Saturday 28th October 2023
Walk Tick Points:
- Parking: Yes, dedicated free car park
- Poo bin: Yes – one about three minutes down the path by the pond
- Terrain: Woodland path track, very undulating but not too steep
- Walk length: 1.7miles // 45mins
- Score: 5/10 – very pretty but very limited for a dog walk
Skelbo Woods is a walk we’ve done a few times over the years when we’ve come up here on holiday. Whilst it’s a very pleasant woods, it’s not usually a go to for a dog walk because:
A. It’s not a very long walk (very easy to complete in under one hour)
B. It’s very undulating, not too steep but lots of sharp ups and downs which can provide a bit too much excitement when tethered to an excited dog
It’s the first point more than the second that contribute to the lower score for this walk but as always seems to be the case at the moment, time was of the essence. After weeks of trying to get electricians, plumbers and heating specialists to actually show up, we had two promising to visit for their rescheduled appointment on Saturday ‘afternoon’. Spoiler alert, one actually did show up and even messaged an hour before he came round to confirm, at this point, I’m going to be going on this more than their quote to decide if we use them!
This was also going to be Elodie’s first walk away from the house and in the car. Her limp only came back after having to spend several hours in the car when we moved so I’m sure it’s something that she doesn’t find comfortable. I didn’t want her to have to spend too long in the car and I didn’t want the walk to be too long once we got there.
James had also bought a tide clock earlier in the month. A tide clock has to be set at precisely low tide on the day of the full moon, as this was 12:23pm. Between the tide clock and the promise of someone to actually sort out peculiar house out, we had to be home before 12:00.
These three points made Skelbo the perfect choice for Saturday’s walk. The most obvious way to access Skelbo wood is a small single track road just off the A9. The woods and Skelbo is signposted and it’s fairly easy to find. For us, it’s easier to access from the single track roads through Fourpenny and Skelbo Street. Again, there are plenty of brown road signs at various junctions making it very easy to find.
Once there, there’s a nice sized car park and when we arrived, there was only one other car there. Like most these Forestry and Land woods, it has an information board in the car park letting you know the most popular local wildlife (long-tailed tits in the winter and chunky bullfinches in the spring) and marked walking tails. At Skelbo, the only marked trail is 1.5miles for which it recommends allowing one hour. Our tracker recorded it at 1.7 and we were back in the car after 45mins.
One thing that did make me chuckle was the sign requesting humans not defecate in the woods. I’m assuming this was placed here because people might camp overnight? But in all the years of walking up in Scotland and down in Sussex (and Worcestershire), I’ve never seen a sign in the carpark asking people not to behave like animals – what on earth is wrong with some people that this sign was needed in the first place!
The forest itself is beautiful, especially this time of year. We were treated to a cacophony of autumnal vibrancy. The varying shades of green from the mix of conifers through to the full spectrum of oranges, reds and browns of birches and beech trees. Not the mention the forest floor which refused to be outshone, grasses, mosses, ferns and saplings offered just as much visual vibrancy.
About half to two thirds of this walk it undulating. I’ll admit I noticed the downhill more than the uphill but as my knees aren’t great, this isn’t unusual for me.
What’s especially cute about this walk is all the woodland carvings and sculptures nestled amounts the trees. I’m sure they’re meant more for children but I found them incredibly whimsical.
We walked across two bridges, the first a little narrow with a few steps either side. Even after all the rain we’ve had recently, the water was still very gentle and made the perfect acoustic backdrop as the path followed alongside the water.
The whole way round the dogs loved it, until the beach became their new favourite walk, they always loved a woodland walk. I’m sure it’s because of all the animals living there and the scents the can pick up. It was the first time Elodie was out with her brothers on a proper walk and she was so happy, no sign of her limp, her ears where up and alert the entire walk and she was happily skipping along – all signs she’s enjoying her walk.
Despite being one of the more popular local woods, it was quiet and we only encountered one other walker towards the end of the walk.
Given it’s only a five minute drive away, I’m sure we’ll be back and whilst it’s not the most exciting walk, the colour and the trees more than make up for it. I look forward to getting to know this woods throughout the year.
My Highland Haven 