Ellan Wood and the river, Carrbridge

Summary

Ellan Wood is a lovely Caledonian pine wood on the fringes of the village of Carrbridge. Partly owned by the Woodland Trust, it offers several short waymarked trails, which can be combined to give the walk described here. The route finishes with a riverside section to the much-photographed packhorse bridge.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Easy walking on woodland paths

Getting there

Start

Ellan Wood car park, Carrbridge.

Public Transport

Carrbridge is served by buses whilst there is a rail station 1 mile away.

Start Grid Ref

NH903227

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 4.5km / 2.75 miles
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours
Ascent: 53m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

The car park is accessed via Station Road in Carrbridge. Look out for a turning on the left signed for Ellan Wood; there is parking and a picnic area just short of the cemetery. Begin the walk on the path which starts just to the left of the information board, signed Main Street via Ellan Wood. Initially the route follows the yellow markers. Turn left at the first junction, and then keep straight on when a short loop of path goes off right. There is a bench up to the right at the next junction, where you should keep left again (sign Main Street). At the next path junction a route comes in from Carrbridge on the left (this is an alternative start, heading between a church and the village hall); turn right here, signed 'Boat of Garten via Carr Plantation Trail' and waymarked in red.

Stage 2

Keep straight on at a crosspaths, and then straight ahead again at a three way fork, signed 'Railway Wood walk' and marked in red. Continue ahead again across the access track for the overflow parking for the Landmark Forest park. The route now passes the Lookout Tower, an impressive structure on your left; it is part of the Landmark attraction and so cannot be accessed. The path continues through the woods; this part is a dense plantation of Scots pine.

Stage 3

The path eventually reaches the main railway line, where you should turn right, signed Railway Wood walk. The path continues beside the railway before eventually bearing right back into the woods; ignore a minor path that keeps left. Red squirrels are plentiful around here; if you are here in the autumn then the fungi can be quite spectacular.

Stage 4

Turn left when the path reaches a t-junction with a bench, signed 'Ellan Wood walk'. Continuing the walk, a 'Glencharnoch Wood' sign indicates when you enter the part of the forest that is owned by the Woodland Trust. The path descends a flight of wooden steps at one point and then turns right at the junction at the bottom.

Stage 5

The path now winds through the trees, eventually descending some more steps and crossing a boardwalk. When a fine tall wooden bench sculpture is reached, turn left as signed 'Glencharnoch Wood' (passing a second tall bench sculpture). The path continues to wind through a beautiful section of pinewood. At the next junction take a right turn, and then at the one surfaced junction after that turn left, then right - signed for Station Road.

Stage 6

When the road is reached go diagonally across (veering left) to meet a path leading off on the far side, signed 'Riverside walk'. A track leads round to the back of some houses; follow it round to the left. As the track approaches a bungalow, a waymarker post indicates a turn to the right. Take this turning and continue to a suspension footbridge over the River Dulnain. On the far side, turn right downstream.

Stage 7

Eventually the path leads to the main road beside the remarkable old packhorse bridge, built in 1717 and still missing its parapets after the terrible floods of 1829 - known as the 'Muckle Spate' and probably the worst ever experienced in Scotland. Turn right to cross the modern road bridge alongside, and then right again to head along Station Road. Eventually the entrance to Ellan Woods is reached on the left and the car park at the start of the walk.

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