Reelig Glen, Moniack

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The short but very popular circular walk - also known as the Tall Trees trail - heads up the Reelig Glen through beautful mixed woodland, boasting some of Britain's tallest trees. Our description also includes a second walk - the Upper Reelig Trail - a waymarked loop through the woods above the glen.

Terrain

Easy woodland paths throughout. The Upper Reelig trail is waymarked (blue posts) but there is a maze of paths which can be confusing.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Reelig Forest walks car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at the Forestry and Land Scotland car park for Reelig Glen - from the A862 west from Inverness take the sign for Moniack Castle, ignore the right turn for the Castle and the car park is just before the bridge. From the car park head south along a wide path upstream alongside the Moniack Burn - signed as the Tall Trees trail. The path continues through Reelig Glen wood, climbing gently at one point. Where there are steps there are also alternatives suitable for some rugged pushchairs - it doesn't matter which fork is taken. You may see dippers and grey wagtails near the burn, and bats at dusk.

Stage 2

The trail eventually reaches a wooden bridge crossing the main burn beside the very attractive older stone arched bridge which was built together with the adjoining grotto in the nineteenth century. The landowner - James Baillie Fraser - intended it to provide work as a famine relief scheme. It became known as the Fairy Glen as each morning the workers found their previous day's work undone.

Stage 3

You will soon reach an impressive stand of Douglas Fir trees, well over 100 years old with an average height of 50 metres. In 2020, one of the trees as measured at 62 metres (204 feet) making it the tallest tree in Britain. After a local competition it was named Dughall Mòr - meaning 'Big Stranger'; an adjoining tree has since been measured as even taller. After this the path climbs high above the river, crossing a footbridge over a tributary.

Stage 4

The path eventually descends back to the burn and continues beside it until meeting a minor road at a bridge. Turn left to cross and head back to the car park at the start of the walk. To begin the second loop walk - the Upper Reelig Trail - take the signed path out of the back of the car park. The path climbs steeply with some steps.

Stage 5

Although waymarked in blue, the upper loop can be hard to follow as there are many variant paths. Keep right at a couple of forks. At a flat area in the trees there's a crosspaths but it's rather unclear - the loop part of the walk begins here (the path on the left is where you return at the end of the loop). Keep straight ahead. The path passes to the right of a tiny log cabin used for community activities (it is kept locked). The path passes to the right of this and eventually reaches a minor road at a track. Turn left here back into the woods, then keep left on the main path at a junction high above Reelig Glen. The path returns to the crosspaths - keep right to retrace your steps back to the car park.

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Reelig Glen, Moniack

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Terrain

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