Skelbo is a mix of commercial forest plantation and native woodland. This pleasant and well-waymarked trail around it has several wooden sculptures and tableaux designed by children.
Waymarked forest path throughout; some steps.
None to start.
Skelbo Forest & Land Scotland car park.
The Skelbo car park is well signed, accessed via a minor road just off the A9. The walk itself is well waymarked with green marker posts. There is a large pond here with a picnic table. Ignore the informal path right by the water, instead taking the waymarked trail to the right - from next to the information board. The informal path soon joins from the left - keep ahead here.
Eventually the trail reaches a forest track; briefly turn left along this before turning right again when the path branches off once more. The trail now descends gently, with a wide zig-zag at one point.
Eventually the route descends another wide zig-zag to head down to the burn, which is crossed on a footbridge. On the far side the walk continues to the right, through mostly deciduous woodland. Pass a squirrel sculpture, staying on the main path until it reaches a second bridge.
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. Just before 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. At the track junction turn right and then immediately left onto the waymarked path. This winds through the trees and leads back to the car park.
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