To the woods

Published:

Walkers take the path through Puck’s Fairy Glen. Photographs courtesy of the Forestry Commission

At David Marshall Lodge, see ospreys on the nest from late March. Photographs courtesy of the Forestry Commission

Looking north to Strathyre and Loch Lubnaig. Photographs courtesy of the Forestry Commission

LOCH Lomond and the Trossachs was the obvious choice for Scotland’s first national park – the area is popular with visitors and close to large centres of population. Moreover, it contains two of Scotland’s finest forest parks, which are managed for public benefit by Forestry Commission Scotland. Together, Argyll and Queen Elizabeth Forest Parks make up much of the area of the national park.

Argyll Forest Park was the very first to be established in Britain, in 1935. It covers much of the Cowal peninsula in the western part of the national park and stretches from Arrochar at the head of Loch Long to Holy Loch, near Dunoon, in the south.

A combination of rugged hills, lush forests and long finger-like lochs attracts people looking to escape from urban life to a wilder world of fresh air and tranquillity. Although a working forest, the commission carefully balances the interests of recreational users, wildlife and timber production, so there are plenty of places to walk, cycle or just take in the view.

Ardgartan Visitor Centre provides a gateway to Argyll Forest Park – here you can see some of the most dramatic scenery and find out about places to go. The Arrochar Alps soar invitingly above the picnic site and can easily be accessed by a new path the commission has built up the Cobbler. Shorter strolls meander beside the River Croe and Loch Long, while mountain-bike routes include the ambitious Ardgartan Peninsula circuit.

Farther south, stop at Glenbranter Forest, three miles south of Strachur, to visit Ritual Grove, with magnificent Sitka spruce dating from 1926. They were among the first trees the commission planted in Argyll, having leased some land from Sir Harry Lauder. The Lauder Car Park, named after the famous entertainer, is the starting point for several walking and mountain-bike routes. Bluebells carpet the woods in spring and a red squirrel watching hide lets you get close to the wildlife.

The west shore of Loch Eck offers a long, scenic excursion on foot or bike from Glenbranter to Benmore through varied woodland. The Younger family gave Benmore Estate to the nation in 1928 and the commission has since developed the existing paths through the mature woodland. The most popular of these is Puck’s Glen Walk, which has a magic feel with waterfalls, ferns, mossy boulders and giant trees.

The commission created Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in 1953 to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The forest park drew together the national forests between the east shore of Loch Lomond and Strathyre in the north, including Achray Forest, which covers much of the Trossachs.

David Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre lies at the heart of the forest park and is the best place to start your visit. Situated just north of Aberfoyle, it has a cafeteria, forest shop with maps and guides, and an audiovisual room with CCTV coverage of ospreys and other birds that nest nearby.

Picnic tables outside the visitor centre have glorious views and there is an adventure playground to keep the children happy. Alternatively, you could take to the trees on the award-winning Go Ape high-wire course. Several waymarked walks start here and there is a link to National Cycle Route 7. If you do nothing else, take in the natural beauty of Achray Forest on the short Waterfall Walk.

Following National Cycle Route 7 northwards takes you along a scenic off-road track beside Loch Lubnaig to Strathyre. Here, the commission has waymarked short family walks from an attractive car park and picnic site at the south end of the village. If you’re a hillwalker, you’ll find excellent paths giving access through Strathyre Forest to Beinn an t-Sidhein and – at the south end of Loch Lubnaig – to Ben Ledi, one of the finest hills in the national park.

For something completely different, try the cycle sculpture trail that is opening in Loch Ard Forest, near Aberfoyle, at the end of March. The sculptures reflect the wildlife you could see from the trail if you’re lucky, such as golden eagle, osprey, roe deer and red squirrel.

To see an area especially rich in animal and plant life, visit the East Loch Lomond Woodland, to the north of Balmaha. There is an ancient feel to these oakwoods, where the trees were managed over centuries to produce charcoal, tannin and timber. The West Highland Way long-distance footpath runs along the shore, but there are also picnic sites and shorter woodland walks that give fine views over the loch.

From Easter onwards, there is a varied programme of events in the forests of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Pick up the leaflet, 2008 Events Queen Elizabeth and Argyll Forest Parks, at David Marshall Lodge, or download it from www.forestry.gov.uk, where you will also find details of places to visit and routes to follow.