Borgie Glen

Climb into 'The Unknown' and enjoy views to the mountains of the far north

Borgie Glen takes you to the edge of a vast northern interior of hills, heather moor and thousands of tiny lochans. It's an expansive place, where red deer roam and buzzards circle in the enormous sky. Climb towards The Unknown, an enigmatic sculpture by artist Kenny Hunter, and feel the mystery and grandeur of these so-called 'empty lands'.

Walking trails

Borgie Glen route card (PDF)

Walking

Lonesome Pine Trail

Climb through the pines and get close to the ‘The Unknown’ with a majestic view across the forest to Ben Loyal and Ben Hope.

Loose gravel surface with some uneven and grassy sections. Long steep slopes up to viewpoint.

¾ miles / 1.1 km

Allow ½ hour

More information

The circular route past the lonesome pine is not long, but take your time and admire the views, for they are remarkable. At the top there's a handy picnic bench and Kenny Hunter's eerie sculpture to enjoy.

Activities

Cyclists and horseriders are welcome to explore the forest roads here. The routes are not waymarked so please bring a map and compass and let people know where you are going.

Facilities and access

Walking

Viewpoint

Parking

The nearest toilets and places to eat are in Bettyhill and Tongue, 5 ¾ miles (9.2 km) and 8 ¾ miles (14 km) away respectively.

You might want to wear insect repellent or long sleeves during the summer: there can be a lot of midges and horseflies about.

Car parking information

There is no charge to park in this car park. Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates.

More about parking

Getting here

The entrance to Borgie Glen is 1 mile to the east of the turn-off for Borgie village, on the south side of the A836 between Bettyhill and Tongue. Follow the forest road for ¾ mile (1.2 km) to reach the car park.

Using SatNav?

KW14 7SG is the nearest postcode. It's on the A836 coming from Bettyhill, 3 ½ miles (5.6 km) from the forest entrance.

Public transport

The bus service between Thurso and Tongue stops at Borgie Bridge, a mile (1.6 km) from the forest entrance and 1¾ miles (2.8 km) from the car park. See Traveline Scotland for details.

Get directions