Estate home to one of 'Europe's last wildernesses' opens to public to learn about life on the land
Visitors will be able to learn about a range of land activities from deer management to sustainable forestry.
A duke’s Highland estate, which has been hailed by Scottish ministers as a model for Scotland’s environmental ambitions, is to open its gates to the public to offer a rare glimpse of the billionaire’s conservation work.
Reay Forest Estate in Sutherland, part of the vast landholdings of Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, will host a free open day in May at “one of Europe’s last wildernesses.”
The event, held at Achfary, will allow members of the public to explore the inner workings of the estate.
Set in the north-west Highlands, the 96,000-acre property has earned a reputation for its conservation work, country sports and unspoilt landscape.
Last year it became the first estate in the UK to receive gold accreditation from Wildlife Estates, a European conservation network, achieving the highest score recorded across its international portfolio, at 91.75 per cent.
The accolade places Reay Forest at the forefront of private land management in Europe and has been cited by Scottish ministers as evidence of how environmental protection and productive land use can go hand in hand.
Scotland, which has a legally binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2045, has made progress in reducing greenhouse gases but faces mounting pressure to accelerate efforts to halt biodiversity loss and restore degraded landscapes.
Visitors to the open day will be able to tour a series of areas on the estate highlighting different land activities, from deer management and sustainable forestry to maintenance and the operation of its holiday lodges. Staff will demonstrate the range of roles involved in running the estate, as well as the science-led approaches increasingly underpinning land management.
Partner organisations including the North West Highlands Geopark, Countryside Learning Scotland, the West Sutherland Fisheries Trust and the Atlantic Salmon Trust will also be in attendance.
The estate is working with the salmon trust on one of the UK’s most ambitious river restoration schemes, aiming to revive endangered wild Atlantic salmon populations across a landscape-scale catchment.
The duke, whose family owns the estate, said he was “incredibly proud” of the recognition it had received, describing it as the result of sustained investment over many years to protect and enhance the landscape.
Speaking at a recent event marking the award, Gillian Martin, the Scottish cabinet secretary for climate action and energy, praised the estate as “a huge achievement that sets a high bar”, adding that it demonstrated how land managers could combine economic activity with a commitment to nature.
She told estate staff: “The jobs you are supporting, the education you are supporting, the rural communities that you are supporting — it’s a great example of how caring for the environment is a net gain for everyone.”
The open day takes place on May 2 from 10am-4pm at Achfary. No prior booking is necessary.
The duke is one of Britain’s wealthiest people, managing a global property portfolio through the Grosvenor Group. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2025, the duke and Grosvenor family were ranked 14th in the UK.
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