Seasonal Highlights Our Top Three Things to Try Wildlife

the sleeping iant hiddendeep within this wood. incredibl vie w over Loch MigdalendRock, the trails throu gh pine and oak woods. Wonder at the peopl and the nvironm ent over millennia.Explore today are the result of the deeprelationship b etween with wildlif e andsteepdinhistory. Thes woods Set amongstbeautiful highla nd scenryit is eeming t Scotland’s largest andmostspectculr propertis. Ledmore andMigdlisonof Woodland Trust John MacPh erson/WTML to encounter in this wood. sighting of a butterﬂy, there isalways something leaves, to the colours of lichenand the chanc From the chatter of birds and e rustlin thg of Natural wonders Spinningdale millndbeyond to the DornochFirth. though the trees a to wonderful view over the old this slightly longer walk takes youonandventure One of the mostnorthrlyoakwoods in the UK, Spinningdale view the shore , or from the bnchhighr up the hill. The loch view isamust-see for ev ery visitor - from Loch Migdale Our top three things to try the northbringsnow. for fungi pushin through b efore icy winds from of the aspnndok. As the leaf litter grows look As summer retreats enjoy th e red andgoldleav es Autumn and winter spring. There issomthingspcialbout apinewood in aromas of th e woods shift subtly as the dayspass. tasty blaeberrismrge. Take adeepbreath, the the seasonpro gresss, orchids together with day will tease pinconopn with acrack. As and immerse yourself inbird song. A warm spring Get up with sunrise for a wander in th e woods Spring andsummer Seasonal highlihts

Eleanor G arty/WTPL

John MacPhearson/WTML y Speckld Wood John Bridges/WTML Red Squirrel John Bridges/WTML autumn 2019. the woodland in reintroduced to squirrels are bing absenc, r ed After along in the year. fungi emrge la ter summer, elaborate the air in the warm sunn y daysofg and sprin Dragonflies, damslflies andbutterflis patrol Redstarts nd tree pipitsarriv e inspring. the pin woods alertsyou to a flock of crossbills. of wildlife living here. Their ‘chip chip’ call from Although tricky to spot, th ere isanbundnc Wildlife Peregrine John MacPherson/WTML People and trees Getting here Humans have shaped this landscape for over 4,000 The wood is about one hour’s drive north of Inverness. years. Neolithic cairns, farms and field systems can From the A9, turn west at Clashmore and follow the Ledmore and be seen near the paths shown in this leaflet. Two A949 for five miles to Spinningdale. At Spinningdale, hundred and fifty years ago, these woods, and the turn right onto the minor road signposted for Migdale. area, began to be dramatically altered by ‘Honest After about half a mile, you will find the Torroy car Migdale George’ Dempster, a forward thinking MP. He planted park on your right. many of the older Teeming with wildlife and steeped in history trees in the woods and purchased the Achue surrounding Skibo Ledmore & Estate, as well as LedmoreMigdale & Midgale building the now ruined cotton mill near the shore. Spinningdale Later, the estate Spinningdale A949 A9 was bought by the famous industrialist A949 and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Woodland Trust Scotland became Stay in touch the custodians of Visit woodlandtrust.org.uk to learn more about the work of the Woodland Trust Scotland and how Woodland Trust Scotland continuing tree planting this wood in 1993. with the community. John MacPherson/WTML you can help us protect trees and woodland.

South Inch Business Centre, Perth, Perthshire PH2 8BW 0330 333 3300 woodlandtrust.org.uk

The Woodland Trust is a registered charity in Scotland no. SC038885 and in England and Wales no. 294344. A non-proﬁt making company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 1982873. Registered Oﬃce: Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL. The Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark. 13155 11/18

Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code e ri a l Filmin g /WTML A Elliott a rd Rich FRONT: a cPh e rson/WTML M John WTML/Maurice Walker & Northeastwildlife.co.uk 500m Easy ccess Path/track Torroy Bridge Bench Viewpoint Cairn Parking Explore onof th e mostnorthrly ‘Spinningdale evi w’ walk, or oak woods in the UK on th e take adrive throu gh

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A949 changes by th e hour. Thes rocks Take th e ‘Loch Migdale’ path to take in this fantastic evi w that are hom to ra re ﬂowers found in few other loc ations in the country. Migdale Rock SSSI SAC/ SSSI Oakwood Ledmore A'Chraisg' valley mire inEast Sutherland, rare and valuble hbitat. Itis home to rare pl ants, sedges, Spinningdale Bo g is the only sphagnum mossesand dragonﬂies. Spinningdale SSSI Bog Chambered Red Dog Cairn Dornoch Firth Craftsman BillRoss, who captures have beenhandcrafted by Ardgay Spinningdale something from the landscpe The two benchson A’Chraisg or the wildlife of the wood to inspire the design. Take the time to admire thes

works of art. To A9 To a spectculr panoram cross Scotland. for nd a moorl n e op onto nd a woods e th h g throu loop A during wt e weather. modera te slopes, slippy crosses ac ttle grid. goes through onegate or to the junction, which by taking th e tarred road gate. Both can be a voided and onenrrow kissing t ofsections. On eps st with gra velly and rough Firm, wide, grassy path with abench t the top. slope above Loch Migdal e and with one long steep ofte n modera tely slope d and grav elly surf aces boggy sections. occasional rough and Firm, wide pa th with 1818) areforming landlord and tree enthusiast. Follow in th e footsteps of Ge orge D empster MP (1732 - beyond. breath-ta king vi ew of Spinnin gd ale a nd the DornochExplor eFirth th e a ncient o a kwood and m ake your way out to a r.e th wea path c an be slippy in wet mode rat e slope s. Grassy uneven g rassy p ath with path leading to narrow Firm, wide st eep g rave l during the Scond World War. wood where Canadian Forest ers lived and workAe d there and back walk to th e loch shore, throu gh pine a benchprt-way-up. the hill of 1km/ 0.5m with e l a of d to e g th Mi top Loch one steep slop e above modera tely slope d with and gra vel surf aces oft en boggy sections. occasional rough and Firm, wide pa ths with

g is a A’Chr ’s circuit orge’scircuit e G st e Hon Loch Migdale e l ew a d Vi g Spinnin

Grassy Grassy

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to 1.5hrs Allow up 2.5 miles 4km/ to 1hr Allow up one way 2 miles 3.5km/ to 2.5hrs Allow up 4.5 miles 7km/ to 1hr Allow up one way 1 mile 1.5km/