This walk follows a waymarked trail through the forest, leading up through a fine gorge. The return route follows tracks and paths to complete a circuit through the forest.
Forest tracks and paths.
None.
Sutherland's Grove car park.
Park at the Sutherland's Grove forestry walks car park (parking charge); this route is waymarked in blue as the Troll Trail - there are also a couple of shorter waymarked walks. Do not cross the stone bridge at the far end of the parking area, instead beginning the walk by turning left onto the footpath (waymarked in all colours) that begins next to the bridge, following the burn uphill. The path runs through some picturesque woodland with giant Douglas Firs as well as oak, birch, beech and rowan, and there are some pretty waterfalls in the stream alongside.
Soon the stream issues from a small gorge and the fairly rough path runs along the edge giving good views of the tumbling water. A path junction is reached; turn right, following the blue route, to descend steps and cross the bridge over the gorge; it gives great views of the rocky stream bed.
Continue following the path which now climbs gently through the trees. Ignore a path off to the right, instead curving left and eventually reaching a forestry track. Turn left along this.
At the next junction keep left again, following the track downhill. Keep straight ahead to cross a bridge over the burn, then keep ahead again at each of three junctions where tracks lead off to the right.
Shortly before the track emerges at a road turn left on a surfaced path. Look out for a blue waymarker indicating where to leave this and take a narrower path through the trees. Keep straight ahead when this crosses a cycle path, and again across the entrance track to Sutherland's Grove. The path now leads to the riverbank and then heads left along it to return to the start, passing some magnificent fir trees planted in the 1870s.
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