© Crown copyright and database right Explore Quarry Wood on the network of paths through [2018]. All rights reserved. Ordnance 4 Quarry Wood pines, larch and native oakwood. 5 Torrieston Survey Licence number [100021242]. Sands of time As you wander through the woods, you’ll come across It’s trailtastic! disused sandstone quarries. Remarkable fossils have been found here of reptiles which lived in the desert sands 250 million years ago, well before the dinosaurs. One creature, named Elginia mirabilis, Moray was about the size of a Labrador but armed with protective spines. Gentle trails and family friendly forests along You can see some of the fossils in the Moray coastline Elgin museum, where you can also Model replica of discover the rich human history of the area. Elginia mirabilis The ancient oakwood on the east side of the hill is an From Torrieston car park, head out on the trails to easy stroll from Elgin. If you’re quiet, you might spot roe explore the peaceful woodland on either side of the road. Elginia Trail deer as well as a variety of woodland birds. In springtime, listen out for the distinctive ‘drumming’ of great spotted Just across the road, the gentle all-abilities trail is a lovely Follow in the footsteps of a remarkable reptile, whose woodpeckers as they declare their territory. loop for the whole family, through open pinewoods with ancient fossils have been found in the sandstone picnic tables and benches. Linger by the Black Burn where There is also an orienteering course in Quarry Wood. quarries here. salmon and otters have been seen in the treacle-black 0 0.25 0.5 km Maps are available to download from our website. Firm but uneven earthy and 3 miles / waters. If there’s a whiff of the tropics in the air, then you’ll 0 1/4 mile grassy surface. Many exposed 5 kms soon see the coconut-scented yellow flowers of gorse, also known as whin. tree roots and some slightly Allow …making your muddy sections. Fairly steep 2 hrs own prehistoric The giant Douglas firs in the woods here were among the …playing slopes. Includes a narrow opening. creature out first trees to be planted by the Forestry Commission in the a game of of a pinecone, 1920s. Today they tower at over 40 metres high. Keep an ‘Poohsticks’ on the bridge? 0 0.25 0.5 km using twigs for legs? eye out for daredevil red squirrels darting down the tree 0 1/4 mile trunks head-first!
Black Burn Trail Douglas Fir Avenue Trail
A gentle wander through open pinewoods to the Black A perfect combination of beech wood, pine forest and Burn. Plenty of places to rest and picnic. elegant Douglas firs, with some great views across the Moray countryside. Wide, firm and smooth 1 ¼ miles / 1.9 kms North East gravel surface throughout. Uneven gravel and earth 2 miles / Generally flat with some Allow surface with exposed tree 3.4 kms ¾ hr short moderate slopes. roots. Some fairly steep Allow Some parts may be slightly muddy. Includes a quiet slopes and steps. Parts may 1 hrs © Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. road crossing and bridge 1.2m wide. occasionally be muddy.
1. Culbin 4. Quarry Wood * Earth Pillars Forest trails full of interest An ancient woodland site with A short circular walk with magnificent Discover & enjoy… and a towering viewpoint great views views over the river Spey. Below the path look for the remains of red the forests of Moray earth pillars laid down by retreating 2. Roseisle 5. Torrieston glaciers thousands of years ago. Contact details: Gravel Pit Ponds Beach, barbecue and Gentle trails for all the family Culbin forest Moray & Aberdeenshire Forest District historic barricades Lossie Forest * Tel: 0300 067 6380 Coastal forest ideal for cycling, Email: [email protected] Moray Monster Mountain Bike Trails 3. Winding Walks * walking and horse riding. Well-preserved Second World War Dramatic gully, great viewpoints Start from Winding Walks or Ordiequish car parks. Over 30km of mountain bike routes for all levels. Download the defences hidden amongst the trees. For more ideas of great days out in the forest, and tempting pathways Monster Trail leaflet for trail grades and maps from our website. Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/lossie to visit our website:
find out more about them. Follow us on www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Beaches shift, trees grow, and the sun dips in and out for ever-changing views. Whether you’re Explore the miles of waymarked here for the first time or a forest regular, trails or head off for your no two visits are ever the same.
own adventure. The wider H o r s forest tracks are perfect for e - r id gentle cycling or horse riding. in Oystercatcher g i Mountain bikers; get your kicks n Cu on the fabulous Monster Trails. lbin Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rights Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rights © reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. The woods are great for families too; beach and play equipment Look out
at Roseisle, the awesome tower P
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t covering some peace and quiet you’re after, m e of the forests n t it’s easy to find a tranquil spot a t in the area R away from it all. o s e is le Front cover main image: Culbin Forest. Photo by Niall Benvie. Don’t knock the bins! As you travel around Moray you’ll encounter places with ‘knock’ and ‘bin’ in their names. These come from
the Gaelic cnoc ‘hill’ and beinn ‘mountain’, and remind Designed by Forestry and Land Scotland 2019/Edition 5. - D&VP/10K/JTCP/June written by Elspeth Mackay. Photos by Niall Benvie. Text For information on public transport services contact: us of the influence of the Gaels on this part of Scotland. Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or Examples are Bin of Cullen, Knockando ‘market hill’ and www.travelinescotland.com
Portknockie ‘harbour at the hilly place’. © Crown Copyright 2019 Stretching from Nairn to Findhorn Bay, Culbin is a Ice House Trail 1 Culbin big forest. It’s a fantastic place to explore, using the 2 Roseisle No ordinary forest extensive network of gravel tracks. Delight them on the beaches This short path leads you through the forest just in from the shore to a grassy knoll beside the Bessie Burn with The Hill 99 Trail at Wellhill car park is ideal for first time spectacular views to sea. See if you can spot the old ice visitors. Stroll through the forest and mossy glades to reach house along the trail. the Viewpoint Tower with its breath-taking views over waving treetops to the coast. The shorter An undulating, moderately 1 ¼ miles / and gentler Gravel Pit Ponds trail offers an steep track, with some short 2 kms even easier introduction to Culbin. fairly steep sections. Allow Generally loose and sandy, ¾ hr Culbin has fascinating wildlife and an even more or earthy paths which can be fascinating history to discover. Pick up our Culbin muddy after rain. Uneven sections with exposed tree roots. leaflet or visit www.culbin.org.uk for the full story. Hill 99 Viewpoint Tower This coastal pinewood has everything for a perfect family day out: a long sandy beach, sheltered woodland trails, …lying on play equipment, simple barbecue facilities and easily Millie Bothy Trail your back accessible toilets.* A stroll through this lovely coastal pine forest, taking in an Gravel Pit Ponds Trail and gazing The sweet-smelling pinewoods here are a great place for old fishermen’s bothy and the sparkling Millie Burn. up at the sky a sheltered walk or cycle. Planted in the 1930s, these woods A gentle wander through pretty pine and birch A loose sandy or earthy 1 ½ miles / through the trees? are now teeming with life. Look out for red squirrels and woodland, and around the Gravel Pit Ponds. uneven path. Generally 2.6 kms distinctive crested tits. Firm and smooth gravel 1 mile / gentle to moderately steep, Allow 99 with some short fairly steep 1 ¼ hrs surface. Generally flat with 1.8 km 0 0.25 0.5 km Stretch your legs along the beach, and keep an eye open for seals bobbing in the bay and the plunging dives of bright slopes. One long flight of gentle slopes and some Allow Hill 99 0 1/8 1/4 mile short moderate sections. ½ hr Viewpoint white gannets. You’ll come across concrete blocks along the steep, uneven log steps. Wet and muddy after rain. shoreline: part of Britain’s defences in the Second World War. No obstacles. Tower Today, they’re excellent defence against the wind! 44 *the toilets are open from the start of April to the end of October Wildlife Trail Gravel Pit 62 Hill 99 Trail 45 Ponds A great circuit that takes in forest and foreshore, with a chance to spot seals, red squirrels and woodland birds. Wind through the pine-covered sand dunes to the 40 viewing tower on Hill 99 for a ‘squirrel’s eye’ view over 41 A narrow loose and sandy or 2 ½ miles / the forest and across the Moray Firth. earthy uneven surface. Can 4.2 kms 43 Wellhill be wet after rain. Generally Allow Largely wide, firm 3 ½ miles / 39 car park gentle to moderately steep, 1 ¾ hrs and smooth gravel 5.7 km Dragon y with short fairly steep slopes. and sandy surface. Allow Pool 42 One narrow bridge. Generally flat with 2 hrs some long moderate 0 0.25 0.5 km © Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rights slopes and short steep sections. Includes some steps © Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rights You can also follow the woodland paths through to Burghead or 0 1/4 mile reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. up to the viewing platform. A96 61 College of Roseisle. These paths are managed by Moray Council.
Wander the Winding Walks, follow a forest trail or test 0 0.25 0.5 km 3 Winding Walks yourself on the Moray Monster mountain bike routes. 0 1/4 1/2 mile Moray Monster Trails Ways to unwind At the heart of these woods lies a dramatic, steep-sided Over 30km of mountain gully, carved out over the years by a surprisingly small burn. The rugged paths which criss-cross the burn are the bike routes for all levels. original Winding Walks, laid out in the 19th century by the Winding Walks The fun starts either side car park Duke and Duchess of Gordon. of Fochabers at Winding This woodland was once part of Winding Walks or Ordiequish. their estate, connecting to Gordon Walks Don’t miss the pump Castle. At the top of Whiteash Hill track and skills loops at there is a monument in memory Winding Walks. Visit our of the Duchess – and a great website to download the view too. A little way down the Monster Trail leaflet for Longhowe Loch hill, Ranald’s Grave marks the trail grades and maps. spot where a rather less fortunate local lived and died. Duchess of Richmond Monument Peeps View Trail Secret Loch Way A short loop through the forest to the gazebo tucked among the pines at Peeps Viewpoint. Enjoy impressive Wander through the pinewoods to find secluded Longhowe views over Fochabers and Strath Spey. Loch, a former curling pond that is a great place to picnic. Wide, uneven gravel and 1 ½ miles / Wide, firm but uneven gravel 1 ¾ miles / earth surface. Some 2.3 kms and grassy surface. Some 3 kms exposed tree roots and Allow exposed tree roots. Long Allow potentially muddy 1 hr moderate slopes for 500m 1 hr patches. Long moderate with fairly steep sections. slopes with some fairly steep sections. Includes short flight of steps up to viewpoint.
© Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rights Monument Trail reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242].
Small Burn Loop Climb through the forest to the noble cairn erected on Whiteash Hill in memory of the Duchess of Richmond. Skirt around the towering firs, pines and cypresses of There are wonderful views across the Moray Firth. …looking the 19th century woodland garden along Small Burn. Uneven gravel surface with 3 miles / for different Mostly wide, firm but 1 ½ miles / slightly rocky, grassy and 4.9 kms coloured uneven gravel surface. 2.4 kms muddy parts. Long moderate Allow natural things to Long moderate slopes Allow slopes for over half a mile 2 hrs make your own for half a mile with 1 hr with some fairly steep sections. rainbow? some steeper parts. Includes some exposed tree roots.