Rathmor Forestry

In medieval times, forests were jealously guarded by lords and monasteries, their timber reserved for shipbuilding and fortification. By the 18th century, logging had become a major industry, supplying planks and beams to towns and ports across the islands. The sawmills of Llyngor became legendary, their waterwheels churning day and night. Furniture-making, too, flourished, giving Rathmor a reputation for skilled joiners and carvers.

The railway gave forestry an unprecedented boost. Logs could be hauled directly from felling grounds to sawmills, and from there to harbours or inland towns. Llyngor, especially, grew into a center of furniture and paper-making. Though deforestation was a risk, replanting schemes and managed woodlands ensured continuity. Forestry thus remains both a practical livelihood and a cultural emblem of Rathmor’s endurance, shaping the island’s landscape and its people alike.

Feorag Forestry Company Railway