Explore this experimental forest on a way marked circular that includes sculptures and a giant wooden xylophone. The forest has recently planted native species and is a good place to spot birdlife.
Summary
Woodland paths waymarked but muddy in places. There is a shorter all abilities path here as well.
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1. From the car park go past the information board and go straight on following the red and yellow marker post. This walk follows the yellow markers initially and then the red ones for the final section. The forest was planted in the 1950's by the Forestry Commission with a number of different commercial species many of which failed. The survivors include lodgepole pine, corsican pine, sitka spruce and sycamore. The forest is now owned and managed by the Dunnet Forestry Trust, a local body which is seeking to increase the habitats within the wood and develop different recreational uses.
2. At the first fork keep right and bear left after the forest clearing to eventually pass a picnic table. Keep following the yellow marker posts as the trail meanders through the forest. Only turn onto a different path when a yellow arrow points that way. The other paths are used by people orienteering, horse riders and other walkers.
3. This circuit almost follows the boundary of the wood, taking in the different species and passing a large cleared area at the half way mark. After this the path turns left to head down through the trees, the path then narrows and follows a twisting course with some boardwalk sections over boggy ground.
4. Go straight on at a crossroads with a blue-marked horse trail and you will soon reach a group of totem poles made from reclaimed materials. At the next junction go straight on, you are now following the red marked trail for the remainder of the walk. Pass a carved owl in the trees on the right and then a picnic bench before turning right through denser trees.
5. A large wooden xylophone is soon reached and then a sculpture. After a bridge the path keeps left, keep following the red marker posts until the edge of the forest is reached where you turn left. This final section passes a number of sculptures and eventually returns to the car park at the start of the walk.
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