Start from the car park and entrance at Craigiedaff, walk 400 metres along the forest road heading south to pass the source of the Cairnie Burn, which flows east towards Netherley. Turn left around the edge of the mature trees of Bruntyairds Wood, and follow the forest road round, looking out over the Hill of Montsnaught with glimpses of the sea beyond.

Coming round to face the west, at the highest point the road crosses the Elsick Mounth path, cleared by FDF four years ago, and now a waymarked route from the South Deeside Road to Rickarton – you could cut back through the forest for a variation on the route. Note also the area here cleared of sitka last year to allow the broadleaf plantation to thrive again. Down the hill and turn right to return via the 5-ways junction overlooking Strathgyle to the start point.

Members of FDF have an exclusive map with all forest roads, paths and rides marked on it.

Friends Board

If you have any suggestions, or would like to contribute to one of the working groups, please contact any committee member. ((: 01330-…)

Mark Ansell (811371) Mark Hagger (844481)

Molly Atkinson (811363) Sophie Trafford (811488)

John Coyne (844787) James White (811756)

Helen White (811435) (Treasurer)

David Felstead (811884) (Membership Officer)

Kevin Peace (844537) (Forest District Manager, FCS)

The restoration of the glen leading up from the Cairn mon Earn entrance up hill from Inchloan on the west side of Durris Forest is testimony to the effective partnership between the FDF conservation volunteers and the FCS. The glen is now open in aspect, with broadleaf trees able to breathe again. The self-seeded sitka has been removed. The result is a delightful landscape

At present timber is being extracted from Warren, Ashentilly and Brachmont Woods. We have been assured that the tracks and paths will be reinstated once the timber has been extracted.

Later in the year, there will be some clearfell in a small section of Bruntyairds adjacent to the Elsick Mounth path, and thinning in the Monthammock woods. We will be talking to FCS later to discuss the proposals. We have identified some gains for access and the forest environment that we hope to see as by-products in both cases. If you have any views, then let us know.

Granite City Rally

On 17 April 2004 one stage of the Granite City Rally will pass through Durris Forest. The route starts at the Inchloan entrance and passes mainly around the circular forest road (marked as cycle route) behind Meikle Tulloch, Pitcowdens, Bruntyairds, and Strathgyle to finish at the Cairn mon Earn entrance.

As we go to press, there are no details of the timing, so contact the rally organisers or John Mackie at FCS on 844537 for more details.

We have been working removing the rogue sitka spruce from five separate areas in the forest and now we propose a new area. On 25th April come along to the Inchloan entrance to the forest at 10am (OS 769924).

Bring loppers if you have them, hand saw, gloves and stout shoes and help to shape the appearance of the landscape for years to come. The second conservation day this year will be on the 16th May at 10am at the same location.

FDF is holding a two day course on dry stane dyking. The first session will be on Saturday April 10th and the second on Saturday April 17th. Each session will last approximately four hours. We will start with the basics of dyke construction and progress to the restoration of a section of one of the dykes bordering Forestry Commission land. The course is open to all. Strong boots and gloves are recommended. The starting time will be 10 am each day. Anyone interested should contact

John Coyne

Continuous cover is the name of the game, and Brachmont & Warren Woods are where it is all happening now. However it will take a while to get there, so the thinning just completed at Warren Wood and Currackstane Wood is just a first step.

When the trees have regained stability, a second thinning will occur in about five years time, taking the tree population down to a carefully selected 60 to the hectare. With the help of a little scarifying, natural reproduction should then occur from seed.

We are pleased to be at the leading edge of forestry development – particularly with this sustainable approach to harvesting and re-growth.

FDF on the wwweb

Check out the activities planned for 2004 and all the latest news on our website:

Mountain Biking

Durris Forest is well known to a select elite of mountain bikers who know its trails. Here are a few suggestions:

Ashentilly Wood – a fine short circuit with some excitement where the forest road runs out for a short section.

Pitcowdens – between Monthammock and Meikle Tulloch there is a network of lanes of this former farm that make for great biking.

Cairn mon Earn – the ascent to the highest point in Durris [378m] is a classic – do not stop till the top!

Projects 2004

The Board has decided to focus on the following projects for the coming year:

Conservation work – a work party will meet four times in the year to free up broadleaf plantations from self-seeded sitka growth.

Website – have you visited our site yet? There is a mine of information and pictures about the forest and our activities.

Newsletter – this is what you are reading now!

Is it interesting? How could it be improved?

Cycle trails – we plan to map out some good circuits using existing paths in the forests; and to submit for funding a new trail for intermediate level mountain bikers.

Sheeoch Path at Kirkton – improvements are planned for the path alongside the Sheeoch burn, to make it more accessable.

Elsick Mounth improvements – finger-posts at road intersections and a new path across the boggy section of Ashentilly Wood are planned.

Clune Wood storytrails – some improvements on the ground and a leaflet.

Walks/rides map of Durris Forest – a leaflet showing some short walks and bike rides.

Link paths – we propose to create a path linking Clune Wood to the Monthammock road, to provide a facility for horse-riders and walkers.

Dyking – a two day course on building dry-stane dykes is to be run on 10/17 April.

Bird boxes – we will investigate the possibility of a scheme for sponsored bird boxes – an ideal xmas present next year?

My favourite walk – I: Bruntyairds

Granite City Rally

As we go to press, there are no details of the timing, so contact the rally organisers or John Mackie at FCS on 844537 for more details.