This circuit visits the Garten pinewoods which are being restored to a natural state by the RSPB. It includes a visit to Loch Garten – famous for its Osprey eyrie– and the more secretive Loch Mallachie. There are waymarked options for shorter walks.
Summary
Forest paths and tracks, mostly excellent but with one boggy section
Terrain
NH952190
Grid ref
9km/5.5 miles
Distance
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Garten woods car park
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1. Park in the Garten Woods car park opposite where the Boat of Garten road joins the B970. There is an information board giving details of shorter waymarked trails in the area; begin the walk by passing this and bearing right – signed for the 'Red Trail'. This winds into the woods and passes under a line of pylons before entering a more attractive section of forest. Soon after, it forks; the left fork is the continuation of the 'Red Trail' and is used on the return; our route is to turn right. Keep quiet as you walk through the woods and you'll have a good chance of hearing and then seeing a red squirrel.
2. Follow the excellent path as it winds deeper into the woods. Most of the trees are Scots pine, and these woods were originally a plantation. However, as part of the vast Abernethy Forest, they are now owned by the RSPB who are restoring the habitat to a more natural state. Vehicle tracks have been removed and the trees thinned out; the boggy floor of the forest on both sides of the path makes an excellent habitat, and the drier sections are dotted with big mounds of pine needles – these are ant's nests. Continue on the track for around a kilometre, looking out for a narrow but clear path going off to the left. It is easily missed; if you reach a sharp right hand bend in the track with a path continuing directly ahead you've too far and should retrace your steps for a hundred metres to find the turn off.
3. The way is now easy to follow as it undulates through the trees before coming alongside Loch Mallachie. Like the better known Loch Garten, this is one of the Speyside forest lochs, which, like the bogs, have become one of Britain's rarer habitats. The loch is beautiful, fringed by pines on three sides and with a view towards the Cairngorm foothills on the fourth.
4. A waymarked trail is reached at a 't-junction'; ignore the green arrow pointing left and turn right instead. Soon the path turns sharp left away from the loch, only to come close to Loch Garten further on. There are glimpses of this through the trees and several small detour paths approach the shores. Continue on the path which eventually reaches a small car park (start of the green waymarked trail). Follow the track up to the tarmac road, and cross this and head up the bank to gain a path running parallel with the road on the far side. At this point you need to decide whether to detour to the right for about 700 metres to visit the Osprey centre; if you are here in the springtime when the birds are nesting, this is a must. After doing this, follow the path along the road to the left.
5. This soon meets the Speyside way; turn left and cross the road here, turning right on the far side to follow another parallel path. This passes a small forest lochan, where a wooden walkway has been constructed so you can get a close view; look out for the dragon and damselflies. Continue along the path until it reaches a wider path leading into the forest; turn left onto this. Follow this path which eventually rejoins the outward route and leads to the car park.
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