Culbin Forest

Stretching from Nairn to Findhorn Bay this forest of Scots and Corsican pine was planted in the 1920s to stabilise one of the largest areas of blown sand in Britain.  As you walk through the forest you can still see the great mounds of now tree covered dunes. Culbin is one of the best places in Scotland for lichens and wintergreens.  Beside the trails, in late June and early July, you'll see the toothed and common wintergreens, and the delicate white orchid, creeping ladies tresses.  Among the unusual birds are crested tits and crossbills.  Just off the beach, during the winter months, you should see long tailed ducks, common scoters and great rafts of eider ducks. The forest can be disorientating, so make sure that you pick up one of the very useful free maps available at the car parks at Cloddy Moss and Welhill near Forres, and Nairn East Beach.