Culbin Forest

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
7 kms	02:15 (hrs:mins)	30 metres	Explorer 423: Elgin, Forres & Lossiemouth

Description

The Culbin Forest offers many walks, ranging from 1 to 11 miles. The walks are waymarked to specific interests (flowers, trees, coastal erosion and deposition, dune formation etc.); some waymarks are absent or difficult to find... This walk is the Flowers of the Forest Trail and is 4.5 miles long. It traverses some of the dunes (they are up to 30m high) to reach a picnic spot at the seaside. The paths are good and because of the sandy soil are seldom muddy.

Access Info

From Inverness, Nairn or Forres take the A 96 and turn off at Brodie. Go through Dyke to reach the Wellhill carpark (997614).

Additional Info

Formerly a fertile agricultural area, the Culbin Sands were covered by beach sands during raging sandstorms in 1694 and later dates. Their desert appearance gave rise to the name Scottish Sahara. Loosening of the coastal sands, allowing them to be carried by the strong winds, may be due to harvesting of marram grass for thatching. 18th Century attempts to reclaim the Culbin Sands failed; they have now been stabilised by the planting of conifers by the Forestry Commission.