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B970Kingussie

Newtonmore

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Auchlean

Nethy Bridge

TomintoulBoat of Garten

Carrbridge

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AbernethyNNR

Dell Woods

0 10 miles

0 10 km

Aviemore

Grantown-on-Spey

INVERNESSBridge of

Avon

Dell Woods Abernethy National Nature Reserve

Coilltean na Dalach Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Obar Neithich

VISITTADHAIL

Getting thereStart at the Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre in Nethy Bridge, just off the A95 between Grantown-on-Spey and Boat of Garten.

More informationScottish Natural Heritage, Achantoul, Aviemore, Inverness-shire PH22 1QD. Tel: 01479 810 477. www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre. 01479 821 565. www.nethybridge.com/explore-abernethy

A’ faighinn annTòisich aig Ionad Tadhail Obar Neithich ann an Drochaid Neithich, pìos beag far an A95 eadar Baile nan Granndach agus Coit Ghartain.

Tuilleadh fiosrachaidhDualchas Nàdair na h-Alba, Achadh an t-Sabhail, An Aghaidh Mhòr, Siorrachd Inbhir Nis PH22 1QD. Fòn: 01479 810 477. www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

Ionad Tadhail Obar Neithich. 01479 821 565. www.nethybridge.com/explore-abernethy

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Crested tit

Welcome to Dell Woods, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. Just a few minutes from the centre of the friendly village of Nethy Bridge, Dell Woods is a haven of green where red squirrels and crested tits chatter in the trees. Easy-going trails will take you to the heart of an ancient woodland and offer links to a great network of longer routes.

Fàilte gu Coilltean na Dalach, stiùirichte le Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba. Gun ach corra mhionaid o mheadhan baile bàidheil Dhrochaid Neithich, tha Coilltean na Dalach nan tèarmann gorm far an cluinnear feòragan ruadha agus cailleachagan-cìreach sna craobhan. Bheir slighean socair thu gu cridhe seann choille agus gu lìonra mòr de cheuman fada.

Red squirrel

Roe deer

Dell Woods is part of Abernethy National Nature Reserve – a vast swathe of land that sweeps from Nethy Bridge to the summits of Ben Macdui and Cairngorm, all of it within the Cairngorms National Park. The woods are an easy-to-explore forest that’s alive with birds, and with a fresh tang of Scots pine resin in the air.

On the forest floor, plants like chickweed wintergreen are evidence that this ground has been covered by forest for centuries – but that doesn’t mean it’s never changed. Almost every part of it has been felled for timber at least once. For hundreds of years men from surrounding villages worked here, cutting trees to make ships’ masts, railway sleepers and even drain pipes. Now only faint traces of their work are left, like the lades or water channels that helped float timber downstream to the Spey.

Spotting crested tits, red squirrels or even (if you tread softly enough) roe deer through the trees is a great thrill. But this forest has other, hidden charms. Look out for stumps of dead wood covered in moss and lichen: up close they’re a miniature Japanese garden of extraordinary shapes and colours. You may see some trees that look as if they’ve been snapped by a grumpy giant: they’ve actually been broken by the weight of heavy winter snow. Broken timber like this is a habitat for fungi and insects, which in turn provide food for birds and animals.

If you’d like to find out more about the woods and their history, or the network of trails around Nethy Bridge, call in to the Explore Abernethy Centre in the village.

Beyond the woods, the higher ground of the Abernethy National Nature Reserve is owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: visit their centre at Loch Garten to find out more.

Dell Woods

Tha Coilltean na Dalach nam pàirt de Thèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Obar Neithich – fàsach mòr sìnte a-mach o Dhrochaid Neithich gu mullaichean Beinn MhicDhuibh ’s a’ Chùirn Ghuirm, ’s an ceàrn gu lèir ann an crìochan Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh. Gabhaidh bealach dèanamh tron choille far an cluinnear toirm nan eun ’s am faighear boladh cùbhraidh ròsaid a’ ghiuthais anns an àile.

Air ùrlar na coille, tha lusan leithid reul na coille nan dearbhadh gu bheil an talamh seo fo choille bho chionn iomadh linn – ach chan ann gun atharrachadh. Cha mhotha a tha bad dhith ann nach robh air a leagail son fiodhraich, co-dhiù aig aon àm. Fad nan ceudan de bhliadhnachan bhiodh fir o na bailtean timcheall ag obair an seo, a’ gearradh chraobhan gus crainn luinge, trèanaichean-oidhche agus eadhon pìoban-traoghaidh a dhèanamh. Chan eil sgeul air an-diugh ach beagan den obair aca, leithid na cladhanan a bha a’ toirt an fhiodha leis an t-sruth gu ruige Uisge Spè.

Cuiridh e plosg nad chridhe ma lorgas do shùil a’ chailleachag-chìreach, an fheòrag ruadh no eadhon, ma choisicheas tu gu socair, earb tro na craobhan. Ach, tha seuntan eile am falach sa choille seo. Thoir an aire do stuic de dh’fhiodh marbh còmhdaichte le còinneach is crotal: fon phrosbaig, tha iad mar mheanbh-ghàrradh Iapanach de dhathan is chumaidhean àraidh. Dh’fhaoidte gum faic thu cuid de chraobhan ’s an coltas orra gun deach an sgoltadh le fuamhaire greannach: gu fìrinneach, b’ e truimead sneachd a’ gheamhraidh a rinn am briseadh. Gheibhear fungas agus biastagan san fhiodh bhriste seo, a tha iad fhèin nam biadh do dh’eòin is beathaichean.

Nam bu toil leat tuilleadh ionnsachadh mu dheidhinn nan coilltean ’s an eachdraidh, no an lìonraidh de shlighean timcheall Drochaid Neithich, dèan guth aig Ionad Obar Neithich sa bhaile fhèin. Taobh thall nan coilltean, tha an talamh monadail ann an Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Obar Neithich air a shealbhadh ’s air a riaghladh le Comann Rìoghail Dìon nan Eun: dèan tadhal air an ionad aca aig Loch Ghartain gus tuilleadh ionnsachadh.

Chickweed wintergreen

Dead wood provides a home for insects

www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

Visitor Centre

Dell Road

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Way to go To reach the start of all the trails, follow Dell Road out of the village from the Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre for a few hundred metres. A road called Culvardie turns right for trails into the woods, while the River Walk is on the left.

Riverside Trail 2.5km / 1.4 miles A route along the River Nethy, returning through the woods to join the King’s Road Trail. There’s a stand of magnificent giant redwoods just after the trail enters the forest: although they’re not part of Dell Woods’ value as native woodland, they are rather beautiful.

Forest tracks and paths with gentle gradients suitable for all abilities. Some parts can be muddy in wet weather.

Puggy Line Trail 4km / 2.5 miles The forest has many pools where dragonflies and damselflies breed. Along this trail, which follows the line of a light railway that used to transport timber, we’ve dug them out to make sure they stay wet enough for these shimmering insects. You might see them flying anywhere in the woods between June and September.

Forest paths with footbridges. Some parts can be muddy in wet weather.

King’s Road Trail 4.8km / 3 miles You’ve a good chance of seeing red squirrels here: they’re very fond of the nuts supplied by the local business association on a feeding station just a little way along the trail! Bring your binoculars for a close up view of their antics, and listen for the chirrup of crested tits.

Forest tracks and paths with gentle gradients. Some parts can be muddy in wet weather.

Need to know Dell Woods is particularly important for ground nesting birds. If they are disturbed they may abandon their chicks and eggs, which are eaten by predators. Please avoid this by keeping dogs on a short lead or under close control from April to August. Please also avoid lighting fires – uncontrolled burning could destroy this special place.

Fiosrachadh FeumailTha Coilltean na Dalach gu h-àraidh cudromach do dh’eòin a bhios a’ neadachadh air an làr. Ma thèid dragh a chur orra, dh’fhaodadh iad an iseanan is uighean fhàgail, a thèid an uair sin an ithe le creachadairean. Feuch nach tachair seo le bhith a’ cumail choin air taod goirid no fo theann smachd bhon Ghiblean don Lùnastal. Feuch nach cuir thu teine thuige – dh’fhaodadh losgadh neo-chùramach milleadh a dhèanamh air an àite shònraichte seo.

An rathad annGus toiseach nan slighean uile a ruigsinn, lean Rathad na Dalach a-mach às a’ bhaile o Ionad Tadhail Obar Neithich airson corra cheud meatair. Tha rathad ris an canar Cùl Bhàrdaid a’ tionndadh don taobh dheas son slighean a-steach do na coilltean, agus tha Slighe na h-Aibhne air an làimh chlì.

Slighe na h-Aibhne 2.5km / 1.4 mìle Is e cuairt ri taobh Abhainn Neithich a tha seo, a’ tilleadh tro na coilltean ’s a’ ceangal ri Slighe Rathad an Rìgh. Tha clàr ann de ghiuthas dearg mòrail goirid a-steach don choille: ged nach eil na craobhan sin a’ cur ri luach Choille na Dalach mar fhearann coillteach dùthchasach, tha iad gu math brèagha.

Gheibhear ceuman is frith-rathaidean socair freagarrach don a h-uile duine. Dh’fhaodadh cuid a dh’àiteachan a bhith eabarach le sìde fhliuch.

Slighe Rèile a’ Phugaidh 4km / 2.5 mìle Is iomadh lòn a th’ anns a’ choille seo far am bi tairbh-nathraich is cruinneagan a’ briodadh. A-null an t-slighe, a tha a’ leantainn loidhne-rèile aotrom a bha uair a’ giùlan fiodha, chithear gun do chladhaich sinn a-mach iad gus am fan iad fliuch gu leòr airson nam biastagan drìlseach seo. Dh’fhaoidte gum faic thu iad air sgèith àite sam bith sna coilltean eadar an t-Ògmhios agus an t-Sultain.

Ceuman coille le drochaidean-coise ann. Dh’fhaodadh cuid a dh’àiteachan a bhith eabarach le sìde fhliuch.

Slighe Rathad an Rìgh 4.8km / 3 mìle Tha teansa math ann gum faic thu feòragan ruadha an seo: tha iad air leth dèidheil air na cnothan a bhios an comann gnìomhachais ionadail a’ toirt dhaibh aig stèisean-biadhachaidh pìos beag a-null an t-slighe! Thoir leat na glainneachan-prosbaig son sealladh dlùth a ghabhail air an dol a-mach aca, agus èist airson tìteag nan cailleachagan-cìreach.

Ceuman coille is frith-rathaidean le leathadan socair ann. Dh’fhaodadh cuid a dh’àiteachan a bhith eabarach le sìde fhliuch.

www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

National Nature Reserve

Puggy Line Trail

Riverside Trail

King’s Road Trail

Speyside Way

Key

Refreshments

Toilet

Accommodation

Parking

Visitor centre

Trails

Bus

Accessible facilities

Golden-ringed dragonfly