Saturday, August 3rd
A big comfortable Kineil bus, with a very competent driver, picked up the 23 participants at Lossie Green and the old post office in Elgin, and subsequently in Forres and Nairn, for the journey to the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, about seven miles west of Invermoriston on the A887. The sun was shining when we left Elgin, but two hours later at Dundreggan it was pouring with rain. However after a very welcome coffee, the weather had cleared in time for our guided walk, with Dua, one of the rewilding team.
The 10,000 acre Dundreggan estate has been rewilded by Trees for Life – based in Findhorn – since 2008. The cafe, exhibition centre and accommodation block opened in April 2023. Rewilding is an emotive term, and means different things to different people, from restoring hedgerows and wetlands to introducing wolves to remote areas. In this case it means that thee forest is being allowed to regenerate naturally, rather than by systematic planting, to provide habitat for over 4000 species of plants and animals. There is also a tree nursery, growing thousands of trees every year, supplying specific species for Dundreggan and other estates. For the visitor, there is a network of footpaths of different lengths and challenges. We followed the oak path, which took about an hour with frequent stops for Dua to explain the rewilding project and point out features of interest, including the tree nursery (which we did not visit), the fairy hill surmounted by an ancient oak, and views across the valley, with stands of commercial forestry, interspersed with more recent native species.Ongoing projects include the relocation of red squirrels to boost populations in the western highlands, discussions about the possible, and controversial, introduction of the lynx, and also of the beaver. The centre is very conscious of its heritage in the heart of the Highlands, and all signage – on the paths and in the center itself – are bilingual, in Gaelic and English.
Back at the cafe we enjoyed a soup and sandwich style lunch and more coffee. The rest of the afternoon was free to explore further, do another walk, or just enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The bus left at 3.45pm.
Dundreggan is free to visit; guided tours cost £10 pp; there is also accommodation (minimum 2 night stay). The centre is open every day from March 1st to November 30th from 9.30 – 4.30pm, and Wednesday to Sunday in the winter, closing at 3.30pm. It is closed from 16th December until 5th January.
More information at visitdundreggan.co.uk or call 01320 340380.