Dunnet Forest – Dinosaurs, Wizards and a Pirate Ship
A few hours.
The route
Dunnet Community Forest, just along from Dunnet Bay, is Scotland's most northerly community woodland, planted in the 1950s and now owned and cared for by a local trust and its volunteers.
It's full of things for children to find: a turf-roofed roundhouse with animals hiding in its roof, carved owls and wizards, a dinosaur trail, a giant xylophone, a log cabin and a pirate ship. It's a free, muddy-boots morning for families with young children.
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 House of the Northern Gate, 2 miles away. Sleeps 18.
The day
Dunnet
A morning on the forest's red trail, hunting for sculptures and dinosaurs, with a play area and a pirate ship to finish.
About two hours
Dunnet Community Forest
The forest is off the A836 just south-east of Dunnet village, with free, signposted parking in its public car park. It's open every day of the year. Start on the red trail, the all-abilities one, with even, hard-surfaced paths through woodland and meadow that suit a pushchair. Right at its start is the Roundhouse: look for the animals hiding in its roof, and pick up the list of painted animal plaques to find along the way. The trail passes carved sheep, wizards, owls, a squirrel and a woodpecker, the giant xylophone and Fairytown. The Dino Trail is signed off the red trail and leads to the play area by the log cabin, a good place for a picnic in the rain. The pirate ship is near the top of the forest, along the main avenue. Paths can be muddy after rain and icy in winter. Never climb on the log piles, and stay out of the forest in a storm and just after it, when trees can fall. The nearest toilets are at the main Dunnet Beach car park by the campsite.
If it rains
Mostly outdoors, but the log cabin by the play area gives shelter for a picnic in the rain.
Where to stay
Photographs by Neep Heid and Leanne Andrews via Google