The village of Scourie lies on the northwest coast of Sutherland, between Lochinver and Kinlochbervie.

North Highland Forest Trust was approached by Scourie & Badcall Common Grazings to give advice on the potential for a crofter forestry scheme on the grazings. NHFT carried out site surveys, and produced costed proposals for a planting scheme. The area chosen for the new woodland is just inland of the village, and the site overlooks the sea to the west and Loch a Badhaidh Daraich to the north. Exposure to salt-laden winds was a major consideration in the design of the scheme.

Before planting, the land was largely rough grazing - a mosaic of rocky heather moorland, areas of bare rock, pockets of better soils often overrun with bracken, and small areas of deep peat. The site also encloses 2 small lochs. Of the total site area of 118 hectares, 76 ha. were planted, with a further 19 ha. comprising grant-aided open ground. Red deer are found in the area, so deer fencing was necessary - this was acheived through a combination of new fencing and upgrading existing stock fencing.

A thorough survey by Headland Archaeology was commissioned before the planting design was finalised. Their report identified no less than 221 archaeological features, including 6 hut circles, 2 homesteads, 2 burnt mounds, 17 small stone shelters and 178 cairns

Three new woodland types have been planted:
W4 - Birch woodland with purple moorgrass
W11 - Upland Oak-birch woodland with bluebell/wild hyacinth
W17 - Upland Oak-birch woodland with blaeberry

These types were keyed to existing vegetation communities and soil types identified during the site survey.