Monday, 29 May 2023
Our Forest Drives are once again open for vehicle access. These facilities are a great way to get into the forest and see some stunning sights from ac...
Looking after Scotland's national forests and land
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Learning and resources
There’s so much to learn about the world around us. Dig into our learning resources to discover more about Scotland’s natural heritage and the work we do to preserve it.
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Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Summer is a great time to get out and explore Scotland’s best natural spaces. We recently conducted a survey* asking Scottish people if they partic...
Thursday, 18 May 2023
Work on the Glentress Masterplan has been well underway for several months now and we're starting to see some real progress. 16km of new trails are be...
Wednesday, 10 May 2023
If you go out to the more open areas of Scotland’s national forests and land, especially places with deep heather and old fence lines, you may see s...
Visit
Glentress Masterplan: Frequently Asked Questions
Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Visitors will see many changes at Glentress as part of the Masterplan development. If you have any questions about the work, you can email them to our South Region office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloak881dbc9e08689c690e4233f7612ca4b5').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 't...
Walking in Tay Forest Park
Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Towering trees and spectacular views The trails through Tay Forest Park are wonderfully varied and a joy to explore at any time of the year. With soaring trees and a rich mix of woodland species, there’s plenty of wildlife to spot. And the autumn colours here are particularly breath-taking. Wander through some wonderful woods For gentle rambles for all the family, choose Faskally, the foreste...
Car parking
Monday, 26 April 2021
We have over 300 car parks. We charge for parking at some of these car parks to help maintain our facilities and look after the forests and wildlife. Blue badge holders park free at all our car parks. You can find out more by reading our Charge Parking terms and conditions (PDF). Car Parking Frequently Asked Questions: What does parking cost? You can find out if parking charges ap...
Wildlife in Argyll Forest Park
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Wildlife is everywhere. Red squirrels scrabble their way across the branches, and pine marten lurk in the darkness of the forest. Crossbills crack pine cones in the tree tops. Over the moorland hen harriers glide softly, hunting for prey, and black grouse chortle. If you’re very lucky you might spot a golden eagle high in the sky, but buzzards are more common! Here are some of our top wildlife ...
Phytophthora ramorum
Friday, 25 September 2020
Phytophthora ramorum is a tree disease that affects larch trees. It has been prevalent in south west Scotland for many years with sporadic outbreaks elsewhere in the country. It can’t be eradicated. The only way to slow the rate of spread is to fell the infected trees and those surrounding them. Felling operations and site closures are ongoing in order to remove affected trees and reduce the ri...
Walking in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Whether you’re looking for a gentle stroll through peaceful woods or a stiff climb to a thrilling summit, you’re spoilt for choice at Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Fun for the family There are family-friendly trails from The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, including a magical meander to a waterfall and wildlife hide. Follow the Three Lochs Forest Drive to lovely Loch Drunkie for easy and scenic ...
Forests for everyone
Tuesday, 11 June 2019
Breathing in fresh air, surrounding yourself with stunning natural beauty and keeping an eye out for your favourite wildlife can be a great way to recharge your batteries. Whether you use a wheelchair, push a buggy, or even if you thought your exploring days were behind you, we think our forests will have a trail for you. Our accessible forests Our all-abilities trails are wide, generally have...
Cycling in Argyll Forest Park
Wednesday, 09 December 2015
Other forests offer routes full of artificial ups and downs. In Argyll, the thrills are all natural. The forest park is one of the best areas in the country for real cross-country biking and cycling, with exciting trails and fabulous views. Here are some of our favourites to start you off: At Glenbranter try wetting your wheels in a ford, or follow another long ride around Loch Eck. ...
Explore Kirroughtree
Monday, 01 April 2019
Wild Watch There's plenty of wildlife in the woods around Kirroughtree, especially if you sit quietly and see what comes to see you. And you don't have to go far to see it - scamper along to the Wild Watch Hide to spot red squirrels, and watch out for roe deer amongst the trees along the way. Look out for chaffinches, coal tits, great tits and blue tits on the bird feeders at the hide. If you're ...
Cycling in Glenmore Forest Park
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Glenmore has some great choices for cycling. You can ride here all the way from Aviemore along the Old Logging Way, a traffic-free route that follows the journey taken by thousands of tons of timber down the glen. It’s a well-made, firm trail with mostly gentle slopes. Stop off at Loch Morlich for a picnic on the way. The Lodge Trail (from Allt Mor) and the lower section of the Ryvoan Trail (fr...
Summer in the forest
Monday, 19 June 2017
The evenings are longer, the sun even makes an occasional appearance and the smell of barbecue is in the air - it must be summer! Make the most of the good weather with our round up of activities and ideas. Budget-friendly fun for the family Summer doesn't need to be expensive with these child friendly activities. Holiday activities on a budget Cool off in the loch (or sea!) ...
Wildlife in Glenmore Forest Park
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Important habitats The Cairngorms National Park has some of the best wildlife habitats in Britain – and they’re big! Glenmore Forest Park is part of the largest area of native woodland in Britain, a huge area of forest that circles the mountains. Heather covers the ground beside many of the trails, making a gorgeous purple carpet in late summer and autumn. Wee birds like Scottish crossbill a...
Heritage in Argyll Forest Park
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Argyll Forest Park has a special place in the history of Scottish forestry. The Forestry Commission took on its first tract of land in Scotland when it leased part of Glenbranter in 1921. At the time, the estate laird was Sir Harry Lauder, one of Britain’s most popular entertainers. In the village cemetery there’s a poignant memorial to Sir Harry’s son, who was killed in the First World War...
Heritage in Glenmore Forest Park
Wednesday, 08 July 2015
Kompani Linge During World War Two, Norwegian resistance fighters trained in the Glenmore area as part of the top-secret SOE (Special Operations Executive), becoming known as Kompani Linge. More about Kompani Linge Drain pipes and men o’war Timber was big business in the 1700s. The magnificent trees of the Cairngorms forests were in demand as cities grew and new industries flourished. ...