliking walkers. I've no idea if that keeper is still there and responsible for this action, and Paul died two or three years ago. Not sure who owns the estate today. However, this is contrary to the Land Reform Act and I would send a complaint to the Access Officer, Highland Council, Glenurguhart Road, Inverness.

I also recently noticed several of these fenced off areas on a recent visit, all marked 'Letterewe Regeneration Project 200*'. I spotted several ranging from 2006 - 2009, but no evidence within of any sapling planting.

The Letterewe Estate is still owned by the van Vlissingen family - his daughters I think. I've had no difficulties on Letterewe since Paul van Vlissingen's death and last time I was there people had brought canoes up the Fionn Loch so I doubt access is intentionally being made more difficult. I'd contact the estate I think. The web address is www.letterewe-estate.com