Beannaichte is Mallaichte Overview of destinations Other places of interest Welcome to the Anns an t-seann aimsir, bhiodh na Gàidheil a’ samhlachadh daoine ri craobhan, le cuid dhiubh 1 Little Garve to Silverbridge ‘beannaichte’ agus feadhainn eile ‘mallaichte’. Slattadale & Victoria Falls Grid ref: NH 395 630 forests of Ross Coimhead airson na craoibh-chrithinn a tha ‘mallaichte’. Grid ref: NG 888 719 Tha a duilleagan air chrith fad na h-ùine (an rud a thug a Peaceful riverside trail with historic Soak up magnificent Highland scenery h-ainm dhi). Thathar ag ràdh gur e as coireach ri sin gur ann à bridges. (Silverbridge toilets open all year). from Slattadale pinewoods, with its pockets and Cromarty fiodh na craoibhe seo a chaidh crann-ceusaidh Chrìosd a thogail. View along the ‘Cat’s Back’, Knockfarrel, Blackmuir Wood Slioch, overlooking Loch Maree, Slattadale of ancient oak and birch woodland. Don’t miss 22 Rogie Falls | Grid ref: NH 442 585 the impressive falls, named after Queen Victoria who visited in 1877. Both have stunning views Impressive waterfalls and the chance of A Sunday stroll? An all-day adventure? of Loch Maree and Slioch mountain. Find the trail that’s right for you... seeing leaping salmon. (Toilets open Apr - Oct). Lael Forest Garden Starting in the west, follow the 33 Contin | Grid ref: NH 454 566 Grid ref: NH 195 806 famous Blackwater river to take Great views west down Strathconon. Explore this unique collection in historic bridges at Silverbridge (Toilets open Apr - Oct). of trees from all over the world, and Little Garve, leaping salmon part of the National Tree Collections of Scotland. at Rogie Falls and great views near Contin. 44 Blackmuir Wood | Grid ref: NH 477 574 | Grid ref: NH 426 563 Step back in time as you head east, A geological maze and a ridge Loch Achilty with a geological labyrinth and an walk to an Iron Age fort. Pause for a picnic and to admire the view Iron Age fort at Blackmuir, and Rogie Falls suspension bridge of the loch from this quiet glade amongst birch a survivor from Scotland’s earliest 55 Monadh Mòr | Grid ref: NH 579 526 and alder trees. woodlands at Monadh Mòr. Unique restored bog woodland habitat. Further north, there are three lovely Munlochy Clootie Well trails near Tain. Explore the ancient Grid ref: NH 639 536 Victoria Falls 66 Strathrory to Scotsburn drove road between Strathrory and Feeling under the weather? Time to visit the Scotsburn, meander by the Aldie Drove Road | Grid ref: NH 667 778 Clootie Well! In a ritual dating back more than 1500 Burn, and take in breathtaking Hoof it along this ancient drovers’ route! years, dip your cloth or ‘cloot’* into the waters of views from Tain Hill. Aldie Burn the well, offer up a prayer and tie the cloth to a tree. As the cloth rots away, so the illness will leave 77 Aldie Burn | Grid ref: NH 758 779 your body. Alternatively, you’re bound to feel better Easy trails past wildlife ponds after walking one of the short woodland trails here. and a pretty burn. * If you do add your own cloot, please consider the environment Alphabet Forest and ensure the material you use is bio-degradable. Thank you. 88 Tain Hill | Grid ref: NH 752 812 Did you know that the Gaels named the eighteen letters of Spectacular views over the Dornoch Firth. Learnie Red Rock their alphabet after eighteen trees MTB Trails | Grid ref: NH 736 614 and shrubs? Letter ‘b’ was named Mountain bikers of all levels will revel in beithe after birch tree, and ‘f’ was named feàrna, the singletrack Red Rock Trails at Learnie. the alder. See if you can find these ‘alphabetical’ species as you wander through the woods of Ross and Cromarty.
7 Aldie Burn These well-loved woodland trails are full of interest: Tain Hill Slow burn wildlife ponds, the attractive Aldie Burn and gnarled 8 A rock with a view Scots pine trees. Paths are level, well-marked and Contact 1 Forestry Commission Scotland suitable for pushchair and wheelchair use. Explore The forests of North Highland Forest District, The Links, Golspie The gently flowing Aldie Burn Business Park, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6UB Enjoy used to power corn and woollen Tel: 0300 067 6841 and mills further downstream at Ross and Email: [email protected] Discover Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Aldie. These days, things are more relaxed. Bring a picnic and enjoy Contact 2 Inverness, Ross & Skye Forest District Cromarty a lazy summer’s day ‘ploutering’ in Tel: 0300 067 6100 the shallows. If you’re very lucky, Follow us on: Email: [email protected] you just might spot an otter. Public enquiry line: 0845 3673787 Bridge over Aldie Burn Pond Trail: Trail Pulpit Rock Trail: Explore Trail ¾ mile / 1.4 km 1 mile / 1.8 km further: Allow ½ hour Pulpit Rock info Allow ¾ hour Look out for info these other Aldie Burn Trail: leaflets 1 ¾ miles / 2.8 km Breathtaking views from the top of Tain Hill in the Allow 1 hour above the historic Royal Burgh town of Tain. surrounding area The circular trail takes you through mixed pine woodland, where pine martens have been seen and then up to the summit of Tain Hill. From Pulpit Rock, Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights
© reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. the highest point, there are panoramic views across the Dornoch Firth to Tarbet Ness, and south over the 1 Forests of the Far North guide Covering our fantastic forests in Cromarty Firth. the north of Scotland. 2 Inverness guide Explore these 6 fabulous forests Between the hill and Tarbet Ness, to the east of Tain, is Morrich More, a significant within 15 miles of the city. and valuable area of sand-flats, dunes and salt marsh, used by the RAF as a weapons testing range. Its name derives from the Gaelic Moraich Mhòr, ‘large sea-plain’. If you need this publication in an alternative format, for example, in large print or in another language, please contact: The Diversity Team Tel: 0300 067 5000 E-mail: [email protected] Designed by Design & Interpretive Services, Forestry Commission Scotland - D&IS/5K/21 Colour/July 2017/Edition 4. Phil Downie, CMC Associates. Photography by Forestry Commission Picture Library, written by Elspeth Mackay, Text Brian Duff and Liz Whiteford. Front cover image: Rogie Falls by Paul Hibberd. Colin Leslie, Graeme Findlay,
For information on public transport services contact: Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or www.travelinescotland.com © Crown Copyright 2017 1 Little Garve - Silverbridge 2 Rogie Falls Contin A tale of two bridges Home and dry 3 Kings of the forest
The Blackwater river is known in Gaelic as An t-Alltan Dubh (‘the black burn’) and is the subject of a famous hunting song written by Donald Fraser, the ‘Fannich Bard’. Silverbridge
This attractive, circular riverside walk is topped and tailed by two historic bridges. A peaceful, level path through mixed woodland with ever- changing river views. Rogie Falls As you stroll by the Blackwater river, you’re walking in the footsteps of soldiers – and cows! Silverbridge is part Oak & birch woodland of an ancient route used by drovers herding their cattle Enjoy these waterfalls up to Muir of Ord and the markets to the south. The high- close from the suspension There’s something for everyone in the oak arched bridge at Little Garve was part of a military road bridge – particularly Trail Salmon Trail: and birch woodland to the west of Contin. which was built between Contin and the west coast at impressive after heavy ½ mile / 0.7 km info Allow 20 minutes A short, flat, easy trail loops from the car park, Poolewe around 250 years ago. It’s known as Wade’s rainfall! A network while the more energetic can enjoy great views up Bridge, but it was of short trails lead to Riverside Trail: Strathconon by following the trail up to the ‘view rock’. actually built by Wade’s viewpoints overlooking ¾ mile / 1.3 km Look west across the glen and you’ll see the hill called Allow ½ hour successor, Major the falls and a dramatic Craigdarroch (Creag an Daraich). This is named for the William Caulfeild. gully as well as more tranquil stretches of river. darach, the oak tree, a species fondly dubbed rìgh na The open woodland of the lower Look out for brown coille, ‘the king of the forest’ by the Gaels. Did you know that Rogie Falls is one of the best places in trout in the pools slopes are home to both red and Scotland to watch salmon as they ‘run’ upstream? From below the bridge. Wade’s Bridge roe deer, and in summer you can see July to October salmon can be spotted leaping up the Trail Blackwater Trail: pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies. ½ mile / 0.7 km waterfalls as they make their way up the river to find This is also a good place to spot frisky Two Bridges Trail: Allow ¼ hour Trail a mate and lay their eggs. The fish are returning to the info 2 miles / 3.3 km native red squirrels. info Allow 1 ½ hours same spot where they themselves were hatched. View Rock Trail: 2 ¾ miles / 4.5 km You can report any sightings at If they look tired, it’s no wonder: the salmon have Allow 2 hours www.redsquirrelsofthehighlands.co.uk travelled huge distances from cold northerly seas to return to their home river. A fish ‘ladder’ gives salmon a helping hand to reach the top of the falls when the river You can discover more about the amazing 4 Blackmuir Wood level is low. Cheer them on – they’re nearly home! life story of the salmon on the red Salmon Trail. A-maze-ing views! 6 Strathrory - Scotsburn Drove Road Stravaig through the strath Explore this unique bog woodland, a rare Pearl-bordered From the outskirts of Strathpeffer, trails lead to fritillary a geological labyrinth,Little Ga rvande - Silver on toBridge an exhilarating 5 Monadh Mòr survivor from the end of the ice age, on a In summer the strath is alive with birds, ridge and Iron AgeScale fort 1:13500 at Knockfarrel. Rare survivor well-marked level trail. butterflies and wildflowers. Listen for the ‘chat! chat!’ of the stonechat and if you’re lucky (and an At the Touchstone Maze over 80 boulders are laid out in a Around 14,000 years ago, as the glaciers retreated they early riser), in spring you might see male black labyrinth, based on ancient designs. The stones represent left ridges and hollows here which gradually filled up grouse gathering at a ‘lek’ to compete for a mate. the range of rocks which make up North Scotland, and with pools of water. On ridges between these boggy areas include 3,000 million-year-old Lewisian gneiss, among the pine and birch trees took root, growing slowly because oldest rock-types in the world. of the poor quality of the soil. Monadh Mòr is the largest Follow the route of this drove road for a Touchstone Maze remaining bog woodland in Scotland. Along the airy ridge known as the Cat’s Back you’ll reach challenging but rewarding wander by the In the 1960s this area was planted with commercial Strathrory river through oak and pinewoods and Red Kite Trail: the site of the fort at Knockfarrel, built around 2,500 Trail across open moorland. You’ll need to organise 1 ¼ miles / 2 km years ago. There are signs of vitrifaction here, where forestry, which made the bog dry out. Recent conservation info Allow ¾ hour stones have fused together because of great heat. is restoring the bog woodland, by removing planted trees transport from the end – or be prepared to walk Archaeologists are still arguing about the cause! and allowing the bog to fill up with water again. Today Touchstone Maze Trail: back to the start. Monadh Mòr is a beautiful woodland, home to a range 2 ¼ miles / 3.6 km Cattle along the drove road Used by drovers herding their cattle to market from of wildllife: darting dragonflies and damselflies, crossbills, Allow 1 ½ hour You may see red kites floating above you the 17th century, the strath has been settled for at and even ospreys. You can carry on along to the end of the Cat’s Back - least 6,000 years. Look out for signs of Bronze Age here, and the views east down the Cromarty Trail The Drovers Trail: 4 ½ miles / 7.4 km (2 miles / 3.3 km, allow 1 hour each way). Please note, Firth and north to Ben Wyvis are spectacular. settlements, an unfinished Iron Age hill fort and the this section is more strenuous and is not waymarked. Monadh Mòr Trail: (each way). Allow 3 ½ hours (each way) Trail info remains of more recently-abandoned croft buildings. Monadh Mòr Trail 4 ¼ miles / 6.9 km info Allow 2 ½ hours
Easy: Bog woodland Easy: Sensible Muscle Trail grading footwear Loosener There’s a lot of boggy country in the Highland landscape, and this is reflected Forestry Commission Scotland Moderate Moderate in the richness of Gaelic vocabulary. Did you know there are almost forty words trails are graded according Waterproof Muscle footwear Stretcher in Gaelic for ‘bog’ or ‘marsh’? Among the most common are mòine, poll, fèith to the degree of difficulty, Strenuous and làpach. And of course, the English word ‘bog’ is itself of Gaelic origin! gradients and type of Strenuous conditions visitors can expect. Hillwalking Muscle boots builder