New bridge for Black Isle Clootie Well woodland
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Forestry and Land Scotland has built a new bridge to provide safer woodland access to people visiting the Clootie Well and surrounding woodlands at Munlochy.
The new bridge, on the ‘Woodland Trail’ (Red Trail) that lies to the west of the Well, improves access and will help to keep the site accessible for visitors when some forestry work takes place later this year.
FLS Seasonal Ranger, Kirsty Knight, said: “The Clootie Well has been a place people have visited for hundreds of years and the woodlands around the Well are a great place to enjoy a mindful walk with the whole family.
“That sense of this having been a place of pilgrimage since the 7th century makes it an especially restful place to visit.
“The old bridge was passed its best so we now have a sturdy replacement to continue to provide access to our trails”
“This will help visitors to continue to enjoy the forest when, later this year, we carry out some thinning operations to give the woodlands a lighter, brighter and airier atmosphere that will make the woodland an even more appealing place to visit.”
FLS will begin some tree felling work in the autumn to fell diseased trees that are at risk of being blown over in strong winds and damaging houses in Munlochy Village.
There will also be some thinning in other areas to the north (phase 1) and to the south (phase 2) of the burn.
Access to the woods will continue throughout with diversions in place as required. Car parking will be available throughout the thinning process. This will be alternated between the main car park and the Littleburn car park South of the burn.
Diversion maps will be displayed on main access points to the site to allow recreation users access and those following the John O’Groats trail to continue their journey.
