Carie Forest Walks

Carie is the stretch of forest on the quiet south shore of Loch Rannoch, a short drive round from Kinloch Rannoch and the sort of place you can lose a morning in without meaning to. There's a free car park to start from, with picnic tables and a shelter set near a footbridge over the falls, so it works whether you want a short leg-stretch or something with a bit more in it. The woods are a mix of old and new, oak, birch and Douglas fir alongside stands of ancient Scots pine, with the Black Wood of Rannoch, one of the last fragments of the old Caledonian Forest, just next door. Three waymarked trails leave from the car park. The blue and red routes are short and easy, good for young legs or a quick wander. The yellow is the longer one, climbing up alongside the Allt na Bogair gorge with the burn rushing below and glimpses of the loch through the trees. Watch for red squirrels, deer and pine martens. Golden eagles turn up overhead if you're lucky.

Everything starts from the Carie car park, where a noticeboard lays out the routes. The two short trails, waymarked blue and red, potter around the lower woods and the burn, mostly firm gravel underfoot with the odd muddy patch, and they're easy enough for most people. The longer yellow route is the one to do if you've the time. It climbs gently at first, following the Allt na Bogair up through a steep gorge with a waterfall visible from the path, though take care near the edge as the drop is a sharp one. Higher up the forest opens out, with blaeberry and bracken at the path sides and old Scots pine standing among the younger trees. There are good views over Loch Rannoch towards Ben Alder before the trail loops back down to the burn and returns to the car park. Reckon on a couple of hours at a gentle pace. Sturdy footwear is worth it after rain, and the forest tracks are sometimes used by vehicles, so keep an ear out.