Follow a series of strange esker ridges formed beneath glaciers during the last ice age. There are great views over Strathnairn.

Esker Trail

Trail information

Rough earthy and grassy surface, with several muddy sections and some exposed tree roots. Includes steep slopes and some steps.

1¾ miles / 2.7 kmsAllow 1 hr

Explore the beautiful kettle hole lochans, which are great places to spot dragonflies and other insects that breed in the water.

Kettlehole Trail

Rough, narrow earthy and grassy surface. Some steep slopes. Includes muddy sections.

1¼ miles / 1.9 kmsAllow ¾ hr

Discover the forests of InvernessLorg coilltean Inbhir Nis

Six beautiful woodlands just on your doorstep, all with easy to follow waymarked paths.

Looking over the Kessock Bridge and Inverness from Ord Hill

Tree name Gaelic name (sounds like)

Scots pine Giuthas gyoo-ussRowan Caorann coo-ran Beech Faidhbhile fyviluhAlder Feàrna fyarnaWillow Seileach shayluch Oak Darach daruchLarch Learag lyeh-rakBirch Beith bayDouglas fir Giuthas gyoo-uss Dhùghlais ghoo-lish

Saints and sinners, kings and commoners, all are welcome here...

Fantastic views over Inverness and the Moray Firth...

Memories of the past linger in the woods...

Get active on the fitness trail...

Discover a wild landscape carved by ice...

Admire Britain’s tallest trees in this beautiful gorge...

Follow the waymarker

posts around the trails

1. Craig Phadrig 2. Ord Hill 3. Culloden Wood

4. Daviot Wood

5. Littlemill

6. Reelig Glen

The trees of Inverness / Craobhan Inbhir Nis

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Explore a magical mossy glen towered over by some remarkable firs, cedars and spruces, including some of Britain’s tallest trees.

Take a walk through the magnificent beech, pine and fir woodland above the glen.

Tall Trees Trail

Upper Reelig Trail

Firm, mostly wide gravel surface with uneven and muddy sections. Includes some steep slopes and steps. One narrow bridge and a short section along the road.

Long steep slopes and some uneven rocky steps. Mostly wide, uneven earthy surface. Some exposed tree roots and muddy sections.

1 mile / 1.7 kmsAllow ¾ hr

1¼ miles / 1.9 kmsAllow 1 hr

Come and meet some of Britain’s tallest trees: Douglas firs towering at over 65 metres in height. We also have Britain’s tallest larch and Britain’s tallest lime tree. They thrive in the shelter of the steep sided gorge here.

James Baillie Fraser (1783 – 1856), the Scottish explorer, may have planted the biggest trees. James was inspired by his travels – the stone bridge here is modelled on one at the Ravenna Gorge in Italy. The Fraser family owned this area for over 500 years before they sold it in 1949.

The dramatic landscape of Littlemill has a fascinating story to tell. Glaciers from the last ice age carved out the landscape here. The retreating ice left us with the strangely named esker ridges and kettle hole lochans. Today it’s a perfect place to escape the city and relax.

The mosaic of woodland, wetland and heathland make Littlemill an oasis for wildlife. From colourful springtime flowers to summer butterflies and autumn fungi, there’s always something to see here.

LittlemillAm Muileann Beag

Reelig Glen Gleann Rùilig

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Trail information

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InvernessExplore the forests of

Wonderful woodlands in and around the Highland Capital

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Contact details: Forestry and Land Scotland, North RegionTel: 0300 067 6100Email: enquiries.north@forestryandland.gov.scot

© Crown Copyright 2020

For information on public transport services contact: Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or www.travelinescotland.com

For more ideas of great days out in the forest, visit our website: forestryandland.gov.scotFo

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Daviot Wood Coille Deimhidh

A wonderful circuit of Ord Hill with spectacular views over Inverness and the Moray Firth.

Great for dog walks or for running through the tall, airy pine and larch forest. Distance markers along this circuit of the forest will help you keep track of how far you’ve gone.

A short pull up onto the hill fort of Craig Phadrig (Patrick’s Rock) itself is rewarded with fantastic views across Beauly Firth.

Walk up through the rich, mossy forest to reach the jumbled rocks of the Iron Age fort on top of Ord Hill.

Follow in the footsteps of saints and kings, where trees stand guard around the foot of the ancient fortifications at Craig Phadrig.

Ord Hill Circular

Daviot Fitness Trail

Hill Fort Trail Fort TrailCraig Phadrig Trail

Trail information

Trail information

Trail information

Mostly wide, firm gravel surface. Long moderate slopes with some steeper sections. Section of uneven earth and gravel path with some steps and exposed tree roots up to viewpoint.

Mostly a firm, smooth, wide track but occasionally uneven with some short narrow sections. Gentle to moderate slopes with some short fairly steep sections.

Uneven earth section with potentially muddy patches. Steep slope up to the fort with some wooden steps.

Uneven earth and gravel paths, with some narrow, rocky and muddy sections. Long fairly steep slopes and some steps.

Wide, largely smooth gravel surface. Some slightly uneven and muddy sections. Moderate slopes with short slightly steeper sections.

2¼ mile / 3.8 kmsAllow 1½ hrs

3 miles / 4.8 kmsAllow 1½ hrs

1¼ miles / 1.9 kmsAllow ¾ hr

1½ miles / 2.3 kmsAllow 1 hr

1½ miles / 2.5 kmsAllow 1 hr

Link routes (not waymarked)

There are a variety of routes which link to nearby places. You can join the historic military route of General Wade’s Road (please note, these paths are not managed by Forestry Commission Scotland and can be wet and muddy in places). Or you can link through to the communities of Daviot to the South and Milton of Leys to the north, both of which have long moderate and steep slopes.

Discover the forest’s battlefield landmarks and pagan traditions at the infamous Prisoners’ Stone and St Mary’s Well, a local ‘clootie well’.

Culloden Wood Trail

Mostly wide, uneven gravel and earth surface. Some steep slopes. Parts may be muddy after rain.

2¼ miles / 3.6 kmsAllow 1½ hrs

Culloden Battlefield Trail

This 9 kms (5½ miles) circular route links Culloden Wood with Culloden Battlefield and the Cumberland Stone. You can join it from the Culloden Wood Trail or start at the National Trust for Scotland Culloden Visitor Centre.

The Iron Age hillfort on top of Ord Hill was once an impressive sight. Its stout stone walls and wooden palisade would have clearly shown the strength and power of the people who lived there. Together with the fort at Craig Phadrig, these two settlements must have dominated the landscape. Today, the fort is a ruin but the views are still just as good.

Ord Hill is a great place for wildlife. Look out for red squirrels and woodland birds in the trees here. You might even spot a bottlenose dolphin in the Moray Firth below!

Standing guard over Inverness, the Iron Age hill fort of Craig Phadrig was built over 2000 years ago. Centuries later it was the headquarters of a powerful Pictish king. St Columba is said to have visited the fort in 565AD to meet with the Pictish king Bridei.

Look out for the ruined walls of the fort. The rampart was destroyed by fire. The stones were fused together by the intense heat, a process known as vitrification.

The perfect place to get some fresh air and burn off a few calories. The paths here are wide and fairly level, so they’re ideal for family cycling or even cross-country skiing after snow.

The mix of Scots pine, larch and spruce makes a good home for wildlife here. Look out for roe deer hiding among the trees. In spring and summer, dragonflies and frogs thrive in the woodland pools.

The Battle of Culloden was fought on Wednesday April 16th 1746. The Prisoners’ Stone remains as a grim reminder, where Government troops shot 17 Jacobite prisoners on the day after the battle.

Nearer to the car park, the Lord President’s Seat is dedicated to the local laird Duncan Forbes who helped the Government side.

St Mary’s Well is an older site, a traditional clootie well. Dipping a cloot (rag) in the well and tying it to a tree is said to bring good luck. Please choose biodegradable material for your cloot!

There is also a longer Culloden Battlefield Trail, which explores the whole battle field area. Look out for the interpretive benches situated around the route.

Red squirrel

The Prisoners’ Stone

There are great views over Ben Wyvis and the Beauly Firth from the fort

The Ord Hill Circular is a great route for a family cycle ride

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Culloden Wood Coille Cùil Lodair

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Trail informationLord President’s Seat

St Mary’s Well

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