A Guide to Improving Timber Transport

This document provides a guide to improving timber transport in Scotland and outlines previous case studies throughout Scotland.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: Annandale and Ae Timber Haulage Route

An improving timber transport case study on the Annandale and Ae timber haulage route.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: Brenchoillie Road

An improving timber transport case study on the Brenchoillie Road timber haulage route.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: Craik Forest

An improving timber transport case study on the Craik Forest timber haulage route.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: Lorg Glen and the B729

An improving timber transport case study on the Lorg Glen and the B729 timber haulage route.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: North West Mull Timber Haul Road

An improving timber transport case study on the North West Mull timber haulage route.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: Rathad Mara and the Floating Piers

An improving timber transport case study on the Rathad Mara and the Floating Piers.

Improving Timber Transport Case Study: Timberlink

An improving timber transport case study on the Timberlink service.

Net Zero Timhaul progress report (2024)

This report describes the progress to date in exploring and understanding electrification towards net zero emissions in the HGV sector with a particular focus on timber transport.

Strategic Timber Transport Fund: Annual report 2024-2025

The purpose of this paper is to give an annual update on the current position (at 1st April 2025) of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) which supports both the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme (STTS) and the TimberLINK public service shipping contract.

Background

2025 is an auspicious year for forestry haulage. The STTF has been operating for 20 years, and TimberLINK in service for 25 years.

Although TimberLINK actually started in 2000, in part due to windblown timber arising from the major storms of 1999, the original STTF of £13m was introduced in 2005 for a three year period.

Subsequently, it was:

• extended for a further three years to 2011 with an annual budget of £5m 
  • this included a maximum £1m allocation to the TimberLINK shipping service

The fund continued thereafter with a budget of £3m/year (including TimberLINK) until 2016.

Therefore, the SF contribution was reduced to £2.85m enhanced with an extra £5 million from Transport Scotland giving 7.85m/year until 2019.

Objectives

The aims and objectives of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund remain the same:

‘To facilitate the sustainable transport of timber in rural areas of Scotland for the benefit of local communities and the environment, maximising the value of monies available through innovative projects and partnerships’

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Agents mandate form 2025-26

Use this form to provide your agent or representative with authority to act on your behalf when dealing with Scottish Forestry when seeking support from the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme.

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Application Form 2025-26

When completing this application please refer to the current Strategic Timber Transport Scheme (STTS) Application Guidance which can be found on Scottish Forestry’s Timber Transport web pages.