The John Muir Trust owns and manages some of the finest wild land in the
highlands and islands of Scotland. As well as protecting landscapes, the Trust works to restore natural habitats and encourage native species. It works with local people and communities, and seeks to increase awareness and understanding of wild places. In
Perthshire, the Trust restored and realigned the main footpath to the summit of
Schiehallion. The Trust has carried out major restoration work on the Steall Gorge footpath in Glen Nevis, Sandwood Bay in Sutherland,
Blà Bheinn and Druim Hain on Skye and Suilven in Assynt. In a number of locations it works to protect and restore
ancient woodland and
native woodlands. In early 2023, the Trust purchased a set of holiday cabins at Kylesku, Sutherland, which sit alongside the
North Coast 500 tourist route. On 12/09/2025, they acquired Kylesku Estate from Jim Sloane, a former trustee. "Consideration" for the property (amount paid) is noted on the title deed as "implementation of missives". As a result, the Trust now owns land stretching from the summit of Quinag to Loch Assynt and their long-term intention is to create a worldclass visitor hub at Kylesku.
List of properties • The south side and summit of
Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles • Glenlude near
Traquair in the Scottish Borders • Li & Coire Dhorrcail on the north coast of the
Knoydart peninsula •
Quinag, the three peak mountain in
Assynt, Kylesku Estate and Kylesku holiday chalets •
Sandwood Bay in north west Sutherland • East
Schiehallion in Highland Perthshire, which includes the summit and the main footpath •
Strathaird,
Torrin and
Sconser,
Skye which include the Red Cuillin and part of the Black Cuillin
Working in partnership As owner of the Ben Nevis Estate, JMT plays a key role in the
Nevis Partnership, which covers care of the Ben itself and the wider Nevis area including
Glen Nevis and the Allt a' Mhuilinn leading to the North Face. The Trust helped establish the
Knoydart Foundation, which purchased the Knoydart Estate in 1999. The purchase brought the "
rough bounds" into community and conservation ownership. The Trust is the only external representative on the North Harris Trust, which aims to manage, develop and conserve the North
Harris Estate (
Outer Hebrides) in a sustainable manner. In 2005, JMT purchased the
Quinag Estate in
Sutherland and joined the
Assynt Foundation (
Lochinver) to assist them in purchasing and managing the neighbouring Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates. The Trust has given support to the
Carrifran Wildwood project, initiated by the
Borders Forest Trust. The Wildwood group purchased land in the Carrifran valley in the
Moffat Hills of
Southern Scotland in 1999 and has started to recreate a large tract of woodland wilderness that will be used as an educational resource. It also supported the
Langholm community in its buyout of 5300 acres of land in the Scottish Borders. At the end of 2017, JMT signed a lease to manage
Glenridding Common in the Lake District, which includes most of
Helvellyn (England's third highest peak), Striding Edge and Red Tarn. In 2020, the Trust entered the Thirlmere Resilience Partnership, a partnership with
United Utilities,
Natural England and
Cumbria Wildlife Trust, to manage land around
Thirlmere reservoir, near Helvellyn, to create a resilient water catchment to supply the water needed by people, while providing a home for native biodiversity. The Trust is carrying out survey and monitoring work, with a view to long-term peatland and woodland regeneration and the restoration of natural processes in the area. ==John Muir Award==