Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 8 > Woods

Woodland walks across Scotland- by Andrew Fairbairn

The days are getting shorter and the weather colder but a walk in the woods is always rewarding no matter what the time of year. Here is a selection of woods owned and managed by the Woodland Trust Scotland.

1.  Crinan Wood

Crinan Wood near Oban rises 100m above the village of Crinan affording superb views across the coastline, west to the Isle of Jura and north to islands of Scarba, Luing, Seil and Mull. It is a place where sea, land and wood mingle in one of Scotland?s most historic land and seascapes.

In the spring time the wood floor bursts into life and colour, with primroses, and red campion, and in early summer, the Crinan air is lifted with a chorus of birdsong. Small migrants from Africa like the wood warbler, redstart and tree pipit appear ? all part of the distinctive western oak mix.  

2.  Ledmore and Migdale Woods

The roots of these woods in Spinningdale on the Dornoch Firth go back many thousands of years, and with the possibility of spotting an otter, pine marten or even an elusive black grouse, they are one of the best wildlife woods you can find.

You can?t fail to enjoy a walk to the head of Loch Migdale, one of my favourite spots for a picnic.

3.  Balmacaan Wood and Urquhart Bay Wood

Drumnadrochit on the shores of Loch Ness has a good variety of woodland walking. I enjoy the contrast between Balmacaan Wood prominently sited between two river valleys and Urquhart Bay Wood on the shores of Loch Ness.

There are two really striking features in Balmacaan Wood. The first is a small cluster of extremely tall, conical shaped conifers - one of them measures in at 55m tall and 7.5m girth.

The second eyecatcher is Craig Monie, a rocky crag offering stunning views of Loch Ness. At Urquhart Bay, a substantial footbridge has been constructed to ensure that dedicated Nessie spotters can view the surface of the water at any time of year.

4.  Pressmennan and Butterdean Woods

Near Stenton, East Lothian, Pressmennan Wood is one of the last traces of Scotland?s ancient native woodland. It is a fantastic place to visit, with the ancient oaks along the shores of Pressmennan Lake and an abundance of wildlife always impressive.

Not too far from Pressmennan is Butterdean Wood.  One of its earliest mentions is a record stating that in 1649, Isabel and Margaret Bartilman met the devil and danced with him at ?Butterdam? at 10pm.

For those wishing to retrace Isabel and Margaret?s experience, I recommend the two waymarked footpaths that take you through the variety of wildlife habitats within the woodland.

5.  Backmuir Wood

Backmuir Wood, near Dundee, has a wonderfully wild natural feel with areas of heath, open glades and boggy land, and affords impressive views over the Firth of Tay, Dundee and the Sidlaw hills. Scots Pine trees form the habitat for a healthy population of red squirrels.

6.  Glen Quey

Glen Quey is in the Ochils, the line of hills from Perth to Stirling, where Albert Einstein is known to have walked. The walk to the summit of Innerdownie Hill offers panoramic views of the Forth Bridge to the south-east, Tay Bridge and Grampians to the north-east and Cairngorms to the north.

7.  Glen Finglas

I?ve saved the biggest to last - Glen Finglas at Brig o? Turk in the Trossachs - a spectacular wild, sparsely wooded landscape. Its name is derived from Gaelic meaning ?glen of the white water?, and its austere beauty has inspired romantic writers from Scott to Wordsworth and artists (e.g. pre-Raphaelite, Millais). 

Glen Finglas can now be described as a working sheep and cattle farm, and you can walk from 15 minutes to 15 miles (24km) with an ever increasing choice of footpaths and routes. It has the potential to become one of the largest native broadleaved woods in Scotland.

Andrew Fairbairn
Development Manager
The Woodland Trust Scotland
Tel: 01764 662554

Cottages relevant to this article

The following holiday cottages are situated within easy reach of the locations mentioned above: