Green Wedges

As set out in the Inverness Local Plan, The Highland Council will safeguard and seek to open to public access.  Six major "Green Wedges" in the urban fringe, of strategic importance to the setting of the city, have been identified to be safeguarded and seek to be open to public access.  It is anticipated that no development will be permitted within these defined areas.  Major "green wedges" prevent coalescence of the built up area and offer scope to create commons, urban forests and parks - "corridors" which connect the city's Victorian open spaces with the adjoining countryside.  They will provide for recreation and public access, wildlife and landscape enhancement; together with amenity "buffers" and natural outlets for flood water.

View / Download Green Wedges Map
(approx. 780kb).

 The Green Wedges are:

(i) MUIRTOWN and DALNEIGH:
comprising the Forest Enterprise Woodlands, designed landscape at Craig Dunain and croftland at Leachkin Brae. This is earmarked for Great Glen Way, other footpath improvements, landscape management and interpretation of the hill-fort;

(ii) A82 and TORVEAN:
the Canal towpath, esker which is an SSSI, and sports fields at lower Charleston linking the Bught/Ness Islands and through to Clachnaharry/the Firths. Reconfiguration of the golf course, extension of amenities at Whin Park, rehabilitation of the worked out quarry, community woodland, relocation of the Canal pitches and public/cycle access are priorities;

(iii) INSHES:
the larger, productive farm units, historic landscape at Ness Castle and the connecting features at Lochardil Woods and Slacknamarnock. Wildlife conduits, restoring the Holm burn habitats together with riverside walks out into the east Loch Ness area are promoted;

(iv) SLACKBUIE:
the golf course, community park and "Inventory" gardens at Leys Castle. The strongest safeguards are needed for the Allt na Skiach and adjoining burn margins, a major new surface water interceptor and water storage facilities, and extension of the designed landscape could be encouraged.

(v) A9 and BEECHWOOD:
the small-holdings at Inshes, farmland to the A9, elevated forest blocks and historic landscape at Drumossie Muir. General Wades Military Road is a major recreational artery, a City "common" could be created at Beechwood and protection is required for the exceptional views from the B9006.

(vi) EAST LONGMAN:
embracing the municipal landfill area together with agricultural units adjacent to the eastern approaches and through to Culloden. This is an opportunity to capitalise on the City's seafront with a major links/country park/nature reserve overlooking the Natura 2000 habitats. Utility corridors are protected. These areas could embrace key features of the lowland landscapes of the Inner Moray Firth and a championship Golf Course; together with the elevated pastoral/afforested lands south of Culloden.