moonwoods
Moonwoods is about an hours drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow, looking over the River Devon valley to the Ochil Hills. The Hillfoot town of Dollar with a Co-op, cafes and other amenities is around a 15 minute walk, or a few minutes drive. There are many superb high and low level walks in the immediate area, along the river Devon, through the glens and into the higher Ochil’s.
Historically part of a large estate, the 16 acres that’s now Moonwoods was in the 19th century mainly “furze” (gorse) with a few areas of woodland. In the middle of the wood are 2 multi spreading beech trees, probably the oldest on the site at +200 years, with a form that suggests they grew in open country. Most of the wood is now birch, with a number of sycamore, oak, willow, beech and rowan. In summer the ground cover is bracken and other ferns, which in places over 2m tall makes for a dense temperate jungle of greenery. Blueberries grow along the northern edge, along with a reliable crop of chanterelle fungi.
An experimental forest/permaculture garden was planted 15 years ago in a small clearing in the south east of the wood. Though the ground cover has reverted to ferns and the edges are encroached with rhododendron, the trees and shrubs now produce, in season, crops of apples, plums, cherries, hazel nuts and soft fruit.
There’s a burn along the eastern boundary surrounded by rhododendron on both sides; an old post and wire fence to the fields forms the south boundary; the B913 and the (now closed to public) Straight Brae are the boundaries to the north.
A spring in the centre of the wood channels water from higher up into a burn that flows most of the year down to the River Devon. Throughout the wood there are several other small, water courses
For the patient and quiet there are deer, squirrels and many woodland birds, and rarely seen but around, foxes.
The seasons bring dramatic changes to the feel of the wood, from the dense and in places almost impenetrable forest of growth in summer, to the sculptural trunks, and branches – the skeleton – of the trees in winter.
forest bathing
Japanese “Shinrin Yoku”
Modern life is full of noise and activity, hustle and bustle. We’re on the go all the time, rushing from one to-do list to the next, moving at a hundred miles per hour. It isn’t often that we take the time to really slow down, get outside and pay attention to the little things, like birdsong or the texture of bark on trees. Forest Bathing invites you to do just that.
Turn off your devices to give yourself the best chance of relaxing, being mindful and enjoying a sensory forest-based experience.
Slow down. Move through the forest slowly so you can see and feel more.
Take long breaths deep into the abdomen. Extending the exhalation of air to twice the length of the inhalation sends a message to the body that it can relax.
Stop, stand or sit, smell what’s around you, what can you smell?
Take in your surroundings using all of your senses. How does the forest environment make you feel? Be observant, look at nature’s small details.
Sit quietly using mindful observation; try to avoid thinking about your to-do list or issues related to daily life. You might be surprised by the number of wild forest inhabitants you see using this process.
Keep your eyes open. The colours of nature are soothing and studies have shown that people relax best while seeing greens and blues.
Stay as long as you can, start with a comfortable time limit and build up to the recommended two hours for a complete forest bathing experience
devon way walk
3 miles each way
STAGE 1
From the centre of Dollar (find on-street parking nearby) follow the Dollar Burn downstream. It doesn’t matter which side of the water you choose but if on the east side, turn right over a pedestrian bridge just before the primary school and then turn left to continue down the street. At the end turn right along a short street which reaches Strathdevon Place, cross this to head downsteps onto the Devon Way. Head to the right along the old railway platform and then follow the level cyclepath as it leaves Dollar.
STAGE 2
Continue passing under two bridges and through woodland. Soon the Devon Way reaches a short section of minor road, continue straight ahead here and after the next junction head up the rise to continue on the dedicated path/cycleway. The land to the left is being managed as flood plain for the River Devon as part of a flood prevention scheme which aims to use a more natural approach to this age old problem.
STAGE 3
For a short section the path runs alongside the River Devon and there are also good views of the Ochils on the right, with King’s Seat prominent from this point. The walled enclosure full of trees on the right is Tait’s tomb. It is the burial place of John Tait, an Edinburgh lawyer who owned nearby Harviestoun Castle (now demolished) as a country house and who died in 1800. The old railway line passes through a small cutting and under a bridge and passes a couple of seats and a picnic bench when the river draws near again. Soon the outskirts of Tillicoultry are reached, with the large white Sterling furniture factory visible on the left. At the main road turn right to reach the High Street.
dollar glen walk
2 miles & ascent 184m
STAGE 1
Start from the centre of Dollar and take the path alongside the river next to Dollar Museum signed for Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell. This soon leads to a park with picnic benches and nice outlook over the rushing river to the golf course on the opposite side. Enter the woodland and keep left to cross a bridge. From here the path climbs steadily up a series of steps through the mixed wood which contains a large proportion of oak trees.
STAGE 2
As the gradient eases, the path runs alongside the edge of the wood, with the golf course on the far side of the fence. Soon a viewpoint with a bench makes a detour on the right to view Castle Campbell. The castle dates from the early 15th century when it was known as Castle Glume although it later became a stronghold of the Earls of Argyll who changed the name to Castle Campbell. Now managed by Historic Scotland it is open all year.
STAGE 3
Continue along the path, passing through a gate and descending. At the bottom it is worth going through the gate on the right to detour to Windyedge Viewpoint, where a box canyon cut deep in the rock at the confluence of streams can be seen. Return to the main path and continue upstream, crossing a bridge before climbing a slope. Part way up take the path on the left (to shortcut continue uphill to Castle Campbell where you can pick up the east glen path) which soon leads down to a bridge. Cross here and follow the path which then climbs steeply up zig zags
STAGE 4
At the top there is a good view of the Castle and railings to protect walkers from the steep cliff just beyond here. Follow the narrow path around to the left, rather than the wider path heading straight up the ridge. The path follows the gorge of the Burn of Sorrows and soon reaches a junction. Turn right here to cross the bridge at a double waterfall and follow the spectacular path on the far side. Take care with children near the steep drops. After a gate the path descends to the road just above Castle Campbell.
STAGE 5
Take the path on the left just after the castle gate as you look towards the castle. This descends a series of concrete steps to the glen floor. Cross a bridge and follow the water downstream, littered with tree trunks and other natural debris. After a long flight of steps down and before more steps up, you can detour a short way ahead to the meeting of the two burns at a viewpoint. Keep right at any other junctions and soon John Knox’s Pulpit is reached, a stone viewpoint jutting out over the water where he is said to have preached in the 16th century.
STAGE 6
Keep following the clear path downhill, passing an old icehouse on the right and soon reaching the bridge crossed on the way up earlier. Stay on this side of the water to re-enter the park and return to the road at Dollar.