A straightforward and flat circuit of Forfar Loch, often busy with cyclists, runners, dog walkers, and offering the chance to look for birdlife or watch canoeists on the water. Visitor centre with toilets.
Bog Factor
Surfaced path shared with cyclists, tarmac lane, clear path - can be muddy in part in winter.
Forfar Loch Country park.
Bus to Forfar.
NO450506
There is parking outside the visitor centre at Forfar Loch Country Park. The Centre is open in the afternoons and has displays on the history and wildlife of the Park. Take the signed path opposite, passing the left side of a playground, to reach the shores of the loch, then turn left on the lochside path. The water is a haven for migrating wildfowl in the winter months, although swans, geese, coots, ducks, moorhens and herons can be seen all year round. The path soon passes a football pitch, a cricket pitch and a rugby ground and beyond that a training pitch. On the opposite side the sailing club can be seen. When the path forks, keep right to stay close to the water.
The path heads through a patch of dense trees, crosses a small bridge and eventually reaches the head of the loch. The loch used to be a lot larger, but was partly drained in the mid 18th century and is now 1.5 km shorter and 5 metres shallower than it once was. Turn right to cross a bridge over the inflow and then take the surfaced path on the right, which follows a winding course.
Further on, the path joins a tarred lane as it heads down the far side of the Loch. Occasional vehicles do use this track so take care. The numbered areas relate to fishing spots - the loch is used by fly fishermen to catch brown trout and pike. The water is on the long road to recovery from years of industrial pollution and while fish stocks are improving, local anglers report that the eating qualities of any fish caught is pretty poor. Just before the sailing club is reached you can fork right to reach a picnic area and then up towards the sailing club building. Turn left to regain the main track and continue around the loch.
Eventually a monument to the Forfar Witches is seen on the left. The Forfar Witch trials were a part of a witch hunt hysteria that gripped Scotland in the 1660s; over 40 were tried and 22 publically executed - mostly by strangling, then the bodies were burnt in barrels of tar. The incident is thought to have begun after a women was allegedly rude to a public official. Fork right opposite the monument onto a path, passing a viewing platform over the water. Just a little way further along take the narrower path on the right again to remain close to the water. When the path emerges from the shrubs head across to the corner of the old leisure centre and pass in front of this building to return to the visitor centre at the start.
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