Access & Infrastructure

Access Roads
The Novar Beats are accessed by an extensive network of Estate tracks. These fall into 2 categories; roads accessible by saloon cars and roads accessible only by 4 wheel drive vehicles. There is access to parking areas on each half beat for saloon cars, but 4 wheel drive vehicles are required to access the full length of each beat by vehicle. The different categories of access road are marked on the beat maps provided and there is also appropriate signage on the tracks.

All roads are inspected for washout damage each spring and repairs are made prior to the main salmon runs commencing in late June.

Fishings Infrastructure
Infrastructure on the Novar beats currently includes one serviceable hut on Beat 1, a new shelter on Beat 3, numerous seats throughout the beats, footbridges, catwalks and fishing platforms on the lower beats and extensive access and beat signage. Improvements to fishings infrastructure on the Novar beats are made each year and a full description of improvements for the 2010 season will appear here in due course.

2009 Access & Infrastructure Improvements
The improvements to infrastructure and roads in 2009, was the biggest such program for many years. In addition to using Novar’s JCB and tractor/trailer, a tracked excavator and dumper truck were hired in. Over 600 tons of road material was quarried above Loch Morie and transported to, and laid on access roads on Beats 2, 3, 4 and 5. A number of new culverts were also laid, new signs put up and a new shelter was erected on Beat 3.

On Beat 4, there were repairs to catwalks, the construction of a walkway across the backwater at Dalreoch Bridge and the reinstatement of a number of paths; all greatly improving access. A series of new walkways were erected at Holly Island, intended to provide a temporary summer crossing to the left bank. Unfortunately they proved more temporary than planned and were lost in a spate at the beginning of September. A list of infrastructure improvements in 2009 is provided below the gallery.

Parks Shelter, Beat 3 New 2009	Flat Rock Steps, Beat 4 New 2009
New Walkway to Holly Island Now you see it, ...	A 'Temporary Crossing' ... now you don't!
Dalreoch Bridge Repaired 2008	Access Signage

Improvements to infrastructure in 2009 included:

B1 Ferry – ditches cleared and new culvert laid under access road.

B2 Junction & Monk's Head – RB landscaped and built up at tail of Junction pool; new hardcore parking area.

B3 The March – ditches cleared and new culvert laid upstream of March pool, stream flow into river returned to old route.

B3 Dalreoch Falls – new steps cut into bank.

B3 The Parks – new shelter erected and parking area improved.

B3 Twin Stone Run – new culvert under access road.

B3/B4 access - vandalised access signage replaced; new additional direction signage.

B4 Dalreoch Bridge – improvements to bridge - handrail & netting on steps; new walkway across backwater.

B4 Landslide – fallen trees cleared from access path.

B4 Holly - ditches cleared that were causing flooding on RB; catwalk repaired.

B4 Holly to Minister’s – path reinstated from Holly to Minister’s on RB including walkways across burns; path reinstated from Minister’s to Holly on LB.

B4 Holly Island – temporary walkways erected onto and off of Holly Island providing access to LB.

B4 Minister's – new parking area above Minister’s pool; new culvert under road; catwalks on LB repaired; path to Valve on LB cleared.

B4 Cunningham's - first section of catwalk repaired.

B4 Flat Rock - steps re-built on RB.

B4 Valve – new path cut through trees from Valve to Flat Rock on RB as original washed away.

B5 Lower Dalneich Bridge – steps cut into bank down from main road on LB.

B6 access – vandalised access signage replaced.