Forestry officials at Corrour Lodge

Date Added: 01 May 2007 Contributor: Heritage North Year of Photo: 1932 Picture No: 180

Back row (l to r) John(Jock) Maxwell Macdonald (then District Officer in south-west Scotland); Alex M Mackenzie (Mensuration Officer); J F Macintyre (retired Head Forester, Newcastleton District); A M Fraser (then at Forest of AE, now District officer Culloden); A G Morris (at the time Forester at Ayr County Council Waterworks, Glen Alton.

Seated: The late Simon Cameron (Head Forester, Corrour, father of Alistair Cameron - Head Forester Strathyre, West Scotland); The late Sir John Stirling Maxwell of Corrour (Forestry Commissioner); J A B Macdonald (at the time Research Officer, Scotland later Conservator South Scotland).

Seated on the ground in front - Rust, J Maxwell Macdonald's labrador.
Taken at Corrour Lodge 1932 or 1933.

Thanks to Forest Research Photo Library and Mr Bell

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Groups: Groups of people

27 Comments

This picture shows the old lodge which was burnt down after a plumber when repairing pipes accidentally set fire to the insulation, This was replaced by a timber building which has now been replaced with a very impressive new lodge made of stone and glass, the stone which the group are seated in front off is still there with the new building being built around it.
My grandfather John Macrae (see album)and I have both worked at Corrour. My grandfather started there at the age of 14 as kennel boy so probably looked after "Rust" Comment left on 04 May 2007 at 17:43 by John MacRae

My father Richard Mackinnon was a keeper at Luibnaclach for a number of years. I beleieve at one point he was also a kennel boy at the lodge. Names I remember are John Mcrae, head keeper, Andrew Tait, head keeper, Anne Mcrae, Duncan Mcrae, Josie Mcrae. Duncan Mcrae had a pet hind called Nan Comment left on 26 December 2009 at 19:25 by Duncan James Mackinnon

Richard, I was interested to be reminded of your father who was at Corrour when I first came to Torlundy, Leanachan Forest as a trainee forester in 1967. I did not work at Corrour in those early days, which must have been bought by the Commission around 1965, but was sent once or twice up with the wages for the then keepers and men based at Fersit. There was no road into Corrour then and your father must have come over the hill on the pony track to Fersit where George Nairn (senior) was a keeper and two workers, Tom Pigg and John Carrol(spelling)lived.
Can you remember anything about the estate forestry work in those days before the FC took over? Comment left on 30 December 2009 at 09:01 by Norman Davidson

Aye Norman, I had forgotten Richard had moved to Corrour from Luibnaclach for a few years before he retired. I was born in 1948, the best I can remember regarding forestry work is horses being used to drag the felled trees out of the forest. I still go to Corrour once a year staying at the youth hostel. I met George Nairn junior about 5 years ago. I believe I went to school(Tulloch) with John Carrol's daughter Frances. I think Tom and his family moved to Longframlington in Northumberland. I had an uncle Jimmy lived at Lubeilt. I remember the Macphersons from Loch Treig head, Andrew(father) and Raymond. It is in my mind that Raymond went on to win world championship sheepdog trials. Regards, Duncan Comment left on 30 December 2009 at 19:53 by Duncan James Mackinnon

Duncan - sorry I had your name wrong in first email - I was trying to find out where Luibnaclach was, with no success. Were you away when the FC Roadsquad first moved in to build the road into the Lodge? I seem to remember that the bridge over the water running from Loch Laggan (near Torgulbin) was one of the first use by the FC of pre-stressed concrete beams so that they could make the crossing in one span. They set up camp at Torgulbin with caravans and in some of the out buildings around the croft. I do remember having to collect the camp bed sheets every week and take them down to the Fort William laundry!! They worked in the summer period only and were there for at least three seasons. Basically they dug or bulldozed the peat out down to to the clay gravel bottom and then took lorry loads of gravel from the Torgulbin River and laid a rubble surface over 12 miles?. It was very rough as I remember and very slow going in a van. Comment left on 01 January 2010 at 11:59 by Norman Davidson

Aye norman, Luibnaclach was a stand alone house 2 miles south of Corrour Station. It is now a burnt out ruin. There used to be a pair of railway workers houses but they have demolished many years ago. By virtue of our location about 6 miles from Corrour Lodge we were not too involved in anything that went on "up ther"!! as a result I dont have very much in the way of memories. The road you talk about has been improved over the years and is now used by estate workers and those renting holiday homes at Strath Ossian and Corrour. Regards Duncan Comment left on 03 January 2010 at 10:30 by Duncan James Mackinnon

"This picture shows the old lodge". Yes, the 'old Corrour Lodge', at the NE end of Loch Ossian. But to confuse the unwary, "Corrour Old Lodge" was (is) about 3 miles away, (and 1700 feet up!) on the path from Corrour to Rannoch Station, east of the railway, is older still. Now ruinous (but believed to have been de-roofed rather than burnt down?). I would be very interested to know more about this building and its use as an isolation hospital (!) in the early 20th c. Comment left on 03 August 2010 at 21:53 by Hugh Dinwoodie

Hi. Regarding corrour old lodge, i was always told it was burnt down. Also i always thought that the isolation hospital was at kime house, which is east of the blackwater reservoir, vey much a ruin now i'm sure i have not been there for 40 years or so. Comment left on 08 August 2010 at 20:51 by duncan james mackinnon

I have been trying to remember the name of the Road Squad foreman who managed the road building opertions into Corrour and bumped into Angus Grant (Left Handed Fiddler from Lochyside) who was a lorry driver in those days and worked at Corrour for more than one season. He remined me that the Foreman was Jock Wilson who left the FC to go to one of the rig building yards. Comment left on 23 August 2010 at 17:08 by Norman Davidson

I am interested in your photo. I am writing a biography on Mary Sutherland, the first university-qualified woman forester, who graduated B Sc For from Bangor in 1916. She worked for Sir John Stirling Maxwell in 1917 at both Pollock and Corrour; after the war for the Board of Agriculture, interim Forest Authority then the Forestry Commission till losing her job through the Geddes Commission. Mary came to NZ and worked for the NZ State Forest Service.(Lost her job again in 1932 through an economic commission). In 1952 she returned to Corrour on a visit. Wrote in her diary that the road to Fersit confused her. She left her car at Tulloch station. Was told that Dorward the old station master had recently died. On the train was one of Sir John's shepherd foresters with his dogs going to help head stalker Tait with mustering. Tait met her off the train, handed her to a boy who took her in a station wagon to Mrs Tait's where she was picked up by Mr Willcox, forester, who had been there five years. Willcox showed her around the burned lodge, plantations (two of which she had been involved in planting), arboretum etc. She mentioned the nursery was still in the same place, but now only had lined-out plants. (Does anyone know where the nursery was please and does any of this ring any bells for anyone?) Comment left on 28 September 2010 at 22:36 by Vivien Edwards

I have an association with Corrour since 1947. My father was a railway signalman, part of his duty was to relieve the duty signalman when holidays or other allowed this. I as a small boy would with my father stay in the then signal box as our residence was in Glasgow.
I do remember with great affection the then hostel warden John Barr who was also the Lodge gardener. I have many tales of Corrour and would love to share memories with anyone who remembers those times Comment left on 08 October 2010 at 15:42 by William Young

I spent many hours in that signal box waiting for the train to take me to Tulloch school. This was from 1954 till 1960 Comment left on 18 February 2011 at 21:22 by Duncan James Mackinnon

People that I rember from my time in the signal box: Sandy Thomson and Pauline his wife, they had a son Alastair, and a daughter, whose name evades me. Sandy Sherrif was a relief signalman, Pat Kearny was a railwayman, as was Donald Macdonald, also a couple of families who lived down the line beside Luibnaclach the Priests and the Logues. I will never forget Henry Logue(son)who saved me from drowning in the river, no bravery awards in those days. Andrew and Raymond Macpherson who lived at the head of Loch Treig, a Lithuanian chap who worked on the railway and was as hard as the hobs of hell, tee shirt and shorts summer or winter. I wish my memory was better and more so that I could turn the clock back 60 years. Comment left on 20 March 2011 at 09:27 by Duncan James Mackinnon

I have just come across this web site, and I am very interested in Corrour Estate, owned by Sir John Stirling Maxwell and his family from 1891 until the 1990s. except for the short time it was owned by the Forestry Commission. First of all I must mention the ‘Corrour’ book by Lisbet Koerner & David Brian Dick. It is available in the Fort William Library and also from the Corrour Estate Office at Corrour. I have had a long association with Corrour, but my first love was Strathossian and also Fersit. My father was Donald MacPherson, Gamekeeper, in Strathossian 1929/43 and Fersit 1943/57. I was in the school, which was attached to the Lodge, the day the lodge went on fire. The school closed in 1943. I have, also, sat many a Monday morning in the signal box at the station, waiting on the train to take me to the school at Tulloch, but I stayed with the teacher at Tulloch all week. My parents knew Richard MacKinnon. He came to visit them in Strathossian this would have been before the WW11. He probably would have stayed in the bothy then, as Andy Tait was in Lubnaclach until he became Head ‘Keeper in 1945. I am researching the families on Corrour Estate from about 1841 and would be pleased to have feed back from any of you, but Duncan James MacKinnnon especially with you. Marion Barrie, 13 February 2012 Comment left on 13 February 2012 at 12:22 by Marion Barrie

Marion Barrie I William Young have a great interest in Corrour and have childhood memories of the estate an the persons mentioned in all the comments.
Now one not mentioned is John Barr who was the estate gardiner and part time Hostel warden. Have you any recollection of this person? Comment left on 16 February 2012 at 15:13 by William Young

Sorry, William, no recollection of a John Barr as a gardener. If I come across anything positive about him I will let you know. Marion Barrie 18 February 2012 Comment left on 18 February 2012 at 14:42 by Marion Barrie

Hello Hugh, re: Old Corrour Lodge �“ I can’t get used to it being now known as Corrour Old Lodge, but can understand the reason for the change. It’s just a pity it is the Old Lodge at 1700 ft that had to have its name messed around. . I saw your name in the Scotlandsplaces site and decided to leave a message for you here, regarding the Isolation Hospital factor, etc. I mention in my previous message the ‘Corrour’ book. I think it was well researched and it states on Page 1 “The old lodge was abandoned when the new lodge was built at Loch Ossian, and the roof was removed in the late nineteenth century. I also have a booklet called Something in the Air �“ Grampian Sanatorium 1901 to St. Vincent’s Hospital 2001 by John Robertson. (You probably know that St. Vincent’s is in Kingussie) On Page 4 it states Walter de Watteville came to Scotland in 1878 and twenty three years later (1901) opened the Grampian Sanatorium in Kingussie, the only private sanatorium for the treatment of Tuberculosis in Britain. I found four fever hospitals in Inverness-shire built before 1912
Kingussie 1901, Fort Augustus in 1908 and two in Inverness.
Comment left on 02 March 2012 at 22:53 by Marion Barrie

Marion Barrie - Thanks for your comments. It seems to have been the Ordnance Survey who labelled the 'old lodge' at 1700 ft (which had been plain 'Corrour Lodge' in their 1st and 2nd editions) as 'Corrour Old Lodge (ruin)' in the later Landranger map series. The 1899 lodge, at the NE end of Loch Ossian - shown in the photo - is named 'Corrour Shooting Lodge' in my 1994 OS map (although at that time a ruin itself, before the 2004 lodge was built!). I wonder where I could see a copy of the booklet by John Robertson you mention?
Comment left on 20 March 2012 at 13:39 by Hugh Dinwoodie

Hello Hugh The booklet (28 pages) is called “Something in the Air” Grampian Sanatorium 1901 to St. Vincent’s Hospital 2001 by John Robertson. Published by: St.Vincent’s Centenary Committee, 2001. Complete origination & printing by Farquhar & Son, Perth. Try St. Vincent’s Hospital, Kingussie, the office staff are in until 4 o’clock Monday to Friday Tel No. 01479 810930. Try a very helpful bookshop called Bookmark in Grantown-on-Spey Tel No. 01479 873433 and if that fails The Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore Tel.No 01540 673332. If all that fails I could do a photocopy for you Marion Barrie Comment left on 23 March 2012 at 21:14 by Marion Barrie

I am Archie Mcdonald born in 1943, the son of Donald Mcdonald and we lived at Luibnaclach.I have read all your comments and I know all of you and I know and remember much more so I would like to spill my story to someone. There is too much to put on email. Comment left on 28 December 2014 at 18:44 by Donald Archie Mcdonald

Does nobody reply to above as I am dying to speak with you all. Archie Mcdonald Comment left on 05 January 2015 at 17:25 by Donald Archie Mcdonald

Hi Archie, my memory not as good as yours, but I know we lived at Luibnaclach from 1948 for about 20 years, me attending Tulloch school as a junior. Sorry for delay Comment left on 21 November 2015 at 17:36 by Duncan Mackinnon

Lord is this the Archie Mcdonald whos dad worked on railway---- can't be?????

If it is my email is--duncan.mackinnon5@googlemail.com Comment left on 22 November 2015 at 14:45 by Duncan Mackinnon

Walked the Road to the Isles and we always stopped to make tea at the old lodge and just let my mind wander to when it was alive and the people who lived there. We sat on what must have been the lawn. My husband is a train driver up that line and we fish on Rannoch lochs. Told by the locals that the lodge was deliberately burnt to the ground because of the tuberculosis war patients. Great to read of the people who lived and worked that area. It is an area that my husband and I find captivating. Comment left on 01 July 2016 at 12:24 by A Sinclair

its a grand walk, for sure and a grand view on a clear day--which would probably take in my old house(ruin now) at lubnaclach Comment left on 10 March 2017 at 19:40 by Duncan Mackinnon

I am in the process of doing some research on the two most isolated outposts on the West Highland Line - Corrour Station and the passing loop at Gorton - and would be keen to hear any stories or recollections from anyone who lived, worked or grew up at either location in the years when the signal boxes were staffed or who knew the stationmasters and their families.
Corrour began life as a private halt for the local estate but, in 1934, appeared for the first time on the public timetable while, up the line, the only passengers ever allowed to alight at Gorton were the family of the signalman and the children who attended a school housed in a railway carriage on the island platform.
My email address is jimcarron@gmail.com Comment left on 04 December 2019 at 15:07 by James Carron

After 12 years of research and writing, my book on Mary Sutherland, who worked as forewoman forester for Sir John Stirling Maxwell in 1917 at Corrour and Pollock is now in print.
'A Path Through the Trees: Mary Sutherland -Forester, Botanist and Women's Advocate' is available from Summerfield Books. https://www.summerfieldbooks.com/product/a-path-through-the-trees-mary-sutherland-forester-botanist-womens-advocate/
-Vivien Edwards

Comment left on 23 February 2021 at 21:54 by Vivien Edwards

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