the blue grade route not far from here at Ordiequish.

which start at the car park. For an easier trail, try

here! Gear up for two of the Monster Trails
builder Stretcher Loosener Mountain bikers – the Monster Trails start
Muscle Muscle Muscle
Strenuous Moderate Easy:
boots footwear footwear Allow 2 hours
Hillwalking Waterproof Sensible 4.8 km / 3 miles
Strenuous Moderate Easy:
Allow 1 hour 20 minutes
degree of difficulty, gradients and type of conditions visitors can expect. 3 km / 1.8 miles
Forestry Commission Scotland trails are graded according to the
Allow 1 hour
Trail Grading 2.4 km / 1.5 miles
info
Allow 1 hour
2.4 km / 1.5 miles
Trail
the Duchess – and a great view too.
At the top of Whiteash Hill is a monument in memory of
of their garden and they planted many specimen trees.
the Duke and Duchess of Gordon. This woodland was part
The paths were originally laid out in the 19th century by
burn before rejoining the waymarked red route.
close on one of the rugged paths which criss-cross the
burn. For an adventurous variation, explore the gully up
gully, carved out over the years by a surprisingly small
At the heart of these woods lies a dramatic, steep-sided
Walks waymarked and informal routes.
Winding
Wander freely through this lovely woodland on
Longhowe Loch
Key to all maps
Discover
and
Enjoy

Moray
Explore The forests of your own rainbow?
things to make
coloured natural Ways to unwind
for different
…looking
try... 5 Winding Walks
not
North East Why
1 Culbin 4 Torrieston * Earth Pillars North East
Forest trails full of interest, tower A short circular walk with
Welcome to the Peaceful trails for all the family
viewpoint and coastal walks magnificent views over the river
Spey. Below the path look for
forests of Moray 5 Winding Walks the remains of red earth pillars Contact Forestry Commission Scotland
2 Roseisle laid down by retreating glaciers Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District,
Dramatic gully, great viewpoints thousands of years ago.
Barbecues, beaches, Portsoy Road, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4SJ
and tempting pathways
and historic barricades Tel: 01466 794161
* Lossie Forest Follow us on: Email: moray&aberdeenshire@[Link]
* Moray Monster Mountain Bike Trails Coastal forest ideal for cycling, Web: [Link]/scotland
3 Quarrelwood walking and horse riding.
Over 30km of mountain bike routes for all levels. The fun
Public enquiry line: 0845 3673787
Site of ancient ceremonies and starts either side of Fochabers at Winding Walks or Ordiequish. Well-preserved Second World War
reptile fossils Download the Monster Trail leaflet for trail grades and maps: defences hidden amongst the trees. Enjoyed
[Link]/moraymonstertrails Visit [Link]/lossie to Moray?
Beaches shift, trees grow, and the sun dips in and find out more about them. Look out for
Culbin forest these other
out for ever-changing views. Whether you’re Forestry
here for the first time or a forest regular, Commission 2
Moray’s forests offer a Scotland
no two visits are ever the same. leaflets and
pretty special mixture... explore
further... 1
The woods are great for families, with beach
and play equipment at Roseisle, tower viewpoint Oystercatcher
at Culbin, and easy walking at Torrieston. But if it’s
peace and quiet you’re after, it’s easy to find a tranquil 1 Aberdeenshire guidemap
spot away from it all. From Bennachie to The Bin,
discover Aberdeenshire with
Explore the past at Quarrelwood, home of prehistoric reptiles our comprehensive guide
and an ancient henge, or for some period drama, walk in the 2 Inverness guidemap
footsteps of a Duke and Duchess at Winding Walks. Explore these 6 fabulous forests
within 15 miles of the city
Miles of waymarked trails, popular with dog walkers,
Available from various Tourist Information Points
meander through Moray’s forests – or head off for your own
throughout the area
forest adventure on one of the smaller paths. The level tracks
are also perfect for leisure cycling or riding. Mountain bikers;
If you need this publication in an
get your kicks on the 30km of fabulous Monster Trails.
alternative format, for example, in
large print or in another language,
please contact:­
Don’t knock the bins!
The Diversity Team
As you travel around Moray you’ll encounter places
Tel: 0131 314 6575
with ‘knock’ and ‘bin’ in their names. These come from
E-mail: diversity@[Link]
the Gaelic cnoc ‘hill’ and beinn ‘mountain’, and remind

Designed by Design & Interpretive Services, Forestry Commission Scotland - D&[Link] [Link] 1.
Text written by CMC Associates. Photographs by Forestry Commission Picture Library, Culbin photographs by Andrew Dowsett.
Front cover photo; white trail, Torrieston.
us of the influence of the Gaels on this part of Scotland.
For information on public transport services contact:
Examples are Bin of Cullen, The Bin (Huntly), Knockando Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or
‘market hill’ and Portknockie ‘harbour at the hilly place’. [Link]
© Crown Copyright 2012
 1 Culbin 2 Roseisle
No ordinary forest Delight them on the beaches

Hill 99 trail This coastal pinewood has everything

Hill 99
Viewpoint Tower Trail 5.3 km / 3.2 miles
for a perfect family day out: a long
info Allow 2 hours sandy beach, sheltered woodland
Culbin offers visitors an unforgettable trails, play and barbecue equipment,
experience. Cycle, walk or ride the extensive toilets, and a wildlife hide.
woodland trails, watch wading birds at the
In wild weather, the sweet-smelling
Gut mudflats and enjoy the fabulous beach
pinewoods are a great place for a sheltered
by Buckie Loch.
walk or cycle. Planted in the 1930s, these
The Hill 99 Viewpoint Trail is ideal for first time visitors. woods are now teeming with life. Don’t miss
Play equipment near the car park
Stroll through the forest and mossy glades to reach the wildlife hide, where you can watch a
the Viewpoint Tower and its breathtaking range of woodland birds feeding up close.
‘squirrel’s-eye’ views over waving treetops.
Stretch your legs along the beach, and keep an eye open
A dynamic landscape, the coast is always for seals bobbing in the bay. You’ll come across concrete
shifting and reforming. Who knows what blocks along the shoreline: part of Britain’s defences in the
you’ll see next time you visit? Pick up our Second World War. Today, many of the blocks have moved
Culbin leaflet for full details, or visit from their original position, thanks to the shifting sands,
[Link] but they’re still excellent defence against the wind!

Why Trail 1.9 km / 1.3 miles

not info
Allow 30 minutes

try... …lying on 3.8 km / 2.6 miles

Allow 1 hour
your back and
gazing up at 2.5 km / 1.6 miles
Allow 40 minutes
the sky through
the trees? You can continue on from the green trail to link
through to Burghead and College of Roseisle.
These trails are managed by Burghead Footpaths
Group. Distances below are for one way:

Burghead: 2.9 km / 1.8 miles

College of Roseisle: 2.5 km / 1.5 miles

3 Quarrelwood
Elginia trail

4 Torrieston
Trail 4 km / 2.5 miles Why
Sands of time info Allow 1 hour 30 minutes not
Ancestors trail
try... …making a It’s trailtastic!
mosaic picture
4 km / 2.5 miles on the beach, using
Allow 1 hour 30 minutes
the beautiful round
Spynie trail beach pebbles?
1.6 km / 1 mile
Allow 30 minutes

Why
not …playing a game of
try... ‘Poohsticks’ on the bridge?

From Torrieston car park, great trails invite you to

explore this peaceful mixed woodland.
The giant Douglas firs here were among the first trees to
Uncover the secrets of Quarrelwood: an ancient be planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s and
henge, prehistoric reptiles and great views. today are more than 40 metres tall. Keep an eye out for
Explore these and more on trails and informal daredevil red squirrels darting down these tree trunks
paths through pines and native oakwood. head-first!

As you wander through pine and larch, you’ll come Over the road, the gentle all-abilities trail is a lovely loop
across disused sandstone quarries. Remarkable fossils for the whole family, through open pinewoods with picnic
have been found here of reptiles who lived in the tables and benches. Linger by the Black Burn where salmon
desert sands of 250 million years ago, well before the and otters have been seen in the treacle-black waters.
dinosaurs. One creature, Elginia, was about the size of a If there’s a whiff of the tropics in the air, then you’ll soon
labrador, with around 40 knobbly horns. see the coconut-scented yellow flowers of gorse, also
The ancient oakwood on the south side of the hill is an known as whin. The old saying goes: ‘Kissing’s in season
easy stroll from Elgin. If you’re quiet, you might spot roe when gorse is in bloom’. As gorse flowers all year round,
deer as well as woodland birds. From here it’s not far it’s time to get lucky!

Why
to the banks and ditches of a 4,000-year-old henge,
perhaps used for ceremonies by our ancestors.
not Trail 1.6 km / 1 mile
Allow 40 minutes
try...
…making your
Visit Elgin museum
[Link] to see the own prehistoric info 3 km / 1.9 miles
fossils and an axe mould found at creature out of a Allow 1 hour 30 minutes
the henge. pinecone, using
3 km / 1.9 miles 1.6 km / 1 mile
twigs for legs? Allow 1 hour 30 minutes Allow 30 minutes
Artist’s impression of what the henge would once have looked like
Model of Elginia