Faskally Wood

Overview

This lovely old forest is part of Tay Forest Park and lies on the shores of Loch Faskally, just 1 mile/1.5 km north of Pitlochry.

Many of the trees are between 100 and 200 years old and a wide mix of different species can be enjoyed on the many well sign posted paths that meander through the woods. The layout of this woodland is largely manmade, having been created in the 19th century in the grounds of Faskally House, which was used as a Forestry Commission school. Here young foresters were trained to repair woodlands ravaged by felling for the war effort. The wood was perfect for testing new ideas, including mixtures of different types of trees and creation of diverse woodland structures. Within Faskally Forest and close to the car park and picnic site, lies the wonderfully tranquil Loch Dunmore, with its boat house and picturesque timber footbridge. The circular walk around the loch shore takes around half an hour, with the added thrill of perhaps spotting a heron fishing quietly in the lochside reeds. The secluded shores are also accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Parking and toilet facilities for the disabled are available within the forest close to the start of the route. There is also a fishing stance designed for wheelchair users on the edge of the loch.

The Foresters Route follows in the footsteps of a generation of foresters and takes the walker around Dunmore Hill, through a fantastic variety of trees. Faskally Forest can be enjoyed throughout the year - in spring the trees are bursting with fresh green buds and in autumn, reflections fill Loch Dunmore with shimmering colour.

For the more energetic, the routes through Faskally Forest can be linked with longer walks which form part of the Pitlochry Walks Network eg. The Killiecrankie Walk 11½ miles/18½km or The Bealach Walk 10¾ miles/17¼ km. Comprehensive Pitlochry area walks leaflet (with clear mapping) available from Pitlochry Tourist Information Centre.

Walks and facilities in the Tay Forest Park are fully described in another excellent leaflet - `A Guide to Tay Forest Park` - available for sale at Pitlochry Tourist Information Centre.