Dundreggan – Juniper Woods and Old Oaks in a Glen Growing Wild
A few hours.
The route
Dundreggan is an estate in Glenmoriston where the charity Trees for Life has been letting the old Caledonian forest of pine, oak and juniper grow back since 2008, after centuries of grazing by sheep, goats and deer.
Its Rewilding Centre is free to visit, with hands-on exhibitions on rewilding and the glen's Gaelic past, natural play outside, a café and paths that loop out into the woods.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Lovat Hotel in Fort Augustus, 5 miles away.
Book Dundreggan Rewilding Centre's guided rewilding walk
Book Dundreggan Rewilding Centre's Daily Guided Rewilding Walk, at 9.30am, on its events page, from £15 for adults and £9 for children aged five to 16, under-fives free.
The day
Dundreggan
It's an easy morning among old pines, oaks and juniper in Glenmoriston, with two short woodland loops, a play area for children and lunch in the café.
About three hoursAbout 1.5 miles on foot
Dundreggan Rewilding Centre
Dundreggan Rewilding Centre stands by the road through Glenmoriston, a few miles west of Invermoriston on the way to Skye. Park in its free gravel car park, which has accessible spaces by the door and two charging points for electric cars. The centre is all on one level, with hands-on exhibitions on rewilding and the Gaelic stories of the glen, and a natural play area outside for children.
Then take to the paths. Ceum an Aitinn, the juniper path, is a half-mile loop of about half an hour on a wide, firm surface that suits wheelchairs and pushchairs. It passes juniper, little burns and the traces of people who lived here long ago, with a short, steeper there-and-back to a waterfall viewpoint. Ceum an Daraich, the oak path, is three-quarters of a mile and about 45 minutes, past the tree nursery, old oaks and woods hung with moss and lichen, with a few short, steeper sections. Two longer paths climb steeply to the open moor, for anyone with boots and more time. A guided rewilding walk sets off at 9.30am, booked ahead.
Lunch is in the centre's own café, An Nead, Gaelic for 'the nest': soup and bread, sausage and haggis rolls, mac and cheese, baked potatoes and home baking, with children's portions. Dogs are welcome in the centre, the café and on the paths, on a lead or under close control. There are accessible toilets and baby changing.
If it rains
On a wet morning the exhibitions and the café are under a roof, and the juniper path's firm surface is fine in a shower. Leave the two longer moor paths for a dry day: some of their burn crossings may be impassable after rain.
Where to stay
Make it a weekend
More days out near Inverness.
Photograph by Dundreggan Rewilding Centre via Google
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