A plan to build a windfarm next to one of Scotland's most remote areas is part of a worrying trend that threatens the country's most wild land, a leading conservation charity has warned.

The John Muir Trust issued the warning as part of its opposition to the Sallachy windfarm proposal. If approved, the plan would see 22 turbines of 125m (410 feet) constructed a few within miles of Conival and Ben More Assynt, two Munros within the Assynt and Coigach National Scenic Area (NSA).

The Trust estimates the development on the north-west shore of Loch Shin would be visible from from up to 10 per cent of the NSA, including from the slopes of the Munros.

John Hutchison, chairman of the John Muir Trust said: “This is a worrying proposal. Assynt and Coigach is an area of great beauty and spectacular natural landscapes that includes the summits of Quinag, Ben Mor Coigach and Suilven.

"Folk are becoming very concerned about the effect of this type of development on our wild landscape, the unique Scotland that visitors come to see. We can’t afford to lose high quality areas of wild land such as this, particularly when there are impacts on an established National Scenic Area.”

 “We’ve been concerned for a while that as less sensitive available space is used up, Scotland’s wildest land will come under increased threat. The Sallachy proposal is a step closer to this happening.”

Steven Turnbull, policy officer for the Trust said: “The developer in this case has recognised the wildness of the site but has significantly undervalued this quality.

If Sallachy is approved it would set an unwelcome precedent for future developments. It would make it even more difficult in the future to challenge wind farms that impact on National Scenic Areas, the highest accolade for Scotland’s natural landscapes.”

The proposal by German firm WKN Windkraft Nord AG (WKN) is currently in the consultation phase. According to the developer's website, it would have an installed capacity of up to 66 megawatts, enough to power 34,000 homes, and will benefit the local community.