Balblair Forest is on the hill slopes to the east of the Kyle of Sutherland; this easy forestry circuit offers excellent views across the Kyle to Carbisdale Castle and down the Dornoch Firth.
Summary
Good waymarked forest paths and tracks throughout.
Terrain
Users'
rating
1. At the car park there is an information board for the walk as well as a picnic table; this is the longer of the two waymarked walks and is marked in green. There are also several mountain bike trails through the forest so you need to be careful to follow the correct set of markers. The fine Scots pine trees here, together with the larches and spruces, were planted in 1931. The walk leaves from the bottom end of the car park, following a steep path which climbs up steeply into the trees.
2. A seat is passed with the first views of the Kyle of Sutherland - really the broad lower reaches of the River Oykel. At the fork, keep right, following the green marker posts unless you are taking the very short red walk. The path soon passes an attractive forest lochan which can be visited on a wooden deck. Continue on the path until it reaches a forest track; turn right here.
3. The track runs close the edge of a denser forest of spruces at first; ignore the turning on the left which is a mountain bike route. The track then passes a small quarry and continues to climb gently until it reaches a junction. Follow the main track round to the left here.
4. Continue along the track for almost a kilometre to a fork, turning left once more. The highest section of the walk is soon reached, and a signed branch footpath on the left is a short detour to visit the best viewpoint. The vista from here is extensive on a clear day. Carbisdale Castle is across the Kyle whilst the head of the Dornoch Firth is beyond Bonar Bridge.
Photo © Donald Bain 
5. Return to the track and continue along it, now heading downhill. Ignore another mountain bike track coming in from the left. At a t-junction on the edge of the trees, turn left; there are great views once more from here. Another mountain bike trail soon leaves to the right whilst the shorter walk rejoins from the left. Continue straight ahead, eventually passing through a gate at the top end of the car park.
Photo © Donald
Bain
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