Hand draining in ploughing at Glen Affric Forest

Date Added: 02 February 2015 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1974 Picture No: 2855

Photograph courtesy of Bill Rayner, Tibbermore who has provided the details.

A great view of hand draining as Rura Wladyslaw uses a rutter spade at Fanque Loch, Beinn-nan-Sparra, Glen Affric. Rura was a member of the Cannich squad, who usually worked with Ian Fraser from Aigas, on the chainsaws. Affric was only just starting its thinning/felling at this time. If Ian wasn’t about he would work with the Cannich squad. Rura liked “BIG” drains and turves! Here he has obviously initially cut through the large plough ribbons of peat and cleared a route for cutting the drain and having cut both sides is now levering out the large peat turfs using the side cutting rutter as a cross cutting spade. Note the drain drag, howk or hack stuck in the peat beside him.

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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tools, equipment and clothing

5 Comments

We used to use the rutter in North Wales in the late 50's early 60's the tool we used to remove the clumps of peat was called a gaff. Comment left on 31 October 2016 at 15:22 by Bill Jones

I am trying to find a RUTTER and HACK for use in Strathlachlan. Can anyone help ? Comment left on 22 November 2017 at 21:46 by J.A. HISLOP

I suggest that if you wish to borrow the tools you could try the Forestry Commission office at Glenbranter. They might have some at the back of the store and loan them out. Younger staff will possibly not be familiar with them. Comment left on 25 November 2017 at 08:01 by Norman Davidson

Another contact could be Denis Coy, Argyll Estates current Forest Manager. Argyll Estates might have some of these tools and before taking up his current post Denis worked for the FC based at Glenbranter and might know if any were in stock there. Comment left on 15 December 2017 at 16:45 by Bill Rayner

Just to say "Thanks" for your time and assistance in trying to locate Rutter and Hack. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and good health in the New Year. Comment left on 16 December 2017 at 12:51 by J. A. Hislop

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