This waymarked route is a great introduction to the vast plantations of Culbin Forest, visiting a high wooden tower with views over the dunes and the Moray Firth.
Bog Factor
Excellent, waymarked paths and tracks, suitable for all terrain baby buggies.
Wellhill car park (charge), Culbin Forest.
None.
NH997613
At Wellhill car park (parking charge) there are toilets, a stone sculpture and an information board where you can pick up a map. Although the Culbin forest and dune system is large and riddled with tracks, most major junction is numbered so if you do lose the trail it is easy to find your way back. Start by heading up the track next to the information board - there's a path along its left side.
The Hill 99 trail is waymarked with black markerposts throughout. When a junction is reached keep straight on - ignoring a track off right (signed Sandcliffe) and left. Continue until another signpost indicating a right turn for Gravel-pit Ponds and Hill 99). The ponds are soon reached - they were originally dug to extract the gravel and pebbles that have been driven ashore and burned under the layer of sand. Today they are home to coots and other birds, as well as yellow flag iris and some rare mosses. The path works its way around the first pond with a well placed bench. When it reaches a cross-road turn left, passing the far side of the pond.
At the next junction turn right (junction 41). Keep on the main path, following the waymarkers, as the route undulates over the fir covered dunes. At a crossroads (44) go straight ahead. Bear left at a signed bend to stay on the main path and soon the route starts to climb gently up to Culbin's highest hill. Named Hill 99 by the foresters who planted the trees, the summit is marked by a trig point surrounded by seats. You can get higher and see the view above the tree tops by climbing the wooden tower.
From the top of the tower there is a superb view over the pines - with the long shadow of the tower cast across them on sunny days - to the salt marsh and sand banks that make up the Culbin RSPB nature reserve. View indicators show the hills on the far side of the Moray Firth and also inland towards the Cairngorms.
After enjoying the view, descend the tower and take the path passing the trig point. It winds about - first on the left of the sandy firebreack, then heading off to the right. Continue through the trees until it reaches junction 45. Go straight on here and at the next junction (40) bear right onto a narrower path which emerges at another junction.
The walk continues to the left here, but in the summer it's worth making a detour to the see the dragonfly pool. For the detour, go straight ahead on the path and right at a fork to soon reach the pool where brightly-coloured dragonflies can be seen skimming above the water.
Back on the main route, follow a wide straight track through the pines. Ignore the first junction, then look out for a waymarked turn to the right. This leads to junction 42; turn left here and follow the track through more mixed woodland before a signed right turn leads onto a narrower path. Follow the path as it bears left over the sandy soil to rejoin the main track just near the gate. Turn right here to reach the car park at the start.
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