The Forest Guide: Scotland; Copses, Woods and Forests of Scotland

A guide to exploring 365 of Scotland's most scenic, wildlife-rich and historically significant woodlands.

From the precious fragments of Caledonian pine forest to lesser-known wildwoods and urban copses, Scottish woodlands offer places of sanctuary, both for wildlife and for people.

In this practical guide, Gabriel Hemery brings together the beauty, purpose, history, wildlife and ownership of some of the most extraordinary woodland sites in the country, from the largest (the Forest of Ae, which covers more than 10,000 hectares) to the smallest (Halligarth in the Shetland Islands, measuring less than a third of a hectare), and everything in-between. Some woods are notable for having the tallest or rarest trees, others are the best places in the country for spotting ospreys or red squirrels, or even marine mammals; some are known as the best places to explore preserved archaeological features, discovering hidden histories or simply enjoying spectacular scenery.

Divided into 14 regions, each beginning with a summary of the region's woodland heritage, this guide features 365 sites, including details of ownership, designation, area, forest type, how to access it (including grid reference, post code and 'what3words' reference), alongside a description of the site's key features. Featuring more than 200 stunning photographs of Scotland's plants, animals and spectacular landscapes and expert region maps to help guide you to your nearest forest site, this is an essential book for adventurers, ramblers and wildlife enthusiasts. Wherever you may be in Scotland, with this guide you will never be far from a fascinating forest site!

Table of Contents

Scotland's forests
How to Use this Guide
Access to Forests
Keeping Safe
Angus & Dundee (Sites 1-12)
Argyll & Bute (Sites 13-52)
Ayrshire (Sites 53-67)
Borders (Sites 68-90)
Clyde (Sites 91-102)
Dumfries & Galloway (Sites 103-119)
Fife (Sites 120-132)
Highlands (Sites 133-248)
Lothian (Sites 249-273)
Moray & Nairn (Sites 274-289)
North-East (Sites 290-313)
Outer Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland (Sites 314-325)
Perth & Kinross (Sites 326-347)
Upper Forth (Sites 348-365)
Site Designations
Glossary
Useful Information
Further Reading
Regional Maps
Index
Acknowledgements

Gabriel Hemery is a forest scientist and passionate advocate for trees. He co-founded and is currently Chief Executive of Sylva Foundation, a charity caring for forests across Britain. Gabriel has written more than 90 technical articles, cited in 900 articles by other scientists. In 2011–12 he played a lead role in campaigning to save England's public forests. Gabriel regularly contributes to television and radio programmes, and has presented at several literary festivals.

A new book