Glenmore Forest Park

Glenmore Forest Park encompasses some of the finest remnants of the ancient Caledonian pine forest, the wildwood that once covered much of the Scottish Highlands. These gnarled Scots pines, many over 300 years old, are the direct descendants of trees that colonised Scotland after the last Ice Age. Walking among them feels like stepping back in time, their twisted forms and russet bark creating a landscape quite unlike anything else in Britain.

The forest wraps around Loch Morlich and climbs the lower slopes of the Cairngorms, offering a network of trails for all abilities. The most popular walk leads through the Pass of Ryvoan to An Lochan Uaine—the Green Loch—whose waters glow an ethereal turquoise, said to be where fairies wash their clothes. Longer routes connect to the Cairngorm plateau above, while mountain bike trails wind through the trees, from gentle family rides to challenging technical descents.

Glenmore is also a haven for wildlife. Red squirrels are abundant here—one of their strongholds in Britain—and the specialised birds of the Caledonian forest thrive in these ancient woods: crested tits with their distinctive punk hairdos, Scottish crossbills cracking pine cones with their curved beaks, and capercaillie displaying in spring clearings. The Glenmore Visitor Centre provides an excellent introduction to the forest's ecology and history, and serves as a starting point for exploring this remarkable landscape.