After 10 days on beautiful Ardnamurchan Peninsula, we head for the area of Inverness and stay at the Homefarm B&B of our co-authors in Muir of Ord. In this area we make some lovely and not too complicated walks. The first is to the area of Culbin Forest near Nairn (East of Inverness)

Good to know:
Distance: 11 kms
Rate: easy
Map (incl. elevation information): Culbin Forest - Hill 99 Viewpoint Trail
GPS-track available for download: yes

As always photo's (but not all of them) can be enlarged by clicking on them.

The walk starts at a huge parking where there are toilet facilities and there you can also pick up a leaflet of the area . The track is well-marked and is called Hill 99 viewpoint trail, although we did a small detour along the waterfront.

First you will come across these Gravel-pit Ponds, which were dugged to provide a source of fresh water for birds, mammals and insects.



The track continous through the forest and after a while you will be at the base of


the Hill 99 Viewpoint tower. Climb this tower and enjoy the pleasant views. After the descend, follow the track for a little while until at a crossing where the track goes to the left, turn right instead. You will end up at the waterfront. That spot is called "the Gut". It is made up of saltmarsh, sheltered mudflats, sand and shingle: it is therefore ideal for long-legged, long-beaked wading birds all year round. But be aware of the tide here - it is very easy to be cut off on Culbin's shoreline.







We follow the shoreline tilll the next entry and head back into the forest. There we pick up the Hill 99 track again which willl take you to the Dragonfly Pool. From here it is not far to the parking lot.
During our visit there were not many dragonflies around, but plenty of insect like the one pictured below.



Oh...we forgot to let you know that Elgar was with us, but he did not want to be photographed today. Silly moose!