Glenbranter at dusk

Glenbranter is one of the original Scottish forestry villages.   At the start of the 20th century the estate was owned by Sir Harry Lauder who , after the first world war, leased it to the Forestry Commission which was created in 1919 to build up the  strategic timber reserve which had been greatly depleted by the war.   

Villages  like Glenbranter, Dalavich and Glentrool were established to allow the forest work force to be accommodated on site but as the objectives of the Commission, and its method of operation, changed so the villages declined in  utlitilhy and relevance. 

Now they are  almost entirely occupied by non forestry families but at Glenbranter there is still a forest office and it remains the working centre of the Argyll Forest Park.

It is also where we go to buy our Christmas tree every year, as we did this afternoon after a long morning Christmas shopping in Glasgow.