Langass Woodland

North Uist | Clachan | Nature site | ★★

[Langass Wooland]

This precious area of community woodland on the side of Beinn Langais is a real rarity on North Uist: an island with no remaining natural forest. As such, it's an important haven for wildlife such as woodland birds and even bats. A web of fairly steep paths explore the interior, with good views across the island from the lower boundary. A statue near the top commemorates Hercules: a famous grizzly bear who starred in TV commercials and films including James Bond: Octopussy, and who once went on the run across the island of Benbecula after escaping during filming for a Kleenex advert!

[View across North Uist from the lower edge of the woodland]

📌 Langass Woodland ★★
Car park is off A867 3 miles northeast of Clachan, North Uist, G.R.: NF 844659 ///moons.goose.basically

[Statue of Hercules- a famous bear who once went on the run across Benbecula]

[Mushroom sculptures]

[Woodland path]

[Loch a' Bharpa]

[Information hut]

[Peat cutting by the car park]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Bicycle Tree

Image
Stirling | Brig o' Turk | Historic site | ★★

Are you sitting comfortably? Once upon a time, a young man from Brig o' Turk left his bicycle leant against a sycamore tree before going to fight in the First World War. Whether he returned is unknown, but the bike was left abandoned and, over the decades, the tree swallowed up the frame and carried it up into the air inside the trunk. At the same time, the tree consumed iron parts from an adjacent blacksmith's spoil heap, apparently including an anchor and a horse's bridle. Now we're a bit sceptical about taking the whole story as gospel, but there must be some truth in the tale. Parts of the bike still clearly protrude from the trunk alongside other metal implements: a strange sight indeed, and one that was awarded protected status in 2015. The tree is not signposted but grows next to the quiet Glen Finglas road - directions below. The Byre Inn serves good food nearby. Of course, if you come to the area by bike, be car…
Read more

Walk: Glen Finglas Play Trail - fun in the forest

Image
Stirling | Trossachs | Short walk | ★★★

This short and sweet "play trail" maintained by the Woodland Trust is one of the hidden gems of the Trossachs - particularly for children. 17 interactive sculptures test visitors' senses and introduce some of the local wildlife, while complementing the beautiful woodland landscape on the north side of Loch Venachar (though views of the loch itself are at a premium). The route starts at the Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway: a swish, modern visitor centre with toilets and its own, free flora and fauna exhibition - Scotland could do with more of these!


📌 Walk: Glen Finglas Play Trail - fun in the forest ★★★
▶ 2 km / 1 mile | ▲ 60 metres
Features: Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway; Play trail features
Start / finish: Car park at Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway, A821 half a mile east of Brig o' Turk, G.R.: NN 546065 ///scratches.coconut.unto

Route: Car park & visitor centre - Lendrick Lodge - cross A821 - loop around Bad a' Chois - return…
Read more

Three Lochs Forest Drive

Image
Stirling | Aberfoyle | Scenic road | ★★★

There are three forest drives in Scotland. These are unsurfaced scenic roads maintained by Forestry and Land Scotland, allowing visitors to get a taste of remote (ish) parts of the countryside without leaving their vehicles. The Three Lochs Forest Drive is the only one found in the Highlands, and we think it's the most spectacular of the trio. Winding gradually downhill from the summit of Duke's Pass, the track offers wonderful views across the heart of the forested Trossachs. There are short, waymarked walking trails at three points; by far the most attractive are those along Loch Drunkie - the middle of the three lochs on the passed on the route. The best time to visit is in mid October when you'll catch stunning autumnal hues, just before the forest drive closes for the season.


📌 Three Lochs Forest Drive★★★
The road can only be driven from south to north. South entrance is on Duke's Pass (A821) 2 miles north of Aberfoyle, G.R…
Read more