This short and easy walk leads through a former commercial plantation, now run as a community woodland with broadleaf species being planted. It visits two forest lochs and a cascading burn, and is very popular with local dog-walkers.
Easy paths
None to start.
Laide Wood car park.
The car park for Laide Wood is well signed from the A832 south of Laide. Planted by the Forestry Commission from 1963 - 1967, the forest was aquired by a community charity in 2003. Since then a series of paths have been laid out between the original lodgepole pines and the newer native trees. Begin the walk from the far end of the car park where there is a noticeboard and a picnic table.
On a good day the mountains visible include the tent-shaped Beinn Ghobhlach as well as pinnacled An Teallach. Follow the path as it heads downhill through a felled area to pass between two blocks of trees. The path crosses a small bridge and then follows a burn, the banks of which are decked with primroses in the spring. The path then turns to the right, crossing the burn by another bridge near a bench.
Continue, crossing yet another burn, to reach a path junction. Turn left here to begin a short detour loop to visit Loch na Creige, which is reached at an angled path junction by a wildlife hide. Continue ahead here, crossing a footbridge and ignoring a new path off to the left. The trail eventually reaches the burn feeding the loch, with a cascade on the left and a bench overlooking the water to the right.
Retrace your steps to the hide and this time take the left fork. This path winds through the trees for some distance before eventually emerging by Loch na Cathrach Duibhe. Continue along the path until it reaches a t-junction with the main trail. Turn left here.
The route passes more picnic tables and climbs from the loch.The habitat is being improved by the planting of varied species by volunteers; look out for moorhens, mallard or herons using the loch and for woodpeckers and treecreepers amongst the trees. Continue on the main path which eventually leads back up to the car park.
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