Skelbo Forest, near Dornoch

Skelbo is a commercial forest plantation; this waymarked walk around it runs along the edge in places to give more open views towards Ben Bhraggie. The trail has several crude wooden sculptures and tableaux to add to the appeal for children.

Terrain

Waymarked forest path throughout; some steps.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Skelbo Forestry Commission car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 2.5km / 1.5 miles
Time: 1 hour
Ascent: 56m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH779941

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The Skelbo Forestry car park is on a minor road just off the A9 and is signed. The walk itself is well waymarked with green marker posts. Begin from the large pond and follow the signed trail to a junction. Continue straight ahead here.

Stage 2

The path passes some feeders, often busy with coal tits or, more rarely, blue tits. Eventually it reaches a forest track; briefly turn left along this before turning right when the path branches off once more. The trail now descends gently, with a wide zig-zag at one point.

Stage 3

Eventually the route descends a steep flight of steps and crosses the burn on a footbridge. On the far side the walk continues to the right, keeping to the fairly open ground between the burn and a great drystone wall that encloses the pastureland on the left. Pass a squirrel sculpture and ignore a small path off to the right, staying on the main path until it reaches a second bridge.

Stage 4

Cross back over the burn; there is a sculpture of a frog here. The path then climbs back into the forestry, passing a couple more sculptures. When the path leads up to a wide forest track, look to the left to see the outline of an iron-age broch. 2,000 years ago this would have provided a defensive refuge for a family between a double curtain wall, but little remains today; a much better preserved example can be seen just off the A9 between Golspie and Brora to the north. Head straight across the track up another track opposite, and follow this until it almost reaches the minor road at the edge of the forest. Just before this, turn right onto a waymarked path; this leads back to the car park.

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